"I tested positive for COVID on 1 November 2020.
Initially I struggled with breathing, brain fog, skin rash and awful tiredness. 12 months later I have the same symptoms and more.
Before COVID I was full of beans, working, volunteering and very active. I now walk very small amounts, lost my confidence in doing daily tasks and miss working and just seeing people.
I was so nervous joining the group, I hadn’t used teams or zoom before and didn’t know what to expect. Friends said it’s dead easy but it was a real big deal for me and my brain fog. But it was really straight forward.
The group is so friendly, sometimes we just chat sometimes we have guest speakers. In fact, it’s what we make it, if someone needs advice on finding their way through the health system or needs advice on benefits we can ask guest speakers.
Sometimes it’s just good to hear others sharing their long COVID stories, we laugh at our brain fog tales or share our frustration, we share our experiences and we get advice but most of all we have long COVID in common and not everyone understands what it’s like living with long COVID.
If you have long COVID then come along and join us, sometimes I don’t feel up to chatting I just listen, you don’t have to have your video on.
If you are not sure about meeting on zoom then come along to Vernon Park and say hi. Don’t sit at home and feel alone- the Long COVID group is friendly and helpful, you take part as much or as little as you want."