‘Doctors were adamant I had depression, but I’ve had Long Covid for two years’
A 25-year-old woman has told how doctors were adamant she had depression, despite the fact it was actually Long Covid.
Ruby Naldrett, a senior social media editor, first caught Covid in January 2021 before having the first vaccine.
The Brighton native had the classic symptoms that the NHS and government warned everyone about at the time – lack of taste and generally feeling like she had a really bad flu – but tested negative all the time.
READ MORE: 'First UFO crash was in Italy and the Vatican was involved', whistleblower claims
However, while other family members who caught it were fine after a week, Ruby never fully recovered but continued to test negative when taking the Covid tests.
When she was eligible for the vaccines, Ruby got hers – and has had three so far.
It was too long after that she caught Covid again, but this time it was “a lot worse”.
“I couldn't even get out of bed,” she said.
The second bout of Covid left her with, what has now been diagnosed as Long Covid, but the fight for Ruby to get that diagnoses has been long, arduous and complicated.
The Taylor Swift fan said: “I am just in this permanent state of being tired and everything is cloudy – it's really weird.
“I used to go to the gym but I literally can not exercise anymore as I need sleep for like a week after I've been.
“If I'm working from 3pm, I'll sleep until 2.30pm.
“I've got brain fog really badly, as well – I turned up at completely the wrong time for appointment with the doctor about Long Covid.”
Ruby has also had issues with her remembering lyrics to her favourite songs, as well as forgetting passwords and memorable words and numbers.
Inside tech guru's blueprint to live forever with 80 pills a day and 33,000 bowel pics
Her first trip to the doctors to was a few after first having Covid when she realised she wasn't getting any better.
But this was a time when doctors didn't really know much about Covid, and they essentially brushed her off and said she would be fine and that this was “normal”.
But she went back a few months ago, albeit for an online video consultation, and was told she “had depression”.
She said: “I don't have depression – if anything I'm depressed because this is making me ill.
“But I just didn't buy that, so I went back again a couple of weeks ago and rang up and said I really want to see somebody in real life.
“I finally got a face-to-face appointment and she said 'it sounds like you've got Long Covid'.
Doctors cut bloke's stomach open to remove deodorant can he shoved up his bum
“I've had to do a few tests to confirm, such as an ECG, and two blood tests at the hospital and I've got a chest x-ray.”
Ruby has also been referred to a Long Covid clinic, too.
She admits to having had to learn to live with the impact of Long Covid on her life.
Her social life has been impacted, and she only got into her work office once a week.
But the length of time it took to get the diagnosis and the misdiagnosis of depression also had an impact on her.
“You feel like maybe they're right and you start doubting yourself," she said.
“I'm not making up that I got off the bus at completely the wrong stop.
Outbreak of Victorian disease sparks urgent warning for Brits heading on holiday
“I live in a first floor flat and I get up the stairs huffing like I've just run a marathon – that is not normal.
“I don't blame the doctors because I don't think they know a lot about it because it's such a new thing and it must be difficult because I assume there's probably a lot of people that have got these symptoms, but it isn't nice. when you know what's going on inside and you're being told it's something completely different.”
Ruby has urged anyone who thinks they could also have Long Covid to “keep going” and try to find a doctor who understands the illness.
She is also adamant that seeing a doctor in person is the only way to get a proper diagnosis.
“I would push to see somebody in real life and If they don't understand that's fine but there will be one there that gets it,” she said.
To get more stories from Daily Star delivered straight to your inbox sign up to one of our free newsletters here.
Source: Read Full Article
