A Scots teacher with long covid said she is still struggling with severe brain fog 10 months after testing positive with the virus.
Biology and science teacher Chloe Folta, is speaking out as new figures show more than 200,000 people are living with the condition. The 26-year-old got covid in December last year but said she has still not recovered.
Chloe, from Penicuik, Midlothian, said he GP hasn't been able to help with her symptoms - which also include breathlessness, tiredness, muscle and chest pain. Her Apple watch was recording a higher heart rate than before she got covid and she was eventually put on a 24-hour ECG which showed the problem.
Chloe, a secondary school teacher, was referred to Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland Long Covid Support Service for help in managing her symptoms. She is now back in her teaching role on a phased return.
Chloe said: "I got covid in late December last year and have never really got better. Twice I went back to work too early and made myself worse.
"If I'm honest, I'm still not great. I was back and forward to my GP because new symptoms kept cropping up.
"The GP was sympathetic but didn't really know what to do - I understand that because covid and long covid is still all so new. I was referred to CHSS in March.
"I filled out an online survey that asked what kind of support or help I needed, so I was able to request telephone support. And that was so helpful to me.
"The calls were partly about how I could manage my symptoms, deal with the pain and eventually get back to work, and they were really specific to me, which was great. What was really beneficial was that CHSS gave me advice on how to talk to my doctor about the symptoms.
"I have an Apple watch, so I had seen that my heart rate was a lot higher than before covid. But every time I saw the doctor, they didn't see the heart rate as a big issue.
"Because of the help I'd got from CHSS, I was able to explain properly about my heart rate and eventually I was put on a 24-hour ECG that showed this was a real problem. I still suffer from fatigue and muscle and chest pain.
"Brain fog has been a real issue, too. I was very active before, and it's been hard to adjust and scale back to doing almost nothing.
"I'm on a phased return to work, going in for full days on Mondays and Tuesdays. But that wipes me out for the rest of the week.
"The smallest things tire me out, like getting dressed or making breakfast. It felt very supportive to speak to someone from CHSS and know that someone understood and was sympathetic to what I was going through.
"Having this service is a must for people in my situation. We all need that support."
It comes as ONS stats show 204,000 Scots are now living with long covid - more people than live in the city of Aberdeen. In October 2022, 75,000 people have been living with the condition for more than 12 months.
Nearly three quarters said it affects their daily lives, including their ability to work and enjoy a good quality of life.
Allan Cowie, interim chief executive at Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland, said: "Despite most people believing Covid is over, the number of people living with Long Covid has more than doubled in the last year, which is a major public health concern for Scotland.
"The Scottish Government has promised to help people with Long Covid but many are still struggling to get a diagnosis, to get back to work and enjoy everyday activities like going for a walk or spending time with their families.
"People who are seeing very little improvement in their health 12 months after getting Covid are scared and need help. There needs to be more urgency on this.
"People have been living with Long Covid for years now and little progress has been made to build services around their needs. People deserve action."
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