Anecdata is not data, but: I had COVID in 2022, and again in mid-2024, and was diagnosed with anaemia in early 2025 (with no cause identified).

[oldcoder@dansu.org]

@gradon:
Yes, I understand that long covid is a syndrome. Also that covid can be damaging up front. I don't know much about the subject from personal experience. I seem to have dodged both up-front damage and long-term issues.

To put it another way, then, it sounded, based on the article, as though Mr. Stross might be at 30% risk of additional issues.

[androcat@toot.cat]

@cstross Anecdotes are often made of data, though, and can be broken down into data points for collation.

[davecb@hachyderm.io]

@androcat @cstross Anecdotes are excellent, though, for proving universals wrong: "everyone likes milk" "I'm lactose intolerant"

[androcat@toot.cat]

@davecb

It's real funny how people are so hung on on deduction, despite it keeling over from a single counterexample.

Meanwhile, induction just eats contradiction for dinner.

@cstross

[nini@oldbytes.space]

@cstross While I don't think I've ever got it, I know there's a real difference between 2019 me and 2026 me that can't be attributed to seven years of aging.

[cstross@wandering.shop]

@nini As about 30% of cases are asymptomatic (but *still* cause diffuse microvascular inflammation and immune system damage) you'd never know unless you ran a covid test every week (and never got a false negative).

[netraven@hear-me.social]

@cstross 2022, same, and same.

[greatbigtable@mastodon.social]

@cstross It might explain why the people that I know who have had Covid say they are tired all the time now.

[palin@mastodon.social]

@cstross
I recently read that people on Metformin did not have long Covid cases in their studies so far.
I was on metformin when I caught Covid almost a year ago... luckily I have had no lingering issues.
A 35 year old neighbor on the other hand caught it 3 times and now needs a heart transplant. I am betting the anemia is a direct result.

[fatsam@mstdn.social]

@GreatBigTable @cstross After two bouts of COVID I had to start taking a smart drug to be myself again. I don't know if it's long COVID or repeated hospitalizations (or both) ... but with modafinil I'm me all day long, and without I'm an old man.

[darwinwoodka@mastodon.social]

@GreatBigTable @cstross

The sleep issues alone from Covid are devastating, hubs got it once and still can't sleep well at night. It really messes him up.

[cstross@wandering.shop]

@darwinwoodka @GreatBigTable i have had random hiccups for nearly four years

[cazabon@mindly.social]

@cstross

I know you've mentioned brain fog post-COVID. Did you notice any changes when you started taking iron?