Kristin Houlihan, Writer

PHAN & ASP Present: Living with Long COVID YouTube video by Public Health Action Network

Many thanks to @publichealthaction.bsky.social & @airsupportproject.bsky.social for hosting today's Zoom on living with long COVID with @ancirabecky.bsky.social and me. It's been a long six years, but I'm grateful you've been by my side, Becky.

Watch here:

www.youtube.com/live/NK3-hQN...

“Mom, you should watch them. It’s interesting.” (After watching 2 previous @thephysicsgirl.bsky.social videos)

I just cried. Bc Dianna has positively influenced my child’s life - FROM HER BED. Us people in bed, we matter. My spouse says “of course you do” but it’s not so well recognized. #LongCovid

I very much dislike having to say no when my kids ask if I can read to them. I expected it today bc if my mammogram but I still don’t like it. #LongCovid #MECFS

It’s SO awesome that Physics Girl put out a new video — I didn’t watch it but my spouse did, bc he was as excited for her as we all are and interested in how she’s doing.

my 12yo wandered in while it was on and found it so interesting! She just asked spouse if he’ll watch more videos with her!

There have been articles in SFGate recently talking about a nasty not covid not flu respiratory virus going around in the area, and popping up on various social media, so I’m guessing it’s that.

In a plus,I’d say more than half the people I saw at the health imaging center I was at this morning were wearing masks. Including my mammogram tech.

Spouse (who has been there twice recently with kids) says this is not typical.

#LongCovid #LongCovidAwarenessMonth

Can anyone point me to a resource on how sign "Long COVID" in American Sign Language? I've seen various ways from spelling it out, to using the sign for "Coronavirus" or "COVID-19" followed by "Long" or "Stay". I'm curious if there is any official guidance/recommendations. Many thanks 🙏

There are a BUNCH of #EpistemicLitFamily in here!

@melissafitz.bsky.social
@pleomorphic2.bsky.social
@carriganak.bsky.social
@kathrynreese.bsky.social
@kristinwrites.bsky.social

It’s a party!

Just emailed this to my daughter. My kids are gonna FLIP

A little snippet from the Lovehurts Audiobook, currently 80% off across multiple platforms, all of which pay authors a far higher royalty rate than Audibl3. As always, thank you for supporting indie authors!!

UBL: books2read.com/u/bpL80l

Time For Toddlers

My composition "a small piece of sky" is being performed as part of the Saskatoon Symphony Chamber Players Time for Toddlers: Teddy Bear Picnic concerts at the Wonderhub in Saskatoon on April 24-25, 2026.

saskatoonsymphony.org/event/teddy-...

Oh how exciting! Congrats!

Now I remember why the last mammogram messed me up so much — the neck movements! I’m hoping this time will be better bc now we know about manual traction — did it as soon as I got home and reset my alignment #CCI 🤞

Oh for sure! I have a family history tho so this one moved up the list

☺️ thank you! It’s very different from my usual writing but a style I want to do more of — was such fun and creatively stimulating to do!

This is live, friends!

I’m thrilled to have my first collaborative piece in here, written with @kathrynreese.bsky.social

www.engineidling.net/current

Have to leave the house today.

Mammogram day.

I skipped last year so it’s been two. Last time destroyed me, horrendous PEM. I’m doing better now than I was then so 🤞🤞🤞 for mild PEM only.

Keeping up with regular screenings with severe ME is … near impossible. (Don’t ask about the dentist)

Learning and doing new things is absolutely the most taxing cognitive thing. Which I despise bc I love to learn.

Last night at dinner, after we discussed Read Across America Week spirit dress up days:

Me: so, have your teachers been reading you books?

12 and 7: no

9: we ALWAYS read books

At least there’s one!

Thanks. I just never get used to not being there! My husband is there, and I get frequent updates. So she’s supported and I’m informed. But ugh.

Another thing I hate? Not being at my kid’s swim meet. 😡 #LongCovid

Yeah exactly. I’d kinda stopped for a bit, which is why I’ve felt comfortable using the oven. Will probably have my 12yo do that part today, just in case.

I hate when my dexterity goes, and my grip. I don’t look like I’m shaking but I’m unsteady doing things with my arms and hands and I’m dropping stuff. #LongCovid

Ohh she’d love that! The rescue ranch thing. She watches all these animal rescue/rehab shows from facilities all over the world — whatever she ends up doing in life she needs to be a hands on person

I try to support their interests even when I don’t quite understand how they’ve come upon them. But she is in her element volunteering at a farm. So… chickens. (We cannot keep chickens tho, per our lease and town laws, so this is far as I can go for her right now)

She got a newsstand copy of the current issue over the weekend, when she visited a tractor supply store after volunteering at a farm… (my husband takes her once a month for a few hours. She wishes she could go every day) … and yesterday asked for a subscription. And says she wants to breed chickens

Just subscribed my kid to a chicken magazine. Literally called “Chickens.” #Parenting takes you on many unexpected adventures.

An illustration from Long COVID Transformed My Mommy shows two kids in bed with their mother. She wraps them both up in a hug.

An illustration from Long COVID Transformed My Sister Into a Turtle shows a turtle wearing sunglasses and headphones. The text reads, "My mommy is like a turtle that doesn't want to come out of her shell. She avoids loud noises and bright lights. She prefers cozy, quiet places."

We haven’t seen many narratives about — or for — kids whose family members have #LongCOVID. Author and educator Sara Robitaille seeks to change that with her two new children’s books, Long COVID Transformed My Mommy and Long COVID Transformed My Sister into a Turtle. bit.ly/4csWXfE

And THEN my body said EFF YOUR PACING and had a disautonomia/GI flare seemingly unprompted and now I’m a weak puddle of dehydration and shakiness.

So, there’s #pacing for you.

#LongCovid #MECFS

Virtual Dr appointment got moved to Friday and I was like ooh I can do x y z now and then spouse reminded me I have to do dinner for the kids tonight (frozen pizza again) bc he’ll be at a swim meet with teen AND I have to leave the house tomorrow (mammogram) so maybe take it easy? #Pacing