Northern Ireland

Mother diagnosed with Covid-19 last March still experiencing intense symptoms one year on

Aoife Moore (38), from east Galway, is still experiencing intense Covid-19 symptoms one year on from being diagnosed last March. Picture by Aoife Moore/PA Wire
Aoife Moore (38), from east Galway, is still experiencing intense Covid-19 symptoms one year on from being diagnosed last March. Picture by Aoife Moore/PA Wire Aoife Moore (38), from east Galway, is still experiencing intense Covid-19 symptoms one year on from being diagnosed last March. Picture by Aoife Moore/PA Wire

A WOMAN who was among the earliest Covid-19 cases in Ireland is still experiencing intense symptoms a year after her diagnosis.

Aoife Moore, a 38-year-old mother-of-two from east Galway, is one of thousands of people across the country suffering from "long Covid."

Her life has been upended since she first began experiencing symptoms, before St Patrick's Day last year.

"I started feeling really unwell," she said.

"I was very cold and I just could not get warm. I just couldn't regulate my body temperature. The way I describe it is like your lungs are being grated. It was like nothing I have had before."

However, while her condition improved, one year on, she is still dealing with chronic fatigue, severe coughing, difficulty concentrating, inflammation, swelling, mouth sores and various aches and pains.

Aoife Moore (38), from east Galway, pictured with her husband, Kerill, daughter Ailbhin (5) and son, Diarmuid (3). Picture by Aoife Moore/PA Wire
Aoife Moore (38), from east Galway, pictured with her husband, Kerill, daughter Ailbhin (5) and son, Diarmuid (3). Picture by Aoife Moore/PA Wire Aoife Moore (38), from east Galway, pictured with her husband, Kerill, daughter Ailbhin (5) and son, Diarmuid (3). Picture by Aoife Moore/PA Wire

"Make no mistake about it, if you get long Covid, it's going to affect every facet of your life," she said.

"It affects every single part of you. Your mental, your emotional, your physical, your financial, your relationships."

Ms Moore, who is manager to the author Erin Darcy, said her husband had "effectively" become her carer and looks after the house because "my ability to physically do things is hugely impacted".

"I can't lift the kids from a standing position. I can't bath them. I can't do simple things like getting their dinner together," she said.

"When you have long Covid, I do honestly believe that it's still somewhere in my body, dormant. And when I get run down, that it activates and you get a relapse.