Long Covid and Me

'So things have been a bit quiet on the blog latey as I've been quite unwell which has been a recurring themes since I contracted Covid in 2021. Initially I thought I had got off mildly as my Covid experience was simiar to mild flu. My sense of taste and smell came back quickly and I left isolation feeling pretty much back to my usual 'well' self.

Then my eye swelled up. I didn't think much of it and threw away my mascara. Then the other eye swelled up. Cue call to the doctors and antibiotics. But they didn't help. So I got referred to a dermatologist who diagnosed 'eczema' - Eczema! Never had that before. 'Probably triggered by the Covid' he explained and then gave me some cream.

A month later and my face was bright red, hot and looked like I had shingles. 'Rosacea' the dermatologist said. Rosacea! Never had that before. You know where this going right?.

But it didn't stop at my skin. In May I started having allergic reactions to things I have used all my adult life - like my hair dye and lanolin (yes, all my lipsticks had to go and I'm now destined to have dodgy hair for a year while the red dye grows out). And old scar tissue became painful, sore and swollen - WTF!

And then nausea and stomach issues kicked in - cue panic that I was pregnant - luckily not pregant (phew) - 'cut out gluten' people said, 'avoid dairy', 'take Vitamin D'.

Calf cramps are the latest symptom. 'Drink more water it could be dehyration'. The only thing I drink now is it water so pretty much ticked that box.

Doctors and specialists scratching their heads and repeating 'immune system' and 'long covid'. It should all settle down... ​

Well it isn't settling down. I am nearly 9 months post covid and I seem to have more symptoms each day and react to more foods and substances I am nervous to try anything new. I feel hungover all the time which is no fun when you don't even have the memories of the night before to see you through the aftermath. We even cancelled our holiday as I felt so terrible the thought of getting on a plane was beyond comprehension. 

The next step I think is food and allergy testing to see if I have become gluten or dairy or another base ingredient intolorant and see if that helps me feel a little better. 

Covid you are a bastard in more ways than one.