It's a Long Haul to Recovery

Hi, my name is Randi, and I'd like to share some of my story. I have a beautiful family, my husband Josh, our 7 year old little girl Lilly, and our dog Tank.

At the beginning of 2022 our entire household caught covid. Josh and Lilly were able to recuperate just fine, and for that we are so thankful. However, since January 2022, I have been suffering from Long Haul Covid.

For those who aren't aware, long haul covid is a condition where sufferers experience symptoms while not infected with the virus anymore. For me, I have become at least partially disabled.

I have shortness of breath constantly, which inspired me to quit smoking. However, I'm hit with bouts of the shortness of breath every day. I have always had migraines, but they had been well controlled. I now experience debilitating migraines that last for days. I have very frequent episodes of hot flashes and cold sweats. Neuropathy that has developed. My hair has been thinning and falling out. The body aches are constant, along with frequent nausea.

And the brain fog, which is probably the most disabling of these conditions. My short term memory has deteriorated a lot over this year, and it only seems to be getting worse. Not only do I walk into rooms and forget why, but I even forget things I have done at times. Did I take the dog out, did I email that person back, did I do laundry, sometimes I even have to ask myself if I brushed my hair. I can't remember my Dr appts, which are multiple times a week, without the help of calendar apps and many alarms. I lose my train of thought in the middle of my own sentences, and often lose words completely. There have been plenty of times where I have forgotten what I was saying while talking to customers at work. I write lists of not only what I need, but where I am supposed to go, things I need to take care of around the house, even important thoughts or ideas I have.

This has made working very hard, as not only do I have to fight through my constant physical symptoms, I have to deal with cognitive impairments. I forget how to spell words and math is difficult. I forget how to do tasks I have done repeatedly. My hands shake and drop things. My body aches can be so bad I can't walk well. I have to sit and rest after almost any tasks. And in all honesty there has probably been more days I've missed work than I've gone this year. The migraines and flu-like symptoms are impossible to fight through the majority of the time.

Driving is harder now. When the neuropathy is bad, my hands feel a constant tingly burn. I can't touch anything without it making every nerve scream. I also deal with frequent dizziness, and the brain fog can make the situation worse.

I see many different specialists, and have had more tests done than I care to count. I have to take many medications just to get through the day. This can boil down to hundreds of dollars a month. And we all know how prices have gone up. Our rent increased almost 100$. Our grocery bill has grown. A lot of you have experienced the same thing. Add on top of all that the expenses for just "life stuff". We needed new brakes, Tank needs to go to the vet for a check up, the coffee table broke.

The most recent medical event to occur happened right before Thanksgiving. I have been experiencing some blood pressure problems, having big lows and highs all within an hour. But this time I ended up back in the emergency room, feeling like I was having a heart attack. After an EKG and blood test, I was admitted overnight for observation. I have been to the emergency room probably 7 times this year, but this was my first time they kept me. By morning my troponin levels had gone down and my EKG looked more normal.

Since then my family and I have decided that I need to take some time off work to try to heal. With needing to go to so many appointments a week, not knowing whether I'll be able to drive or not, and even not knowing if I will I be able to get out of bed, I cannot continue to work at this time.

Josh works full time, even with him having degenerative disc disease. However, trying to get by on one income is extremely hard these days. As hard as it is to say and do this, but we need help. I need time off to take care of myself and find ways to fight this long haul covid. I can't let this beat me, but with long haul healing can be very slow going as if you push yourself even a little too hard, you relapse and bring on a flare of symptoms. Add to the the extreme fatigue and it all seems to be pretty slow progress on the path to recovery, especially with this being such a new condition.

I don't ask for help normally. I used to be the one helping others. Writing this is hard, accepting that we can't do this alone is hard. We are asking for this funding to cover rent and bills for a short time while I am off of work. Plus Christmas is right around the corner, and there's nothing I love more than seeing my child happy like that, experiencing the magic of the holiday. I can't do that without rent and electricity.

We would be so grateful for any help to get through these next couple months. If you know me, you know how hard it is for me to ask for help, but at this point I'm humbly putting our story all out in hopes that people will help. Even just a share. It's hard to do, but I can only tell my story openly and honestly. And honestly, it's been a pretty rough year to say the least. If you've read this far, thank you. I will be forever thankful for any kind of support.

Thank you,

Randi(Mis), Josh, and Lilly Cruce

P.S. Tank hopes his pouty face inspires you to help.