How long COVID ruined my life (and why it won't go away)

Roland Manthorpe's Struggle: Roland, a technology correspondent for Sky News, shares his debilitating experience with long COVID, which includes severe fatigue, brain fog, and a loss of concentration that has lasted for 18 months, affecting his work and daily life.
Victoria's Story: A young girl named Victoria shares her experience, which includes needing a wheelchair for mobility and struggling to attend school more than two days a week. Despite her serious symptoms, she has faced skepticism and a lack of support from healthcare professionals.

Lack of Effective Treatments: Roland explores the healthcare system's response to long COVID, highlighting the lack of effective treatments available and the slow pace of medical research in this area.
Healthcare Emergency: The video discusses the potential large-scale impacts of long COVID, indicating it as a healthcare emergency with millions affected globally, posing a serious threat to healthcare systems and economies.

Historical Neglect of Similar Conditions: The video draws parallels between the neglect faced by long COVID patients and historical neglect of other conditions like ME-CFS, emphasizing the urgent need for research and funding to understand and address long COVID better.
Research Disparity: It highlights the disparity in research funding for ME/CFS compared to other long-term medical conditions, pointing out a missed opportunity for developing effective treatments due to lack of interest and funding over many years.

Graded Exercise Therapy: Roland discusses the advice given by a GP to gradually increase physical activity, a suggestion that felt wrong to him based on his experiences with physical exertion leading to collapse.
Self-Medication and DIY Treatments:
- Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT): Roland tried using a hyperbaric chamber to increase the oxygen supply to his brain, a therapy based on the belief that long COVID results in insufficient oxygen reaching the brain. This therapy involves a chamber where the pressure is altered to help more oxygen get into the blood and brain.
- Pills and Medications: Roland shares that he tried various pills and medications to treat long COVID, but none worked for him. He warns viewers against self-medicating without proper medical advice.
Health Coaching: Roland found significant help through health coaching, which helped him manage his symptoms better by teaching him to pace his activities properly and not take on too much.

Cautious Optimism: Despite the significant limitations imposed by the condition, Roland expresses cautious optimism, noting that with careful management of his symptoms, he has been able to find a way to live with the condition.
Plea for Support: The video ends with a plea for greater understanding and support for long COVID sufferers, emphasizing the importance of societal awareness and help for those affected.