2023-12-07 03:00:04
Armelle Villaume did not imagine suffering from covid for so long. This Sarthoise, whom we had already met for the first time in 2021, suffers from PCS, the post covid syndrome commonly called “long covid”. Like her, hundreds of thousands of French people are affected. Cases for which support remains “insufficient” and the “chaotic care pathway” according to an opinion delivered to the government in November 2023 by the committee for monitoring and anticipation of health risks.
“It’s not going fast enough” confirms Armelle, who has been fighting the disease for three and a half years. “And again, I’m lucky to have structures nearby, but that’s not the case for everyone.” she adds immediately. In Sarthe, there are two structures to treat people suffering from PCS: the Gallouedec centers in Le Mans and de l’Arche in Saint-Saturnin. “I was able to be taken care of. It was essential. I had to relearn how to walk, how to breathe, how to simply live“.
Feeling like you’re 80 years old
Aged 54, covid made her take a leap in time. “Overnight, I found myself in the body of a little old woman. I am 80 years olds”. The list of symptoms is impressive: nervous tremors, asthma, muscle loss, difficulty concentrating, organizing one’s thoughts and above all immense fatigue, making any physical effort impossible. “I can’t exceed 120 beats per minute. If I reach this heart rate, I have post-exercise discomfort“.
Mourning for the life before
As the months passed, she observed some progress, “it’s a little better in terms of endurance“Nevertheless, the symptoms are still there. And in addition to the physical after-effects, there are psychological consequences.”It’s like mourning. The mourning of the life before. I went through all the phases, anger, renunciation and depression“.
On long-term sick leave, Mancelle knows that she will also have to work again. A new test. “I had managed to find a balance. I’ll have to find another one. I’m dreading, that’s for sure“As a teacher, she now believes that she is no longer capable of doing her job.”I am in discussion with my employer. We are moving towards therapeutic part-time and a suitable position“But what Armelle hopes above all is the discovery of a treatment.”I think about it regularly. It will come, I am convinced, but the question is how soon“.
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