"Condition Management Programme"

I was referred by my GP to the Long Covid Clinic as I have Long Covid. I was very apprehensive as I did not know what to expect. I was then contacted first of all by Dr Sweeney who explained exactly why I was having the symptoms I was experiencing which made a lot of sense,  she then referred me to the Condition Management Programme. There was a waiting list but soon I was contacted by an Occupational Therapist, Ciara, and very quickly she explained how this programme worked.

Ciara then signed me up for workshops which were delivered by Teams. These workshops were brilliant because they were delivered by Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists. They overhead a lot of subjects. The subjects I got the most from were on the subjects of Sleep, Confidence Building, Pain Management. Between these Teams workshops I always had a meeting with Ciara and we were able to talk about the previous weeks workshop and she was able to answer any questions I had and encourage me use any techniques that were discussed.

I have learned a lot which has helped me to come to terms with this condition. My life has changed so much from before getting Long Covid and I had a lot of frustration at not being able to do the things I had done for years, but because of the information I have received I have accepted what I can and cannot do any more. The coping strategies I have learned have have helped me manage my fatigue and to understand how to pace. 

I can’t thank Ciara enough for her support.  She made me feel as if I had been seen and heard. She was emphatic but also very professional and had answers for my questions. So thank you Ciara, Dr Sweeney, Jarlath, Marie, Stephen,Dione and Sian.