In most straight-forward viral illnesses, recovery takes 2-4 weeks, with symptoms disappearing by six weeks.  However, a small percentage of PVF's patients will take several months to recover.

If symptoms remain after 3-6 months, with the illness unchanged, a change of name/diagnosis to CFS/ME is appropriate.

This condition comes about after a person has experienced a viral illness like:

• Common cold
• Influenza
• Pneumonia
• Epstein-Barr Virus
• Herpes Virus
• HIV
• Other virial illnesses like Corona Virus, SARS etc

Most people will recover from a viral illness after a week or two, but if after many weeks or months you still feel unwell with these symptoms you maybe experiencing PVS:

• Fatigue
• Headaches
• Confusion and trouble concentrating
• Body aches and pain in the muscles
• Stiff Joints
• Sore Throat
• Swollen Lymph Nodes
• People who have compromised/weakened immunity or have pre-existing conditions maybe more prone to PVS.

There are no clear-cut answer as to what PVS is yet. It is possible it is caused by a delayed response from the immune system to the virus, inflammation in the brain, or an overload on the immune system from the virus. At present there is no clear treatment from GP’s for PVS.

It is important to act quickly if you think you may have PVS. Getting a diagnosis is important but responding to the symptoms is more important.

If left, PVS can develop into Myalgic Encephalomyelitis aka Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS), this is a long-term chronic illness with poor quality of life outcomes and few treatment options.

At Complex Chronic Illness Support we can provide you with the right information on how to manage your symptoms and how to live in a way that supports your body to heal itself. There are no quick fixes but CCIS are experts in symptom management information and providing the right support for conditions like PVS. We also support people with ME/CFS, Fibromyalgia, Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia, and Orthostatic Intolerance.

Long COVID is a condition that “occurs in individuals with a history of probable or confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, usually 3 months from the onset of COVID-19 with symptoms that last for at least 2 months and cannot be explained by an alternative diagnosis".  For some people, SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus (COVID-19) can cause symptoms that last weeks or months after the infection has gone. This is sometimes called post-COVID-19 syndrome or "long COVID".

Whilst this is a new 'condition', we at CCIS were all too aware of its possible implication from SARS-CoV-2.  Long COVID resembles the very familiar to us (ME/CFS) Myalgic Encephalomyelitis.  We are aware that Long COVID has a serious impact on people’s ability to go back to 'normal' life. It affects their mental health and may have significant economic consequences for them, their families and for the wider community.

Emeritus Professor Warren Tate says the main difference between the two is ME/CFS can be caused by several viruses, including Epstein Barr and Glandular Fever, and also by non-viral sources like trauma and agricultural chemicals, whereas what we call Long Covid is caused by just one pandemic virus, Sars-CoV-2.  Long Covid also includes unique symptoms particular to the effects of Covid-19, including hypercoagulation, a condition that causes blood to clot more easily.

Common long COVID symptoms include:

• extreme tiredness (fatigue)
• shortness of breath
• chest pain or tightness
• problems with memory and concentration ("brain fog")
• difficulty sleeping (insomnia)
• heart palpitations
• dizziness
• pins and needles
• joint pain
• depression and anxiety
• tinnitus, earaches
• feeling sick, diarrhoea, stomach aches, loss of appetite
• a high temperature, cough, headaches, sore throat, changes to sense of smell or taste
• rashes

Treatment of Long COVID is similar to that of ME/CFS - managing symptoms, pacing, pain management, if PEM is experienced, you need to avoid exercise and activities that cause fatigue or symptoms and conserve your energy.

Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that causes fatigue, widespread pain, and tenderness throughout the body and often co-exists with CFS/ME and/or many of the symptoms of this condtion. People with Fibromyalgia generally experience pain in specific points around the body and these points are used as a gauge for diagnosis.

The points around the body are:

• Back of the head
• Area between the shoulders
• Front of the neck
• Top of the chest
• Outside of the elbows
• Top and sides of the hips
• Insides of the knees.

• Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS)
• Neurally Mediated Hypertension (NMH)

In these conditions the autonomic nervous system (ANS) is dysregulated which can lead to blood pressure problems, heart problems, trouble with breathing and swallowing, and erectile dysfunction in men.

Main symptoms include:

• Light headedness
• Altered vision
• Headache
• Heart palpitations
• Exercise Intolerance
• Fatigue
• Neuro-cognitive deficits
• Anxiety
• Nausea
• Abdominal discomfort
• Tremulousness
• Sweating
• Weakness
• Syncope (fainting)