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A woman who suffered from the coronavirus has spoken out about the long-term effects of the disease that, according to her, have changed her life.
Roweena Russell of North Shields began showing the first symptoms of the coronavirus on April 9 as she struggled to catch her breath and began to feel exhausted.
Over the next few days she began to suffer from memory loss, vomiting and constantly feeling dizzy before she felt so exhausted and had to call an ambulance for help.
Now, six months later, despite having no underlying health problems, Roweena suffers from long-term symptoms of the coronavirus that have changed her life.
This appears to be the case for more than Roweena, as tens of thousands have been left struggling with long-term symptoms that still haunt them months later.
From long-lasting fatigue, shortness of breath, memory loss, poor concentration, to muscle, joint and chest pain, a study from King’s College London found that up to 60,000 people have suffered in the UK for more than three months .
And while the medical condition known as ‘Prolonged Covid’ may not be officially recognized, it is gaining increasing recognition.
Roweena, 45, said: “Before Covid, I was really healthy. I used to be able to do handstands, cartwheels and I used to do bike rides over 60 miles and it only took me 10 minutes to recover.
“I walked 6,000 steps last week, the most I have been able to do since contracting the virus, and it took me three days to recover. My brain has been severely affected and is barely functioning now.
“I find it very difficult to focus and concentrate. I am so exhausted and I feel exhausted. Every day I suffer from pains in my chest and kidneys, my heart rate is all over the place and I can constantly taste the blood in my mouth, which makes that I feel nauseous all the time.
“I had swelling in my hands and feet and now my hands have changed shape and I have had to completely change my diet as the white carbs now leave me in agony.”
In September, Roweena woke up at 4 a.m. in fear for her life as she suffered from severe chest pains before being rushed to the hospital showing symptoms of a heart attack.
Since then, she has been in pain every day and recently had heart and lung tests to determine the damage caused by the virus.
Now nervously waiting for her results to return and unable to work due to her symptoms, Roweena, along with thousands of other patients, has been left worried about what the future holds.
She added: “I am more concerned that this may be my life now and I may slowly die from the complications of sudden cardiac arrest. My biggest concern is what impact it has on the people around me.”
