Now that you’ve recovered from COVID-19, you may be wondering what steps you should take next. Getting over a COVID-19 infection is a big milestone, but the recovery process doesn’t necessarily end once your symptoms are gone. There are still some important things you need to do after testing positive for COVID-19 to protect your health and prevent spreading the virus to others. This guide will walk you through the key steps to take after recovering from COVID-19.
Get Tested Again
The first thing you’ll want to do is get tested for COVID-19 again. Even once your symptoms are gone, you may still have lingering virus in your system. The CDC recommends testing at least 5 days after your symptoms started and after you’ve gone 24 hours without a fever and your other symptoms have improved. If the test comes back positive again, you’ll need to continue isolating. Once you have a negative test, you can safely end isolation. But even then, take precautions like wearing a mask until 10 days after your symptoms started.
Continue to Isolate
After you’ve tested positive for COVID-19, you need to complete the full recommended isolation period. The CDC says you should isolate from others for at least 10 days from when your symptoms started, and 24 hours after your fever resolves without medication if you’ve had one. They also say to isolate if you’ve tested positive for COVID-19 but don’t develop any symptoms. Continue isolating until you meet both criteria – at least 10 days passed and no fever for 24 hours. Staying isolated will prevent you from accidentally spreading COVID-19 to others.
Monitor Your Symptoms
Keep monitoring your symptoms and watch for any new ones. While most people start to recover within a week or two, some people experience “long-haul COVID” effects that persist for months. Make sure to take note of any ongoing or new symptoms like fatigue, brain fog, cough, headaches, muscle aches, joint pain, shortness of breath, chest pain, depression or anxiety. Call your doctor if symptoms get worse or you have concerns about your ongoing recovery. Ongoing monitoring ensures you get the right care if you start to experience complications or new COVID-19 symptoms arise.
Follow Up with Your Doctor
Check in with your doctor after recovering from COVID-19. Your doctor can make sure you’re recovering fully and don’t have continuing effects from the virus. They can also advise if you need to take any additional medications or pursue medical care like pulmonary rehabilitation for severe lung infections. If you have ongoing health problems or symptoms, your doctor can help manage those issues. They can also determine if you qualify for COVID-19 treatments like Paxlovid or monoclonal antibodies to reduce your risk of severe disease if you get infected again.
Consider Getting a Heart Test
Some studies have found a higher risk of heart complications like myocarditis up to 3 months after a COVID-19 infection. If you had moderate to severe COVID-19, your doctor may recommend follow-up heart tests to check for heart damage or inflammation. Tests can include bloodwork to check cardiac enzyme levels, a heart MRI or a stress test. Getting your heart checked ensures any problems get treated.
Watch for Signs of Blood Clots
COVID-19 also increases the risk of blood clots and pulmonary embolisms. Be aware of potential signs like:
- Swelling, redness and pain in the arms or legs
- Shortness of breath or chest pain
- Racing heart rate or palpitations
- Severe, persisting headaches
- Blurry vision
- Bruising easily
Call your doctor or seek emergency care if you notice any of these symptoms. Prompt treatment of blood clots prevents complications like pulmonary embolisms. Your doctor can also advise screening tests if you’re at high risk.
Do Pulmonary Exercises
If you had pneumonia or severe lung symptoms with COVID-19, your doctor may recommend follow-up pulmonary rehabilitation. Pulmonary rehab involves exercises supervised by specialists to help strengthen your lungs and breathing after COVID-19. It includes endurance and strength training tailored to your needs. Pulmonary rehab helps people recovering from lung infections or respiratory illnesses regain function. Ask your doctor if it could aid your recovery.
Consider Occupational Therapy
COVID-19 often causes fatigue, muscle weakness and deconditioning due to long periods of inactivity while sick. Occupational therapy can help rebuild endurance, strength and your ability to perform daily activities. Occupational therapists work with you on exercises, adaptive devices and energy management techniques. If you are very fatigued or deconditioned, occupational therapy may optimize your recovery.
Address Changes in Mental Health
It’s common to experience new or worsening mental health issues after getting COVID-19. Anxiety, depression, mood changes and sleep problems are some of the possible effects. Fatigue and brain fog after COVID can also take a toll on mental health. Don’t ignore these issues – talk to a mental health professional so you can get the best care and support. Counseling and medications can help manage COVID-related mental health problems.
Consider Speech Therapy
Some people experience vocal cord dysfunction or voice changes after a COVID-19 infection. If your voice sounds different, you have hoarseness or speech problems, check in with your primary care doctor. They may recommend seeing a speech therapist for rehabilitation. Speech therapy involves vocal exercises to regain normal function. This therapy helps rehabilitate muscles involved in speech that may have weakened after prolonged intubation or other viral effects.
