Sickboy A Love Affair with the Unknown: How Gill Deacon Beat Long COVID
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Jan 28, 2026 Gill Deacon, broadcasting veteran and author, shares her 20-month struggle with Long COVID and the radical shift that helped her recover. She talks about baffling symptoms, the toll of medical uncertainty, finding neuroplasticity training, and learning to embrace uncertainty as a path to healing.
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Heart Vibrations Marked The Start Of Her Decline
- Gill Deacon first noticed long COVID as heart vibrations and atrial ectopic beats in July 2022 despite never testing positive for COVID.
- Symptoms escalated into deep sinus ache, chills, leg fatigue and work incapacity by December, forcing her onto disability and specialist referrals.
Antibody Test Revealed Asymptomatic Infection
- Gill later confirmed a past asymptomatic COVID infection via a nucleocapsid antibody test, which allowed referral to a long COVID clinic.
- Her GP initially dismissed anecdotal oxygen-readings and said vaccine antibodies prevented distinguishing infection.
Long COVID Forced Her Off The Air
- By January Gill could not return to work and moved from short-term to long-term disability after months of decline.
- What began as wearing a wool toque at work became full-time rest and medical investigations.
