By Corinne Yeadon, of the Being Better private therapy practice in Skipton

IT’S coming up to a year since both myself and my husband tested positive for Covid. The memories of having the virus at its most aggressive are still pretty fresh in our minds, despite the time lapsed.

Words are influential in impacting our thoughts and beliefs. I was completely resistant to accepting the potential of having long Covid due to believing it would place limits on my ability to recover and instil a sense of helplessness or hopelessness.

A few months ago, I was forced to concede that my symptoms, albeit intermittent, pointed to long Covid.

My GP provided obligatory information sheets and prescribed medications to manage symptoms.

Over the past year I have spent a king’s ransom on products, remedies and potions to alleviate symptoms and support recovery. I don’t begrudge this spend as there is power in doing something to feel a sense of control.

Thankfully as time passes symptoms are lessening in severity and frequency. Covid occasionally gives me a prod if I’ve overdone it by flattening me with a ‘cleft in twain’ headache and dormouse sleepiness that floors me.

I have learned to identify signals telling me an episode is in the post, the primary indicator being smell and taste. My smell and taste were absent for many months and with smell training began to gradually return. Then horror of horrors I was besieged with an all prevailing smell and taste which could only be described as rotten, veggie, eggie bin juice, hitherto referred to as “THE smell” or “THE taste”. Thankfully this is now restricted to alerting me to slow down or rest.

Lessons have been learned in pacing myself, avoiding over commitment, listening to what I need and taking care of myself. The episodes are few and far between but I continue to be mindful of infection risk to others and have my lateral flow tests for work purposes but which also satiate my need to do what I can from unknowingly inflicting this malicious virus on others. I consider myself fortunate, others have suffered far worse and continue to do so.