The Guardian have documented a year in my life living with #LongCovid. Please watch this short documentary to learn what it's like living with this debilitating disease and why we need urgent treatments. www.theguardian.com/society/vide... - ThreadSky

greendarrenshipley.bsky.social • 40 days ago

The Guardian have documented a year in my life living with #LongCovid.

Please watch this short documentary to learn what it's like living with this debilitating disease and why we need urgent treatments.

https://www.theguardian.com/society/video/2025/jan/14/the-pandemic-isnt-over-my-year-of-long-covid-video?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

Comments

christina4hope.bsky.social•37 days ago

So sorry you are also part of the club. I have also got long covid von have had ME for a very long time This documentary is so well done. It must’ve taken a lot of energy out of you to do it. I hope that there will be further progress in the long Covid research because of a film like this.

olliecornes.bsky.social•39 days ago

Thank you for sharing your experience. I'm sorry this has happened to you. Government must avoid repeating the mistake it made not funding #MEcfs research and should fund it and #longcovid research properly now. I've been waiting 26 years #millionsmissing

thestarlightraven.bsky.social•39 days ago

Just saw it, brilliant and well worth watching when you have an energy limiting illness, or want to understand how much it effects people’s lives. Thank you for helping to talk about this and showing such a valuable yet vulnerable side to this horrible illness.

mattcrespi.bsky.social•38 days ago

📌

jasminetaro.bsky.social•40 days ago

Thank you for sharing your story. Wishing you all the best for your recovery 🙏🏽

andrewgiffordphoto.bsky.social•40 days ago

Nicely told Darren, I can totally relate! As can 1.5 million others with LC, plus the 300,000 people with ME.

greensagainstcovid.bsky.social•40 days ago

We believe the numbers in the UK are around 3 million.

andrewgiffordphoto.bsky.social•40 days ago

I've seen the number 1.5-1.8 million banded around, regularly, but I imagine it could well be much higher, sadly!

notunpackedyet.bsky.social•39 days ago

So, as studies have shown somewhere around half of LC can also meet ME criteria....that could be up to 1.5m new ME patients!!

theaudacityofboats.bsky.social•19 days ago

Thank you Darren for sharing your story so openly. My long Covid was not as severe as yours but was still a terrible insult to my sense of self - who was I if I couldn’t do all the things I used to do? The impact on the kids was also really painful to bear.

theaudacityofboats.bsky.social•19 days ago

Focusing on what is still possible is a good start, and I found a lot of support and solidarity online from Facebook groups and LC research campaigners. But not being able to see any improvement is probably the hardest, it makes it so difficult to keep hoping.

theaudacityofboats.bsky.social•19 days ago

Also gutted that you have lost your work which you are clearly devoted to… I’d just secured my dream job when I got ill and deprioritised everything else to be able to hang onto it, and consider myself very lucky to have been able to

theaudacityofboats.bsky.social•19 days ago

LC has taught me never to offer unsolicited advice but let me know if you have any interest in the things I felt improved my quality of life… one I’ll add as you mention cycling so much was hiring a light weight ebike which meant I could still feel myself with v little exertion ❤️🚲

greendarrenshipley.bsky.social•19 days ago

Thank you for saying all this. Sorry you've had to go through this too.

I have an ebike that I loved. It worked great for me when my lc was less severe. But since my lc worsened (no idea why) there is no way I could use it. Wish I could. Hopefully some day.

theaudacityofboats.bsky.social•19 days ago

Kicked myself for having done exactly what I said I shouldn’t 😂 and remind myself to ask questions not offer solutions as everyone has already explored so many options and tried so many things. Will be thinking of you and sending solidarity from London to beautiful Shipley

notunpackedyet.bsky.social•40 days ago

Totally get it - I've been various shades of ill w ME for ~18 years in the last 22. Public health has refused to acknowledge Infection Associated Chronic Conditions since forever. Studies show ~50% LC meets ME DX, so if research had been done, there might have at least been some answers now.

