Jennifer 2
2 years since diagnosis
Age at interview: 57
Jennifer caught COVID in December 2020 and has been dealing with symptoms such as fatigue, brain fog, shortness of breath, and pain in the body. Jennifer considers herself very lucky because she has a supportive family doctor and a strong family support. She also had support from her employer who was very accomodating to her taking a leave when it was difficult to work while dealing with symptoms. However, Jennifer eventually had to come to terms with the fact that she was living with a chronic illness that might never go away and she decided to retire early. Choosing to make this decision was very difficult for Jennifer as she really enjoyed her job as a lawyer, but found it difficult to focus and finish tasks that were once easy for her to complete. Her and her partner also decided to downsize their home and rent a smaller place to make it easier for Jennifer to get around the house since simple tasks can be exhausting. Jennifer wants people to know that anyone can get COVID even if you live a healthy and active lifestyle as she did prior to getting long-COVID. Even if you have a good support system around you, Jennifer wants people to know that living with this chronic illness changes your life significantly and makes one have to make hard decisions, such as moving, quitting their job, and slowing down their overall pace in life.
More content
- Tests and Investigations – Jennifer 2Jennifer 2 had a specialized test that helped explain her breathlessness.
- Symptoms of Long COVID – Jennifer 2Jennifer has had a recurring sequence of symptoms.
- Recovery and Thoughts About the Future – Jennifer 2Jennifer 2 notices that doctors no longer mention getting better.
- Advice to Others Living With Long COVID – Jennifer 2Jennifer 2 urges others to start making small adjustments.
- Advice to Policy Makers – Jennifer 2Jennifer 2 says insurance companies should be required to accept long COVID as a diagnosis.
- Support From Family, Friends, Communities – Jennifer 2Jennifer 2 now avoids people who put her under pressure to be well.
- Impacts on Work and Career – Jennifer 2Jennifer 2 is a lawyer. She decided to retire because she feared that she would make serious mistakes at work.
- Coping Strategies and Self Care – Jennifer 2Jennifer 2 says "You have to accept how vulnerable you are."
- Advice to Healthcare Providers – Jennifer 2Jennifer 2 wishes that healthcare providers would be more straightforward when talking about her future.
- Impacts on Partners and Households – Jennifer 2Jennifer 2 says she and her husband can no longer have the active life they used to have.