Has Covid changed life for you?

My husband is CEV, and was locked down before most of the population. He worries still much more than I do (not, of course, surprisingly) and I think would have virtually no social life if I didn’t push him out of his new comfort zone.

The one big difference for me has been not going back to eating out anywhere near as often as I did before Covid, Partly that’s because I’ve retired, so not travelling overnight regularly for work, and partly it’s because it bought into stark relief just how much money I was spending on it. I stash most of that now and it goes towards travel.

It is strangely reassuring to know that I am not alone! Life has certainly changed.

I was always a worrier but since Covid my anxiety levels have spiralled. One AC is CEV and another was working in HDU in a big city hospital. We lost three members of the extended family to Covid and our lovely niece has been left disabled by long Covid after surviving months in a coma on a ventilator. Her dear Mum died and was buried while she was in the coma.

So now I am finding it hard to cope with serious illness in the family, feeling terrible fear and dread. I worry so much about my children and grandchildren.

My physical health has deteriorated also as I have gained weight and lost some mobility. At the start of Covid I enjoyed long woodland and riverside walks with my sisters, and enjoyed Aquafit when the pool was open. Now I have problems with my knees ( I know the Lockdown weight doesn't help) and I only go to the pool to do my physio exercises,supported by the water.

Social life has changed also. I meet up with friends fortnightly but no longer in each other's homes. We meet in cafes or hotels.
My sisters and I used to host Bookgroup dinners monthly but now we meet up at a new venue each month. I'm very thankful that socialising has resumed although differently.

Annsixty, I think you are amazing! You still get out and about, you've mastered your mobility scooter and you are a great support to all your family. But I agree with you that life has changed and we have changed with it.

What was the Star Trek quote?
" It's life, Jim, but not as we know it."

So much of what you have all written resonates with me: lack of confidence, lack of concentration - and often lack of sleep. My husband and sister both died not long before the pandemic so when lockdown was announced I was on my own and already vulnerable.

My life since covid is pretty monotonous but I try to find things to do, simple but worthwhile things, and I meet friends now and then. I find I'm happier when I am with others.

Yes, I am very much aware that a lot of people still socialize with a light touch as it were, that must be hard if one enjoyed mixing/going out pre Covid.
I have always suffered from acute anxiety and found such a relief during the pandemic from the dread and worry of meeting up/mixing with people. I couldn't believe how much better I was when not having to psyche myself up or talk myself down from meetups/ events.
The effect was profound to the extent that I have not resumed any regular social activities and now ironically am so calm and happy that I know I'd be able to cope if I wanted to. A life time of fear. Never thought for a minute at the start of the pandemic that my anxiety would be resolved this way.
I am very mindful that this is not typical and wouldn't want to come across as unfeeling about the suffering that so many experienced.

Hubby and I have both recently got over a vicious dose of the runs/sickness, then we got Covid then a dose of flu, 3 months of illnesses one after the other!

Covid didn't change our lives, to us, while it was definitely a horrible experience, it was just like a flu variant so it didn't change. However, we wouldn't be in any hurry to get it again!

Not for me personally but for a good friend who is suffering from long Covid. She used to be a very active person but now has severe health problems that impact her life on a daily basis. Not sure how long this will last or if she will ever regain her strength.

Not much different now but it took a while to be confident enough to meet in groups,go to restaurants and theatres etc. I don’t think about it now, if I get it again that’s just bad luck. My memory has suffered a lot, that is the most noticeable thing for me. I used to be very good that way but now I struggle and write things down to help. Never used to do that before 2021.

Yes, we certainly don't get out and about as much. The odd thing is that we have 'lost' 2 years, although both of us continued to work throughout the pandemic, neither of us in jobs that we could do from home, we still saw people, but in a different way.

Two years of our lives slipped by. My OH's condition worsened and suddenly we find ourselves in a very different place physically and yes, emotionally. So rather than pick up the threads of our previous life, we have had to adjust to a different, less active lifestyle.

On a lighter note, since my first dose of Covid, when i lost my sense of taste, my liking for Gin has never returned! Gutted!

Not really any problems or many changes. We pretty much still do whatever we want to do. Maybe that's because I'm younger than many on here and don't have any health problems. Also there are two of us and I do feel people living on their own may have greater problems.

The only real difference I've noticed is that people drive much faster and there are many, many, noisy, untrained dogs around.

In some respects, I have been hugely affected, as DH died during, but not from Covid.
I now find myself rattling around a biggish house, but I’ve a list of good tradespeople to call on - at significant cost of course!
Socially, I’ve thrown myself into meeting my friends - (having lost 2, one to cancer and one to Alzheimer’s) a different one most mornings and as my DGSs are older, I’m keen to see them as they grow and love to watch their weekly football and swimming lessons. I also have DD2’s Little Dog for a couple of days, every other fortnight.
I enjoy driving, which is a bonus and love taking myself off somewhere in good weather.
DH hated holidays, although he had no objections to me going with whoever, so now I’m away 3 or 4 times a year for some sun. Thankfully, I’m still fairly fit and mobile and hope that continues.
I think the thing that has changed most is eating out at night, as none of my friends are interested in that.

Life didn’t change for me personally as soon as restrictions were lifted we were out and about again making the best after lost freedom.
But it did for my step mum and not because she was bothered about catching Covid as she pointed out I am in my late eighties and something will get me and what’s the point of all the vaccinations if I am still going to stay in. But the loss of company and her clubs ect in the early months of Covid certainly seemed to make her more forgetful she did develop dementia as time went on and it all seems a bit of a coincidence. She did go out as much as possible and went on holidays outings again as soon as it was possible but these were less readily available due to Covid and it’s extended effect on groups ect even after restrictions were lifted.

