Helen/OT_Skiff
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otskiff.bsky.social
Helen/OT_Skiff
@otskiff.bsky.social
1.9K followers 2.9K following 360 posts
Occupational Therapist (neurorehab) on pause due to #LongCOVID, #POTS, #MECFS, #ChronicMigraine, #HSD, #MCAS & #TeamClots 🫁

AHP Committee @LongCovidPhysio.

Swiftie 🫶, F1 🏎, cricket 🏏 fan

London, UK
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otskiff.bsky.social
Helen/OT_Skiff @otskiff.bsky.social · Dec 30
A surreal end to 2024!

Proud to share a paper written by Ciara Breen and I.

#LongCOVID #OccupationalTherapy #LongCOVIDAHPs
#Cognition
#CognitiveDysfunction
#postexertionalsymptomexacerbation
#PESE
#pwME

journals.lww.com/cptj/fulltex...
More than “Brain Fog”: Cognitive Dysfunction and the Role... : Cardiopulmonary Physical Therapy Journal
e activity is considered when working with people with long COVID, particularly when identifying triggers of post exertional symptom exacerbation. There are many potential mechanisms that could be dri...
journals.lww.com
otskiff.bsky.social
Over the last week or so I’ve been feeling a bit more hopeful 🙏

I’ve been using nurosym all year & think I’ve finally found the right settings for me. I’m not cured, still in bed most of the day but I haven’t been feeling as awful

#LongCovid #PwME #MCAS #TeamClots #Migraine
November 7, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Reposted by Helen/OT_Skiff
drjoepajak.bsky.social
'mRNA vaccines seem to boost the effectiveness of an immune therapy for skin and lung cancer.' @maxkozlov.bsky.social @nature.com
'COVID-19 mRNA vaccine acts like a siren and activates the immune system throughout the body - programming a response to kill the cancer.'
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
People with some cancers live longer after a COVID vaccine
mRNA vaccines seem to boost the effectiveness of an immune therapy for skin and lung cancer ― in an unexpected way.
www.nature.com
October 23, 2025 at 1:48 PM
otskiff.bsky.social
Today is #PoTSAwarenessDay 💜

I have #PoTS as part of my #LongCovid — and it’s given me my most debilitating symptom: constant lightheadedness & presyncope.

For the last 5 years, I’ve felt like I’m going to pass out every time I move. It’s been hellish.

🧵👇
A collage of nine photos showing life with PoTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome). 1. Colourful weekly pill organisers filled with medication. 2. A pulse oximeter showing SpO₂ 89% and heart rate 152 bpm. 3. Helen sitting on a mobility scooter outdoors, carrying shopping. 4. A backpack resting on a four-wheeled walker. 5. A smartwatch alert reading “Abnormal High Heart Rate Detected.” 6. Two boxes filled with prescription medications and bottles. 7. A pulse oximeter reading SpO₂ 99% and heart rate 141 bpm. 8. Helen v unwell at an appt, lying on a medical examination couch, having her heart rate & blood pressure checked. 9. A fitness tracker graph showing heart rate data throughout the day, with peaks around activity.
October 25, 2025 at 3:06 PM
otskiff.bsky.social
Hospital appointment yesterday. I've thankfully had a quiet appt spell but they're kicking off again.

Whilst waiting to be picked up, I took a tiny stroll through The Healing Garden.

#LongCovid #PwME #POTS #MCAS #Migraine #TeamClots
A peaceful garden in autumn with bright pink roses in full bloom surrounded by green foliage and plants. Behind them, trees with orange and brown leaves show the change of season. A wooden bench sits to the left, creating a calm, reflective scene.
October 17, 2025 at 5:19 PM
otskiff.bsky.social
Today is #AHPsDay in the UK.
I’ll admit, it stung a little when I saw it pop up on my phone. 💔

#LongCovid #LongCovidAHPS
October 14, 2025 at 6:59 PM
otskiff.bsky.social
👁 Update: the antibiotic ointment worked really well, my eye’s no longer red or swollen. Still have a small bump (?chalazion) which can take months to go… great! Not painful now, just itchy, like there’s something in my eye.
#LongCovid #POTS #PwME #Migraine #TeamClots #MCAS
October 10, 2025 at 12:41 PM
Reposted by Helen/OT_Skiff
emergencybod.medsky.social
Just lovely.
October 10, 2025 at 8:44 AM
otskiff.bsky.social
A productive but tough appointment yesterday. After years on HRT hoping to reverse any damage from my work acquired COVID infection in 2020, it’s looking like early menopause is more likely. Not confirmed yet, but I think I need to start accepting it

