I can't read anymore – long COVID so far (4 months in)
Channel: Chareads
Date: 2022-05-11

I caught COVID-19 on January 21st 2022, here's a long video talking about my experiences of being seriously ill for the first time in my life, how stress may have led to it, and what I'm doing about work and money. I hope it's some comfort to others going through the same thing.

*Things I forgot*
I'm vaccinated (1st dose May 2021, 2nd dose July) and boosted (mid-December) with Pfizer-BioNTech. I dread to think how much worse my symptoms would be without that protection.

*Updates since filming* (filmed on May 6th)
- My company have been really wonderful and are now covering the weird week 13 for which I'd otherwise be paid statutory sick pay, and the initial 12 weeks of sick leave do now count towards other annual rewards. I wasn't expecting this and I wouldn't be in trouble without it, but it is lovely to feel that they have my back, especially since I'd only worked there a couple of months.
- The income insurance which kicks in at 14 weeks is not confirmed. Since I'm the first case of long COVID they've put together to claim on the insurance there's a chance they'll reject it for some reason. If this happens I'm in big trouble.
- My chest X-ray was all good and so is my oxygenation, blood pressure, and glucose levels. It's great that these tests aren't revealing anything worrying but boyyyyy I'm getting worried about doctors not believing my symptoms when there aren't test results to back them up. I'm hoping the long COVID clinic can provide some solace.
- Huxley had his groom and he is the smartest, cutest little pooch!

Timestamps and links below ↓

0:00 Intro
0:33 Initial infection

3:05 When the Body Says No by Gabor Maté
★★★☆☆|☆☆
Find on Chareads - https://chareads.com/books/when-the-body-says-no-gabor-mate/
See on Goodreads - https://cha.rs/3GTOU97OX/gr
Buy on Book Depository - https://cha.rs/3GTOU97OX/bd
Buy on Amazon - https://cha.rs/3GTOU97OX/amzn

5:08 My attitude towards sickness
7:39 Stress leading up to my sickness
10:11 Being bad at resting
18:00 My symptoms
31:43 Medical help
36:53 Money
40:48 Goodbye (and dog)

🏡 https://chareads.com/
📚 https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5008298-charlotte-dann
🌟 https://twitter.com/charlotte_dann