Valérie notices her supporters running out of steam.
Written testimony
C’est sûr que le fait d’être bien entourée, aide beaucoup. Là je sens présentement que mon entourage commence à s’essouffler. Là ils commencent à trouver que c’est long avant que je me remette puis que ça commence à demander pas mal de concessions pour être capables d’être avec moi pour que ce soit… Pour que je sois fonctionnelle, t’sais au niveau de la gestion du bruit, la lumière qui est vraiment problématique. Tout ce qui est sortie! Bien c’est sûr que là, moi j’ai une chaise roulante, fait que ça amène aussi un peu plus d’effort à faire aussi. Fait qu’on dirait là, là je sens mon entourage s’essouffler. Puis ça, ça commence à jouer aussi, un petit peu miner, je dirais, sur mon moral.
[Of course, being well surrounded helps a lot. Now, I can feel that the people around me are starting to run out of steam. They’re beginning to think that it takes a long time before I recover, and that it’s starting to require a lot of concessions to be able to be with me so that it’s… So that I’m functional, you know, in terms of noise management, the light is very problematic. Anything that requires getting out! Of course, now I’m in a wheelchair, which means I must make a bit more effort too. So, it’s like, right now, I can feel the people around me running out of steam. And that’s starting to take its toll on my morale.] Translation from the original French.
More content
- Mental Health Support – ValérieValérie had limited mental health support because she had to pay out of pocket.
- Getting Care for Long COVID – ValérieValérie made repeat visits to ER because she couldn't get help elsewhere.
- Complementary and Alternative Care – ValérieValérie gained a sense of control over her symptoms with the help of her kinesiologist.
- Support From Family, Friends, Communities – ValérieValérie notices her supporters running out of steam.
- Impacts on Children and Parenting – ValérieValérie wishes her children didn't have so much responsibility.
- Loss of Income and Need for Financial Support – ValérieValérie is afraid of falling into the hole of an unrecognized illness.
- Loss of Income and Need for Financial Support – ValérieValérie was studying to become a teacher. There was no teaching during lockdown so she was not entitled to employment insurance.
- People with Long COVID Advocating for Themselves – ValérieValérie is fighting to get her disability recognized after her application for social assistance was refused.
- Advice to Others Living With Long COVID – ValérieValérie warns that pushing yourself too hard can have long-term negative consequences.
- Psychosocial Impacts – ValérieValérie hits the wall emotionally every time her symptoms flare up.