I think I have long covid. How do you cope with with work and benefits? What help is out there? — Scope | Disability forum
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I think I have long covid. How do you cope with with work and benefits? What help is out there?

Shelly68
Shelly68 Community member Posts: 5 Listener
I'm quite sure I'm suffering from long covid. I caught Covid in Oct 2020.
Interested in chatting with people about how they cope, work, benefits? and what help there is.
Off to the doctor again next week with symptoms ? 
TIA x

Comments

  • Tori_Scope
    Tori_Scope Scope Posts: 12,488 Disability Gamechanger
    Hi @shelly68 :) Thanks for joining the community.

    I'm sorry to hear that you've been unwell. I hope that the doctor is able to give you some answers or treatment options next week. 

    If you think you may be experiencing long COVID, you might like to check out the NHS's advice on 'your COVID recovery', which contains information about long COVID. 

    Do you work currently, or claim any benefits?
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  • Shelly68
    Shelly68 Community member Posts: 5 Listener
  • Robinbobbin80
    Robinbobbin80 Community member Posts: 1 Listener
    Hi, I too have Long covid, 18 months of not being able to function day to day and unable to work. I’m part of a Facebook support group called LongCovid support (45k members) it’s a lovely supportive  place to find others to talk to and has lots of resources too including a sister research group
    https://www.facebook.com/groups/longcovid/
    If you don’t use Facebook there is a public page too https://www.longcovid.org/
  • KatB79
    KatB79 Community member Posts: 14 Connected
    Hey there

    I'm another long hauler circa 18/19 months severely disabled.

    Ask your doc to refer you to community long covid, if they agree this is the issue. They might want to run some blood tests etc to rule out other causes of fatigue.

    Depending on how disabled you are, there's universal credit and LCWRA, which is the new ESA. And PIP but apply soon for that as it takes months to be assessed.

    The long covid clinic may help you with pacing management etc, depending on your needs. I just got started with my local chronic fatigue service for this (have been fighting to improve the pathway for long covid in my area).

    A lot of people do get better after 10 months plus, just some of us aren't and this seems to be the same for ME/CFS aswell. So you should definitely still have hope for recovery yet. Pacing definitely helps! My daughter has seen slow improvement since she started resting properly ?

  • sunnysideup
    sunnysideup Community member Posts: 2 Listener
    Hello I know this is an old post but I just wanted to say hello as I also have long covid (18 months now!) and I think recovery has hit a plateau for me. I wonder how your benefit applications went? I had my telephone assessment for PIP last week 🤞
  • Alex_Alumni
    Alex_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 7,562 Disability Gamechanger
    Hello @sunnysideup how do you feel your assessment went? That's the hardest part over with now, hopefully the wait won't be too long for you.

    And in terms of how your recovery is going, do you feel like you're getting enough support at the moment? 

    Thanks for posting and sharing your thoughts on this discussion, I'm sure everyone will appreciate you checking in :) 
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  • elahrairah
    elahrairah Scope Member Posts: 49 Courageous
    Hello I know this is an old post but I just wanted to say hello as I also have long covid (18 months now!) and I think recovery has hit a plateau for me. I wonder how your benefit applications went? I had my telephone assessment for PIP last week 🤞

    my partner has post-covid and hasn't been able to work since april 2020.  she is unable to stand or sit up straight for more than half an hour at a time.  she has been declared fit to work by the ESA.  waiting for a tribunal. 
  • Shaola100
    Shaola100 Community member Posts: 11 Listener
    Hi all
    I have been diagnosed with long covid since 2020 and am able to do very little. I am also waiting for a tribunal appointment.

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