– I have never been sick before, says Christophe O. Samijn as he welcomes us in the car park in front of the restaurant he runs in Stavanger. But almost two years ago, the 50-year-old contracted covid, and after that he has never recovered. – The head wants, but not the body, he says. Samijn has worked in the restaurant industry since he was 14 years old. – I’m used to giving everything 24 hours a day, but now I’m going full speed, he says as he shows us the way into the historic premises in Kleivå in Stavanger. – The understanding among those closest to me means a lot. Then I don’t have to think about it, says Christophe O. Samijn. Photo: Ole Andreas Bø / news He runs one of two restaurants there with his partner. At times he has been bedridden and partly on sick leave. He has chronic fatigue, constant pain in his muscles and brain fog. – The pain in the muscles means that I don’t sleep at night either. It is extremely difficult to live the way I do now. But I never give up, he says clearly with two underlines. Long covid What are the late effects of covid-19? For most people, covid-19 is a mild and transitory illness, but some suffer persistent problems beyond the acute phase. Such long-lasting symptoms have previously been reported after a number of other infections, and it is therefore not surprising that some people experience late effects after covid-19. Common symptoms Among people with covid-19 who were not admitted to hospital, the most commonly reported symptoms 6-12 months after the illness are: Impaired memory Altered sense of taste and/or smell Fatigue/tiredness Impaired ability to think and concentrate (so-called ” brain fog”) Heavy breathing Source: FHI – People have asked if I have retired Up until now he has managed to keep the wheels turning at both restaurants. – I would not have managed without Annelin’s help, impossible in fact. It has meant everything. I can say that with 100 percent certainty. In addition, they receive help from hired staff and other family members. – My social life has been completely put aside, so that I can do my job as well as I can. After that, there is no strength left. – There are friends who have asked if I have retired, who have pointed out how unsociable I have become. But I have to prioritize. He has sought help and treatment in the health care system, but says he is only told that it will pass, but may take time. – It is difficult to deal with. But I have to believe it. – It is extremely difficult to live the way I do now, says Christophe O. Samijn. Photo: Ole Andreas Bø / news He finds himself between two chairs. – It feels a bit like you’ve got cancer, but then the healthcare system doesn’t know what to do with you. Wants to bust the myth of imagination He is not alone. According to a new large international study (external link), long covid affects 10 percent of everyone who has had corona globally to varying degrees. In addition, there are dark figures. Now Christophe O. Samijn is one of fifty patients with long covid who are taking part in a Norwegian research study. The study will try to find the reason why someone gets the disease. Today, there is little knowledge about long covid. There is also no treatment. – What is absolutely certain is that long covid is not imaginary, but has a biological cause, says Roald Omdal, senior physician and professor emeritus at Stavanger University Hospital. Roald Omdal, senior physician and professor emeritus at Stavanger University Hospital, leads the long covid study which will find the reason why some people get it and others don’t. Photo: Odin Omland / news Exhaustion, brain fog with memory loss and thought disorders are common to many. Some have been bedridden for weeks, others for months. Almost everyone has been partially or completely on sick leave for over half a year. – For these patients, it is a great psychological trauma to have a condition like this. There are often people who have worked in demanding positions, who have been disabled and dropped out of working life, says Omdal. The patients in the study must give blood samples and record symptoms. The findings are to be compared with people who have had corona, but who have not subsequently contracted long covid. Ingeborg Kvivik, bioengineer, SUS, is one of several professionals working on the study. Here she drips drops of blood plasma into small containers. Blood plasma comes from one of the many participants in the study who has chronic covid. Photo: Odin Omland / news – We want to break the myth of imagination. – Costing society dearly Omdal believes that long covid has become a significant problem in the wake of the pandemic. – This applies both in terms of medical costs and reduced quality of life for those affected. But also significantly higher sickness absence than before the pandemic. Therefore, he believes that it is important to get a scientific explanation of what long covid is, which holds up. – As the situation is now, there are countless strong opinions and claims about what long covid is. Everything from the fact that this is an ongoing viral infection to the reactivation of a virus that is in the body, or other things, says Omdal. Bioengineer Ingeborg Kvivik checks the blood samples, which are well stored in a freezer at minus 70 degrees. Here are hundreds of different blood samples from the patients who are part of the long covid study. Photo: Odin Omland / news Gene confusion – turned on, but not by The researcher believes that long covid is a