A young Roscommon man, who tested positive for Covid-19 earlier this month, has said the virus
“knocked his socks off” – but the Pfizer vaccination meant that his wife remained free of infection.
33-year-old Paddy Ryan is a son of Michael and Kathleen Ryan and a native of Roscommon town. He is a fit and active member of An Garda Síochána, currently stationed near Letterkenny in Co. Donegal – but says Covid-19 left him bed-ridden for almost eight days.
“We were told on Tuesday, February 2nd that our two daughters, Sarah-Kate and Sophie, were close contacts of a positive case and so I was on alert and half-expected to contract the virus myself.
“Sure enough, my symptoms started on the Wednesday with a sore throat, a headache and a runny nose. I called my GP and it all moved very quickly after that. I was tested that evening and I received a text message the following morning advising me that I was positive and telling me what steps to take.
“The whole family was tested and both daughters were positive too, thankfully without any symptoms. My wife had received the vaccine and she tested negative and has tested negative once more since then too,” he said.
Paddy’s wife Noelle works as a community nurse and she received her first dose of the Pfizer vaccine in early January.
“It’s fair to say that our experience has really increased our confidence in the vaccine because she was surrounded by positive cases at home and was still protected,” Paddy added.
“I run with a club up here and so I’d be in good shape, training five or six times a week. I presumed the symptoms would blow over quickly but by God was I wrong! It really knocked the socks off me for a few days.
“By day four I had absolutely no energy. At one stage, I got out of bed to throw coal on the fire and by the time I finished I felt like I had run a marathon. I just sat on the couch and couldn’t move for about three hours. It was a strange feeling, one minute I was in great form and full of energy and the next I was struggling to walk a few paces.
“Days five and six were the worst because my temperature spiked and I lost my appetite completely. I lost about eight or nine pounds over those two days and just felt miserable. It took me about a week to come back to myself and for my energy levels to improve,” he said.
While Paddy made a full recovery from the effects of the virus, he said others are still struggling.
“I count myself lucky because I know of a number of cases involving young men who are still suffering the effects of Covid-19. It’s a scary experience, especially when you’re so used to being up and active each day.
“This virus can spread very quickly no matter how careful we all are so hopefully the vaccine can be rolled out as soon as possible so that some sort of normality can return in the coming months”.
