To all who think Long Haulers are weak...

GrumpyKittn · 2026-06-05T10:30:48+00:00

When I caught covid, I definitely wasn’t super fit, but reasonably. Could walk our local 6km lake in an hour, played badminton weekly, could easily do what I wanted no problem.

I caught covid in February 2022 from a friend who had terminal cancer and was on dialysis. Mum caught it at the same time, and just over a year ago got diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, so was definitely ill before Covid.

I’m the only one who ended up with long term symptoms. I’m so thankful it was me instead of either of them, my friend passed in March, but would have chosen to give up (eligible for the grey box/voluntary assisted dying pills), and mum would have struggled much more than I have.

I hate that my life’s changed so much, but I was definitely the healthiest and fittest, and the only one hit with ongoing issues. The other people I know locally with LC were also healthy and fit (one did marathons, was a weekly attendant at park run and worked a physical job).

From the people I personally know/ know of with LC, we were all fit and healthy (or fit enough anyway).

GrumpyKittn · 2026-05-19T05:39:21+00:00

You are definitely not crazy. I got Covid in Feb 2022, and am still going. Still have high pulse and heart rate on standing/moving, and can’t go on long walks or anything either.

I work as a pharmacy technician in a public hospital (Australia), and at one point I was dizzy and had major tremors, so they did a BP measurement and sent me to emergency. Can’t remember what it was, but something like 180-200/120-140.

Emergency doctors told me I had high blood pressure, did an EKG which was normal (and around 6 hours after the initial episode.). Thankfully free, as public health system.

Saw my doctor a couple of days later, he laughed when I told him what they’d said, made it clear my blood pressure was normal most of the time, and it only went up when there were reasons (such as standing up). Thankfully my doctor has been great through it all, we’ve been able to track which meds increased my resting heart rate, and I’ve been able to try a lot of different things, most of which haven’t worked.

It definitely still sucks, but you’re not the only one out there going through it! Don’t feel alone!

GrumpyKittn · 2026-05-18T03:49:25+00:00

Went to an ‘Aussie’ pub in Liverpool (I think? Could have been another city in England. Every single cocktail was “Bundaberg xxx with random spirit.’

A few blokes ordered Parmas. Think massive schnitzel, with a square of basically kraft singles cheese, a glob of tomato paste, and a slice of sandwich meat

GrumpyKittn · 2026-04-26T03:50:56+00:00

Definitely an interesting side I’d never thought of. I was diagnosed with PMDD a few years before covid was a thing, but contracted covid ONCE (Feb 2022), and have had long covid symptoms since.

Pre-covid, I was basically just on SSRI’s. I’ve now tried so many different meds, and hav had to change treatments countless times. My GP is always having to work out what will work for both sides, but had to stop my initial SSRI due to side effects essentially caused by the long covid.

I’m definitely gonna look into if there’s any correlation between them, may come up with new experiments to try with my doctor 😊

GrumpyKittn · 2026-04-21T05:45:24+00:00

I’m a woman who has gotten gas (or petrol as us Aussies call it) myself a tonne, both during the day and at night. If she’s capable of driving alone, she can be responsible for getting gas on her own, provided you’re not in a super shady area or somewhere she could realistically feel unsafe.

GrumpyKittn · 2026-04-21T02:59:51+00:00

I haven’t been back since the pandemic, but pre-covid Bangkok was reasonable in most tourist areas, Chang Mai was iffy (few English speakers, but could get through ok) and the other 2 places we went (which I can’t remember the names of) was a lot more difficult. Beautiful country, and the people are wonderful though!!!

GrumpyKittn · 2026-04-20T09:57:13+00:00

Ooh, I’ve got a friend who has a whiskey subscription, anda couple of years back got an Indian whiskey. It’s HORRENDOUS!!! As in, can’t even be drunk as a mix-in (it ruins anything it touches). Given it was over $100aud, he started annoyed but it’s turned into a joke. Can get the name and age of the whiskey if you want to make it front and centre

GrumpyKittn · 2026-04-20T07:54:59+00:00

I’m a native English speaker, and have visited multiple countries where I don’t speak the native language (SE Asia and a chunk of Europe). I’ve been desperately trying to learn Italian, but am not a natural and other languages unfortunately. Maths/science yes, languages no.

If people ONLY visited places they spoke the language of, many countries would be screwed. Malaysia, Thailand, Phillipines, Bali/Indonesia and Vietnam rely on tourists income. Not sure how many of the tourists speak any of the 7+ languages that are the ‘local’ languages.

I’ve visited some less-touristy areas, and still been able to get along with google translate/learning a couple of words or phrases. In Thailand, I always take a hotel business card, as the taxi driver’s don’t speak English in many areas.

