NI CrossFit athlete describes 'nightmare' battle with coronavirus
Last updated 3rd Nov 2020
A wedding photographer has described his 'nightmare' experience of Covid-19 after contracting the virus at work.
Louie McMaster from Co Fermanagh was working alongside his wife at a wedding when they caught coronavirus.
The 36 year old took to social media to create an "added vigilance" to the virus, admitting he thought he would remain relatively untouched by the health affects of covid.
He said it started off with severe joint pain, which felt like he had "razor blades" in his kneecaps and shoulders.
Louie described how he went through several stages, including chills, headaches and stabbing pains.
"This is a little of what has happened to me…. read by most in 5 minutes, living it out has been its own nightmare."
It was when he started to struggle to breath he had to call for an ambulance.
In a post on his Facebook page, Louie said:
"I suppose, I first should set the scene. I have always been someone that has paid attention to the Covid-19 pandemic over the months that has enveloped the world but I will confess, like many, I thought I was one of those people that would remain relatively unscathed if I did contract the virus.
"Why think that you might say? Well, I‘m not high risk, I’m young, 36, have been pushing the levels of my fitness in the sport of Crossfit with over 5years of hard training under me, competing in national level competitions and even in the UK - training up to 3 sessions a day 5days a week in weights, cardio and gymnastics, following some of the best programming on the market (Daily Grind by Emma McQuaid).
"This is without doubt the fittest, strongest, fastest I’ve ever been – what harm would one virus cause? Sure it’s only the people that are 60+ or have underlying health conditions that really need to worry, right?"
"This all came crashing down when my wife and I, both wedding photographers, both contracted the virus while shooting at a wedding. No, it wasn’t at some house party or some careless gathering of people! No. We were out trying to earn a living, trying to survive this shambles of a year that has gone before us. Our diary was booked up with 38+ weddings, vanishing to 10+. Every wedding is like goal dust and yet it was here came into contact with the hidden assassin. "
Louie described how his symptons started with severe joint pain, and eventually he ended up in the South West Acute Hospital Covid suite.
"It started off with severe joint pain to the extent it felt like there were razor blades in my kneecaps and in my shoulders - everything ached. Then came the fevers, the chills, waking up in the middle of the night drenched as if I walked out of the shower. Needing to go to the toilet but knowing if I did the chill outside the bed would cause me to shiver so violently I would nearly vomit. Then came the thumping headaches, stabbing pains in my chest and above my left eye and my lower back; the burning cramps in my stomach and then the tightness started to happen in my lungs.
"My sats slowly started dropping so much so, my body was crying for oxygen leading me to call for an ambulance. I couldn’t be sick enough for the hospital? I was fit! On Monday my oxygen levels dropped to the extent I had to be admitted to the SWAH, into the Covid suite, where I obtained a chest x-ray that showed the virus had moved to my lungs causing bilateral pneumonia.
"I quickly started on a course of steroids and oxygen to bring my sats under control in some way - but I was always going to struggle to get my oxygen levels up with the limited breaths I was able to take."
Louie said he wanted to share his experience to highlight the real danger this virus has on everyone, not just the vulnerable or old.
He said "A lot of people have these conspiracy theories about masks or notions that everyone needs to build up an immunity and how only the vulnerable or older generation need to be careful. You don’t need to wear masks? It the government using scare tactics?
"Don’t force the impacts of your choices or risk the health and well being of those around you by not wearing a mask. How many will you infect unknowingly? How many will be committed to the covid ward where they will be left to sit alone, isolated, with no one allowed to come visit them. Oh yes being at home having someone look after you is nice but many wont have that luxury because they will be fighting for their lives on a ventilator somewhere alone.
"If you don’t care about yourself, care for the vulnerable. Who knows what effect the virus will have on your loved ones, on your children’s children, on their wellbeing in future. Why steal their chance of a healthy future, just for your own selfishness?
"This is a little of what has happened to me…. read by most in 5 minutes, living it out has been its own nightmare."