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Having hope through the hardship: 22-year-old-Genesee County woman describes her struggles 17 months after being diagnosed with COVID

Written by Tanya Terry

22-year-old Cassidy Brinker survived COVID-19, but has been diagnosed with steroidal-based asthma. She was recently diagnosed with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome in August, which is known as POTS and continues to affect her life tremendously.

“They decided that was the main cause of everything that has been happening,” Brinker said. “Asthma is severe, and that is a major issue. But, all of the collapsing I’ve experienced, all the chest pain and all that I’ve ever experienced for the last almost a year and a half now has been that and it’s just been overlooked.”

Some researchers believe that coronavirus can be a trigger for POTS, as an increased number of people who recovered from COVID-19 are now experiencing POTS-like symptoms, such as brain fog, tachycardia (increased heart rate) and severe chronic fatigue, according to John Hopkins Medicine.

“Essentially, it means your heart speeds up faster than it should, and it causes your blood pressure to plummet,” Brinker said. “So, you get dizzy and end up collapsing because you basically bottom out and your heart rate can’t maintain your blood pressure.”

Over the last year, Brinker has collapsed at least two to three times a week. So, this went on a long time before the doctors figured out what was happening. She has also been going to the Ascension Genesys Hospital Emergency Department at least once a week. Recently, while at her friend’s wedding, Brinker describes her ankles as being “much larger than her legs,” her face was pink and she could barely breathe. So, she ended up having to lie on the floor and be nursed by participants in the wedding.

When she had COVID, she experienced shortness of breath and coughing-both of which she still experiences to this day. When she gets exhausted, she develops a fever. She also gets chills very easily now. When she collapsed during COVID, it was due to lack of oxygen. So, she was originally told the problem was with her lungs, and not her heart.

Brinker’s main doctors are currently a pulmonologist, specializing in the respiratory system and a cardiologist, specializing in treating diseases of the cardiovascular system.

“I’ve seen 10 doctors over this last year and went through lots of tests. We finally just figured it out, and that’s the most stressful thing ever!”

Brinker is going to be trying a new medication for her heart called propanolol. While on it, she must check her blood pressure three times a day. She had already been taking dupixent injections for her asthma every two weeks. Her next step is physical therapy.

“What’s happened is I basically have decomposed. It basically means that because I have been so sick, all of my muscles and body functions have given up. I’ve lost any type of endurance I had. So, I need to go to physical therapy to slowly build it back up and do it safely.”

Brinker is in the process of reapplying to get disability income, and she is being supported by her mother.

Although the doctor’s report has not been 100% positive, Brinker is maintaining hope that her condition will get better as soon as possible.

Prior to Brinker getting COVID, there was no vaccine available, but she is now fully vaccinated.

“I think it’s really important for people to get the shot and for people who get COVID, or even people who don’t, to make sure you have a support group and people to talk to even if it’s just on Facebook or it’s just a friend to text once a week because that’s what gets you through this time.”

 

 

 

 

 

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