Post COVID-19 Clinic in Haverhill, MA

The virus typically spreads if a person infected with the virus coughs, sneezes, or talks close to other people. The virus will then travel through tiny fluid particles into other people’s lungs. Hence, the virus can spread quickly among people who live together or work together in close contact. If you touch a surface with the virus, then touch your mouth, nose, or eyes, you can get the virus this way. 

In most people, your symptoms will get better over a few weeks. A smaller number of people can get very sick and you may be admitted to the hospital or even to the intensive care unit (ICU). The medical field and doctors are still learning the long-term effects of COVID-19. If you are either older or with underlying other health issues such as chronic kidney disease, type 2 diabetes, severe heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, hypertension, and obesity, you are at a higher risk of becoming seriously ill with COVID-19. 

If your symptoms are not severe, contact your doctor by phone first. If your symptoms are severe, call 911 for an ambulance to take you to the hospital. 

You should get tested if possible. Try to self-quarantine and monitor yourself for any symptoms. Stay at home as much as possible and stay six feet away from others. If your test is negative, you may not need to quarantine for a total of 14 days. Check with your doctor for their advice, and you should continue to monitor your symptoms for 14 days. 

You can obtain a COVID-19 test by finding a professionally run resource that will swab inside your nose or mouth.

More info: Massachusetts Department of Public Health About COVID-19 Testing Resource

There are two types of tests: Nucleic acid and Antigen. The nucleic acid test looks for the genetic material from the virus. The antigen test looks for proteins from the virus. The antigen test gives results much faster, but it is less accurate than the nucleic acid one.

• Practice social distancing: also called physical distancing, stay away from all people who don’t live in your household. Avoid gatherings with people, even if in small groups. 
• Wear your face mask: anytime you leave your house. Confirm your mask covers your nose and mouth. This way, you are protecting yourself from getting the infection from anyone around you, and if you have the virus and you don’t know, you are protecting others from getting it from you. 
• Wash your hands often with soap and water. 
• Avoid or limit traveling during the pandemic.
• Avoid touching your face, including your mouth, nose, and eyes.

If you have a mild disease, such as fever, cough, but you can rest at home without trouble breathing. It takes about two weeks for people to feel better, but that varies from one person to another. 

If you are having trouble breathing, then you will need to stay at the hospital. You may need to be in the ICU. The staff at the hospital will then monitor your breathing and give you the support your body needs. You may need to be on oxygen, and in severe cases, you may need to be on a ventilator, “a breathing machine.” Doctors might recommend certain medicines that seem to help with COVID-19. These medicines are not without side effects, so the risks and benefits will always have to be weighed by your treating doctor.

• United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• World Health Organization (WHO)

Post-COVID-19 refers to symptoms of COVID-19 lasting longer than 12 weeks, which is more common if you have had COVID-19 and were required to be admitted to the hospital, especially if you were admitted to the ICU. Symptoms may include fatigue, trouble breathing, cough, chest pain, headache, continued loss of smell or taste, muscle aches, diarrhea, and sweats. Other people may have anxiety, depression, or symptoms related to PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). 

It is not clear when these symptoms get better and over what period. The improvement varies from one person to another. Your individualized treatment will include recommendations by your doctor to address whichever symptoms you have. You may need pulmonary rehabilitation, physical and occupational therapy, and treatment for anxiety or depression.

You should contact your doctor to discuss this in the context of your medical history. Vaccines are designed to help prevent serious diseases from deadly infections. Experts believe that COVID-19 vaccines will be an essential step to control the COVID-19 pandemic. Getting the vaccine will likely lower your risk of getting sick and your risk of getting seriously ill from COVID-19.