she never fully recovered, though. then, about a month after testing positive, she began to experience a level of fatigue she had never felt before.
“it was almost a surreal lack of energy and lack of ability to do anything.” she took a month off work, unable to do very much. even walking around a grocery store, she said, “brought me down.” she learned to respect her limitations.
a file photo of the ottawa hospital general campus. since the hospitals’ long covid rehab program began last year as a pilot, 41 patients have been through it. there are another 53 people waiting to get in.
ashley fraser
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postmedia
since then, the rehab program has helped her learn to pace herself, and she is seeing improvement.
“my hope is i continue to be able to manage well within some new boundaries. i consider myself pretty fortunate. compared to some people, i live a really good life,” stone said.
one big benefit of the program for stone and others is connecting with others going through similar experiences.
“being part of this group was everything. it made me feel better,” said herbert, who has also completed the rehab program. “you don’t feel like you are alone anymore.”
she and members of her group are planning to meet in person for the first time this summer.
during the early part of the pandemic, herbert, then 49, did everything she could to avoid covid-19 because she already had lung disease.
“i thought, ‘if i ever get covid, i will probably die’.”