When Reto Keller got infected with SARS-CoV-2 in March 2020, he had no idea that this infection would change his life for years to come. The infection started with mild symptoms, but his condition quickly deteriorated drastically. Within a few days, he developed a high fever and severe shortness of breath.
To determine whether it was indeed COVID-19, Reto made an appointment at the test center. However, the fever caused him great confusion – he was later unable to remember how he got back home after the test.
By the time he got the result from the test Reto was barely conscious anymore, he doesn’t have any memories of the following weeks. His condition became increasingly critical and he was admitted to hospital. There, his condition deteriorated further: during his stay, he developed several cases of pneumonia, kidney failure and sepsis (blood poisoning), which brought him to the brink of survival.
"It was a miracle that I survived."
Reto was in a coma for about a month and his family had already been prepared by the doctors that he would most likely not come back. Nevertheless, a few weeks later he woke up in a rehabilitation clinic. Nothing was as it had been before.
His body no longer obeyed
Reto was paralyzed from the chest down, and his arms and head had only limited mobility. The first few weeks in rehab were characterized by intensive lung training, mucus aspirations and painful attempts to regain mobility. Even sitting in a wheelchair cost him so much strength that his heart rate rose to 170.
"Sometimes I didn't even have the strength to press the emergency button when I needed help."
With tireless physiotherapy, he gradually managed to sit again, then stand and finally walk short distances with support. But every step forward was overshadowed by new setbacks. At the end of May, he was finally able to walk twenty meters with support.
In mid-May 2020, Reto was ready to eat by himself again for the first time. However, after just 3 spoons of soup, he was so exhausted that he couldn't continue by himself.
Shortly afterwards, an unexplainable skin rash again developed into a life-threatening situation. Reto was admitted to the intensive care unit with high temperature and bursted wounds on his head. It took four days to bring his fever down and the doctors had no idea as to how this reaction had occurred.
A diagnosis could only be made after an intensive assessment by a dermatology specialist at the university hospital: DRESS syndrome. DRESS syndrome (Drug Rash with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms) is a severe immune reaction that was triggered by COVID-19 and the medication administered in response to the infection.
Glimpses of hope and relapses
Despite the setbacks, Reto continued to fight and made small progress. The DRESS syndrome was brought under control with cortisone, but new problems arose: Reto struggled with persistent muscle pain that could not be explained by a muscle biopsy or neurological examinations.
Nevertheless, Reto didn’t give up and made his way forward with training, physiotherapy and frequent examinations. Another setback came in December 2020: back pain stopped him from sleep.
An MRI showed that Reto's nervous system was severely swollen and inflamed from the lumbar vertebra downwards. Fortunately, the medication Targin was able to provide some relief and Reto was at least able to sleep better again.
In spring 2021, Reto was recommended to get vaccinated against COVID-19 at Zurich University Hospital. The first vaccination brought a significant improvement and the pain in his legs decreased. After the second vaccination, Reto was even able to stop Targin and spent a relatively pain-free summer, albeit struggling with difficulty concentrating and exhaustion.
Unfortunately, the high was short-lived. The pain returned with the fall. His family doctor recommended a booster vaccination for Reto. Although he was initially skeptical, he was persuaded and benefited greatly once again. A few days after the vaccination in December 2021, the pain subsided and Reto was able to stand up again without pain and climb stairs without shortness of breath.
During the entire time since his COVID-19 infection, Reto has documented his available energy in a diagram.
But the improvements never lasted. There were regular setbacks and Reto had to learn to live with the uncertainties of his illness. Based on his positive experiences with the vaccination, Reto and his doctors campaigned for him to receive further booster vaccinations. The fourth, fifth and sixth vaccinations also gave him a pain-free episode each time.
Unfortunately, Reto's condition always deteriorated again after a few months. After the sixth vaccination in July 2023, the deterioration came after just two months, showing that the vaccinations did not appear to be a long-term solution for Reto.
In addition to the physical limitations, the psychological strain was also enormous. Pain, sleeplessness and uncertainty about his future weighed heavily on him.
New paths and new hope
A turning point was the decision to try oxygen therapy in fall 2023 (hyperbaric oxygen therapy, HBOT; editor's note: more on the scientific background of oxygen therapy can be found here). For the first time since his COVID-19 infection in March 2020, he felt a significant improvement in his performance.
In the first therapy phase, Reto completed a total of 40 HBOT sessions over 8 weeks. Due to the enormous benefits he derived from the treatment and recent study results from Israel confirming a long-term positive effect of HBOT in people affected by Long COVID, Reto decided to add another 20 sessions in early summer (until the end of June 2024).
His situation improved noticeably once again as a result and even now he is still noticing small improvements. This manifests itself in the fact that Reto's whole body has become much more mobile again and his sense of balance has improved significantly.
Until two months ago, Reto would not have been able to stand on one leg for any length of time - now he can. He has also been able to extend his fitness training slightly.
Thanks to ongoing medical training therapy, physiotherapy and HBOT, Reto has now regained around 70-80% of his previous performance capacity.
Nevertheless, he knows that the road to full recovery is not quite over yet.
"I have learned to appreciate small progress and to be patient."
A strong support from his family environment was crucial for Reto on his road to recovery. He is convinced that he would not have come this far without the support of his family and friends. His wife and children were his greatest support in the darkest moments. His professional environment also showed understanding and supported him in his attempts to return to work.
Reto hopes that his story will encourage other people affected by Long COVID. In particular, he would like to share his great success with HBOT with others and hopes that his experiences can support the recovery process of people with similar complaints.
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