EXCLUSIVE: A mother of three, 46, was healthy and energetic but was left periodically bedbound after battling symptoms of long Covid for almost two years - 'it became debilitating'
Before Covid struck, Kirsty Huxter was the picture of health, juggling her part-time role as a youth charity manager, penning books, volunteering at her church, and managing a bustling household. But in December 2022, Kirsty tested positive for Covid-19 and initially, her symptoms were so mild she barely noticed them, with just a headache and some fatigue.
While many people report tiredness post-Covid, Kirsty's persistent fatigue raised red flags for her when it didn't subside after several weeks. It began to severely impact her everyday activities. "I started to do click and collect instead of going to the supermarket because I didn't think I could walk around for 45 minutes and I worked from home a few days a week. At this point, I was getting tired but otherwise felt fine," she shares.
Echoes of alarm came from the World Health Organisation, hinting at perceptible murmurs of a summer wave in 2024, mirroring patterns last seen back in 2021 when the continent's football extravaganza, the Euros, last occurred.Kirsty, a doting mum to Rachel, 20, Leah, 17, and Elijah, 14. recounts a brief spell of respite five months subsequent to her initial positive Covid test, where she felt "pretty good for a few days" and ventured out more.
Her condition even affected her daily pleasures and responsibilities, as she admits, "I was struggling to read books as they gave me a headache and the words went fuzzy on the page," and watching TV for just half an hour would leave her spent. The change was tough on her family too, with her children having to step up for simple tasks such as bringing her food and water, reflecting on the distressing transformation from a once active mum to someone who had become reliant on others.
Dr Mark Faghy, a professor of clinical exercise science with a focus on lengthy Covid research from the University of Derby, demystifies long Covid, explaining, "It is a multisystem pathological condition that follows an infection with Covid-19. Some people see continuing symptoms from the acute infection and others recover and then experience the development of symptoms in the weeks or months post-infection.
She describes her limited capabilities: "I can walk, have a bath, pour a bowl of cereal and look at my phone or computer for short spells of time, but it's a world away from 'normal' life," she says. Her daily activities are dictated by her energy levels, with something as simple as a doctor's appointment taking up all her energy for the day.
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