Thread by @SarahLizzyLou

🧵Today marks 8mths since my 1st #longcovid symptoms and 12wks since a reinfection.
To give an idea of where I’m at, my short term goals are to brush my teeth x2pd, prepare and eat simple meals x3pd, shower every other day and wash my hair x1pw. I am not yet achieving this. 1/7

My long term goal is to return to uni and finish my physio degree. The next 15wks will determine whether I can do this or not. I’m waiting to hear back on options to go part time. Full time study is too ambitious right now. 2/7

If I can’t get back to uni, it means I lose my income; My partner and I will no longer afford our rent+bills. We’ve relied on savings and help from family so far. Our savings were meant to go towards our 1st mortgage once I graduated. 3/7

We’re in our 30s and I don’t think we will ever own our own home now.
Because of my savings, I was eligible for £8.22 of UC pm. My one day per week job gave me £400pm SSP which has now ended. We are yet to start the PIP application process etc. 4/7

Physiotherapy was the dream career I discovered late. I completed my first year with a 1st. My head of year told me to take a year off so I could recover well and come back to achieve my straight “A”s again. If I do return, passing with “D”s is enough for me now. 5/7

So right now I’m grieving a lot. I’m doing ok. Processing it well. Focusing on what I can control. Hoping for the best, preparing for the worst.
I understand that treatment is a very long way off- especially for cognitive impairment which is my most persistent symptom. 6/7

I fully believe I will be well again one day. It’s just taking so much time. I wish there was more support for me while I’m doing all I can to get better and that I wouldn’t lose so much along the way. 7/7
#ResearchLongCovid #ResearchMEcfs #LongCovidDiaries