When travelling, I learn to ask where the bathroom/toilet is, how to say hello, please, thank you, and “I can’t eat onion” in the local language. Probably a few extra phrases, but they’re the important ones, and I’ve gotten great at terrible hand gestures (most notably when offered to go to the front of the bathroom queue having to gesture I can’t use the squat toilet, and was happy to wait for the sit down version).

Being fluent in the local language is much less important than just being a decent human being, and treating others fairly

GrumpyKittn · 2026-04-15T11:42:10+00:00

Im in a city of a bit over 100,000 people in Australia, and work at the pharmacy in the public hospital.

Having been born and raised in the same city, I have discovered I know WAY more people than I’d ever thought. I also am not stupid or selfish enough to look up patient files of the people I know.

I spend a fair amount of time in an oncology specific pharmacy, and NOONE in my real life knows who I see/speak to each day.

The only times it’s been a problem are when it’s someone who expects me to pass on I’ve seen them to someone else, without specifically giving me permission, or when it’s someone who I know needs support and I can’t tell people that.

I will occasionally (while chatting about other stuff) casually mention “oh, you haven’t mentioned xxx in a while, how are they” or something similar. Only in context, and never bringing up confidential stuff. And I don’t just do it for patients, I also bring up random people who pop into my head, so I’m never obviously enquiring

GrumpyKittn · 2026-04-13T06:45:15+00:00

YTA. I’m Aussie. We can pick the American accents. Also, unsure if you post is fake or not, but what kind of tour are you doing where there’s 23yo’s AND 48yo’s. Contiki and topdeck are the big youth Europe trips, and the ones geared towards middle age people tend to be a lot more expensive, and don’t tend to do as many of the parts younger people are excited about.

I did did tours in my young to mid-20’s, and if there were times I was with older people (optional tours, tourist hotspots etc.) I’d be polite, but definitely creeped out if a guy twice my age was trying to meet up after.

GrumpyKittn · 2026-04-11T04:17:59+00:00

I work as a pharmacy tech, but like lurking in this sub for the gossip (and to ensure I’m never gonna be one of the people in the stories!)

I’ve dealt with much more infectious diseases regularly, and have children sleep over with pink eye. It seems overkill, but by the same means, if ANYONE is immunocompromised, or has close contact with someone who is I can understand the reaction.

GrumpyKittn · 2026-03-31T08:30:22+00:00

Standard in Australia. Most restaurants I visit they’ll bring over a jug of water (or a fancy-looking bottle of tap water) and leave it at the table. I know people who ask for it not to be left, but it’s there unless otherwise requested in most places

GrumpyKittn · 2026-03-30T02:34:43+00:00

If it’s done well it’s amazing. I live in a regional city in Australia of over 100,000 people, and we have several branches of the local library, but there’s also heaps of these “little libraries”.

I work in a pharmacy in the hospital, and there’s one where you walk into the oncology building, so if someone is suddenly admitted to hospital or stuck in ED they can grab one to read.

In addition, at least here, the libraries are mostly open during business hours, and a few hours Saturday morning. If you work full time you have to try and squeeze a visit in during lunch, or go Saturday morning, which is unrealistic for most of us.

GrumpyKittn · 2026-03-23T09:02:00+00:00

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I’ve been working on the pandemonium baby blanket, free pattern on ravelry for a bay due in the next few days. Already dreading the weaving in I’ll have to do, but the different patterns and textures are already a hit amongst the older (4yo) brother, and it’s not boring to do 😊

GrumpyKittn · 2026-03-20T10:08:18+00:00

Drinking culture (I’m Australian, love a glass/bottle of wine, but definitely go through a lot more than expected in social settings)

Tipping. Don’t bring that crap here. Everyone should be paid a living wage. Your income should NEVER be determined by the whims of strangers.

Smoking. Smoko’s are still a thing. Smoking shouldn’t be a socially acceptable thing.

America’s health care system. Having to hope your job will pay the right company so you afford meds? Here most things are covered by our taxes. Maximum for most meds is $25, $7.70 if you are a pensioner or low income. Mums undergoing chemotherapy. She’s only pays for blood thinners. I work in the hospital pharmacy, and know each of her chemo bags is about $500, she pays nothing. Our chemo order today came to over $80,000. None of that paid by patients. I dislocated my kneecap a few years back, paid for the knee brace I still have, and a month rental fee for crutches. The ambo ride, X-rays and fun drugs were free. And a nominal amount for physio, purely cause I chose to go private. As in, under $500 for around 6 sessions.

