Conversation

I have to go in for an injection every four weeks. I visit my local clinic for these appointments. I'm masked, always, but there are no more masks in health care. Today's visit:

Nurse: So you still...

Me: I still what?

Nurse: *points at face*

Me: Sorry?

Nurse: You still wear a mask?

Me: I do.

Nurse: I see. You're going to have to take it off someday, though.

Me: No, I don't.

Nurse: It's mild now.

Me: They also said EBV is mild. I got it as a teenager and 15 years later I still have not recovered.

Nurse: Well...

Me: I have never beaten a bacterial infection without antibiotics. I have never been ill for less than two months with any viral infection. Everything up til now seriously knocks me down, like my medical file says. At least 10% of people still have symptoms six months after their covid infection. What does that mean for me? Why should I risk it?

Nurse: It's a really big offer to make, still wearing a mask.

Me: Actually it's really a very tiny effort to wear a mask.

Nurse: Do you wear that everywhere? Or just when you visit here?

Me: I wear it anywhere where people are, especially medical buildings where lots of sick people come to visit.

Nurse: So do you wear it at home as well?

Me: What? No. Why would I?

Nurse: Well, I don't know, since you seem to be wearing it everywhere.

Me: Could you please just use the syringe now?

Nurse: Okay, if you would rather wear a mask all the time than feel bad every once in a while...

Me: You know, I have to think about my income too. I'm a freelancer. Who's going to pay me when I'm sick in bed for at least three months? I don't get sick leave. Who's paying me? Will it be you?

Nurse: *silence*

Me: Anyway could you please do the injection and make a new appointment for August, many thanks.

😫

This is what being chronically ill is like now. I have 15+ years of bad experiences with medical personnel and their gaslighting, their withholding of care and their abuse. But it's frustrating to have another topic up for debate possibly every visit now.

#covid #covid19 #CovidIsNotOver #WearAMask