WHY CLAIRE HAS UNITED SUFFERERS
Claire Twomey (33) tested positive for the coronavirus at the end of March. She explains:
“My parents Joe (65) and Nora (60) were both infected with Covid-19. My mother’s condition worsened and she ended up in critical condition in intensive care at the Mater Hospital. We were extremely concerned for her. Thankfully, she was finally able to return home after four weeks. She continues her recovery at home. My father still suffers from fatigue.
“As I had brought my parents to the hospital, I was tested, too, and I was positive. Myself and my father were monitored at home. At that point I did not have the usual symptoms but I had ferocious migraine and bad sinus pain. I lost my sense of taste and smell.
“After the first couple of weeks, I slowly tried to get back to my usual routine of running and yoga but I was having trouble breathing. I got tired after completing simple household tasks.
“I am a trained lifecoach and I was hoping to resume my job as a social care worker. I attempted to return to work but it aggravated my symptoms and I ended up with a fever lasting four weeks. I continued to feel completely lethargic and I still suffer coughing fits.
“My parents continued to recover but I felt isolated and thought I might be the only person who was not getting better. I set up the Covid Cases Support Group because I believed I couldn’t be the only one, and I wanted to know what I could do to help myself to get better.
“Members of the group told me they had not been able to talk about feeling isolated in their struggle. Covid starts with isolation. For those who struggle to recover, they are still experiencing isolation.
“Our group brings people together online and is a powerful way to share your story with someone who knows exactly what you are going through.
The group is secure and safe and helps them realise there are other people out there like them.
“It would be beneficial if there were Covid recovery centres set up to give support for the many areas of illness people experience. People are struggling to recover in their own homes and are doing a lot of work sourcing supports while others are sitting on waiting lists.”