Almost a year after recovering from COVID-19, a Brisbane woman is bedridden from the aftermath

After contracting COVID-19 on a flight home from London in March last year, a Brisbane woman was mysteriously struck down again and now feels “a lot worse”.

ALMOST a year after recovering from COVID-19, Megan Peacock is bedridden and suffering from the devastating aftermath of the virus.

When the 27-year-old fled the chaos of London to return to her home in Brisbane in March of last year, she received the unfortunate news someone on her flight had the virus.

Noticing early symptoms, she was tested at the Mater Hospital and returned a positive result.

It was two-weeks of shortness of breath, body aches, fatigue and headaches.

Once she stopped feeling sick, life went on and she returned to her active lifestyle of dancing, long runs and working on her feet in retail.

But mysteriously on January 29 this year, her health unravelled while she was at work, and she has been bedridden since.

“I was at my retail job and I suddenly fell ill,” she told The Courier-Mail.

“I was sweating a lot and needed to change my clothing, I felt dizzy and I could tell I was coming down with something. I left work early, came home to bed and slept 18 hours over 24 hour period. I have continued to be in bed since.”

Megan Peacock, pictured 21st November 2020.

Her symptoms include sweating, body aches, joint pain, nausea, fatigue, sore throat and chronic headaches.

Despite conquering COVID-19, she now feels “a lot worse” 11 months later, with her symptoms more severe and longer lasting.

“Some days I am feeling improvement, but a day can change so quickly, I can wake up feeling really unwell and by 4pm feel a little better,” she said.

“I have attempted slow walks outside as a way to build up my strength and get some vitamin D, I am very weak from the illness but also because I am laying in a bed everyday so gradual return to activity will be important for my recovery.

“Sleep and hot baths have been my escape from the intense body pain I have suffered.”

The concerning thing for Ms Peacock is, despite having done multiple tests, including chest X-rays, an MRI brain scan and blood tests and urine samples, no illness is showing up.

Megan Peacock in emergency hospital on 31st January, 2021, – months after recovering from COVID-19.

She has gone from dancing four classes a week, running 10 kilometre runs and has even been studying a Masters of Primary Education, but the mysterious relapse has made even getting out of bed an effort.

“This is a worrying trend unfortunately with other Covid patients around the world,” she said.

“I have connected with other sufferers all over the world through help groups and their tests are also not indicating what is wrong. People have said that you can totally recover like I did, be completely healthy and out of nowhere get sick again.

“They are calling it a Covid Relapse.”

Her GP will also be testing her for Ross River Fever in a few months’ time, but she has undergone three tests for the illness with no indication of having it.

“Because my symptoms are similar/worse than when I had Covid and because this mystery illness came on so suddenly at work, I am worried what it means for the future,” she said.

“Can I relapse again? Is it linked to Covid? How long until I am feeling 100 per cent?”