The Pandemic & Living with Chronic Illnesses & Disabilities

@AffyAvo

I am really really struggling - i personally dont know what i should be doing if i should be self distancing with all my health issues as i work in a hospital but when i get unwell i am bed ridden and will get temp of 40 celcius plus and my manager doesnt seem to get it at the moment and idk what im meant to do - i fall in the at risk catagory but not the extremely vulnrable catagary soooo idk...

Its causing me so much anxiety and stress and im just freaking soooooo much. i have 2 weeks off got this week left... waiting for a phonecall back from my GP as im still awaiting neurology investigations too.

-Joy <3

@AffyAvo Thanks for bringing these concerns up. Yes, it can be very hard for disabled people to cope with current crisis, especially for those who are in high risk groups.

I have got days off now as my tasks at job were suspended and also many other people were asked to stay at home rather than come to work.

Supermarkets have got dedicated time when people in high risk group, pregnant women and disabled people have priority and they are asked to go to supermarket in this dedicated time.

It can be hard if you need someone who helps you to get stuff from high shelves as we have to do shopping alone.

We are also asked to stay at home and not to socialize. Very opposite of what we were always told by many experts - that we need constant socializing. Now i found out that some alone time was beneficial for me as i could relax a bit.

But it will become concern if my technical assistive devices will get broken or damaged or if i need a new acumulator for my electric wheelchair as all services are shut down.

@AffyAvo

I reported undercover police for abusing me and they wrongly accused me to SSI disability attempting to get my benefits terminated. They tried to frame me and lied. I tried to contact SSI inspector general and got no response.

I have people aiming cameras at me and I think i am being unfairly targeted. I cannot support myself working. I am barely functional.

This adds more terror and suffering to my plight.

@AffyAvo I think this is a great thread. I was put on an experimental treatment for one of my chronic conditions that involves a high dose of immunosuppressants last week and I'm not sure how it will affect me, especially with the virus going around. I also have family members who might be at risk of complications if they get the virus.
In my country, we were told to stay at home unless we had to leave for work, school, a doctor's appointment or to shop for essentials. I currently volunteer at a nursing home and last I heard, we are still allowed to do so but there have been new rules and restrictions and they aren't accepting new volunteers. It's a bit of a worry because another nursing home not too far away had a COVID-19 outbreak.

I have spent a lot of time playing the new Animal Crossing game at home. I have also been doing online courses, listening to podcasts, watching streaming services, playing browser games and getting some work done on the house.

@AffyAvo

It's a very inconvenient situation, honestly. Personally, I was starting to get job offers, from retail stores and one real estate agency, and as someone who's travelled a lot I haven't had the chance to really get stable work until this year when I settled down with my boyfriend... I was looking forward to those opportunities! I was also trying to finally get my GED so I can pursue further education, since I was homeschooled and didn't get all the school credits.

Now, everything's on hold.

As a wheelchair girl, the buses aren't as reliable, which make travel hellish, and since I'm very vulnerable to the virus with my lungs/heart issues and brain injury I try not to be in crowds or on buses anyway lately. Which sucks as someone very extroverted. It's not like I can afford taxis either. This whole thing seriously is messing with my psychotic depression too and I don't like it, my ADHD is also going haywire. With inaccessibility and some medical crisis, I'm used to the stress of suddenly being isolated, and of how my mental illnesses react to it. Doesn't make it any easier. I go really stir crazy and my chronic pain gets awful.

Thankfully my friends IRL keep my mood up... stay strong everyone. Thanks for making this thread.

Every day is worse. I feel too weak to live through this. I don't even think I want to with how messed up the world is.

@AffyAvo Thanks for bringing up this topic!

My small town seems to be living in denial. Their disability supports are 2/10 on their best day. Now, they don't have separate times for disabled or elderly people, or pregnant women to shop, and the stores are crowded. They're handing out toilet paper 1 at a time, these small rolls for camping. I have a child, there's no way it's going to last. (I crumple newspaper and catalogs repeatedly until the paper is soft - flush a little at a time or it will clog.) I bought enough OTC meds and also my doctor changed my refills to 90-day so I won't have to go without meds. There is plenty of produce but no ramen or soup, so Kid is making vegetable broths and soups, we're freezing it in containers to reheat later.

Emotionally, I'm used to being mostly bed-bound and isolated. I have a lot to keep me busy. But we can't get tested, all the tests are going to a university hospital and none to all the small clinics in the state. I can't drive that far. I'm really sick, doctor told me to isolate for 14-28 days depending on my fever and coughing.

The main impact it has had is stress and anxiety, but that's worsened my psoriasis. I'm generally feeling low because I cannot self isolate and must continue going to work in a hospital. At this point, there is a high chance I could get coronavirus. :( It has also caused fall outs with some family members and has affected my uni work.

I've been staying at home for about 3 weeks. It's very difficult to not see family who live outside of the house and not knowing how long this will go on.

All the stores advertise delivery but have a $25 or even $40 minimum. I can't afford that, very few of us here in disabled housing can. Foodbank isn't delivering. I am blessed my teen can walk to get a meal each day for herself!