Today I had my bivalent Covid booster. Big deal, right? This is something that has become a normal part of our regular routine every few months, especially when you are immunodeficient. So if it isn’t a big deal, then why the hell can’t I stop the flashbacks? I’ve survived sepsis more times than I care to count. These repeated bouts of near death have left their toll on my previously already fragmented mind, to the extent that even something as common as a low grade fever (a response that is normal after getting a vaccine) sends me in to a panic. I know that the fever I am experiencing is exactly how the immune system is suppose to respond when it starts building an immunity to something, so why can’t I help but worry that this low grade fever is actually a symptom of something much more sinister brewing in my body? Why am I convinced I’m dying? This is the reality of PTSD. It isn’t what you see on tv or in the movies. Something as routine and benign as a vaccine can send you in t...
I think every female has experienced it to some degree- being diagnosed as being female. Even now in the year 2022, a male and a female could go to the doctors office with the exact same complaints and the male is more likely to be taken seriously quicker. Gender bias exists everywhere, but in my experienced, gender biased in the health care system can be one of the most detrimental; ultimately having the potential to lead to little quality of life, and even death. I have a several chronic illnesses including a genetic condition. It took 21 years to be diagnosed with one of my illnesses and 32 to be diagnosed with the genetic condition that causes all of my other chronic illnesses. My first diagnosis at 21 was dysautonomia. I started showing severe symptoms 7 months prior to my diagnosis. So for 7 months, I was going from doctor to doctor and test to test. I know from the outside some people might think this is a long time, but in all reality it takes almost 6 years for people to be di...