Address Any Swallowing Issues
Difficulty swallowing, or dysphagia, can happen after severe COVID-19 infections that required intubation or led to neurological problems. Swallowing trouble increases your risk of choking or aspirating food into the lungs. See your doctor if you notice any new problems swallowing solids or liquids. If you have dysphagia, your doctor may prescribe swallow therapy. Specialists can help strengthen your oral and throat muscles while teaching you proper swallowing techniques.
Attend Follow-Up Appointments
Your doctor will likely want to see you for follow-up appointments after being hospitalized for COVID-19 or having moderate to severe infection. Follow-up appointments help monitor your condition, ensure you’re recovering well and check for long-term complications. If you have ongoing health issues after COVID, your doctor will need to continue seeing you regularly for care. Attend every follow-up appointment as your doctor recommends.
Get Recommended Medical Tests
Along with follow-up appointments, your doctor may order tests to check your general recovery and monitor for organ damage or other complications. Chest x-rays, CT scans, kidney function tests, liver function tests, blood counts and clotting tests are some examples. Undergo all recommended medical tests after COVID-19. These tests spot any problems and ensure they get treated properly.
Change your Lifestyle Habits
Recovering from COVID-19 is a good time to address any unhealthy lifestyle habits. Making positive changes can optimize your health and protect against severe infections if you get COVID-19 again. Quit smoking and improve your diet by focusing on whole foods and getting enough nutrients. Stay hydrated, exercise regularly, lose weight if needed and address any chronic health conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure. Getting enough sleep is also key.
Consider Taking Supplements
Some supplements may help with COVID-19 recovery by reducing inflammation, improving immunity and fighting viral infection. Talk to your doctor before taking any new supplements. Some that may help include:
- Vitamin D
- Zinc
- Vitamin C
- Probiotics
- NAC (N-Acetyl Cysteine)
- Quercetin
- Melatonin
Strong immune function and controlling inflammation aids post-COVID recovery. A nutritious diet with anti-inflammatory foods is also beneficial.
Avoid Reinfection
You can catch COVID-19 again even after recovering. Reinfections tend to be milder but are still possible. To avoid reinfection:
- Get vaccinated and stay up to date on boosters.
- Continue precautions like masking, distancing and handwashing.
- Avoid high-risk exposures to sick people.
- Consider continuing isolation if living with someone sick.
- Talk to your doctor about preventive treatments if high risk.
Preventing re-exposure reduces your risk of reinfection. Vaccines also strengthen immune memory against COVID-19 for better protection.
Watch Out for Post-Viral Complications
While most people recover fully, some develop lasting complications after COVID-19:
- Lung scarring or reduced lung function
- Heart problems like arrhythmias, heart failure or weakening of the heart muscle
- Blood vessel damage
- Kidney problems
- Neurological complications like loss of smell, headaches, brain fog, neuropathy
- Mental health disorders like depression or anxiety
- Chronic fatigue, muscle weakness or post-exertional malaise
- Blood clotting issues
See your doctor if you experience any symptoms that suggest these complications. Prompt treatment can help manage complications and prevent them from getting worse. Stay vigilant about new or persistent symptoms and follow up accordingly.
Expect Ongoing Fatigue
Expect to feel very fatigued after COVID – most people do. Post-viral fatigue from infection is normal. Listen to your body and rest when needed. Get lots of sleep and slowly increase activity at a comfortable pace. Balance rest with light movement and exercise within your limits. Hydrate well and eat nutrient-rich foods. Allow yourself time to fully recover before resuming your normal schedule and activities.
Consider Following Up with Specialists
If you had severe COVID-19 complications that affected a certain organ system or part of your body, getting follow-up care from relevant specialists is wise. For example, follow up with a cardiologist for heart problems, pulmonologist for lung infections or neurologist for neurological symptoms. Specialists can provide focused care to help you fully recover in their area of expertise. Don’t neglect follow-up specialty care if needed.
Don’t Ignore Ongoing Symptoms
Many people continue battling symptoms like fatigue, brain fog, headaches, joint pain and shortness of breath long after an initial COVID-19 infection. These “long COVID” symptoms should not be ignored. See your doctor to develop a care plan for managing lingering effects of COVID-19. Pacing your activities, symptom management, medications, supplements, breathing exercises, physical therapy and occupational therapy can help overcome ongoing issues.
Adjust Activity Levels Gradually
The severe fatigue after COVID-19 means you’ll need to take it easy and adjust activity levels gradually. Start with brief light movement like walking around your home. Build back up to your regular activity level incrementally. Don’t overexert yourself too soon. Listen to your body and go back to resting if fatigued. Build in plenty of rest breaks. Pace yourself so you continue improving without causing crashes in energy.
Join a Post-COVID Rehab Program
Working with specialists in a tailored post-COVID rehabilitation program can optimize your recovery. These intensive programs include multiple types of therapy to aid recovery under medical supervision. Services can address lung function, heart health, neurological issues, mental health effects, general mobility and nutrition. Post-COVID rehab helps coordinate care and provides support. Ask your doctor for a referral.
