Ontario woman still experiencing COVID-19 symptoms more than 7 months later

Susie Goulding still can’t shake the lingering effects of COVID-19 more than seven months after contracting the coronavirus.

Goulding joined 650 CKOM’s Brent Loucks Show from Oakville, Ont. to discuss her ongoing recovery.

“I went to the hospital for a regular screening, and then two days later I had a sore throat, just a really mild sore throat,” Goulding said of her initial symptoms.

“Then it sort of turned into a sinus infection, an earache… and then sort of dropped into my throat.”

Goulding then lost her sense of smell and taste as her symptoms worsened. She developed a cough and some gastrointestinal issues.

“It was something like I’d never felt before,” she said. “It was almost like my throat was paralyzed.”

“It can affect you anywhere.”

Roughly 10 weeks later, doctors told Goulding she had a presumptive case of COVID-19 even though she tested negative due to testing happening well after her initial symptoms.

Then, Goulding started experiencing neurological symptoms like chronic fatigue, dizziness and memory loss.

“I pail in comparison with some other people that are suffering,” Goulding said of people who suffer organ damage. “The list just goes on and on.”

Saskatchewan Chief Health Medical Officer Dr. Saqib Shahab has previously mentioned up to 40 per cent of people may have little to no symptoms presenting in infectious people.

More than seven months after getting sick on March 19, Goulding’s condition hasn’t improved much.

“I’m not back at work, it’s been seven months of feeling terrible every day,” she said.

Every day tasks like driving and going up and down stairs are now daunting tasks.

“It’s amazing how this virus affects you. It’s very debilitating,” Goulding said.

Goulding started a support group called “COVID Long Haulers Support Group Canada” on Facebook for others going through the same experiences. More than 7,000 people have joined the group since it was created in June.

“It’s a very important part of the healing process,” Goulding said of the opportunity for others to share stories.

“The moral support we get in the group is very important.”

— With files from 650 CKOM’s Keenan Sorokan