"CMP - Condition Management Program SHSCT"

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Lorraine  (Occupational Therapist) at the St Lukes site in Armagh for the excellent work she is doing with the CMP (Condition Management Programme). Her dedication to me as an individual and her approach towards my poor Health, both Physical and Mental was second to none. Lorraine just didn’t go through basic principles of the course, she took the time with me, to really understand where I was with my illness and over the coming months progressed me to where I could see light at the end of the tunnel.

It all started with me getting Covid at the end of 2020. As I have Asthma I took really ill and had to go to hospital twice. Well to be honest, only for my GP in Brownlow Health Centre in Craigavon advising that I go to CAH ED immediately, it may have been a fatal illness for me, as time is off the essence with Covid. The hospital did get my breathing stable which allowed me to go home to recover, however the Hospital Covid Doctors kept in daily contact with me and maintained this contact for 2 weeks, until my condition improved to their satisfaction.

Unfortunately as the months went by, I continued to suffer with ill-health. The health professionals I saw told me that I was experiencing this new condition “Long Covid”.

I was receiving support from Health Care professionals, Physiotherapists and the Chest, Heart and Stroke Service and was referred to the Long Covid Clinic.

Long Covid was indeed taking its toll on me both physically and mentally and as the months rolled on I was really finding it hard coming to terms with this condition. Throughout my journey I was supported by my Work and the Multi Professionals within the Health Service.

Working through the CMP program with Lorraine helped me progress physically. I was also supported by Physio Services and these supports along with Chest, Heart and Stroke, have helped me fight this long covid, as best I can. With support I was able to progress to building up my physical health, by walking every day, which helped to build my strength.

The last thing I would like to comment on is what we would call “the elephant in the room”. I wasn’t acknowledging the fact that my mental health was suffering and again thanks to Lorraine, where she subtly brought this to the fore. This was hard for me to recognise and address as my instinctive nature was “this doesn’t happen to people like me”. Again Lorraine was a fantastic help and guide for me.

I would like to finish with saying that I work in Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy and to suddenly “be the Patient on the other side” was a hard pill to swallow, but progress has been made and I am looking forward to returning back to work on a phased return basis.

CMP has played a vital role with my recovery. I again would like to thank all the health professionals who were involved in my recovery to date and to thank them for all the support they provided to me.