How to Talk to your Doctor for Long COVID Assessment

How to talk to your family doctor/physician for Long Covid assessment

Seeing your Family Physician for the first time is a daunting task and frankly you are very likely to be gaslit, but don’t lose heart, persevere as most GPs are kind-hearted dedicated individuals who want to do what is best for their patients. Even medical professionals need educating on occasion!

Our guide below is a great source for preparing you for your first of several all important meetings with your doctor and marks the first step of your road to recovery.

Most Family Physicians in high income countries can facilitate virtual consultations so do not be afraid to ask for this if you are particularly physically disabled and/or bed bound by your Long COVID. In fact if the appointment is booked online, you can forward your GP our “Practical Diagnosis and Management of the Common Symptoms of Long COVID” guide and this assessment so that they are well prepared for your consultation.

Most GP practices have only 10min consultation slots, but if you have a complex condition that you know will take time, explain this at the time of booking and request a “double-slot”, giving you 20mins of time. You still are unlikely to cover all the issues on the list at once, but you will make a good start! It has been calculated that most longhaulers have been to the doctors 27 times before they get a diagnosis. Let’s work together to speed this process up!

Other important references are The Long Covid Handbook by Gez Medinger & Danny Altmann – see chapter 8 “How to Get Others to Help You”

A Guide to Talking to Your Doctor About Long Covid

1. Prepare Your Medical History

Warn your doctor that you realize it will take several visits to sort our all of your symptoms

Date of COVID Infection: Record when you were first diagnosed or suspected to have COVID-19.
List of Major Ailments: Include any significant health conditions you have experienced.
Viral Infections and Dates: Note any other viral infections and their dates.

2. Symptom Logging

Track Symptoms: Maintain a detailed log of your symptoms, including onset dates and duration.
Use a Symptom Checklist: Refer to the comprehensive list below to identify and log your symptoms.

Remember your GP cannot handle all of your symptoms in one setting – prioritise those that are the most disabling to you.

3. Symptoms of Long Covid

Quick -pick Common symptoms:

Common Symptoms:

Neurological Symptoms:

Cardiovascular Symptoms:

Gastrointestinal Symptoms:

Diarrhea
Nausea

Psychological Symptoms:

Full 200 Symptoms for reference

Neurological Symptoms:

Sensorimotor Symptoms

Dizziness/vertigo (balance issues)
Tingling/pins and needles
Tremors
Numbness/loss of sensation
Sensitivity to noise
Tinnitus
Sensation of brain pressure
Neuralgia (nerve pain)
Vibrating sensations
Electrical zaps/electrical shock sensation
Numbness/weakness on one side
Sensation of brain warmth/on fire
Inability to yawn
Inability to cry
Sleep

Insomnia
Waking up several times at night
Waking up by feeling inability to breathe
Vivid dreams
Nightmares
Waking up early in the morning
Restless leg syndrome
Lucid dreams
Sleep apnea
Cognitive Functioning

Brain fog
Poor attention
Difficulty thinking
Difficulty with executive functioning
Difficulty problem-solving
Slowed thoughts
Acute (sudden) confusion
Thoughts moving too quickly
Agnosia
Memory

Short-term memory loss
Long-term memory loss
Forgetting how to do routine tasks
Inability to make new memories
Headaches

Headaches behind the eyes
Diffuse headaches
Headaches in the temples
Headaches at the base of the skull
Headaches/pain after mental exertion
Migraines
Taste and Smell

Loss of smell
Loss of taste
Altered sense of taste
Phantom smells
Altered sense of smell
Phantom taste
Heightened sense of smell
Heightened sense of taste
Speech and Language

Difficulty finding the right words
Difficulty communicating verbally
Changes to non-primary language
Difficulty processing written text
Difficulty comprehending speech
Difficulty speaking
Difficulty communicating in writing
Slurring words/speech
Speaking unrecognizable words
Hallucinations

Visual hallucinations
Auditory hallucinations
Tactile hallucinations

Systemic Symptoms:

