‘I FELT LIKE A FREAK BUT DISCOVERED OTHERS IN THE SAME BOAT’
Ron Lawrence (58), a quality manager for a scaffolding manufacturer living in Leixlip, Co Kildare, became ill with Covid on March 18. He lives with his wife Neasa and their 15-year-old daughter. This is his story:
“I became ill on March 18 when I began to suffer with a fever. I telephoned a doctor and I was told to isolate myself in the house. The fever went, but I developed a cough.
“I was informed I was one of 40,000 on a list to get a Covid test, but four days later I was told that the tests were being allocated instead to health care workers.
“I stayed at home in isolation for two weeks and it was like being in a cell. When the two weeks were over, I went out and painted a wall and I got pneumonia.
“I was suffering from a pain in my back, shoulder and chest. A doctor I contacted was reluctant to see me. I was prescribed tablets over the phone and I was ordered back into isolation.
“When I was finally examined by a GP, I was sent by ambulance to Blanchardstown Hospital. I was given tablets in the hospital and sent home.
“When I finally got a Covid test it was negative because too much time had passed. Three doctors and a consultant told me that all the signs were that I had picked up a Covid infection.
“In the weeks that followed, I was ill and suffering hallucinations. One night I felt at a very low ebb. I eventually ended up as a patient in hospital.
“I later got a CT scan, an MRI scan, a chest X-ray, and a lumbar puncture.
“At one point I had been on a Covid ward and then I was placed in a normal ward. I was 11 days in hospital and got out on May 4.
“I then enjoyed two weeks of good health and my brain felt clear.
“On May 24, I went for a walk and became so breathless I had to sit down. Since then, I have had difficulties with breathlessness and heart palpitations. I have headaches and I have developed sores on my head.
“This virus has slowed up my thinking. It has slowed down my speech. I have had two tests for dementia and I passed both of them.
“At the moment I am really tired all the time and I have been vomiting and suffering headaches.
“I have more bad days than good. X-rays show that my left lung has scar tissue caused by Covid.
“I was ill so long after getting Covid that I have thought that I must be some kind of a freak.
“When I tell some people that I am still sick after Covid, they scarper. A local person jokingly brought me a Mass card and that certainly did not make me happy.
“I am going to try and beat this virus and I am receiving counselling.
“I hope they find a cure and I hope that all doctors listen to their patients.
“I was very encouraged when Claire Byrne spoke openly about her own experiences with Covid.
“I am so glad that Claire Twomey set up Covid Cases Support Group Ireland. I think it is very important to know that others are in the same boat.
“People must stay as vigilant as ever to avoid this virus even when there is no lockdown.
“The members of the Nphet committee have done a tremendous job to protect the Irish population. And I feel that, while mistakes were made, the Government has done a good job overall.
“I hope that one day soon the scientists and medical researchers find a vaccine for this virus and discover a cure for those already afflicted. The world needs to be rid of this once and for all.
“What annoys me is that the government figures say there have been 26,000 people infected with Covid. I guarantee you the true figure must be 100,000.”