Consider a Restorative Yoga Class
Gentle restorative yoga can aid post-COVID recovery through light movement paired with breathwork and meditation. Restorative yoga supports relaxation, eases anxiety, improves lung function and reduces fatigue. Classes use props like blocks and bolsters to support the body in restful poses rather than intense yoga flows. If you’re very fatigued, restorative yoga is ideal for starting some movement.
Improve Breathing Techniques
COVID-19 often impairs breathing function and lung capacity. Work on deep breathing exercises and techniques to retrain your breathing muscles and open up the lungs. Try pursed lip breathing, belly breathing, inhaling through the nose and exhaling through the mouth. Use breathing devices like incentive spirometers if prescribed. If you had lung damage, work on breathing exercises consistently to improve function.
Ask About Medications
Talk to your doctor about any medications that could support your COVID-19 recovery. Options may include:
- Inhalers to open your airways if you had respiratory symptoms.
- Heart medications like beta blockers or ACE inhibitors if you had cardiac involvement.
- Anticoagulants or antiplatelet medications to prevent blood clots.
- Supplemental oxygen to improve oxygen saturation.
Medications can treat ongoing symptoms, reduce complications and optimize your overall recovery. Discuss options with your healthcare provider.
Consider Pulmonary Rehab
Pulmonary rehabilitation programs help restore lung function after COVID-19 through exercise training and support services. These programs aim to improve respiratory fitness and ability to perform daily activities. If you had pneumonia or lung complications with COVID-19, your doctor may prescribe pulmonary rehab. The tailored exercises and therapy help strengthen your lungs and breathing.
Talk to a Therapist
Many people face new mental health challenges like depression, anxiety and PTSD after a COVID-19 infection. Connecting with a therapist or counselor provides support. Therapists also teach healthy coping strategies for managing stress, fear, grief over health changes and other emotions. If you’re struggling, don’t go it alone – therapy can help you process the difficult experience of having COVID-19.
Avoid Added Stress
Focus on avoiding added stress as you recover. Don’t take on big new projects or responsibilities. Reduce commitments where possible. Set small, manageable goals each day. Make time for relaxing activities like reading, spending time outdoors or taking baths. Let friends and family help out with household tasks. Prioritize your needs to avoid burnout or fatigue during recovery.
Join an Online Support Group
Online COVID-19 support groups let you connect with others recovering from the virus. Support groups reduce isolation, provide encouragement and give a place to share experiences. Seeing others overcome COVID-19 complications reminds you that recovery is possible. Try looking locally or searching social media for COVID-19 support groups to join.
Consider Adaptive Devices
Using adaptive devices and equipment can help overcome any physical limitations you’re experiencing after COVID-19. Options like canes, walkers, raised toilet seats, shower chairs, hand rails and mobility scooters improve safety and make activities easier if you have fatigue or weakness. Your medical team can recommend devices tailored to your needs. Many adaptive aids are available online or in-store.
Practice Energy Management
Extreme fatigue often plagues people recovering from COVID-19. Learning energy management skills helps prevent over-exertion that can set back your recovery. Track your energy levels at different times and rest before hitting fatigue. Space out activities and alternate between rest and periods of activity. Let others help with tasks when possible. Listen to your body’s limits and take frequent breaks. Prioritizing rest restores energy levels faster.
Keep a Consistent Routine
As much as possible, aim to stick to a consistent daily routine as you recover from COVID-19. Having a routine gives structure and helps ensure you get enough restorative sleep, healthy food, social connection and light movement. Routines help manage fatigue, anxiety, depression and motivation issues. Make your routine realistic for your energy levels. Adjust the schedule as needed, but keep it consistent day to day.
Ask for Help from Family and Friends
Don’t be afraid to ask family, friends and neighbors for help while you recover. Most people are happy to pick up groceries, drop off meals, help with chores or drive you to appointments. Support from loved ones eases stress and allows you to focus energy on getting well. Let people know what they can do to best help you during this time.
Be Patient with Yourself
Recovery from COVID-19 takes time, especially if the illness was severe. Be patient with yourself and understand progress will come slowly at first. Honor your body’s healing process without frustration over lingering symptoms and activity limitations. Every small step of progress is positive. Remind yourself how far you’ve already come. Patience allows your body and mind to heal fully.
Conclusion
Recovering after COVID-19 requires care and patience. Follow isolation guidelines, monitor symptoms, stay under a doctor’s care, lower stress, take preventive measures, address new physical or mental limitations, gradually increase activity, and listen to your body. While COVID-19 recovery can be prolonged, these self-care steps help ensure you regain health safely. Remember, every victory along the way brings you closer to feeling like yourself again.