Long Covid Podcast

• 172 - Jo Thomas - Overcoming the Curse of "Recovery Perfection"

  Recovery doesn't have to be perfect to be effective, and sometimes the very quest for perfect recovery can keep us stuck in our healing journey. Jo Thomas shares her personal experience with overcoming POTS and chronic fatigue, highlighting how shifting mindsets and letting go of perfectionism accelerated her healing process.• Jo's recovery journey came in layers—medical management first, followed by lifestyle changes and nervous system regulation• Perfectionism, people-pleasing, and overachieving often contribute to chronic fatigue and can hinder recovery• Focus on responding appropriately to your body rather than pushing for linear progress• Your responsibility is to take appropriate recovery actions, not to control how your body responds• What feels like a setback might actually be a normal bodily response to increased activity• Recovery often means living life differently than before—usually in better alignment with your values• Becoming overly focused on achieving "full recovery" can create pressure that impedes progress• Our bodies communicate through symptoms—learning to interpret them rather than fear them is key• Many people discover that post-recovery life is actually better than pre-illness life• "Keeping yourself in wellness" becomes a lifelong practice rather than reaching a finish lineLinks:Jo's website: https://jothomascoaching.com/Message the podcast! - questions will be answered on my youtube channel :) For more information about Long Covid Breathing courses & workshops, please check out LongCovidBreathing.com (music credit - Brock Hewitt, Rule of Life) Support the show~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~The Long Covid Podcast is self-produced & self funded. If you enjoy what you hear and are able to, please Buy me a coffee or purchase a mug to help cover costsTranscripts available on individual episodes herePodcast, website & blog: www.LongCovidPodcast.comFacebook @LongCovidPodcastInstagram Twitter @LongCovidPodFacebook Creativity GroupSubscribe to mailing listPlease get in touch with feedback, suggestions or how you're doing - I love to hear from you, via socials or [email protected]**Disclaimer - you should not rely on any medical information contained in this Podcast and related materials in making medical, health-related or other decisions. Please consult a doctor or other health professional**

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• 171 - Light Switch Recovery: Aaron's Story of When Reinfection Leads to Healing

  Aaron West shares his remarkable two-and-a-half-year journey with Long COVID and his unexpected path to recovery. From being a highly athletic cyclist who once rode across South Carolina in a single day to becoming bedbound with debilitating symptoms, his story demonstrates that recovery is possible—sometimes in the most unexpected ways.• Previously an avid athlete who competed in triathlons and rode 237 miles across South Carolina in one day• Contracted COVID in Fall 2021 during the Delta wave• Developed severe symptoms including persistent cough (500-1,000 times daily), neurological issues, and "electromagnetic pulse" sensations• Forced to go on disability due to inability to work while coughing• Found some relief through antihistamines (Zyrtec, Pepcid) and beta blockers• Practiced pacing using "spoon theory" and heart rate monitoring to manage symptoms• Experienced a "light switch" recovery after contracting Omicron variant in January 2024• Post-recovery, rediscovered creative abilities and is now writing a book and running a business• Emphasizes the importance of community support during illness and recovery• Doctor described him as someone who came back after being "far gone"For those still suffering with Long COVID—there is hope. While everyone's recovery journey is different, healing is possible, and sometimes it comes in unexpected ways.Links:Aaron's website: https://www.cinejourneys.comFollow Aaron on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/awest505.bsky.socialMessage the podcast! - questions will be answered on my youtube channel :) For more information about Long Covid Breathing courses & workshops, please check out LongCovidBreathing.com (music credit - Brock Hewitt, Rule of Life) Support the show~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~The Long Covid Podcast is self-produced & self funded. If you enjoy what you hear and are able to, please Buy me a coffee or purchase a mug to help cover costsTranscripts available on individual episodes herePodcast, website & blog: www.LongCovidPodcast.comFacebook @LongCovidPodcastInstagram Twitter @LongCovidPodFacebook Creativity GroupSubscribe to mailing listPlease get in touch with feedback, suggestions or how you're doing - I love to hear from you, via socials or [email protected]**Disclaimer - you should not rely on any medical information contained in this Podcast and related materials in making medical, health-related or other decisions. Please consult a doctor or other health professional**

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• 170 - Amy Mooney - "Flipping the Iceberg" - What if everything you thought about recovery is underwater?

