Thread by @K8Stott

Up until now, I’ve shared snippets online of what living with #Longcovid has been like. I realise it’s hard to imagine a disease like this so here’s my story in pictures 🧵

I woke up 19th of March 2020 with a sore throat, a really high fever and the most peculiar feeling of burning painful legs. Over the next few days my glands in my neck swelled and I lost my sense of taste in smell. No cough so I presumed it must be throat infection.

Unlike my previous strep throat infections, I needed a second round of antibiotics. The symptoms this time seemed amped. Swelling in my glands, a continued fever and that strange burning sensation in my legs. The fatigue Is what I remember the most and how my body felt so heavy.

Over the next few weeks I tried to bounce back, I vividly remember my first bout of severe breathlessness carrying some food shopping into the house and immediately having to sit down. It was around this time in April 2020 that I developed rashes on my arms, torso and legs.

Initial concerns from Gp was that I was developing a connective tissue disease, my joints at this point were stiff and I was finding it hard to walk, so a referral
was made to my local rheumatologist. I’m regularly loosing strength in my right arm which seemed odd.

At this time I’d also developed something that I later found out was called (episcliritis) an inflammation of the tissue of the eye.

At this point it’s important to mention that I had been under investigation for Crohn’s disease but up until this point I was managing flares through diet, no alcohol and supplements… things were about to hit a new level!

Now it’s May 2020, we’re in the throes of lockdown 1.0. I’ve somewhat regained enough energy to look after the children in the garden throughout the day. As hubby takes over at 5pm most nights and I then head to bed.

I’m finding it hard to stay on my feet for any length of time. Blood pools are now a regular occurrence and so are my Crohn’s symptoms along with shortness of breath on any exertion.