Fatigue
Extreme thirst
Elevated temperature (98.8-100.4°F)
Chills/flushing/sweats
Skin sensations
Weakness
Temperature lability
Night sweats
Coldness
Fever (≥100.4°F)
Heat intolerance
Low temperature

Reproductive, Genitourinary, and Endocrine Symptoms:

All menstrual/period issues (menstruating)

Abnormally irregular periods
Abnormally heavy periods/clotting
Other menstrual issues
Sexual dysfunction

Nonbinary
Male (M)
Post-menopausal bleeding (cis women >49)
Pain in testicles (cis men and nonbinary)
Decrease/increase in size of testicles/penis (cis men and nonbinary)
Urinary issues
Bladder control issues

Cardiovascular Symptoms:

Palpitations
Tachycardia
Bradycardia
Pain/burning in chest
Visibly inflamed/bulging veins
Fainting

Musculoskeletal Symptoms:

Muscle aches
Joint pain
Stiff neck
Muscle spasms
Bone ache or burning

Immunological and Autoimmune Symptoms:

Heightened reaction to old allergies
New allergies
New anaphylaxis reaction
Shingles

HEENT (Head, Eyes, Ears, Nose, Throat) Symptoms:

Blurred vision
Vision symptoms
Sensitivity to light
Runny nose
Lump in throat/difficulty swallowing
Dry eyes
Ear pain
Eye pressure or pain
Bloodshot eyes
Changes in the voice
Itchy eyes
Changes to the ear canal
Floaters
Redness on the outside of eyes
Facial pressure/numbness (left side, right side, other)
Facial paralysis
Double vision
Numbness in ear
Tunnel vision
Total loss of vision

Respiratory Symptoms:

Shortness of breath
Dry cough
Breathing difficulty (normal O2 level)
Cough with mucus production
Sneezing
Rattling of breath
Coughing up blood

Gastrointestinal Symptoms:

Diarrhea
Loss of appetite
Nausea
Abdominal pain
Gastroesophageal reflux
Constipation
Hyperactive bowel sensations
Vomiting
Feeling full quickly when eating

Emotion and Mood Symptoms:

Anxiety
Irritability
Depression
Mood lability
Tearfulness
Apathy
Sense of doom
Derealization/Depersonalization
Anger
Impulsivity/Disinhibition
Suicidality
Aggression
Other emotional changes
Euphoria
Hypomania
Delusions
Mania

200 Symptoms:

4. How to Explain Symptoms Clearly

Be Specific: Describe each symptom clearly, including its severity and frequency.
Use Timelines: Mention when each symptom started and how it has progressed.
Impact on Daily Life: Explain how the symptoms are affecting your daily activities and quality of life.

5. Cross-Reference Symptoms

Website Check: Use longcovidtheanswers.com to cross-check your symptoms with typical Long Covid presentations.
Note Individual Variations: Understand that symptoms can vary based on your previous medical history.

6. Refer Your Doctor to a Credible Resource

Educational Resource: longcovidtheanswers.com is a credible Long Covid educational resource, particularly the diagnosis and management part of the site. “The Long Covid Handbook by Gez Medinger & Danny Altmann” particularly chapters 8, 9 and 10.
Professional Development: Inform your doctor that the longcovidtheanswers.com website offers accredited Continued Professional Development (CPD) materials.

7. Tests to ask for: Please see our “Practical Diagnosis and Management of the Common Symptoms of Long COVID” (hyperlink please). Work with your doctor on an agreed range of tests that correlates to your symptoms. Don’t be afraid to ask any tests that they suggest if you don’t understand why.

8. Specialist Referrals

Possible Specialists:

Pulmonologist: For respiratory symptoms like shortness of breath.
Cardiologist: For heart-related symptoms like palpitations.
Neurologist: For neurological symptoms like brain fog.
Gastroenterologist: For digestive symptoms.
Psychiatrist/Psychologist: For psychological symptoms like anxiety and depression.
Selecting Specialists: Refer to the list on longcovidtheanswers.com for suitable specialists in your area