Episode 21 - Falling Through the Cracks: Eddie’s Story Part 2

In this episode, Emerson and Jessie continue Eddie’s story. After previously discussing the profound impact of illness on their life in part one, we now follow Eddie through a period of crash, experimentation with new treatments, and important life changes. Following the French classes, Eddie experienced a significant health crash with worsened pain, mobility issues, and PEM before slowly stabilising again. During this time, they began experimenting with several treatments, including low-dose tirzepatide (a GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist), nicotine patches, and propranolol for POTS symptoms. While not curative, Eddie reports improvements in pain, cognitive function, and the severity of post-exertional crashes, alongside side effects that require ongoing management.Beyond treatment, Eddie shares major life updates, including finally receiving permanent residency in Canada. This allows them to access public healthcare and support services after years of medical precarity. They also reflect on rebuilding small parts of daily life, from creative hobbies to simplified routines.Sadly in the time since recording, Eddie’s health has unfortunately worsened again, underscoring the unpredictable and relapsing nature of Long COVID.As May is both Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME or ME/CFS) Awareness Month, we would like to highlight two different charities. The Ehlers Danlos Society is a global organization dedicated to advancing and accelerating research and education in EDS and hypermobility spectrum disorders (HSD). ME Action builds awareness and power to achieve effective and well-funded research, treatment, care, and support for all people with ME. We would appreciate it if you could donate to either charity.Timestamps:[00:00] Introduction[01:17] Crash post French classes[03:19] Use of tirzepatide (a GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist)[15:08] Use of nicotine patches[18:20] Use of propranolol for POTS[19:23] Permanent residency [21:26] Rebuilding self care and finding joy [27:47] Update and closing A written version of this episode and the full transcript are available on our Substack, along with a glossary to help explain commonly used terms.If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe so you don’t miss future episodes of the COVID Longhaulers Podcast.You can also join our Discord server to connect with the community, and find all of our other links here. Please note, that the information provided here is not intended to serve as professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you have health related issues or believe that you are suffering from Long Covid, please contact a qualified health professional to get the personalized assessment, advice and treatment you need. We will not be liable for any direct, indirect or other damages arising from the use of this podcast. The views and opinions expressed by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views of the podcast hosts or team.