‘I NEED A WHEELCHAIR WHEN I LEAVE THE HOUSE’
Lucy O’keeffe, 32, lives in north London with her Mum Maggie, 62.
Before I caught COVID-19, I was a sociable, busy Londoner who worked for myself as a British Sign Language interpreter. I was often rushing from job to job around the city, before meeting up with friends for dinner.
But two years later, I’ve had to move back in with my mum Maggie and give up work. I can’t leave the house on my own, and when I do go out, I rely on a walking stick or, for longer distances, an electric wheelchair.
It was in March 2020 when I started to feel unwell. I’d been out the night before so I put it down to a hangover. But sitting at my mum’s house, waiting for a Sunday roast, I began coughing. I’d lived with asthma for most of my life and had it under control, but whenever I caught a cold I was conscious of it travelling to my lungs.
But this cough felt different, it was a hacking, dry cough. I left Mum’s to return to my flat, which I shared with two friends, and had an early night. Only, the next morning, I could barely lift my head. I felt dreadful.
I called Mum and she came to pick me up. But I couldn’t make my way down the three flights of stairs to her car by myself.
For the next three weeks, I barely knew what was happening. My temperature soared, I couldn’t move and I had gastro problems.
After seven weeks, I felt slightly better, but my health problems weren’t over yet. My appendix ruptured and I was rushed to hospital to have it removed. But within days, the wound from the operation burst.
Traumatic changes
For months, I put my fatigue, headache and stiffness down to the appendix problems. But I didn’t understand why I had a recurring cough and new heart palpitations. It wasn’t until September 2020 that I realised I was still suffering from COVID-LIKE symptoms.
I was so weak, Mum had to help me wash, and after a brief attempt at living in my own flat, I was back at Mum’s. And still unable to return to my job, see friends or live the independent life I was used to, my mental health suffered as well as my physical health.
Each visit to the doctor to get to the bottom of my constant fatigue and pains were pinned to my
asthma – even though I knew
I’d never felt like this before. Eventually I was given a diagnosis at the beginning of 2021. Long COVID.
And as a result of COVID-19 and my surgery wound bursting, I developed a secondary condition, postural tachycardia syndrome. My heart rate is too fast, meaning I can become dizzy at any moment, which is why I rely on my walking stick. I now have three-monthly reviews with a long COVID team at my local hospital, to assess my physical condition, but my mental health is often overlooked. The changes I’ve experienced in the past two years have been traumatic. I went from being an active 30-year-old who travelled the world to someone who’s unable to work and can’t leave the house without help.