Yes, it very much changed my life. My work came to a juddering halt as soon as the first lockdown was put into place, as my main employer immediately cancelled all their freelance contracts. I'm one of the 3.8 million Excluded UK who didn't receive a penny in support from the government, meaning I had to live off my savings, thus impacting on my retirement plans too. And I'm still getting over the physical effects of having Covid too - I get breathless very easily and tire quickly now too. I think it also affected my confidence and mental health to an extent as well.

Bakingmad0203

Yes I agreeannsixty I don’t have so much confidence when driving and am very reluctant to go anywhere that’s crowded.

I don’t seem to have the get up and go I had before Covid and I spend far too much time on the internet and social media.

The other strange thing is that I have always been a very avid reader and since the Pandemic find it difficult to concentrate on reading a book for longer than half an hour. Maybe that’s connected to the increase in time spent on social media which encourages short attention spans?

I’m the same. I still buy books but don’t read them. At the start of the pandemic I had to have background noise at night to stop me lying awake worrying and I got used to listening to audio books on BBC Sounds and podcasts. I keep intending to subscribe to audible but I know that, once I do I definitely won’t read any more, and books have been such a huge part of my life.

I know this will sound silly, but reading these posts has made me feel much better about myself. I thought I was the only person who was still feeling the effects. And I do think it's more difficult if you live alone.

During the first lockdown the only person I talked to face to face for almost four weeks was the Sainsbury's delivery man.

I kind of got used to the isolation and I've actually just moved to be a bit nearer some of my family, bit I'm still having to push myself to go anywhere.

Unfortunately, Covid, the progression of arthritis in my spine and feet, coupled with three years of limited activity has taken its toll.

I doubt there's many people who haven't been affected by it even if only in a small way.

Yes. Totally. I stopped going to the cinema, theatre, using buses etc and still don’t do so. Having prevented myself from catching covid I’m now scared of putting myself in a situation in which I might catch it. Stopped going to the gym and the sauna and my arthritis is much worse because of it. Although my dog was well socialised just before the pandemic so is fine with other dogs and very confident going to strange places etc she isn’t, unlike my previous dog, used to being left alone for periods of time so one of us has to stay with her if we want to go somewhere that doesn’t allow dogs. I don’t think she suffers badly from separation anxiety ( ie don’t think she’d destroy the house) but she does get upset. I lost two of my dearest friends during the pandemic, not having seen them for quite a while because of it. I miss them so much. I don’t get in a train to visit other friends or relations, or even have a day out somewhere. I spend most days at home which should save me money but I now tend to impulse buy in the internet instead of in shops. Don’t even contemplate a holiday abroad as worried about catching it on the plane going there and being on holiday alone and poorly ( DH has no interest in foreign travel). I’ve lost confidence in driving having not driven for so long.

It's affected me. One of the main objectives of lockdown was to protect the NHS. Matt Hancock decided that anyone working for the NHS and over 70 or vulnerable had to be off work for 12 weeks. That meant me but when the 12 weeks was over and Covid still very much a threat that time off work kept getting extended by my hospital. After the second lockdown I reluctantly decided to retire. I miss my job and my mobility has suffered with enforced house arrest.

I think I am back to usual now but life in our village has changed. No more community events, neighbours don't visit each other as much and life is much quieter.

I sympathise Annsixty. Today is grey and chilly here and we are all reeling from the sad news over the last 3 days. I had my covid jab yesterday afternoon and feel achey and shivery...to be expected of course. So not a good day at all. Chemo finished 2 years ago so I am improving. But chemo through covid lockdown was very isolating.

I was very active. Lots of walking with a group and with a friend who sadly died during lockdown. So yes my life has changed very dramatically and I didn't see the change coming. DH health is very poor so I am taking each day as it comes. I am 15 years younger than my friend and she always said choose younger friends.
If I work out an answer for you and me I will let you know. But you are very much not alone.

Yes I agreeannsixty I don’t have so much confidence when driving and am very reluctant to go anywhere that’s crowded.

I don’t seem to have the get up and go I had before Covid and I spend far too much time on the internet and social media.

The other strange thing is that I have always been a very avid reader and since the Pandemic find it difficult to concentrate on reading a book for longer than half an hour. Maybe that’s connected to the increase in time spent on social media which encourages short attention spans?

I'm not as confident as I used to be since covid.
Not sure why this is but sometimes I have to force myself to go out into Central London, whereas before I thought nothing of going up to museums or shops.If I do go it's usually well planned and not s spontaneous.

annsixty

Oreo yes I shall be 87 next month, roughly 50ish in my head but not in my body 🥹

That’s the thing ain’t it! We all feel younger in our heads than our age.Mum used to be quite feisty and unafraid to try and do anything, now I have to gee her up to get out and about.
Getting older kind of sneaks up on us, we know it’s coming down the line but then suddenly it’s here and we have no experience of it or know how to deal with it.
I hope you’ll find enough to do indoors, do you have a garden?
I guess the Internet is a lifeline, but Mum has never taken to it and just reads and does jigsaws.

I used to often go out on trains or buses but after covid I don't enjoy being packed in with other people. I still go out but in my car more now.

Yes, I am terrified of driving now. I really want to, but am unable to pluck up the courage, and embarassed.

So very sad maddyone I hope there will be a happy outcome in the end.It was selfish of your SIL in the first place and doubly so now.

Oreo yes I shall be 87 next month, roughly 50ish in my head but not in my body 🥹