7 days ago
Pontypool man opens up about experience with Long Covid
John-Sandie Lewis in his 60s is part of 'Let's Talk! Long Covid' a face-to-face support group for people who have Long Covid in Torfaen.
The group which meets twice a month in Pontypool was set up by Wendy Edwards an ex-nurse and has a diverse group of participants.
John's Covid experience first began back in December 2020.
At the time he was carrying out factory work in Newport and didn't think anything was out of the ordinary when he first contracted the virus.
John-Sandie Lewis from Pontypool is encouraging others to seek support for Long Covid (Image: John Sandie Lewis) John explained: 'I was working through shutdowns and a whole group of us went down with Covid at Christmas.
'I didn't know anything about Long Covid, or lingering symptoms and I was one of the first people in work that seemed to have it that much harder.
'I started getting flu like symptoms, it knocked the hell out of me, and six to seven weeks in I started to feel like I was getting better then it hit me much harder…'
John Sandie Lewis with Let's Talk! Long Covid group's Yanto Evans and Wendy Edwards. (Image: John Sandie Lewis) John explained how his symptoms rapidly progressed.
He said: 'It really hit me my nervous system. my ability to walk and breath, in February, I was coughing and coughing.
'I was rushed to the Grange for a suspected heart attack, but they realised it was a hiatus hernia.'
Sadly, because of his illness John was forced to accept an early retirement and at his weakest he was unable to walk far without falling over.
John said: 'I was walking about 120 yards and that was taking me the best part of three hours, my balance was getting worse, and I was having falls regularly I was falling every few yards even with a stick.
'It was extremely scary I had extreme body tremors, and I was virtually low mobility right through to September 2022.'
Long Covid sufferer encourages others to seek support and not face it alone (Stock image PPE worn during the pandemic) (Image: NQ) At the time, doctors thought John was suffering from Parkinsons. However, a Neurologist later confirmed that his symptoms were in fact Covid related.
John said: 'I went private because the waiting times were going up, and as soon as they said that it scared the life out of me.'
Thankfully, John has regained some mobility and is doing much better, though he hasn't fully returned to how he was before contracting the virus.
He has the following message to anyone who suspects they may have Long Covid.
'Try to remain positive you're not on your own there are others out there self-refer to your local symptoms management service if you believe you have Long Covid they will listen to you.'
John shared a bit of background about the Let's Talk! Long Covid group..
He said: 'I'm just thankful someone had the idea to start it.
"Between us all there's a whole host of careers, nurses, ex-doctors, accountants, people who worked in shops. It hit everybody. There's nobody safe.
'When someone comes to us, normally it's the first time they've met anyone else with it, and they get quite emotional.
"It's a very isolating illness because it's still not understood.
'It takes everything away from you. Virtually everyone has lost their jobs or worked reduced hours.
"It takes the control away from your life.'
However, through shared experiences and support, the group is helping members feel less alone and reminding each other that better days are still ahead.
For more information on the group, click here.
