Not that we were called that, I think we were calling it long-tail Covid. We were scared, we were acutely unwell, nobody knew what was going on. I will always be grateful that I found people on here. Thank you @preshitorian @stuart_ross8 @DominicMoss13 @BirgitC @sarahgeline /20

I could go into detail, but the brain fog descended at this point so I have very patchy recall of May, June & July. I know in the middle of June I thought I was coming out of it, my energy had surged I was starting to feel like me again. But I got powerful stomach symptoms/ 21

I’d not had those symptoms b4, but I think it’s all part of the post Covid syndrome. I got nausea, loose stools & overwhelming fatigue. It seemed cruel at the time, at the 12 week mark many were saying that they were feeling better or had recovered.
I thought it was me /22

But then the post viral fatigue or whatever this constant tiredness is descended. It kind of came out of nowhere &put a thick blanket over everything. Where as b4 I couldn’t do much because I was breathless, the breathlessness went, but I now had no energy at all, for anything/23

Along the way my other #COVIDSymptoms have been: shooting pains in left boob, radiating around torso. Swollen lymph nodes, shooting pain down arm into hand, intense pins & needles, numb tongue, numb cheek, muscles spasm down spine, constipation, Diarrhoea, heartburn, insomnia /24

Going back 2 the #fatigue, I didn’t see it coming, so I didn’t know what to do about it. I had many boom &bust crashes. It’s very peculiar when you suddenly lose energy, you find you can only do half the task & then have to stop because if you push through you’ll regret it. /25

This is when I found out that there is a community of people the #missingmillions people who have had illnesses in the past and never got well again. #MECFS and they were worried about us and knew we needed to get a grip with #pacing . I took their advice /26

Where am I now? I’m 6 months into this journey, my energy levels have increased significantly over the last two weeks. Up until then, I was having to lie down between every task. A very good day with being able to get three tasks done. /27

I am mindful that those in the #MECFS Community often had a virus followed by recovery & relapse. So though I am overjoyed I have 75% of my energy back, I will still give my body extra rest. I fully expect that it’s going to take me at least another six months to recover /28

My lasting symptoms:I have tachycardia every day. Even on medication, my heart rate goes from 55 bpm up to 120 bpm. I get chest pain most days. However, the breathlessness has nearly gone completely. I was racked with severe pain & cramps in my left arm for several months /29

That has now gone. I had very severe fatigue. My mind turned into a marshmallow. It Made it impossible to carry on a normal life. I feel grateful that, for whatever reason, my energy returned. I can wash & dress, bake & look after my child. I feel so very grateful to be alive /30

I hope it’s been helpful doing a sketch of the last 6 months. When I got Ill, nobody knew it could go on this long & there was no support, or online information. So big Thanks to: @Dr2NisreenAlwan @ClaireHastie1 @trishgreenhalgh @elisaperego78 @PaulGarnerWoof @katemeredithp /end