Cathy Troath, from Norton, had a relatively mild but still very unpleasant COVID-19 infection late last year.
She spoke with the Trust about her experiences which didn’t require hospitalisation but still made a huge impact on her life.
“I began to lose my sense of smell and taste in mid-October. Within four days I was suffering shortness of breath and feeling very tired. I was unable to do simple tasks without getting extremely tired”, Cathy said.
“I stayed away from family and friends as I didn’t want to pass anything on. But this was hard as family is so important to us all.
“It’s still affecting me and how I live. I have to be in the kitchen all the time when cooking as I can’t smell if things are ready, if something is burning and I’m worried about a gas leak as I wouldn’t be able to smell it.
“I don’t really enjoy food anymore as I still have no real sense of taste.
“I’m very much aware of cleaning my hands wherever I go and I still stay away from people as much as I can. I don’t let my friends in my home, even before the current lock down.
“COVID-19 is very real. I’m a fit and healthy person and it knocked me for six.
“I don’t like who COVID-19 has made me become.”
For up-to-date information about Covid, visit the NHS website.