form of post-viral fatigue. It is a condition that some people develop after they have been through a viral infection. – Most people who get this become very ill. They become exhausted, get brain fog, pain in the body, reduced appetite and thirst, for example. Eventually the virus disappears from the body. Many recover, except for some who continue to have this for years afterwards. This is called post-viral fatigue. – We believe that long covid is exactly the same, i.e. that it is a reaction to a viral infection. Now they are looking for these markers that can strengthen this theory. Omdal believes that the reason why someone gets a reaction after a viral infection is a disturbance in the genes. Blood samples in a row from patients with long covid. These must be checked against people who did not get long covid after being sick with corona. Photo: Odin Omland / news – There are different variants of genes in people. These variations usually work perfectly. They make sure to kill and eliminate the virus, and at the same time give a feeling of sickness and fatigue. Basically, this is a favorable reaction for the sick body. In some people, however, these genes are not turned off after the virus is eliminated, and therefore the feeling of illness continues. Want more research The Norwegian Covid Association is very happy that Norwegian researchers are also starting to look more at the biological processes behind long covid. Brita Scheid Bjørnstad is head of the Norwegian Covid Association. Photo: Jan-Erik Wilthil / news – Several biological discoveries in various systems in the body are repeated in the long covid research. World-leading Yale researchers, for example, have identified four biological root causes which they are in the process of studying in more detail, says head of the Norwegian Covid-19 Association Brita S. Bjørnstad. The Long covid researcher believes that the Norwegian health authorities must seize the room for action now. Now is the opportunity to learn more about the aftermath of the corona pandemic. Superintendent Omdal himself has received money from various private foundations, as well as some from the public sector. – We hope that the authorities see the need to step up research into long covid, and that they will consider earmarking money for this purpose. According to the health authorities, they are concerned with obtaining more knowledge about late effects after corona. – We will probably gain more knowledge about the late effects of covid-19 in the time to come, says deputy director of the communications unit in the Ministry of Health and Care, Andreas Keus. Andreas Keus, Deputy Director of the Communications Unit in the Ministry of Health and Care. Photo: HOD He points out that the Ministry of Health and Care has taken the initiative for a Nordic collaboration on knowledge and treatment of patients with long-term symptoms after a covid-19 infection. – We hope that gene therapy will help in the future. The goal is to find methods that can affect genes so that this can be turned off again and can continue to function as before, says senior doctor Omdal. – One hypothesis is that genes that contribute to the formation and regulation of fatigue are not switched off after the infection is over, says Roald Omdal, senior physician and professor emeritus at Stavanger University Hospital. Photo: colourbox The research project will last three to five years, and it can be extended if the researchers find other interesting tracks to go into. Hope new tablet can prevent long covid – It’s over Christophe O. Samijn tries to be positive, and jokes with the symptoms he has. – A good mood is medicine, and it’s free. But it has cost. – My social life has been completely put aside, so that I can do my job as well as I can, says Christophe O. Samijn. Photo: Ole Andreas Bø / news – It is extremely cumbersome to live like this. It eats away, and the body is so tired, he says as he watches as his roommate places crystal glasses on the tables in the restaurant. This evening they are hosting a memorial service. Fortunately, he has a good GP. – The most important thing is that I have someone who believes in what I say, that I have not ended up in a place where they doubt me. In addition, I have Annelin, she sees with her own eyes how I feel. It has everything to say. – What is it like to be a relative? – It hurts to see, and I feel sorry for him. The frustration that he can’t do what he wants is difficult. It will also be a lot of work for me. – It hurts to see, and I feel sorry for him, says his roommate Annelin Boman. Photo: Ole Andreas Bø / news – But this will be good, we are not there for the world to collapse, Samijn counters. – Things have been put on hold a little, and are going a little slower than they should have done, but we will get there. That’s for sure, he says with an optimistic smile. Yesterday he went to bed at half past five, and never later than nine. – In addition, I have to have patience, but I have very little of that. I believe that when I have rested for a day, it is all over. But then I go right on a bang again. Nevertheless, he is stepping up a bit now, and sees an end to the illness. He sees an end to the disease. Photo: Ole Andreas Bø / news – I still have to do a bit of planning, so that I can stay in the job until I’m eighty, he concludes with a laugh.
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Norwegian study to find the cause of long covid – news Rogaland – Local news, TV and radio