  Amy Mooney shares her unique perspective as both an occupational therapist and caregiver to her daughter with ME-CFS, revealing essential insights about rest, recovery, and meaningful approaches to chronic illness management.• 25 years of occupational therapy experience transformed by caring for her daughter with ME-CFS for the past decade• Learning to see "beyond the iceberg" - what practitioners miss when they only observe patients during clinical visits• The concept of "aggressive rest" as an active strategy rather than simply doing nothing• Understanding different forms of exertion: physical, cognitive, emotional, and sensory• How each person has different "buckets" for various types of exertion and unique symptom patterns• The importance of preemptive rest before activities and recuperative rest afterward• Creating personalized support systems that address individual symptoms and priorities• Safely testing boundaries rather than pushing through prescribed exercise protocols• Why prioritizing activities that bring joy and meaning is crucial for quality of life• Being cautious about delayed responses to increased activity - sometimes PEM hits 3 days laterAmy has been working with Bateman Horne Center to provide education and resources to medical providers, helping ensure patients receive appropriate care focused on true rest rather than harmful exercise regimens.Links:Amy's private practice: www.OT4ME.comBateman Horne Center's rehabilitation professional resources and videos: https://batemanhornecenter.org/providers/mecfs/diagnosing-managing/rehab-professionals/Peer-to-peer Facebook group (for therapists only) - PT, OT & SLP Resources for Treating ME/CFS: Message the podcast! - questions will be answered on my youtube channel :) For more information about Long Covid Breathing courses & workshops, please check out LongCovidBreathing.com (music credit - Brock Hewitt, Rule of Life) Support the show~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~The Long Covid Podcast is self-produced & self funded. If you enjoy what you hear and are able to, please Buy me a coffee or purchase a mug to help cover costsTranscripts available on individual episodes herePodcast, website & blog: www.LongCovidPodcast.comFacebook @LongCovidPodcastInstagram Twitter @LongCovidPodFacebook Creativity GroupSubscribe to mailing listPlease get in touch with feedback, suggestions or how you're doing - I love to hear from you, via socials or [email protected]**Disclaimer - you should not rely on any medical information contained in this Podcast and related materials in making medical, health-related or other decisions. Please consult a doctor or other health professional**

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• 169 - The Roots Below: Five Essential Themes for Long Covid Recovery

  Jackie explores recovery themes in today's episode, as she identifies five key themes that emerge across different healing journeys: consistency in daily practices, mindset that fosters healing, understanding what's happening in your body, building personal strategies, and creating a healing environment.• Consistency means showing up daily for practices that help, even when progress feels invisible• Mindset isn't about toxic positivity but creating biochemical conditions for healing through belief in improvement• Understanding your body's responses and triggers makes interventions more effective and reduces fear• Building strategies involves creating a personalized toolkit of what actually works for your unique body• Creating a healing environment means being mindful about what you consume—food, media, thoughts• Mental health support is crucial, not because illness is psychological but because chronic illness affects mental wellbeing• Small 1% improvements compound over time into significant progress• Recovery isn't about finding one miracle cure but assembling your own unique puzzle piecesHave questions? Contact me through the fan mail function in show notes, social media, email or visit longcovidpodcast.com. Your feedback helps shape future episodes!Links:Podcast feedback form: www.tinyurl.com/LCpodcastfeedbackDr Sarah episode: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1835170/episodes/15544786Dr Sanjay Gupta (the PoTS specialist) episode: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1835170/episodes/11374770My recovery story: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1835170/episodes/13235996Work with me page: https://www.longcovidpodcast.com/services-1Curable app: https://www.curablehealth.com/Message the podcast! - questions will be answered on my youtube channel :) Support the show~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~The Long Covid Podcast is self-produced & self funded. If you enjoy what you hear and are able to, please Buy me a coffee or purchase a mug to help cover costsTranscripts available on individual episodes herePodcast, website & blog: www.LongCovidPodcast.comFacebook @LongCovidPodcastInstagram Twitter @LongCovidPodFacebook Creativity GroupSubscribe to mailing listPlease get in touch with feedback, suggestions or how you're doing - I love to hear from you, via socials or [email protected]**Disclaimer - you should not rely on any medical information contained in this Podcast and related materials in making medical, health-related or other decisions. Please consult a doctor or other health professional**

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• 168 - The Rebound Method - Rachael shares how to safely start to move your body!

  Rachael's inspiring journey through long COVID showcases the resilience of the human spirit in the face of ongoing symptoms and challenges. The episode delves into her unique recovery strategies, including her tailored exercise protocols designed specifically for individuals battling long COVID, emphasising the importance of consistency, adaptability, and trust in one's body.• Rachael redefines recovery as a journey, not solely symptom-free living • Importance of building confidence through gradual, consistent movement • Development and success of the "90-Day Rebound Method" • Emphasis on mindset: focusing on consistency over progression • Insights on dosage, effort, and individualised exercise approaches • Real-life success stories from Rachael's coaching • Flexibility in training to accommodate fluctuating symptoms • Encouragement for listeners to seek supportive communities in their recovery processLinks: Our previous episode (Rachael's recovery story):https://www.buzzsprout.com/1835170/episodes/14084650 Rachael's Website: www.rebound-athletic.comRachael's Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/rebound.athletic/ Message the podcast! - questions will be answered on my youtube channel :) For more information about Long Covid Breathing courses & workshops, please check out LongCovidBreathing.com (music credit - Brock Hewitt, Rule of Life) Support the show~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~The Long Covid Podcast is self-produced & self funded. If you enjoy what you hear and are able to, please Buy me a coffee or purchase a mug to help cover costsTranscripts available on individual episodes herePodcast, website & blog: www.LongCovidPodcast.comFacebook @LongCovidPodcastInstagram Twitter @LongCovidPodFacebook Creativity GroupSubscribe to mailing listPlease get in touch with feedback, suggestions or how you're doing - I love to hear from you, via socials or [email protected]**Disclaimer - you should not rely on any medical information contained in this Podcast and related materials in making medical, health-related or other decisions. Please consult a doctor or other health professional**

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