On a Monday morning in early December, Felix started feeling unwell with flu-like symptoms. After a text message from one of his University friends who had tested positive for Covid, he booked a PCR test. Felix’s test came back negative which he was surprised by because other University friends he was in close contact with were having the same symptoms and receiving positive PCR test results.

After a week of seeing no improvement in his symptoms, Felix contacted the University medical practice who sent him to hospital for tests which showed nothing wrong. He was advised that it was probably the flu. After feeling more unwell, Felix contacted 111 for advice and then a week later he went to a walk-in clinic. He was prescribed pain medication and advised to go to hospital if his symptoms didn’t improve. At hospital, Felix had further tests including a CT scan which found nothing. A further PCR test was negative. Felix returned home to Germany for Christmas and saw his own GP who did an antibody test which showed high levels of Covid.

After the Christmas break, Felix didn’t return to the UK to start the new University term. Between January and April, Felix saw various health professionals in Germany, including a neurologist, the chronic pain clinic, and the Long Covid clinic, but nothing has helped to reduce his symptoms. At the chronic pain clinic, Felix had some physiotherapy which was helpful to learn techniques to deal with his symptoms. He thinks non-specialist health professionals don’t know what advice to provide. His GP recommended he try some sports but Felix knows that makes his symptoms worse. Felix now sees his GP once a month for a sick note and to check how he is but there is little else he can offer and “it’s depressing.”

Felix’s Long Covid symptoms of bad headaches, body pain, and fatigue have remained “pretty constant” for seven months. With the fatigue he can sleep straight through the night until 10 or 11 in the morning and still “when I wake up I still feel tired…there is no improvement at all after sleep.” On days when he has done too much, the next day he is unable to do anything. He has to lie in bed all day. Felix has to plan his activities carefully for the day and sometimes he has to cancel plans. He knows now he can do two hours of light work but he has to be careful of exertion. He wants to do things, like run for a bus, but he has to force himself not to because he knows he will be worse the next day.

After living independently at University, going back home “sick and need [ing] care” was “shocking” for Felix and his parents. When he can, Felix tries to help out in the house, do his own shopping, and cook for his parents which he says, “gives me a better feeling to not be like just sitting here doing nothing.” But some days he can’t.

Felix feels his self-identity has changed since having Long Covid. He had been looking forward to studying a Masters in geography; a subject he enjoyed and “made up a huge part of myself.” He says when he caught Covid, “my whole previous life ended at that moment.”

Uncertainty about what the future with Long Covid might look like impacts Felix and his parents. Felix is hoping to complete his studies but it is difficult to get an extension as the University doesn’t currently recognise Long Covid as a medical condition. His parents had planned to retire soon but now there is uncertainty around whether Felix can work in the future and they may need to care for him. Felix is trying to organise disability benefits, but a doctor sees his age and physical appearance and not the post-exertion fatigue.

Felix would like to see recognition of Long Covid as a physical condition and much more funding put into Long Covid research for the large number of people who have the condition.