When Amy Behen received her negative COVID-19 test result, she was excited
to move ahead with her life after several weeks of sore throat, nausea
and severe fatigue.
“I thought ‘OK, great, here we go—done with COVID,’”
says the 43-year-old mother of two.
But her fatigue and shortness of breath never went away and were joined
by a new symptom: brain fog. Multitasking, a skill the working mom had
perfected, was suddenly impossible. “I couldn’t remember even
simple things unless I wrote them down,” she says. “But the
worst part was a fatigue so overwhelming that I literally couldn’t
move off the couch.”
For some like Behen, a negative COVID-19 test doesn’t mean an end
to serious or even debilitating symptoms. Shortness of breath, weakness,
pain, mental fogginess, anxiety and other complications continue to plague
them for weeks or even months. Helping these individuals fully regain
their lives is why Providence St. Jude created the Post-COVID Recovery
Program, one of the few programs of its kind in the state.
The multidisciplinary program brings together experts in areas from physical
therapy to cognitive recovery to create individualized therapies based
on the patient’s specific needs. For Behen, weekly sessions focused
on rebuilding her strength and stamina, restoring normal breathing patterns,
and regaining mental focus and concentration. Sessions covered the gamut,
from working on paced breathing while climbing stairs to practicing staying
relaxed while trying to remember multiple instructions.
Shortly after beginning the program, Behen found her fear and anxiety disappearing.
But it was during her fourth visit to the St. Jude Centers for Rehabilitation
and Wellness that she mentally turned the corner: “For the first
time, I knew for certain I was going to come all the way back,”
she explains. “The expertise and support my therapists brought to
my recovery was amazing: If necessary, they were going to drag me across
the finish line.”
Natalia Covarrubias-Eckardt, MD, medical director of the program, says
Behen’s symptoms are sometimes seen in those who were hospitalized
with COVID-19 as well as those who recovered at home. “The why is
not fully known,” she explains. “Some research indicates the
ACE2 receptor—which is prevalent in the lungs, heart, blood vessels
and GI tract—provides an entry point for the coronavirus. If so,
it would explain why so many organ systems are affected, leaving some
people unable to walk even short distances or complete simple tasks.”
St. Jude’s Post-COVID Recovery Program draws upon the same expertise
that has made the hospital a national leader in areas from cognitive recovery
and chronic pain to cancer rehabilitation. “We don’t know
of another program in the state that offers this level of comprehensiveness
and innovation,” explains Dr. Covarrubias-Eckardt.
Behen says she’s grateful to be off the couch and moving closer every
day to her old self. What is she most looking forward to? “Coaching
my daughter’s softball team this spring—and I plan to lead
the wind sprints.”
The Providence St. Jude Post-COVID Recovery Program requires a physician
referral and is covered by most insurance plans.
Providence St. Jude Also Has a Post-COVID Wellness Program
As a follow-up to the structured Post-COVID Recovery Program or for those
whose symptoms are not severe, a Post-COVID Wellness Program is also available.
This at-home program includes breath work and nutrition strategies to
reduce the inflammation caused by COVID.
The unique 30-day virtual program provides additional help and support
in targeting common COVID-19 side effects while also improving your overall
health. This online program uses daily lessons, videos and classes to
not only continue your progress, but add several new elements to your recovery.
What you’ll learn:
• Research-based breath work to both increase lung function and reduce
anxiety. You’ll start with a virtual private consultation with our
yoga and mindfulness coach and then continue to receive additional recorded
lessons to teach you how to use specific breath exercises to improve breathing
and well-being.
• Nutritional strategies to reduce the inflammation that contributes
to so many COVID-19 side effects as well as other illnesses and diseases.
Videos and lessons include cooking demonstrations, expert nutritional
advice and easy-to-follow recipes.
• Gentle movement and stretching sessions designed and recorded by
our fitness experts to address the specific needs of post-COVID-19 patients.
You can also access dozens of livestreamed and recorded exercise classes
that help address issues from muscle weakness and balance issues to exercising
with painful joints.
Many begin this program while finishing our Post-COVID Rehabilitation Program,
but participating in structured therapy is not required to benefit from
this innovative online program. Anyone can sign up, and no physician referral
is needed. The flat fee of $49 also includes access to all livestreamed
and recorded exercise and nutritional classes offered at the St. Jude
Wellness Center.
To schedule an appointment or learn more about either the Post-COVID Rehabilitation
Program or the Post-COVID Wellness Program, please email [email protected]
or call (714) 578-8770.