#LongCovid #POI #Menopause
October 9, 2025 at 7:09 PM
otskiff.bsky.social
Ouch! This arrived today & not sure whether to laugh or cry. I signed up when I turned 30, just 2 months before I became unwell in 2020. I’d planned to travel & go on walking holidays but never got the chance 💔 Grief 😭

#LongCovid #POTS #PwME #MCAS #Migraine #TeamClots
A travel brochure from “Exodus Adventure Travels” titled The Collection 2026 | 2027, featuring images of people hiking in the mountains and a scenic street view with a yellow archway and volcano in the background.
October 6, 2025 at 5:06 PM
otskiff.bsky.social
👁 update: ended up speaking to GP yesterday as it got more swollen/red. He was great as always (shout out to my fave GP 🫶). Got antibiotic ointment & strict A&E instructions if it worsens/fever hits 😬🙏
#LongCovid #POTS #ChronicMigraine #MCAS #PwME #TeamClots
October 4, 2025 at 8:45 AM
otskiff.bsky.social
Ahhh just what I needed - a stye on my upper eyelid, making my eyelid swollen, painful, and bright red. Perfect. The cherry on top of a great week so far 🫠🙃😴👌

#LongCovid #PwME #POTS #MCAS #ChronicMigraine #TeamClots
a woman with red hair is looking at the camera with a serious look on her face
Alt: a woman (Emma Stone) with red hair is looking at the camera with a serious look on her face sticking her thumb up and smiling in a sarcastic manner.
media.tenor.com
October 2, 2025 at 5:26 PM
otskiff.bsky.social
In other news, yay!..another crash & migraine brewing
Pleased I don’t feel as awful now steroids are out my system. Weirdly, even though they totally wiped me out, steroids seemed to help my HRV 🤔

#LongCovid #PwME #POTS #MCAS #ChronicMigraine #TeamClots
Two screenshots. The top image is from the Garmin app, showing HRV data from September to October. Green circles mark “Balanced,” orange squares “Unbalanced,” and red triangles “Low.” A label “start Pred” points to where HRV rises after beginning prednisone, and a label “stop Pred” points to where HRV falls after stopping. The bottom image is from the Visible app, showing a “Morning Stability” score of 1.
October 1, 2025 at 10:46 AM
otskiff.bsky.social
Yesterday, I had my 2nd blood test of the week 💉 this time for @amaticahealth.bsky.social RNA study
It is on it's way 🩸and I hope that there are some clues in there🔎

Thanks @jackamatica.bsky.social for all that you do 👏🫶

#LongCovid #PwME #POTS #ChronicMigraine #MCAS #TeamClots
Three blood sample tubes inside a sealed biohazard transport bag, placed on a wooden surface. A yellow absorbent pad is visible inside the bag.
October 1, 2025 at 10:44 AM
otskiff.bsky.social
I’ve written so many positioning guidelines over the years as a neuro OT, yet here I am with a pressure sore/friction blister on my pinky toe from too much bed rest 😭 The OT in me is mortified…the human in me is just 😴

#LongCovid #POTS #MCAS #PwME #ChronicMigraine #TeamClots
September 29, 2025 at 8:08 AM
otskiff.bsky.social
Small wins count - no migraines this week thanks to steroids (the only positive side effect!). Sleep is still awful and I can feel one brewing, but I wanted to recognise this rare achievement.

#LongCovid #POTS #ChronicMigraine #MCAS #TeamClots #PwME
A phone notification that reads: “Congratulations! You have been migraine free for 1 week.” The message is displayed in a rectangular banner with an icon of a purple-haired woman’s face in profile on the left.
September 27, 2025 at 10:52 AM
otskiff.bsky.social
Day 7 of steroids & still feeling awful, like an absolute zombie! Last dose today, small joy in that 💊
My team won’t extend as there’s been no benefit, so we’ll rethink next steps for 🫁 at clinic in a few weeks

#LongCovid #POTS #MCAS #ChronicMigraine #TeamClots #PwME
Silver blister pack of Prednisolone tablets on a pink blanket, with six small white tablets placed in front of it.
September 24, 2025 at 1:39 PM
otskiff.bsky.social
Still in a crash and steroids have made me feel awful. Total zombie, no energy at all and despite spending all day yesterday trying not to fall asleep....hello steroid insomnia. Day 2 of steroids = not fun. 🙏 it's worth it 🫁

