An Inverness woman struggling with the long-term effects of coronavirus is urging people to start wearing face masks as cases surge once again across Scotland.
Freja Lundberg first got infected with Covid in January 2021, just like thousands of other people across the country.
But Ms Lundberg’s developed into the little-understood condition “long Covid”, leaving her wheelchair-bound and frequently unable to leave the house with debilitating symptoms.
The 24-year-old shared her story as the latest figures show over 3,100 people are getting infected with the virus every single day in Scotland.
About 165,000 people have now reported having long Covid – including 10,000 new cases in the last month alone.
Some people think if they have already had Covid they will be okay, but people are getting long Covid after their second or third infection.”
– Long Covid sufferer Freja Lundberg.
Ms Lundberg took her warning to MSPs at Holyrood in June, and says she is still recovering two weeks later just from the amount of energy it took.
As well as urging people to wear face masks and take infection seriously, she says it’s time the Scottish Government funded long Covid clinics across the country.
‘It is miserable’
“It is hard for people to grasp the reality of long Covid,” she said.
“If they did they would still be following all the protections that used to be in place and would wear face masks.
“Some people think if they have already had Covid they will be okay, but people are getting long Covid after their second or third infection.
“Long Covid numbers will only grow, and that is painful for me to watch because there is no treatment and no cure.”
Ms Lundberg had been in her final year at Aberdeen University when she first fell ill, and has had to suspend her studies.
Since then she has lost seven and a half stones and sleeps for over 12 hours every day.
‘I have no social life’
Ms Lundberg said: “Because of long Covid I have developed POTS (postural tachycardia syndrome) where my heart rate goes up massively, so whenever I stand up or walk I pass out.
“Because of that I am now dependent on a wheelchair.
“I have no social life – I have genuinely only seen one friend three times since January 2021 and there is no enjoyment in it for me.
“The effort to keep a conversation is exhausting and I crash afterwards.”
Last month Ms Lundberg joined a group of other long Covid sufferers in Holyrood to plead for help from the government.
She said she understands the difficulties in setting up specialist clinics in rural places like the Highlands, but adds the current set-up is “not working”.
She said: “I appreciate you can’t just magic all of this out of nowhere, but the government isn’t even trying.
“I was rejected by the cardio-respiratory team because I was not admitted to hospital when I had Covid.
“I then had to wait nine months before I could see anyone, and 10 months to see a respiratory physiotherapist because my diaphragm was basically paralysed and I was breathing from my shoulders instead.”
‘Ignored’
Scottish Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton highlighted figures showing long covid sufferers increased by 10,000 in a month.
“Every time I meet with long Covid sufferers I see first-hand how utterly debilitating this illness is,” he said.
“The SNP and Greens have ignored their pleas for help and categorically failed all those whose lives have been completely ripped apart by the condition. ”
A spokeswoman for the Scottish Government said they recognise the impact long Covid can have, but said there is no “one size fits all” response to the problem.
They added: “We have established a long Covid strategic network bringing together clinical experts, NHS boards, third sector organisations and those with lived experience to guide how we plan and design care and ensure our £10 million long Covid support fund is targeted at the areas where additional support can make the biggest difference.”
They added the government is investing £3 million this year into the fund, which could lead to establishing long Covid clinics in the future.
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