Top CRN West Midlands employee diagnosed with Long COVID

An active Deputy Chief Operating Officer for the Clinical Research Network West Midlands was diagnosed with Long COVID in 2020 after contracting the coronavirus earlier that year.

Julie Davis was infected with COVID-19 at the start of the pandemic where she experienced no severe symptoms.  

A dedicated weightlifting fan, Julie was a huge lover of sport and was preparing to take part in the European and World Powerlifting Championships. 

Three months after contracting COVID-19, Julie started to develop severe symptoms of Long COVID, including extreme fatigue, breathlessness, and body ache.

Julie’s symptoms worsened to the point she had to ditch her active lifestyle as she struggled to perform basic task, such as walking.

“Having to pretty much give up training was hard to take as I’d worked so hard over the years and as each week went by, I just knew I was getting weaker and would probably not be able to compete at powerlifting anymore,” said Julie.

After contacting her GP, she was diagnosed with Long COVID as her oxygen levels had dramatically decreased and the virus had caused slight scarring on her lungs.

With no treatment options available for people with Long COVID, Julie was advised to adopt an active lifestyle alongside regular periods of rest and relaxation.

Julie said: “I had days where I felt 100% and nothing was wrong, and then others when I was just so fatigued that I could barely function or get my words out and these days came out of nowhere, so it was really difficult to prepare for.

“The other aspect that was difficult is the mental side of the condition as being permanently shattered and in pain gets you down. It’s almost like existing had taken all my energy, and there definitely wasn’t anything left for being sociable.”

In 2021, Julie started to see signs of recovery and started training for the 2021 World Powerlifting Championships.

Julie said: “I still get good and bad days, but at least the good days are more often which just gives me a bit of hope that the end is in sight. It’s been a long and hard road.

“I’ve shared my story because in some organisations, senior leaders are supposed to be superhuman, and even if we are struggling, some would see this as a weakness and try to hide it.

“This last year has shown that I am certainly not superhuman and admitting that is sometimes the hardest thing.”

She added: “I do still feel like I’m one of the lucky ones; however, I’m here to share my story and many others aren’t.

“If you are struggling with your recovery, be patient, be kind to yourself, and ask for help when you need it as it may be a long road to normality.”