WAUWATOSA, Wis.—Dan Storey still struggles to breathe everyday. The marathon runner is now part of another group. COVID long haulers, a group he never wanted to be in.
“I’m part of several support groups, some on Reddit and some on YouTube,” he said. “We share what we’re going through symptom-wise and what our doctors tell us.”
Not able to run more than a few miles per week now, Dan said the mental toll of long-haul COVID is just as difficult as the physical one.
“Before I contracted COVID, I was able to run double-digit miles without any issues,” Dan said. “It has a bit of a depressing feeling and it’s hard to get over mentally that I can’t do what I was once able to do.”
His last 25-mile run was back in 2019.
“It feels like a lifetime ago,” he said. “That seems like an impossible task at this point.”
Dan tested positive for COVID in August of 2020. His case was mild and he recovered, so he thought.
Over the next few months, he realized his battle with the virus was far from over.
A year and a half later, Dan still struggles daily with brain fog, fatigue, shortness of breath and short-term memory loss.
“The brain fog and short-term memory loss have improved, but they’re still not 100%,” he said. “I still forget things and can’t find the correct words I want to use.”
The most unnerving side-effect of long haul COVID for Dan came in November of 2020.
He found out he had blood clots in his legs and lungs. The clots are reoccurring and have forced Dan to go on blood thinners sporadically.
His doctor said he may have to use blood thinners therapeutically for the rest of his life.
It makes running not only difficult, but potentially deadly.
“I’m kind of scared to run,” he said. “I’m scared of falling because I’m on blood thinners.”
Dan took a hard fall during the last ice storm that hit southeastern Wisconsin.
That’s dangerous for someone like him, as it could cause internal bleeding for a person on blood thinners.
Despite all he has to cope with, Dan has hope that he will someday be symptom-free.
“I’m still grateful to be able to do basic tasks,” Dan said. “I know there are people who are suffering much worse, so I’m happy I’m able to do what I can do.”
One of his favorite parts of the day is taking his dog, Jet, for a walk.
Jet is a pandemic puppy, gifted to Dan by his wife, Kim.
“Jet was a get-well gift after I was diagnosed with blood clots,” Dan said. “He has given me motivation to go out for walks and exercise more.”
The two go out for walks everyday. On these one to two-mile walks, Dan thinks of all the other COVID long-haulers who are coping.
“Keep your head up,” he said. “It’s a long road, but there are a bunch of us out here and we’ll get through this together.”
Dan said his doctor told him COVID clots affect 10-15% of people who have had the virus.