malwsmefys.bsky.social•39 days ago

So moving and very brave of you to do this. Thank you for shining a light on this! I understand all of it, especially the parenting part. I despair at not being the mum I used to be and wish I still could be 😒

jgreen63.bsky.social•40 days ago

Thank you so much for telling your story and highlighting this ongoing, mostly ignored issue.

louisonlouizic.bsky.social•40 days ago

📌

nerissassippi.bsky.social•40 days ago

Thank you for sharing your story. I have never fully recovered from my only infection with COVID either.

dailyalice216.bsky.social•36 days ago

I've had long covid for two years+. Last fall I went to the long covid clinic at Cleveland Clinic in the US. I was prescribed low-dose Naltrexone which has been a miraculous drug for me. Sadly it doesn't work for everyone. I hope you're better soon + that UK research becomes focused on this problem.

bowdon.bsky.social•40 days ago

It's a good article and video too.

Thank you for allowing your story to be public 👍

louise-fox.bsky.social•40 days ago

Do you know about PEM? Is it an issue for you?

(Please only answer if you feel comfortable to)

alisongoldie.bsky.social•38 days ago

I was deeply moved by the film - it made me cry (I've had Long Covid for nearly 5 years). It was very good of you to agree to be filmed and to be so honest. Every story that gets traction helps remind people that so many of us have limbo lives and desperately need more research of potential cures.

christineloriol.bsky.social•36 days ago

📌

bigchiefoutlaw.bsky.social•38 days ago

Hi Darren. This article appeared in The Sunday Times last October and I work for the company involved. I’d love to talk to you about this.

My DMs are open if you’re able to send me a contact email address so I can explain more.

https://www.thetimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/article/long-covid-nearly-broke-me-now-im-curing-fellow-sufferers-8x9mr6b2p

greendarrenshipley.bsky.social•40 days ago

Thank you to everyone who has been in touch since the Guardian video about my life living with #LongCovid came out.

Your kindness has been overwhelming.

Thank you, it means so much ❤

echowall23.bsky.social•39 days ago

Hi Darren, can I ask do you take any precautions, to avoid getting further infections?

greendarrenshipley.bsky.social•40 days ago

@longcovidadvoc.bsky.social @longcovidsupport.bsky.social @longcovidsos.bsky.social @longcovidkids.bsky.social @longcovidresource.bsky.social @longcovidfam.bsky.social @greensagainstcovid.bsky.social @thereforme.bsky.social

kirsties.bsky.social•40 days ago

Thank you Darren. So powerfully told 🙏🫂

brimack.bsky.social•38 days ago

Very glad you’re getting the message out about LC. Many don’t know it exists, or that the only prevention is not getting Covid in the first place. Please take care not to get reinfected, it can make you get worse and lose any progress you may be making.

sodele.bsky.social•40 days ago

📌

crisjay.bsky.social•38 days ago

📌

flyingcoracle.bsky.social•25 days ago

Thank you for articulating so well what so many people are going through. Best wishes mate.

greendarrenshipley.bsky.social•25 days ago

Thank you 🙏

floracornish.bsky.social•40 days ago

Thanks, Darren, this is so well told. Really captures the sadness of that shrinking of oneself. Take care, from a fellow Long COVIDer.

hollychessman.bsky.social•18 days ago

Thank you for sharing your story. So much of what you are going through I am too. I have four kids and would do anything to be able to participate in their lives more. They adapt, but it’s hard to know I can’t go to most concerts or volunteer at school or many other things. And I can’t work either.

greendarrenshipley.bsky.social•18 days ago

It's so hard isn't it? Not being able to do things with the kids is mega tough.

hollychessman.bsky.social•17 days ago

I know I can be home more with them. I know they love that. And they can come to my bedroom anytime and tell me anything (sometimes they tell me more than I wish to know 🤪). But I wish I could bake for them again. I wish I could be there at a concert instead of using FaceTime. 😔

greendarrenshipley.bsky.social•17 days ago

Good that have some things that work- sounds similar to our set up!

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