Living with chronic illness has been a reality for me for most of my life, and now that long covid exists, it is going to be a reality for millions of you as well. I was diagnosed with my first chronic illness at the age of four. Since then, I have collected a few more diagnoses and continue to spend a great deal of my life dealing with the medical system and learning to balance things so that I am not completely overwhelmed by the amount of medical management my life requires.
Over the last two years, as covid has ravaged the nation, more and more people are being diagnosed with long covid. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 79 million cases of covid have been reported in the United States. This is impacting people who may never have had major health issues and are now having to face the long-term impact of chronic illness. According to the Mayo Clinic, long covid can produce problems for patients varying from fatigue to loss of smell and/or taste to severe lung issues. The Washington Post just reported that long-term brain damage can also be the result of long covid. The truth is, that we may not know for a time what the real impact of long covid will be. With this new reality putting pressure on a medical system that is not built or skilled at caring for patients with chronic health issues, cracks in an already fragile system are starting to show.
All over the nation, news sources reported overwhelmed health systems. I was sent to the hospital right after Christmas for breathing issues unrelated to covid by my primary care physician. After waiting more than four hours to be seen in the ER, I was lucky enough to be given one of two remaining beds in the hospital. I cannot even begin to imagine finding out that there were not any beds available at all. The hospital staff did their best to care for me, but the floor was full. There just were not enough medical professionals to treat the onslaught of patients. This experience of not being able to access care is likely to continue as long covid patients need access to specialists. More patients mean longer wait times for everything related to medical care.
Finding acceptance around being diagnosed with a chronic illness is extremely difficult, and taking action to make sure you receive the health care you need and deserve takes practice and patience. Living with chronic illness is complex, because it is not just about health. It impacts every aspect of life. There are social repercussions as well as the obvious difficulties involved with dealing with the consistent need for access to good medical care.
The current medical system in the United States is not equipped to handle those us of with chronic illness. Many professionals agree that patients who live with chronic illness are often forced to be the primary healthcare provider, managing and coordinating care. How will the health system now handle the influx of so many people diagnosed with long covid? We need to be prepared to fight for the health care we deserve. Learning to advocate for myself has made experiencing chronic illness less of an experience of suffering and more of a chance to live. It is also crucial that we advocate for each other. Understanding the health insurance you have, or someone you love has, can make a world of difference in getting the treatment you need. Advocating for yourself can help you take back control of your life.
It is also time that we truly reform our healthcare system. This will take time and hard work, so in the meantime, learn to advocate for yourself. Practice asking questions and following-up with medical professionals when needed. If you do not have health insurance, see if you qualify for Medicaid in your state. The Affordable Care Act was successful in expanding Medicaid access. We do not need to wait for the healthcare system to be reformed for us to get more of the care we deserve. There are local agencies that likely help with these processes somewhere near you.
I have been privileged in that I have access to good healthcare, but healthcare should not be a privilege. Healthcare is a right. We owe it to ourselves and each other to fix the healthcare system that has already failed so many of us experiencing chronic health needs. If you have not been one of these people yet, covid might be the thing that forces you to pay attention.
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