idk how to explain that i don't like saying i "have" long covid in most circumstances because i want people to understand i don't have some special condition, COVID did this to me, viruses can disable you and nobody knows exactly why and we are so scared and in the dark.
viruses always did this to some people and we never figured out why, doctors that knew never advocated for these people and have treated us like the modern day "hysteria", it is an emergency for everone that COVID both does this in a much larger scale than other viruses and also affects EVERYONE'S immune system which then makes you more likely to end up like us.
we barely understand which viruses cause me/cfs, if COVID really causes it or if each virus can cause a different subtype of post-viral illness... it's a mess, the only thing im sure of is that women and people with endrocrine systems, neurodivergent people, especially autistic and hypermobile people are much more likely to become disabled by viruses, (autistic people are also much more likely to be trans so thats another vulnerable group).
my last hope is that neurodivergent people and/or women becoming aware of illnesses that affect them more, like endo, PMOS, autoimmune disease and post-viral chronic illness will make people wake up and get mad at all this historical neglect.