BOISE, Idaho — Many of those recovering from COVID-19 are reporting long-term effects.
Autum Robertson says she was following all of the recommended safety measures but still found herself sick in bed after she and a group of close friends tested positive for COVID-19.
"I was super careful, I stayed inside, I wore a mask when I went out, and I only went out when necessary," Robertson says.
Her first symptom was a rash on her toes, otherwise known as "COVID toes." She then started to feel tired and extremely nauseous.
"After my appointment is when I got really sick," Robertson says. "I couldn't leave my bed. I couldn't eat or drink. I couldn't keep anything down, and I was throwing up."
Since she wasn't eating much, she didn't realize that she couldn't taste or smell anything until a few days after self-isolating.
"By day eight I was starting to feel better, but that's when I realized after my friend texted me that she had no taste or smell, I was like 'you know I don't think I have that either,'" Robertson says.
It took about two months for Robertson to get her smell and taste senses back fully.
Regence Executive Medical Director, Joe Badolato says that this is just one of the long-term effects of COVID-19 that people may experience.
"Its not the specific smell neurons that typically transmit the smell that is affected, which is good news. It's actually the support cells around the neuron, and the reason why that is good news is because that means most likely, this is not a permanent effect," Badolato.
Badolato also says that just because you are younger and have a higher chance of having a mild case of COVID-19 doesn't mean you cannot contract the virus, so continue to social distance and wear a mask.
