It was 10th November and Claire Townsend had a sore throat. Less than a week later she was struggling to get out of bed without having to catch her breath.
But for the mum-of-2, it wasn’t the breathlessness, heart palpitations or extreme dizziness that frightened her the most — it was the thought she could have unwittingly infected loved ones or work colleagues with deadly coronavirus.
Claire, a trainee nurse at St Mary’s Hospital, Newport, did not suffer any of the ‘classic’ COVID-19 symptoms — a persistent cough, a fever or a loss or change to her sense of smell or taste — until 5 days into her illness.
It meant that, although she diligently followed social distancing guidelines, for a short time she was completely unaware she had the virus. Her positive case was picked up following a routine swab.
While, thankfully, her symptoms were relatively mild, Claire says her experience shows why we should all act as if we have got the virus to protect ourselves, our families and our communities.
When did you think you were infected?
“I don’t know for sure — no-one else in my household developed symptoms so it could be that one of them was asymptomatic and passed it to me.
What were your earliest symptoms and how did the illness develop?
“I had a very bad headache and started to develop a sore throat — I noticed I was having heart palpitations and my heart rate was very fast for me. Over the following days I suffered with earache and cold-like symptoms including a stuffy head. My sinuses really hurt and my eyes felt as though they were hot. I became breathless and struggled to get out of bed without having to catch my breath. The dizziness was next level and I could not remain upright for any duration. I was shaky, wobbly and dizzy. I did not have a cough nor a fever at any point during the illness.
“The dizziness was next level — I could not remain upright for any duration.”
Article continues below this advertisement
When you received the positive test result, how did you feel and what went through your mind?
“I was absolutely devastated; I was so upset at the thought I could have infected work colleagues and petrified that the rest of my family might have caught it. I was also scared about my asthma as I am prone to chest infections from viruses and considered how bad that is in some Covid-19 patients. It also wasn’t nice to see the looks on my children’s faces when they found out”.
How severe were your symptoms and how long did it take you to recover?
“I was lucky enough to have a minor illness but I cannot understand the mentality behind comments that “it’s just the flu”. This is real and it’s scary — I was okay; if I had passed it on to someone else, they may not have been. That is a scary thought.
“This is real and it’s scary.
“I still have a sore throat two months on and I have been diagnosed with blepharitis which is inflammation in the eyelids which I am sure has come from having the virus. Long-term fatigue has also affected me. My heart rate is normal but I’m still having palpitations”.
Has the virus changed you as a person and your outlook on the current situation we are in?
“There will always be non-believers and people who like to go against the grain, but it is this attitude that is costing lives. Lockdown is hard, my mental health has suffered massively, but we have to do this to save lives and protect the NHS. It’s that simple.
“There will always be non-believers – it is this attitude that is costing lives”.
What do you think people can take away from your experience of having Covid-19?
“Around one in three people with coronavirus do not have any symptoms. This means they could be spreading the virus without knowing it.
“We should all act as if we have got the virus to protect ourselves, our families and our communities, particularly those who are most vulnerable while doing our utmost not to place an already busy NHS under further strain”.
You can listen to Clare’s story as she chats to Ian Mac about her COVID-19 ordeal
Non-believers in Covid I think fall into the same category as non-believers in the holocaust. They are no more than sad attention seekers and should just be ignored
Bit harsh people are aloud there own opinions. Sounds like this lady had the flu which kills thousands every year its just been re labeled
You’re obviously one of these “non – believers”, then. Muppet.
Covidiot and Troll, try doing some proper research instead of listening and reading fake news and have some respect for the families that have lost loved ones.
Tell you what, you think this is all been re labelled grow some balls and offer your services on one of the many covid wards.
Proper research like the bbc i bet all these people have wore a mask and done as there told and still got ill.May be its the masks making them ill bet they had the vaccine as well
You really are making yourself look incredibly stupid, Bob !!!!!
Mr Johnson.. Bob doesn’t even reach the dizzy heights of stupid !!!
You are a first class covidiot, I really hope you get first hand experience of the suffering of the victims and their families then you will realise how deadly this virus is, people like you disgust me.
No probably had the misfortune to come near you
Nothing that this brave lady describes sounds ANYTHING like the flu.
Really most people have never even had a proper flu i dont mean a man cold i mean the flu that wipes you out for weeks people forget they used to get ill before covid now if they have any thing wrong its covid
Anybody that denies that covid exists should take a longer look at the evidence, as should people that believe its like the black death! Over blown by the government for their own agenda. Kills people? Yes unfortunately. People fit and healthy at any age? No! Unfit and unhealthy at any age ? Yes! So let’s get some perspective. Thank you.
