We recently ran a partnership webinar for health professionals alongside Affinity Health at work where we shared our expertise on the complexities of supporting those with post-covid-19 syndrome/long covid with returning to work. This blog is a summary of this event with some strategies utilising recent case stories and research findings on the collaborative approach that’s needed.

Several of our team members have ME/CFS and associated pain, and as part of our 10-year anniversary, we gathered together their top strategies for learning to live well with fatigue which they share here.

In this blog, our expert team of specialist clinicians talks about:

• How we are drawing together our experience to date of those presenting with long-tail symptoms such as breathlessness, anxiety, and fatigue following a COVID-19 infection.

• How we have been successfully treating clients with post-viral fatigue syndrome for ten years.

• News of our exciting research proposal looking at recovery from the COVID-19 virus.

In this blog, our specialist Physiotherapist examines the benefits and precautions required when introducing physical activity during a period of post-viral fatigue.

For some people, a serious virus such as COVID-19 can result in prolonged symptoms such as fatigue during recovery. This can make it very difficult to return to work in the same manner as prior to being off sick. Its vital that all activity is resumed in a gradual manner to make it sustainable during a recovery phased and this article offers ideas from our specialist Careers Consultant, on how to consider and negotiate a return to work pathway that included considerations like a phased return or flexible working for example.

In this blog, we address the relationship between viral infections such as covid-19 and fatigue symptoms and the potential for longer-term impacts such as post-viral fatigue. We collate some of the latest research/articles on this topic and draw together, from our clinical specialism in this field of fatigue, our advice for how to manage fatigue at the acute phase of illness and subsequently.

Here are some tips on small ways in which we can take care of our selves and all our needs during this time of lockdown, restrictions and attendant uncertainty.

As someone who has had a chronic illness with debilitating fatigue and pain for over 16 years, I can find this time of new year resolutions and the general optimism associated with these difficult to be around. I might want to improve my health but keeping it realistic to my limitations can be challenging.

Irritable bowel syndrome, (IBS), is very common and can be really debilitating and can be much worse following festive indulgence.  Gut symptoms vary, but typically include abdominal pain, bloating, wind, nausea, diarrhoea and/or constipation. For some, the symptoms can be so severe that it stops or curtails every day and social activity.

The evidence for the impact of physical activity on health is compelling and the breadth of the impact is becoming clearer over time. The UK guidelines for Physical Activity were updated in 2019, and emphasised the fact that even small increases in physical activity can make a notable difference to health.

Firstly, think about whether you have to say yes!

It doesn’t have to be all or nothing, consider going for part of the event

I have heard so many clients with Pain and fatigue saying they no longer have friends over because it is exhausting. When I ask them more about this the answer is almost always the same. By the time I have cleaned the house, gone shopping and cooked dinner I have no energy left to enjoy talking to my friends.

GET' stands for 'Graded Exercise Therapy'. It is an approach for building physical activity in a person's life by being consistent, making gradual changes and responding to setbacks. It can be used as a treatment for people with physical injuries, persistent pain, fatigue, mild depression and other medical conditions.