Cathy feels she has had to dumb down her personality.
Transcript
I am not even the same person that I used to be. I talk like a cotton-picking robot. I’m so used to speaking slowly now so I can breathe. It also, if I speak slowly, it stops the burning. Sorry. It stops the burning in my chest. Because if I talk too fast and I can’t breathe then it just burns. I don’t know how to explain it other than that. Again, burning here high up is very common with people with long COVID. So, yeah, I’ve had to dumb down my personality. Because I used to be a very extroverted person who was the life of the party and chattering and making everybody laugh. And if I show too much emotion or speak too much it makes my symptoms worse. So I have had to – well, no two ways about it–I have had to change my personality to avoid the exacerbation of all these symptoms. So it’s just – it’s destroyed my life. It’s ridiculous.
More from: Cathy 2
More content
- Getting Care for Long COVID – CathyCathy was under pressure to go back to work full time. A long COVID clinic signed her off work completely.
- Symptoms of Long COVID – CathyCathy says her symptoms "control her life."
- Additional Supports Needed for People Living with Long COVID – CathyCathy receives psychological support through workers' compensation but the support is limited and she has to fight to keep going.
- Support From Employers, Colleagues, and Worker’s Compensation Boards – CathyCathy was given the wrong information about making a claim by her employer and, initially, inappropriately limited support from WCB.
- Support From Employers, Colleagues, and Worker’s Compensation Boards – CathyCathy's boss was angry when she couldn't cope with her job full time.
- Additional Expenses – CathyCathy says she is paying out of pocket for what long COVID has done to her.
- Advice to Healthcare Providers – CathyCathy's doctor was open to her suggestions.
- Impacts on Friendships – CathyCathy notices that, after a while, people just forget about you.
- Psychosocial Impacts – CathyCathy says she has become a hermit.
- Impacts on Self and Daily Life – CathyCathy feels she has had to dumb down her personality.