Last week I wrote a diary about a mystery ailment that I have had for weeks following COVID. I don’t even know where to begin, but I ended up getting fired from Oregon State Hospital the day after I wrote that diary. Two days after that diary, I had an appointment with my doctor who suggested that what I have been suffering from was indeed not a stomach ailment, but long COVID (post-COVID syndrome). I asked her how that could be possible, I felt fine for at least ten days before becoming extremely exhausted, having black diarrhea, being out of breath, having chest pains and heart palpitations. She said that is common for post-COVID and some people do not feel any symptoms with the initial disease but then start feeling crappy weeks later like I did.
So my doctors put me through a battery of rule out and differential diagnosis tests, most of which came back normal. There is evidence that I broke two of my ribs at some point, most likely due to coughing. I don’t feel any rib pain and I don’t remember feeling any sharp pain there, besides about a year ago and that should have healed by now. But there is evidence of two of my ribs having healing fractures.
I have to start physical therapy soon to try to build back some endurance. My doc is switching around my anxiety and panic disorder meds because those have started to make a come back in my life in a big way. He also prescribed a sleeping pill for insomnia which has been happening since I got COVID.
I guess I am most mad about my job. It was my first face-to-face, in real life job since the pandemic started. I get COVID, I feel better and come back, miss 4 days and I am fired. Everyone’s like “What about the union” well, I was in my probation period so there was absolutely nothing SEIU could do. Since then, I have tried reaching out to employment lawyers but not a one will take the case, because I don’t really have a case. They were clearly within their right to fire me. I was just hoping, I guess, that the Oregon state government, and Oregon State Hospital might have a bit more grace seeing as 1) they are absolutely dying for people and 2) they are a hospital, and I am a sick person. But no, now I owe them 600 dollars because I was “overpaid”. Come and get it. Look me in the fucking eyeballs and ask for that 600 dollars.
Ugh I am so frustrated. I have no idea what job I can even do. I can barely concentrate on filling out applications. Hell, I can barely concentrate on video games and those are second nature to me. I have no idea what I am gonna do for money. I have to contribute something to the household. My wife, god love her, is taking this all on herself and I just sit at home like a bump on a log not contributing anything. I feel guilty as hell for it too.
Anyway, thanks for letting me vent.