North-West nurse who caught Covid shares her harrowing story of ongoing pain

A nurse has revealed the horrifying long-term effects she has suffered after catching Covid. HER STORY >>

THE harrowing tale of a nurse who caught Covid, with her quality of life still at “unrecognisable” lows more than a year later, has been relayed as an urgent warning to unvaccinated Tasmanians.

On Wednesday, Health Department secretary Kathryn Morgan-Wicks said the woman wanted to share her story in the hopes it would encourage others to get the jab.

Ms Morgan-Wicks said the nurse had become infected during the North West Regional Hospital outbreak in April last year.

“I’m in my 50s. I’ve never had any health issues at all. I very rarely took paracetamol and am on no other medication. I worked full time. I lived a very full life,” the nurse said.

“I’ve been lucky to have travelled a lot. But Covid changed my life so much that some days, I don’t recognise myself.

Secretary for the Department of Health Kathryn Morgan-Wicks. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

“I have fatigue like I have never experienced before. It is nothing like being tired. When you’re tired, you have a good sleep and you feel better. I never feel better.

“I have constant headaches and it makes me feel like my head’s being crushed. I have heart issues, a coronary stent, blood pressure and heart rate I can’t control, joint pain and swelling on a daily basis, nerve pain that makes my skin feel like it’s burning. I still have a cough, I have shortness of breath, so day-to-day tasks do involve a lot of extra time just to get things done.

“The biggest issues and the scariest issues I have are my diagnosed cognitive impairment. I have problems following everyday conversations and keeping up with my peers.

“I have no taste or smell, and people joke about it, but when you lose these senses that you take for granted, you realise the danger you’ve put yourself in. I can’t smell smoke, gas, gas leaks, or if food is off. Picture going through life and you can’t taste chocolate, coffee, beer or any of your favourite foods. All you’re doing is eating and drinking to stay alive. There is no pleasure in anything you eat or drink anymore.

“I understand some people are hesitant about the vaccination and what they think it can do to their health.

“(But) I wouldn’t want anyone to end up like me, or to feel the guilt of giving it to someone else.”

Ms Morgan-Wicks said she would be pursuing termination action as of October 31 for any Tasmanian health care workers who were not vaccinated or provided an exemption.

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