Dr. Marwa Eldik tested positive for COVID-19 in the middle of March. A little more than six months later, she is dealing with a new set of challenges in her recovery. 

Dr. Eldik said that, before her diagnosis, she was a very active person, participating in different kinds of workouts regularly. Now, she experiences extreme fatigue and still has not gained back her full sense of taste or smell.


What You Need To Know

  • Jamaica Hospital Medical Center has created a specialized center to provide post-COVID care in Queens

  • Beginning Sept. 24, medical professionals will treat patients experiencing lingering symptoms from COVID-19

  • For more information or to make an appointment at the post-COVID Care Center, call  718-736-8204

"It is very stressful. It does create some sort of feelings of hopelessness because you wonder when you are going to get back to normal,” said Dr. Eldik.

Dr. Alan Roth is the chairman of Family Medicine at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center.

He said patients like Dr. Eldik are so-called “long haulers,” recovered COVID-19 patients with lingering health problems.

Symptoms include memory, sleep and vision issues, fatigue, shortness of breath and dizziness. 

"The symptoms are vast and diversified,” explained Dr. Roth.

It is referred to as "Long Haulers Syndrome."

According to Dr. Roth, about 75 percent of COVID-19 patients experience some kind of lingering symptoms.

To treat these patients, the hospital has designated a facility to provide post-COVID care.

"It is a little hard to determine how much of this is physical symptoms or maybe emotional symptoms associated with the disease, which is why we are working so closely with out mental health partners,” said Dr. Roth.

A team of primary care doctors, lung specialists and mental health professionals will work out of Hollis Tudors MediSys in Queens to coordinate a recovery plan specific to each long hauler. 

Doctors admit there is some controversy about Long Hauler's Syndrome. Some question whether it really is a problem.

But doctors here say if you had a confirmed case of COVID-19 or even think you had the virus, and you are experiencing long hauler symptoms, you should seek medical help.   

"People are really being effected and, unfortunately, not everyone kind of believes in the symptoms. So it is a little controversial because we don't know enough about about it yet,” added Dr. Roth.

The post-COVID care team will report for its first session from long haulers on Thursday, September 24.

 

They plan to be here weekly, but will reevaluate based on demand for their support services.