So it turns out that Covid-19 is not just 2 weeks of sickness. In fact, I along with thousands of other people around the world have now become chronically ill due to Covid-19. I had no previous health conditions that put me more at risk of Covid-19 and I am 23, young people are meant to bounce back, right?
This presumption is so wrong. I am now 7 months into being chronically ill with currently no end date in sight. No one has an understanding of this disease or why it is leaving people with effects for so long. (Understandable since it’s a new disease but not great for when you are going through it.)
Life Pre-Covid
Pre-Covid I would go to the gym 3or 4 times a week, I could run 5k in 30 minutes. I walked to and from uni three times a week and I work in retail so I was on my feet for 8 hours a day mostly working delivery shifts. It was normal for me to have 16 hour days, I would go to uni in the morning and then go straight to work
I had accepted that I was probably going to get Covid due to my job, feel awful for two weeks, and then life would be normal again.
And yet it’s now been 7 months and I am still experiencing different symptoms. In the initial two weeks, I wasn’t sick enough to go into hospital and yet I’ve never gotten better.
For 4 months after Covid, I pushed through and continued working. Within an hour of my workday, I would have chest pain and no painkillers would take away the pain, it would last until I woke up the next day. All I did outside of work during these months was sleep.
When I got signed off work I was relieved. Relieved that someone had acknowledged that something was wrong with me even though I still look relatively healthy and I still have a laugh but my life has completely changed.
The main symptoms I’m still currently having are:
Post Viral Chronic Fatigue
I will literally sleep for a full day and not notice. If I have ‘overdone it’ the day before I will need a nap to recover. Regardless if I’ve already slept for 16,18 or even 20 hours already. My limits on when I have overdone it are ridiculous.
If I see friends or family it takes me two days to recover. I need to have a rest day in between uni. If I want to clean my bathroom I’ll have to do it over 2 days. A food shop is now unnecessary exercise for me. I can’t fully explain the level of exhausted I am all of the time.
Tachycardia
This one has been the most fun. My heart rate going upstairs has clocked 170bpm. I’ve had 3 ECGs done because my resting heart rate is high and now I’m currently waiting on Cardiology to find out why my heart is behaving like this.
I have to sit down the minute I get into my flat as I am breathless and my heart is racing. If I go a walk I usually have to stop and sit down multiple times. I have to drive to uni now because I can’t physically walk that far with my bag to then participate in class and then walk home.
Brain Fog
Brain fog is another fun post-viral issue. I constantly stumble over my words and if I get interrupted the whole point I’m making is gone. My concentration is gone. I can’t remember the last time I read a book or properly watched a movie because I can’t focus. I lose track of days and what happened when.
This is one of the most problematic for the university. I am plodding along trying to keep up but it’s hard and it’s upsetting that something I love and want to do well in is now extremely difficult for me.
Immune System
My immune system has been hit hard. I catch a cold or sick bug just about every other week just now. For 6 weeks I had non-stop cold sores – something, I am prone to when I’m run down but I have never had so many.
How this has affected me mentally?
At 23 I feel like a pensioner. There have been days where Nick has had to help me to the toilet because I don’t have any energy left to get off the couch. And I sob because he shouldn’t have to do this while we are so young. Days where if I pull on jeans I need to sit down halfway through, catch my breath, and then continue. Days where I frustratingly can’t explain the simplest thing and then cry because why can’t I just get my words out.
It’s embarrassing, scary, and depressing. I don’t know when I’ll return to normal. Being signed off work has been such a big help, I’m no longer getting chronic chest pain however this isn’t sustainable I will need to return at some point and when I do will the pain return?
I am lucky that I live in the UK and have the NHS. I have an understanding GP that has pushed to get me help. And I live in a city that has set up a Covid-19 specific unit with occupational therapists and physiotherapists. Others are not so lucky, I couldn’t imagine going through this if I had a Dr that didn’t push to help me, if I lived alone or had dependants.
Where do we go from here?
We now need to start thinking about the long term problems that having Long Covid will create. Will we be eligible for state financial aid if we cannot work? How would we prove we had Covid when most that have Long Covid couldn’t get access to testing?
No matter your age or health please follow the Covid guidelines. I cannot stress enough how important it is to continue being careful. I understand it’s not easy on anyone mentally but my mental health has suffered far more now that I can barely live my life as a result of being chronically ill. You are not immune because you are young and healthy.
For now, I’m learning how to pace myself to go about my life. If I’m not able to do something I could before I’m trying not to get upset or frustrated with myself.
If you want to read about what it was like to have Coronavirus you can find my blog post on it here. Or if you want to read more about other people’s Long Covid experience here’s a great article by Lucy Adams for the BBC here.
