It has been 2 ½ years now in dealing with Long-COVID.
In my last update blog from December 2023, I shared that I had started using nicotine patches. I used the term Holy Toledo in referencing the immediate impact they had.
7 months on, I am still using the patches as they allow me to be substantially more functional – both physically and mentally. Just don’t double up on the patches… goodness, fever, the shakes, vomiting, nausea - I even fell over lying down… how is that even possible?
I still get the rashes, the fatigue, the absentmindedness (might be me getting older though 😊) but, and a big but, these symptoms don’t last long now.
A month before I got covid in 2021, I competed at the Worlds Coastal Rowing Champs in Portugal. As you will appreciate, I was pretty fit and at 48, was holding my own with a lot of much younger competitors. They do not do master’s at worlds so had to compete with the young bucks. Quite fun really.
In my journey through Long-COVID, I made a pact with myself that I would return to this stage and give it another good crack when I was able. 2022 came and went. 2023 did the same. But, September 2024, in Genoa Italy, I am planning to be racing.
What has changed?
The way I train – I have to be a lot smarter in managing workloads. I know when I have had a harder session on the water as the rashes show up, I start stuttering, get more grumpy than normal 😊. Ha, ok, I do get grumpy when fatigued and have the patience of a brick, as in, none at all.
I can see the triggers and aim to proactively manage them.
Sometimes I stuff up but for the most part, I am a recovering Long-COVID’er.
Let’s see how Italy goes in September. One thing is for sure, I am not going to leave there wondering.
If you are interested in updates, then follow me on LinkedIn. I will be sharing blogs on the progress to Worlds as well covering the actual racing.
At 51, what could possibly go wrong?
