Combating COVID complications
A 21-year-old man contracted the coronavirus only to suffer complications after recovering from a mild case of COVID-19 and even negative testing.
ORLANDO, Fla. – Spencer Rollyson said he had a small case of COVID-19 in May. The 21-year-old Brevard County man shot back in what was in good health in two weeks.
“I was a little lethargic and tired,” Rollyson said. “I thought it was a joke that people were freaking out for no reason.”
Two weeks after he recovered and received a negative test result, his thoughts quickly changed. Rollyson’s condition took a turn for the worse and he was rushed to AdventHealth East Orlando. He said he ended up in a bed of an intensive care unit and could not breathe on his own.
“All my organs were shut down,” Rollyson said. “I had heart failure, respiratory failure, the rest of my organs had all arisen.”
Rollyson said doctors told him he became so ill because his immune system was weak from fighting COVID-19. Recently married, Rollyson was afraid he might leave his wife behind.
“I thought I would die after five months and leave my wife behind,” Rollyson said. “It was absolutely scary, because when I was sitting there breathing and trying my hardest, I couldn’t breathe anymore.”
Dr. Jason Littleton, of Littleton Concierge Medicine, says that the long-term effects of COVID-19 are not yet known, but that the virus makes you vulnerable.
“People are currently experiencing a lot of side effects and short term versus long term interactions of COVID-19 and we are just learning these things,” said Dr. Littleton. “People suffer from tissue damage and they also suffer from a weakened immune system.”
Fortunately, Rollyson has recovered, but now warns others to protect themselves.
“Take it seriously, it’s always better to take precautions than what’s happened to me,” Rollyson said. “Do you really want to bet your life on it? I would just take things seriously. ‘
