I’ve been sick with #COVID19 for 4 months. I’m improving overall, but my recovery isn’t linear. I have good days & bad days & it’s impossible to predict when either will come. I’m still getting medical checks - latest one is a heart scan to check for heart damage.

My GP told me last week “we’re seeing a lot, and I mean A LOT of young people like you with this post-viral syndrome. We do see post-viral fatigue with other viruses, but it’s normally in around 1% of cases. With covid, it’s more like 30%”.

You have a 1 in 3 chance of getting Long Covid too, if you catch this virus (1 in 5 if you’re aged 18-35). I personally know 4 other people (all colleagues/ex-colleagues) who have had #LongCovid for months. Unfortunately, I’m not the rare case people might wish I was.

Conversations I’ve had with those who’ve had moderate/severe covid or long covid, or with those close to them, have been chilling. Survivors of this disease and those around them have been deeply affected by it and seem haunted.

In contrast, I’ve had too many conversations with others who still don’t seem to understand just how easy it is to catch covid and how high the risks are of developing life-changing symptoms.

I’m a world away from where I was 2 months ago. I’m less haunted by the early weeks, when I wondered if I would die. I feel less certain this will become a permanent disability. But I’m still constantly exhausted and I’m often in pain.

It takes a massive effort just to do the bare minimum each day. I’m still only working 16 hours a week - not even half my usual full-time hours. But I’m very grateful that I seem to be recovering and getting stronger.

I’m learning to accept my new limitations. I’m lucky I have an amazing fiancé, & supportive family, friends, colleagues & volunteer Champions, who have all been taking on extra responsibilities to help me out. But it’s really hard relying on others & accepting I can’t do things.

I know this is unlikely to last forever, and I am still very positive, but it is likely to be my normal for another 3-12 months.

So please stay vigilant. Please keep checking your local infection rates. Please keep spreading the message about #LongCovid. I know everyone’s bored of the ‘new normal’ & it’s hard, but getting this version of #COVIDー19 is harder. And I still don’t know what my future will be.