The Doctor Who Couldn’t Be Saved: Over 13 Re-Infections & Counting! What happens when the person trained to save lives becomes the one fighting for their own? In our premiere episode of Long Covid Perspectives, we sit down with Pooja, a former NHS General Practitioner who spent her career on the front lines in Yorkshire. In early 2020, before the world even understood the word "lockdown, "Pooja became one of the world's first UK "long-haulers." –But her journey didn't stop there! "I'm a GP. I know what anxiety feels like, and this isn't it." Over the next four years to this present day, she has contracted over a staggering 13 re-infections, navigating almost every mutated variant of the virus. SARSCov19 (aka Covid19), has dismantled her career, health, and her identity, now trapped in a body she no longer recognises. In this episode, Pooja reveals the "invisible" war she is fighting: The Physical Toll and Poking Reality: From heart failure, a brain bleed and blackouts to the permanent "ridge" of a heart monitor implanted in her chest.The 13 Reinfections: Navigating life with her young children contracting almost every mutated variant of COVID-19 and the devastating toll it has taken on her body. The GP as a Patient: The psychological trauma of medical gaslighting, being told her organ damage and symptoms were “just anxiety,” despite her medical expertise, and evidence.A Family Under Siege: The devastating ripple effect of Long COVID on her husband and children, as they all navigate a shared life of chronic illness.The Loss of Identity: The grief of moving from a high-energy "fantasy life" as a doctor to a reality where making a cup of tea, or brushing her teeth feels like a mountain. From the energetic "bam, bam, bam" of her pre-COVID life to the daily grief of an "invisible disability," Pooja’s transparency is a wake-up call to the reality of the pandemic's lasting legacy. This is a raw expert led conversation about the "cruel illness" that doesn't discriminate between the healthy and the sick, the young or the old. "It's not just grieving once, it's grieving every day." Whether you are a fellow sufferer, a medical professional, or someone trying to understand the lasting legacy of the pandemic, Pooja’s story is a vital, haunting, and necessary listen. **************************************************** About Long Covid Perspectives Podcast This is a self-produced and self-funded project dedicated to sharing lived experiences, insights, and research surrounding SARSCov2 and Long Covid. Our mission is to amplify voices and provide a platform for connection and advocacy. For all links mentioned in our episodes—inc our Guest Directory, Our LC Community Merch Shop, and contact form—please visit our official hub: 👉https://linktr.ee/longcovidperspectives If you find these stories helpful, please consider supporting the podcast and the wider community. You can do so by purchasing our handmade jewellery, mask chains, clothing, and accessories available through the shop link on our Linktree. We are always looking for guests to share their journeys. Whether you are suffering from Long Covid or a vaccine injury, or you are a Covid-cautious ally or researcher, we invite you to reach out. How to Apply: Complete the contact form on our Linktree or send us a DM on social media. Pease prioritise your health and well-being. Use these resources if you need immediate assistance: Medical Emergency: Call 111 or 999 immediately. Emotional Support: Contact The Samaritans (UK) for free, 24/7, at 116 123. Community & Guidance: Join the Long Covid Support Group on Facebook, run by the Long Covid Charity (UK), to connect with a global community. Join here. Counselling: Contact your GP to request a referral to NHS Talking Therapies (IAPT). Support the Pod & Guests, Share and Join in on the Conversation!
