CNY resident is a COVID-19 long-hauler, suffering from debilitating symptoms for 6 months

On March 16th, 2020, there were under 500 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the state of New York. Mary Lynn Fager, living in rural Brantingham Lake in Lewis County, drove downstate to Poughkeepsie to pick up a friend looking to leave New York City, which was quickly becoming the epicenter of the pandemic in the United States. Less than a week later, Fager began to feel sick.

"I just felt this pressure that felt like it was in my lungs," Fager said, "I didn't really feel much else then so I didn't think much else about it. The next day I had a sore throat and a fever and that pressure in my chest has continued."

Her illness continued into April. She visited her doctor multiple times, who wasn't able to pinpoint exactly what was wrong. She first prescribed anxiety medication, then medicine for allergy treatment; neither stopped Fager's symptoms, which included heart palpitations and shortness of breath. She was hospitalized for four days later that same month due to difficulty breathing.

"Struggling to breath is the scariest thing, I've never had respiratory problems before," said Fager, "I wouldn't wish this on anybody."

It wasn't until Fager began seeking secondary opinions from other health professionals that she was told that what she had in March was COVID-19.

"Only an infection that bad can do the damage that's been done to your heart," Fager said her cardiologist told her, "and I can't tell you if it's permanent or if its long term or short term."

The effects COVID-19 had on her lungs and her heart have lasted at least until now, six months after she first felt symptoms. She's a COVID-19 "long-hauler" - joining thousands of Americans reporting that their symptoms are lingering long after they first became sick. She has been hospitalized multiple times struggling to breathe, and sometimes struggles with everyday tasks. Reaching for the kitchen cabinet, opening canned food, and changing into pajamas all leave Fager short of breath and her heart beating quickly.

"Today I got up and walked from my sofa to the door, which is about ten steps, and I was so out of breath and my heart was just pounding," Fager said.

Fager, who graduated from Syracuse University in 1992, is 49 years old and said she lived a very active lifestyle before contracting the virus. She ran frequently and went to the gym to lift weights; during the winter, she enjoyed skiing. She said there are days where she can exercise and feel ok; but on other days, her symptoms resurge.

"It can come back and hit you," Fager said.

It's not just affecting her physically, either. Fager said she suffers from lapses in memory and cognitive ability. Fager and I spoke via zoom for about 20 minutes; three times she had to pause, unable to remember details about things that happened just a short time ago or continue her train of thought.

"My brain is just not what it used to be before this," Fager said.

Fager is by no means alone in this situation. She is part of a Facebook Group called "COVID-19 Long-Haulers Discussion Group", which has 7.8 thousand members. Each day there are dozens of posts of other long haulers sharing their stories, asking questions, and providing advice.

Online forums quickly became a place for long-haulers to find some comfort as they suffer from a medical condition that still raises more questions than answers form medical professionals. Diana Berrent was one of the first people to fall ill from COVID-19 in Washington State, and she has since been highly vocal about her experiences as a long-hauler. She founded a group called "Survivor Corps" to help support those that are suffering.

Today Berrent wrote an opinion piece in the Daily Beast, describing her experience with COVID-19. She was recently diagnosed with glaucoma.

"My vision had been notably worse since I had COVID-19 and, as a professional photographer, my heart sank last week when I was diagnosed with glaucoma-according to the ophthalmologist, apparently connected in some way to COVID-19," Berrent writes, "But I still consider myself one of the lucky ones. My lingering symptoms are a cakewalk compared with most."

Fager said its an important reminder that COVID-19 can impact the body in unexpected ways, with long-lasting, oftentimes painful symptoms, and that death isn't the only potential negative of contracting COVID-19.

"My biggest message to people is do whatever you can not to get it. You can't comprehend how much it affects every facet of your life," said Fager.