A local woman has shared how her dreams of moving to Edinburgh to start a new life studying were dashed when she caught covid just weeks after arriving.
Emma Smyth had made the huge decision to uproot her life working as a chef and bar manager in New Zealand to move thousands of miles across the globe.
Arriving in the capital in 2020, Emma was unfortunately one of the first wave of people to catch the virus, and was one of many across the country who then developed long covid.
Having a horrendous effect on her energy levels, heart and lungs, leaving her in some cases so exhausted that she couldn't even dress herself.
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Turning what was meant to be her dream move into a nightmare, Emma said: "I moved here the January before lockdown to study which sadly never happened., yet. I’ve worked as a Chef and Bar Manager most of my adult life which has meant relying on my physical strength and mind.
"I got covid and have been living with its long term effects since. The first symptoms to affect me were dizzy spells and vertigo. Over a few months, these developed into fatigue so bad I couldn’t dress myself; I had heart palpitations, severe breathlessness and aches in my bones.
"Over the last two years this has ebbed and changed. I still have to limit my activity and pace myself. I also have nerve pain like lightening running through my limbs and my muscles can freeze up if I expend to much energy."
Desperate to find a solution that would allow her to start living again, Emma discovered courses run by the Thistle Foundation, a charity which helps people manage long term conditions.
Taking an online course on how to work around her long covid, the new structure has now had a huge impact on her daily life.
Emma explained: "I have a few very good friends here but have no family support in Scotland, as such.
I found Thistle by search engine after being diagnosed with long-covid and struggling to manage it while lockdowns had me isolated from everyone.
I did an online lifestyle management course with Thistle, and have regular counselling sessions. Thistle has changed not only my life but my personality. It helped me plan for both good and bad days and change my attitude. I live a better life now, even with ongoing symptoms, than I did before.
I am more paced in emotion and physical effort, I am more accepting of the consequences of my actions and more patient with others. My friends and family have never seen me so happy and relaxed."
This week, the Scottish Government also announced they would be providing the Thistle Foundation with a further £250,000 of funding to allow them to help those impacted by a range of conditions, including covid.
Health Secretary Humza Yousaf said: “We are pleased to be able to support this important work by the Thistle Foundation which fits with our Once for Scotland Rehabilitation Approach.
“Our approach focuses on enabling individuals to access person-centred rehabilitation based on their individual needs. In doing so we hope to make rehabilitation more accessible for all.”
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