And your evidence is!
Try telling that to the families of young fit and healthy people who have passed with covid recently 3 of which were colleagues.
Troll
You sound really angry
What makes you think that then you waste of space Troll.
No just a free man
How dare you call yourself a man you poor excuse of a troll.
Wow you dont like some one having there own opinion you lock your self up you wear a mask and go get the vaccine you can have mine but ill carry on as normal thanks life to short to live in fear you are yhe true snow flakes
Oxygen thief troll
Maybe ill take urs and be ok mug
Speaks the pea brained Troll.
Your replies as well as your poor spelling shows your level of inteligence all common features of a Troll and Covidiot.
are you sure you spelt intelligence double ll,
Yeah of course!
Unlike you i donot make up stories, you are one disresptful covidiot.
May not die but the affects can and will last for years. I know a doctor in his early 40’s. Super fit, he did triathlons FFS! He is an expert in virology and in the past been to 3rd countries helping to control outbreaks of more deadly viruses. Whilst working in a hospital he caught the virus. The guy looks like a 60 year old now. In bed for 3 months. Will never be the same again. Will take a long time to just build his body mass back up. May never be able to compete again. This virus can really fuck you up. Just a roll of the dice.
Tom that confirms to all how terrible our hospitals are at controlling cross infections and how little cleaning goes on in them. RIP capt Tom. Taken from us by our beloved heroes in the nhs.
You really don’t deserve to mention Captain Tom ,he was an amazing man who left his family a fantastic memory and legacy to be proud of .
What will you leave behind?
Oh the bill for your Funeral.
Mr justice.. I bet you still walk around with a face mask on though?
No I dont, and I’m in the so called risk category, oooh scary!
Over blown by the Government for their own agenda. Ah yes I forgot, sorry. We are the only country in the world that has the virus.
Oh and we have the only government that thinks that way? And they dont talk to each other? And the same things happening at the same time in all countries around the world? What planet you on?
Obviously not the same flat earth planet as you Troll
bob – nine million a year die of starvation in the world
not heard you bad mouthing anyone – oh yes, of course it doesn’t affect you at all.
As we pass 110,000 dead the trolls continue. As for free speech, free speech does not absolve you from the repercussions of what you say. One of these is being call the idiot you are. These locks downs do NOT serve our government in anyway at all. They would prefer no virus, everyone working, and to peddle their story of how good they managed brexit. Instead its all about how they are allowing so many to died or loose their livelihood. The premises of these covidiots that it’s some kind of control system is ludicrous and does not hold up to any kind of examination.
P.s In the 9 years up to 2019, 10,000 a year died from flu and flu related deaths.
Well said Tom.
You’re wrong there in ONE month January 2018 65,000 died of flu look at the ONS we didn’t have that rammed down our throats 24/7 so hardly anyone noticed.No more deaths this year than any other year so how can there be a pandemic?No post mortems allowed so that every death is put as covid to keep up the numbers and fear.People should turn off the teLIEvision and research the true facts for themselves it’s easily done
that is right SRichards – covid has a 99.98% survival rate globally, which means the vast majority of the planet do not need some concoction of muck injected into them. The vast majority are either asymptomatic or very minor symptoms. We never locked down society because of flu, which kills each year and this should not have been any different.
Welcome Troll, lets hope your intelligence is a little higher than your predecessors which judging by your comment is doubtful.
reading the comments on this board, it is like reading the comments of a religious cult that denounces anyone who doesn’t believe in their god. Pathetic.
Yet you join the comments to put your point across, dont you think your being a bit contradictive which proves what i said about your limited inteligence along with the rest of the Trolls.
sadly not trollinator – it is the preserve of those who lack the intelligence to question a received ideology, that spout bile and hatred towards anyone that does. It is a clear example of group think, when all say the same thing – they would all rather be wrong together than on their own
anyhow, as you are being rude and offensive, i have neither the time nor the inclination to continue any discussion with you, especially seeing as how the bigger picture is totally lost on you.
At least your okay in copying wording from a book now try reading what a troll is you may learn something.
Rude and offensive, dont make me laugh snowflake.
As i have said before to others, grow some and offer your services to the NHS and see first hand whats happening rather than trying to poke your pathetic views down peoples throats and if you do succumb to this deadly virus make sure you tell our hero NHS staff not to inject you with any of that muck as you call it.
trollinator – my point has been made rather well and you have demonstrated that by your last post.
Really!
Roll up roll up lemmings, the govt speaks, you shall obey .baaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
TROLL ALERT. Covidiot.
So another case caught in hospital. They have no idea how to prevent cross infections or how to clean in hospitals. It’s a disgrace.