Thread by @kawetton

On this day exactly one year ago I fell seriously ill in the evening. I had a severe headache, nausea, vertigo, and most worryingly, I couldn’t stop vomiting. My wife called the Health Direct line, and in the end an ambulance was called for me. 🧵 (1/n)

Despite trying to not overburden the ambulance and health care system, the nurse of the Health Direct line called the ambulance because I was suffering from stroke-like symptoms. The ambulance arrived promptly; I guess I was lucky not be be sick last week… (2/n)

In hospital I was assessed to see if I had a stroke. I somehow passed the neurological assessment but I had the worst headache, nausea and vertigo I have ever experienced. Those anti-nausea wafers that stop you vomiting are worth their weight in gold! (3/n)

I had had my first dose of #Astrazeneca about 8 weeks prior. The doctors and nurses did consider the “new” blood clotting phenomena associated with AZ, but I didn’t quite fit this criteria. Doctors were completely puzzled, but helpfully diagnosed me with a headache. 🤦‍♂️ (3/n)

In the end, I’m was discharged without any scans, a discharge letter and told to see my GP if things didn’t get any better. By now, it was 4am on a Friday morning. Caught a taxi home and slept for hours! Saw the GP on Monday after things didn’t improve. (4/n)

GP told me to wait a week to see if things improved. They didn’t, so I was sent for a CT scan and blood test, to check for blood clots, etc. CT scan showed no clots, but possibly an issue with my optic nerve. It may have been more helpful if I was scanned in hospital. (5/n)

I asked if all of my symptoms were related to #Astrazeneca. I was told no. So, being the trusting sort of guy, I decided to get my second dose. My thinking was along the lines of “I need two doses to be fully vaccinated, so one more dose of AZ, or 2 of Pfizer” (6/n)

At this time I had received my first dose of AZ because in was in phase 1b as a volunteer firefighter. Pfizer wasn’t available and I still wanted to be protected by these vaccines. Obviously, I regret this choice. There were no vaccine mandates at this time! (7/n)

After dose 2 I develop tinnitus. I have been suffering from this daily ever since. Other symptoms include difficulty speaking, dropping things, difficulty doing any exercise and my blood pressure was now out of control. (8/n)

Referred to an Ophthalmologist, and endured a 3 month wait. I was also sent for an MRI scan, I was still suffering from constant headaches and was forced to take 4 or 5 doses of Panadol and Neurofen per day, just so I could function and work. (9/n)

Ophthalmologist found nothing wrong with my eyes or optic nerves. I was then referred to a neurologist and endured yet another 2 month wait for the appointment. All up I spent 5 months waiting for this appointment since I fell sick. (10/n)

During this time I took a leave of absence from the fire brigade. I was still very sick and I couldn’t possibly train or fight fires in my condition. Prior to all of this, I was fit enough to run into burning building, and I was jogging to lose weight. (11/n)

The neurologist helpfully diagnoses me with “chronic daily headaches”! My neurologist cannot identify a cause, but also says it is unrelated to AZ… 🤦‍♂️ Regardless, I start treatment with medication which has worked somewhat. (12/n)

In October 2021 the McGowan government begins introducing a two-dose mandate for employment for certain industries. Education’s mandate comes in November, so I feel somewhat okay with this, I’m already double jabbed, so I won’t be affected, right? (13/n)

A 2 dose mandate for volunteer firefighters is announced in December 2021. By now I’m starting to get pissed! WTF are we mandating this for volunteers? I think the risk of a bushfire, breathing in asbestos in Yarloop or running into a burning building are more of a risk! (14/n)

I reluctantly provide my employer proof of vaccination at the last possible minute. I don’t particularly enjoy being threatened with the loss of holiday pay if I don’t comply; the health orders don’t come into effect until 31 Dec / 31 Jan anyway. (15/n)

On 23 December, McGowan announces a booster mandate for all industries covered by the two dose mandate! Talk about taking out the trash just before Christmas and hoping that nobody will notice. Dose 3 is required by 5th Feb 2022. (16/n)

I refuse to provide DFES with my proof of vaccination for two doses. Does three is now mandatory, and I’m still sick. Why would I take a third dose now. I strongly believe in vaccination, that’s why I took them! The Covid vaccinations are now mandatory, not voluntary! (17/n)

I decide to resign from the VFRS after 9 years of service to the State of Western Australia. I am sick and I have been betrayed and abandoned. I need to spend my time and energy fighting for my job. (18/n)

My employer has required compliance with the booster mandate. Long story short, lawyers are expensive, I resigned and was paid out my long service leave. So much for having a secure and permanent maths teaching position! (19/n)

I start attending protests in Perth, and I decide to join @LibDemAus because of the work I’ve seen @_davidlimbrick do in Victoria to oppose the mandates. I still cannot believe that state Labor governments have forced employees out of work en masse! (20/n)

My position on vaccinations has not changed, the governments’ did! I got my flu shot last month; that vaccine is voluntary. I will not consider another covid 19 dose for as long as they are”mandatory”. (21/n)

The federal government did announce a vaccine injury compensation scheme. The criteria wasn’t quite easy to claim against, but because I’ve been suffering “persistent headaches” list AZ, I think I’ve got a chance… (22/n)

The federal government changes the criteria to claim; I am no longer eligible for any compensation. I have been abandoned Australian Government who does not stand up for my rights as an Australian Citizen to work in my own country or cross state borders at will! (23/n)

Throughout this election @AlboMP has claimed to relieve the cost of living by promising pay rises for workers. He says nothing of people like me who are prohibited from working because of @walabor and it’s #VaccineMandate! I though Labor represented the rights of workers. (24/n)

And @ScottMorrisonMP likes to talk about jobs, jobs, jobs. He has lied and said vaccines won’t be mandatory (except they will be for aged care, and to leave and enter the country). So much for our rights as Australian citizens. He did nothing to help his citizens! (25/n)

In the end, I “did the right thing” and got my two doses to be “fully vaccinated”. This gave me the freedom to work in my country for a grand total of five weeks! At the stroke of @CHO_WAHealth’s pen, my right to work had been revoked! (26/n)

This election I will be voting to restore my right to work in my own country. My number 1 vote will go to @StevenMcCreano3 and @ladylibertyWAus of the @LibDemAus! The last six months alone has shown how the power of government can be misused and abused! (26/27)

I won’t vote to save the jobs of @AlboMP nor @ScottMorrisonMP who have both abandoned people like my who are injured by these jabs! #VoteThemAllOut2022 #wapol #auspol #vaccineinjuries #COVID19Aus #wanews #LessGovernmentMoreFreedom (27/27)