'I've had long Covid for years, but I'm hopeful'

"At the moment I'm just happy my quality of life has improved, so I can actually function, not walk around Tesco and feel like I'm going to collapse."

Ryan Cawley admits he still has a way to go, but is feeling "massively hopeful" for the first time since his long Covid diagnosis in 2021.

The 37-year-old is one of 72 people who have been taking part in a trial at the University of Derby to test if an anti-viral drug could cure people with the condition.

Dr Mark Faghy, a professor in clinical exercise science who is leading the study, said there had been "positive indicators", but he was "cautious" and did not want "to get too carried away because we have to do the analysis on a study level".

Long Covid patients suffer with a wide range of symptoms.

After the initial infection with coronavirus, rather than getting better, patients are instead left dealing with any number of problems including fatigue, pain and breathing difficulties.

Mr Cawley, of Macclesfield in Cheshire, says the illness has turned his life "upside down".

He experienced chronic fatigue, which would leave him in bed for days, and brain fog so severe he couldn't read a simple letter.

"I can only describe it as, you feel like you've ran a marathon when you wake up, even though the day before you've probably done very little," he said.

He added: "I've not been on holiday, I used to play football and go to the gym, I couldn't do any of that."

He used to work in banking and says his employer was "very good" about his absence, keeping his job open for him for two and a half years.

"We tried to put in a plan for a phased return, but every time we tried, it was just too much, and it would wipe me out, and I could crash for a week or two," he said.

Mr Cawley added: "Ultimately I've lost my job because of long Covid, and I'm also having to sell my house because I'm not in a financial position to live where I am now."

He enquired about being part of the long Covid trial in Derby after his mum sent him an online article about it on the BBC.

He was offered a place in autumn last year and has recently finished receiving his treatment.

Patients taking part in the trial, which started in September 2024 and will end in June, undergo a series of tests before and after they are given anti-viral medication.

Dr Faghy said there were "two million people living in the UK and over 65 million in the world who are living with or impacted by Covid and long Covid".

"We've got people on this trial who are very young, were fit and healthy prior to having a Covid infection, people who have just retired and are not able to enjoy their retirement," he added.

"It has a real personal impact on everybody in various different ways, professionally, personally, even economically, we're seeing a big increase in people who aren't able to go to work, who aren't able to maintain employment, and that has bigger consequences down the line."

Dr Faghy is hoping to "scale up" the trial in the next 12 to 18 months and is aiming for the next one to start around Easter 2026.

He said: "We're just phasing out the data collection process and then the fun begins of trying to analyse and interpret and understand everything we have collected.

"We've seen some positive indicators that the treatment that we are using is showing some positive benefits, people are feeling more energy, less fatigued."

Mr Cawley says he started to notice some changes the week after finishing his treatment.

He said: "I'm doing more, my memory is coming back, I am still getting a bit fatigued, but the difference now when I go to sleep, I actually feel refreshed when I wake up.

"I'm not fully better but it has made quite a significant difference."

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