Here’s what it’s like to have two chronic illnesses and an autoimmune disease and live with the threat of #coronavirus, while most of society on social media makes fun of people like me. A thread about #COVID19.
Under “normal” circumstances I wash my hands constantly, clean my phone, glasses and other personal items with alcohol wipes two or three times a day. Since #COVID19 is airborne, I’m literally afraid to go outside. This may seem like an overreaction, but I’m not ready to die.
Many people with chronic illness are very afraid of getting the flu or colds in a normal year, so in a weird way we’re more prepared for #coronavirus than others. We’re always on alert. We move away from the sick coughers in public spaces and don’t fly often to avoid getting sick
Right now I have normal seasonal allergies. This normally turns into sinusitis or bronchitis because I have no immune system to fight this off. You wouldn’t know this to look at me. I “seem” healthy. There is no outward indication that I’m sick. “You’ll be fine,” people dismiss.
Yet in my life I’ve never been fine. I don’t just get a cold. I get a cold that turns into a respiratory infection. My body has no chance to fight something off. Believe me, I’ve tried time and time again, over the 34 years I’ve had Type 1 diabetes and hypothyroidism.
I wear two medical devices - so I walk around with the chance of infection most days. Add any virus to the mix - especially one as deadly as #coronavirus - and I’m screwed.
People think I am overreacting because our state has no #coronavirus yet. I don’t care. The thing about people who were kids with chronic illness is that we’re good - after a lifetime of being different - at standing up to bullies.
So I moved my classes online for the latter part of this week and politely asked if I could attend meetings via Skype or Zoom. I take no chances because when I get sick I don’t just get sick, I end up in bed for a month, or in the hospital.
And don’t even get me started on hospitals. I cancelled my regular scheduled doctor appointment this week because his office is in a hospital. I can’t be around that many germs, especially the flu and #coronavirus, in case it’s there.
I’m afraid if I get sick and need antibiotics (I often do) that I won’t be able to go to the doctor to get them because a place with potential #coronavirus testing is a death trap for me.
I’m staying home, working and doing all of my normal tasks. I pray. I take walks outside, in my neighborhood, away from people and without touching anything. This is my life with #coronavirus and chronic illness. Please try to understand. 🙏