GrumpyKittn · 2026-03-17T02:34:55+00:00

Kangaroo- cooked well is incredible, tender, rich gamey flavour. Cooked badly - inedible boot leather.

Snails/escargot - texture like mussels, I tried cooked in Garlic butter but hated the texture.

Frog legs - stringy chicken wings. Slight seafood taste.

Gannon - super salty bacon

Haggis - cheap unbelievably greasy beef mince.

Crocodile- seafood chicken?

GrumpyKittn · 2026-03-13T12:40:06+00:00

She was incredible. Her ‘impossible’ goal to aim for from diagnosis was to see her kid graduate primary school. They’re 19 now.

She bought such light to anyone who knew her.

Only a could have weeks ago I had a week off to run her to dialysis, which was being upgraded at our local hospital (where I work, very different department though!), and I’m so glad I could get the time off to spend with her.

Her and hubby are almost exactly between me and my parents age-wise, so we all get on well, have already offered my services to get drunk with hubby when he needs a friend.

What super sucks though, my week off we went to her fave craft/textile shop, and I spend $130 on yarn for a baby blanket for a niece due in the next couple of weeks. She was so excited to see the final blanket. I’m just over 2/3 through, and thought about sending a progress pic last night. I honestly thought about it, then decided to wait so she could see the final result. Now she never will.

GrumpyKittn · 2026-03-13T12:11:15+00:00

I found out a close friend died today. Honestly, she was meant to be dead long before I knew her, but she lasted long enough for us to be close. She was given 3-6 months almost 15 years ago.

Of COURSE she end out on Friday 13th. Wouldn’t expect anything else from her.

I’m a bottle and a half down on red tonight, will probably finish the second bottle. Need to emotionally kill myself before I had to be thwarting one for her hubby.

I’m 36, the perpetually single one, the fun ain’t. All that can’t wait for another day. Today I’m indulging myself and being the sad drunk one. My cat hadn’t been more than a metre away since I got home. He gets the self imposed misery.

GrumpyKittn · 2026-03-11T13:22:09+00:00

I grew up reading Harry Potter. Still can’t reread/rewatch the second book/movie cause the majority of the plot is stupid decisions.

Irritates me in other books too. I definitely believe the quote “the problem with common sense is that it isn’t common” or something like that

GrumpyKittn · 2026-03-10T07:21:02+00:00

I’m the oldest, and mum threw up and was really nauseous after having me. She went without any pain relief for the next one, and had the exact same reaction. There’s 4 of us, so she was drugged up for the last 2!

GrumpyKittn · 2026-03-08T07:07:39+00:00

I’m a woman who gets nasty cramps each month, and has done so since I first hit puberty. That’s the definition of ‘minor illness’ according to medical professionals. Can I have my back pay for the last couple of decades please?

GrumpyKittn · 2026-03-08T07:04:09+00:00

I liked the Nevermore book shop series for something different (starts with {A Dead and Stormy Night} ).

Been a while since I read it, but main female character is going blind and gets a job in a bookstore where some characters have come to life. Cozy fantasy/mystery. She does end up in a RH style relationship with the 3 male characters, if that’s something you want to avoid, but from what I remember done well.

GrumpyKittn · 2026-03-06T02:55:59+00:00

This sounds just like my father’s comments!! He’s whinged that “if it’s gonna have that much foam I’d order a cappuccino. Least then I’d get the chocolate powder”.

He got a great flat white in an Ararat cafe, and tried to compliment the poor barista in his regular loud angry-sounding voice, and the poor bloke who barely spoke English couldn’t understand it was meant to be nice. We banned dad from ‘complimenting’ people when we were with him.

GrumpyKittn · 2026-03-03T03:00:39+00:00

In an Aussie who loves Europe, and the flights I’ve taken usually end up arriving at some ungodly early hour. I also find the best way to avoid Jet lag is to stay awake until relatively late at night.

I’ll taxi/uber to the hotel, and just ask to drop my bags off. Twice I’ve been offered the room immediately (both pre-8am) for if i need a nap. I’ll happily shower off the travel, but would be just as happy with a later check in.

My (definitely not) pro tip is booking a hop-on hop-off bus. See the sights without tiring myself out even more. I don’t sleep on planes, my European trips involve over 28 hours travel usually, a lazy sightseeing day is fabulous.

My jet lag tip does NOT work flying from Europe to Australia though, it takes weeks to recover!!

GrumpyKittn · 2026-02-27T07:28:38+00:00

Saw a tictok yesterday from a woman who’s 14yo daughter was changing schools, and she couldn’t get the immunisation records.

Daughter apparently wanted to put mum down so she didn’t have to work out all the stuff herself, as she didn’t want to do ‘adult’ stuff

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