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Yup. It's a work night.
I have a confession to make.
I can with almost 99% confidence tell you that mega-flu I had back in Christmas 2019? Probably COVID-19, before it was even a thing here. Upon seeing a doctor a few weeks later due to a lingering cough and fatigue, it was dismissed as that 'bad flu' going round. I was prescribed antibiotics (for a virus? I was highly confused at the doctor's treatment but too tired to argue. FYI, antibiotics are NOT for treating viruses. Bacterial infections- YES!) and sent home. I never filled the prescription lest whatever I had would turn into an antibiotic resistant super bug if it was indeed some kind of bug, which it wasn't. It was a persistent deep chest cough, a lingering symptom.
It was probably Wuhan novel coronavirus. (Remember when it was called that. I barely do, but then, I stopped watching the news when my mom had a stroke back in 2018 and given a terrible prognosis which she outlived by almost two years).
I had fought my first round of COVID-19.
That persistent chest cough broke my rib a month later. I never officially got it checked out because what was the hospital going to do? Overrun with COVID at that time, risking catching COVID-19 for an x-ray to be told, "Yup. You gone done and broke it. Go home. Hold a pillow when you sneeze or cough" didn't seem like a smart idea. I've had a broken rib before. Four in fact.
Bad flu indeed.
It would be a month after my first bout with COVID-19 before Canada's patient zero was reported on by the media. At that point, I had a lingering cough, fatigue and brain fog. Fun fact! Patient zero was known to my co-workers who may have come in contact with him. But by then, I was already naturally immunized.
I suppose I'm fortunate. The fatigue and brain fog I sometimes experience these days isn't as bad as some people have it. I've heard some terrible stories. It's been hard to focus and mundane, day to day tasks have become harder to do. I'm forgetful too, which makes me panicky. My mother had Alzheimer's. I may have it. It's just waiting to rear it's ugly, forgetful head. But I'm still mostly functional and able to make it to work daily.
The chest cough remained for a month after recovering and at the end of it, here I am again, with a potentially damaged esophagus and potentially related stomach and liver issues that I'm currently seeking treatment for. I can't say if they're COVID related or not. Neither can my doctor.
So this is where I stand at the moment. Dealing with a health care system that is catching up after two long years of shutdowns and extraordinary demands. I have other health concerns and so far the push to seek treatment in those areas have been slow at best. One specialist has refused to see me over a potential miscommunication initiated by my family doctor's staff, the other specialist did damage to someone close to me and I repeatedly asked to be referred to another specialist (there's more than one in the city) because of that conflict of interest. So far, I've yet to receive any feedback or follow-up. This long waiting game continues.
I guess I'm venting a little. Apologies. I knew when I started this blog, I'd eventually let loose and just speak my mind.
This is me, timidly venting about my health. I tend to keep my heath personal because when you discuss issues like, say, what my blood sugar levels are, everyone is suddenly a dietician or endocrinologist who loves giving out unsolicited opinions and advice. People have made terrible assumptions about my health because of my weight. I understand sometimes it's meant as concerned helpful advice, but unless I asked, don't offer. I'm not diabetic and for the last 10+ years, haven't crossed that line yet.
As someone once said, my weight is of no concern to you unless I'm sitting on your face.
While we do have free health care, the wait to see anyone tends to be long and frustrating and so I vent a little more. What healthcare we do have certainly needs to be protected. I urge everyone to keep pressuring the powers that be to ensure that our access to healthcare remains and gets better, not worse.
I'll update occasionally for my own sense of blog fulfillment but don't expect daily whinging posts about how horrible I feel. I try to keep things light, positive and funny.
If you have concerns about COVID-19 or other health concerns, while I don't mind if you want to comment about them here, I might even comment back if I can think of something to say, but I can't offer advice. I'm not a medical professional, which is where you should go for these kind of things. I can only offer a "there there" and a pat on the head.
COVID-19 and Post COVID/Long COVID resources:
World Health Organization
Health Canada-COVID Information
Health Canada-Long COVID Information
Center for Disease Control (CDC-US)
DISCLAIMER - I'm not an expert by any means on COVID. I've provided links from the three top health organizations that I'm familiar with above for some reference and starting points if you are seeking information. If you believe you may have COVID-19 or are suffering from Post COVID/Long COVID, seek medical attention for appropriate diagnoses and treatment.
