ANZMES is pleased to announce the release of our comprehensive Post‑COVID‑19 Condition (Long COVID) Patient Information Pack, now available digitally through our online shop. This evidence‑based, patient‑centred resource has been created to support people who are newly diagnosed, awaiting diagnosis, or struggling to understand the complex and often confusing landscape of Long COVID.
Drawing on the latest international research and clinical consensus, the pack explains Long COVID as a multi‑system, post‑viral condition with strong overlaps with ME/CFS — including shared biological features, symptom patterns, and the central importance of pacing and rest‑based management. It is designed to demystify the condition and empower patients with clear, practical guidance they can use immediately.
What’s Inside the Pack
🧭 A clear explanation of Long COVID
Including how it is defined by the WHO and Health NZ, why symptoms persist, and how it relates to ME/CFS and other post‑viral syndromes.
🧬 The science behind the illness
An accessible overview of current biomedical findings, including immune dysregulation, mitochondrial dysfunction, autonomic instability, and why Long COVID is not simply deconditioning.
🩺 Diagnosis: what to expect
A step‑by‑step guide to the diagnostic process, symptom clusters, and the importance of ruling out other conditions. Includes practical symptom‑tracking tools and questions to take to appointments.
🌪️ Understanding the “Septad” of common coexisting conditions
A detailed explanation of the seven frequently overlapping conditions seen in Long COVID and ME/CFS, and why managing them holistically is essential.
⚡ Pacing and energy management
A full introduction to pacing, baseline setting, and avoiding Post‑Exertional Symptom Exacerbation (PESE/PEM), with guidance on cognitive, emotional, and physical exertion.
🌬️ Breathing and respiratory support
Practical techniques such as the Bradcliff Breathing Method, “Stop, Drop, Flop,” and rectangle breathing to help manage air hunger and dysfunctional breathing patterns.
🧂 Managing dysautonomia and POTS
A breakdown of the new global consensus on autonomic disorders, including the three‑tier management approach, questions for your cardiologist, and non‑pharmacological strategies like compression and volume expansion.
🍎 Nutrition, hydration, sleep, and stress management
Evidence‑informed lifestyle strategies, including low‑histamine options for MCAS, sleep hygiene tips, and approaches to managing sensory sensitivities and stress‑related symptom flares.
🤝 Support networks and further resources
Links to ANZMES education programmes, clinical resources, and regional support groups across Aotearoa.
How to Access the Pack
The Long COVID Patient Information Pack is available now:
- $2.50 for ANZMES members (digital)
- $5.00 for non‑members (digital)
- Printed copies available for the above prices plus the cost of postage and packaging.
This resource has been created to give patients clarity, validation, and practical tools at a time when many feel overwhelmed or unsupported. It also serves as a valuable reference for whānau, carers, and health professionals seeking to better understand this complex condition.
Additional Resources for Primary Care
For clinicians wanting further guidance, ANZMES also offers a free Primary Care Long COVID Resource released in 2023, available at:
https://anzmes.org.nz/anzmes-release-resources-for-primary-care/
And this month, Victoria University of Wellington has released a concise, practical one‑page Long COVID guide for primary health care, offering another helpful tool for busy practitioners.