Paulina

Recently diagnosed

Age at interview: 37

Paulina caught COVID at work in the health care sector in November 2021 and has continued to experience symptoms, such as shortness of breath, fatigue, all over body pain, and brain fog. These symptoms prevent Paulina from being present in many aspects of her life, mainly her job and family. She wishes more than anything to get back to work and to be able to spend time with her family enjoying the outdoors. As she figures out how to live with long-term symptoms, Paulina has found it challenging to find health care providers who believe that she is experiencing long-COVID. She has been told repeatedly by different types of health care providers that she is experiencing anxiety and told to “try to get out and enjoy life”. This messaging has been frustrating for Paulina and only found the help she needed when one health care provider took the time to listen to what Paulina has been living with in the long-term. Paulina now has a provider who checks in on her regularly and referred her to an occupational and physical therapist who have been extremely helpful in managing day-to-day symptoms (e.g., learning breathing exercises and how to modify physical movements). Paulina hopes to get better but has come to realization that this could be her new normal. The new reality is not easy to accept and access to appropriate mental health support has been limited in her province. She hopes that more services will be made available to people living with long-COVID to manage both the physical and mental health aspects of the experience. Paulina also hopes that health care providers become more educated about long-COVID and can learn how to empathize with their patients who are dealing with this long-term illness.

Go back

More content

• Recovery and Thoughts About the Future – Paulina
  Paulina feels she has to accept her new life and enjoy it as best as she can.
• Advice to Others Living With Long COVID – Paulina
  Paulina finds ways to distract herself from dark thoughts.
• Advice to Policy Makers – Paulina
  Paulina wishes she could get some help at home.
• Additional Supports Needed for People Living with Long COVID – Paulina
  Paulina is overwhelmed by parenting and household tasks.
• Support From Employers, Colleagues, and Worker’s Compensation Boards – Paulina
  Paulina remembers that some of her colleagues didn't believe she was ill but CNESST (workers' compensation in Quebec) never questioned it.
• Additional Expenses – Paulina
  Paulina would like someone she could speak to freely but found private counsellors to be unaffordable.
• Coping Strategies and Self Care – Paulina
  Paulina finds that small things can provide a useful distraction when her mind starts to spiral.
• Loss of Income and Need for Financial Support – Paulina
  Paulina's loss of income and the high cost of living impacts her whole family.
• Impacts on Partners and Households – Paulina
  Paulina feels closer to her husband but they are struggling to keep the household running.