#LongCovid #POTS #MCAS #ChronicMigraine #TeamClots
Chart of 7-day averages from 23 Aug to 19 Sept. Values start within baseline, then drop below baseline—shifting from balanced (green) to unbalanced (orange) and finally low (red) by mid-September.
September 19, 2025 at 6:36 PM
otskiff.bsky.social
CT scan gave answers bronch didn’t 🫁 validation = 👏
Starting steroids, nervous given past experience, but 🙏 they’ll ease symptoms & this crash. Lungs have been through a lot with clots, so no wonder they’re inflamed
#LongCovid #POTS #MCAS #ChronicMigraine #TeamClots
Two boxes of Prednisolone 5mg tablets on a green and white pharmacy bag.
September 18, 2025 at 10:57 AM
otskiff.bsky.social
Day 2000 of #LongCovid for me today. Rather fittingly I've been in severe pain for nearly 2 weeks leading to a crash & I feel awful 💔

#LongCovid #POTS #MCAS #ChronicMigraine #PwME #TeamClots #NEISVoid
A health tracking app screenshot. At the top, large numbers show: Stress 86% (High, in red), Energy 21% (Low, in orange), and Health 100% (Resilient, in green). Below is a graph with green circles (Balanced), orange squares (Unbalanced), and red triangles (Low) plotted across dates from 16/08 to 12/09, showing a decline from balanced into unbalanced and low.
September 12, 2025 at 11:52 AM
otskiff.bsky.social
After a rough few weeks, my house is finally covid free and I didn't catch it which feels like a huge win 🙌
All of them were positive until day 10.
#COVIDisAirborne #covidisnotover
#LongCovid #POTS #MCAS #Migraine #TeamClots #PwME
September 7, 2025 at 10:24 AM
otskiff.bsky.social
Day 11 of near solitary confinement with covid in the house 😷 I’m the last one standing & feeling pretty fed up with it all & life in general.
But then I saw this rainbow 🌈 so beautiful the pic doesn’t do it justice.

#LongCovid #POTS #MCAS #PwME #TeamClots #Migraine
Bright rainbow in a cloudy sky over rooftops and trees, with a faint second rainbow visible to the left.”
August 28, 2025 at 6:44 PM
otskiff.bsky.social
Sooo like the last set, botox worked for about a week. Now back to daily migraines....great! I guess they'll stop botox when I speak to the team next month.
Soooooo fed up 😡🤯😱
#LongCovid #POTS #MCAS #ChronicMigraine #TeamClots #NEISVoid
August 20, 2025 at 9:40 AM
otskiff.bsky.social
When your bestie is getting married in Santorini today and you facetime 🥹😪🥹😪
Absolutely gutted I can't be there to celebrate with her 💔
#LongCovid #PwME #POTS #MCAS #ChronicMigraine #TeamClots #NEISVoid
a close up of a dog 's face with its eyes closed and looking at the camera .
Alt: a close up of a dog 's face with its eyes closed and looking at the camera. Eyes full of tears, a tear rolls down it's cheek
media.tenor.com
August 16, 2025 at 10:13 AM
otskiff.bsky.social
Still in a crash, it's been over a week now 😴😴😴but looks like HRV is slowly starting to increase.

#LongCovid #PwME #POTS #MCAS #ChronicMigraine #TeamClots #NEISVoid
A health and wellness dashboard displaying three metrics at the top: Stress at 85% (labeled "Taxing" in yellow), Energy at 26% (labeled "Low" in red), and Health at 100% (labeled "Resilient" in green). Below is a timeline chart from July 19 to August 15, showing a decline in wellness scores. The chart uses colored symbols: green circles for "Balanced," orange squares for "Unbalanced," and red triangles for "Low." The graph shows a transition from mostly green circles to orange squares, and then to a series of red triangles, indicating a progressive drop in overall balance or wellness.
August 15, 2025 at 11:29 AM
otskiff.bsky.social
Excited to take part in #OT research exploring real world experiences of people living with #LongCovid.

This study uses an activity diary & movement tracker to understand how energy, rest & activity shape daily life. I also had an interview in 2024.

Lived experience matters 💚
A Participant Activity Diary from the University of Salford titled 'Exploring the real-world experience of adults with Long-Covid in Salford: a feasibility study.' A small orange and black ActivPAL4 activity monitor rests on the paper, with a bright pink padded envelope partially covering the diary
August 13, 2025 at 5:02 PM