Northampton musician Joe Payne 'implores' public to beware of lasting effects of Covid

A Northampton musician has given a first-hand account of his experience of with Covid-19 and how it’s still affecting him now three weeks later.

This time last year, 31 year-old Joe Payne was looking forward to a national tour in support of the forthcoming release of his new album, “By Name. By Nature.”

His shows in local theatres were postponed due to the pandemic, but he still managed to successfully release the progressive rock album in August 2020.

Then in December 2020 he developed a runny nose and a tickly throat.

“I think it was a couple of days after Christmas Day my symptoms began. I thought it was probably a cold, but I decided to have a Covid-19 test at Sixfields testing station anyway,” he said.

Twenty four hours later he received a text message and email informing him the test result was positive.

“I was prepared for the outcome,” he said “and knew I had to self-isolate for the next 10 days.

What he wasn’t prepared for, however, was how exhausted the virus made him feel.

“In that first week since testing positive, it started off like a cold, but then the fatigue set in. I just felt really weak and tired – really wiped out.

"I remember running downstairs to collect a package but even that action left me feeling exhausted.

"I was incapable of doing anything other than just watching TV for the first 5 days,” he says.

He also experienced some of the other symptoms of Covid-19 including headaches, and 'brain fog'.

“I felt really confused a lot of the time – it felt like a kind of “brain fog'. I couldn’t focus on anything at all,” he continued.

After eight days however, Joe said he did start to feel better, he says, but to his dismay this wasn’t to be the end of the virus.

He said: “I was starting to feel better and had plans to carry on working - then on Monday, three weeks since I tested positive, I had a setback.

"It came out of nowhere - new symptoms emerged, some of which I hadn’t even had during the first week. On the Monday I had a headache all day and then came the nausea and the fatigue again. Even trying to write a blog post took so much effort.

“On Tuesday, I felt a bit better, but on Wednesday felt ill again and couldn’t concentrate on anything at all – just total 'brain fog.' One day I felt almost normal and then the day next symptoms reappear. It’s like a wavy line.

“Many people compare this disease to a cold or flu but it’s really not like that.

“Flu feels like its more intense and then its over quicker. The difference with Covid-19 is it doesn’t predictably get better day by day.

"I’m young and healthy, and this virus still knocked me down and continues to do so," he said. “I implore anyone to take it seriously and stay safe.”

I know of people who contracted the virus back in March and are still experiencing symptoms. I think more information should be available about long-term effects of the virus.”

Despite his current battle with Covid-19, the singer-songwriter is still optimistic he will regain his former energy levels and be up and working again.

Some of the shows he had to postpone, have been tentatively rescheduled for October. “I’m so looking forward to getting back on stage again,” he said.

Following the success of his debut album, 'By Name, By Nature', his plan is to prepare for the next release which he hopes to promote with a local event this year for his ever-increasing fanbase in Northampton.

Story by Sarah Becker.