Long Covid
“I am undergoing a phased return to work, next stage in, hopefully, a return to the life I led pre-pandemic. I will always remember the part the Vitality360 team have played in that journey.”
Before I came to Vitality360
I contracted Covid-19 in December 2020 and was admitted to hospital for 4 days due to low oxygen saturation levels caused by Covid pneumonia, leading to uncontrollable coughing. I also had a temperature and fatigue. On discharge, I was able to access support through Vitality360 as part of a referral by my employer. I had an assessment for an early intervention long Covid specialist rehabilitation programme with them. I worked in a responsible job with long shift patterns including regular night shifts and could not sustain this during my recovery.
“My cognitive function was poor and my symptoms flared up after any activity. I was struggling to sustain work on shift patterns”
How has the programmes helped you to regain some vitality?
The programme with Vitality360 has helped me to have a sense of unexpected recovery and supported me to return to work. The programme was bespoke and included a multidisciplinary approach of intervention, so I had sessions with a specialist OT and a specialist Clinical Psychologist. Counselling sessions via videocall helped me to rationalise my thoughts and insecurities, thereby putting these into perspective. I can remind myself that, although there are many in the world worse off than myself, my problems/issues are still real to me and my family.
How did the clinician(s) support you in this process?
They helped me to understand that my recovery will take time and to have realistic expectations of my activity levels. I learnt how to calm/re-set through mindfulness exercises. My sessions with the Clinical Psychologist were especially helpful and my wife often commented that my demeanour was much improved following these. The programme has equipped me with tools to help manage any symptoms going forward and to support me with my recovery.
What was the most beneficial aspect of the programme overall?
My recovery is still not complete- that’s long Covid for you! It may not be possible for me, or even qualified medical experts, to predict how long it might be before I am ‘back to normal’. Perhaps I will have to accept my ‘new normal’.
Either way, I feel that the support I have received through this early intervention programme, coupled with the NHS and the support of an understanding employer, have equipped me with the necessary knowledge and skills to help manage, or more optimistically fully recover from, this life changing event.
“I am undergoing a phased return to work, next stage in, hopefully, a return to the life I led pre-pandemic. I will always remember the part the Vitality360 team have played in that journey.”