Coronavirus, Phase Three and Moving Forward
How this affects the immunocompromised
Many people are excited to get back to life as we begin to enter phase three, here in central New York. It feels like it has been forever in lockdown and now that the weather is warmer, everyone wants to get out. Dining out and heading to the bar will be a welcome relief for so many wishing to socialize. Salons and spas will reopen, hosting many overdue for grooming, or perhaps a fix up from a botched isolation haircut. Restrictions will be in play everywhere with operation at half capacity and six feet spacing rules, in addition to mask wearing and sanitization procedures. Although it appears that a bit of normal everyday life is returning, not everyone is so excited.
My attention turns to people, like myself who are immunocompromised. I had a splenectomy at the beginning of February and have been home ever since. With the exception of doctor visits and a quick trip to the drugstore, I am in isolation. Since the spleen plays a role in resistance to infection, I am at high risk, especially in the first two years post surgery. The added threat of coronavirus just makes things even more frightening. While most other people are transitioning into phase three, I cannot.
I am not alone. Many people have a weakened immune system whether it be by immunosuppression(medications used after an organ transplant, for example) or immunodeficiency( when the body doesn't produce enough of certain blood cells to defend against infection). There are conditions people are born with that cause immunodeficiency and secondary causes occurring later in life, like an illness or medication. The secondary causes are more prominent as a result from life events, disease and medication. Included on the list of immunocompromised are all cancers and chemotherapy, chronic diseases like diabetes (type 1 or 2), liver failure, medications to treat autoimmune diseases, Lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV/AIDS, and people like myself, with no fuctioning spleen.
My concern here, is how are people like us suppose to move along in life while everyone else gets back to"normal?" Many of us had jobs before the virus. I had two physically demanding jobs befor my splenectomy. I knew that I was in store for a career change, but my procedure was performed right before the pandemic hit. Now my doctor has extended my isolation and reminds me that when it is safe for others to be out, it's NOT safe for me. Many of us are ideally looking at employment from home. That in itself is a huge deal, especially for those of us accustomed to getting up everyday to be on the go. Part of working is also social interaction so there becomes another big problem. All people who isolated during covid19 know how lonely that can be. Now imagine how someone who has a weakened immune system feels, knowing that while others resume daily activities, they have to stay put at home.
As things start to open back up, it is strongly anticipated by medical professionals that we will see resurges in the virus. There are simply too many unknown factors surrounding the whole pandemic for those who are immocompromised to gamble. Loss in wages, depression, lonliness on top of having a medical condition is quite scary. Luckily, I have a strong support system in my family. I have adult children that live with me and wonderful parents and siblings to lean on when I am down. I feel like this is key in dealing with this situation and for those who are not so fortunate, you some resources. I don't feel like anyone should go through this alone. Start out within the medical community itself. Perhaps there are some online possiblities, especially if you have a patient portal access for your medical information. Many people are suffering depression, need guidance or even someone to talk to just briefly to help make sense of their personal struggles.I have personally reached out to my physician through the patient portal by leaving a mesage and she called me the next day. Just know that you are not alone in this situation if this affects you and if this describes someone you know, reach out.
About the Creator
Marilyn Glover
Poet, writer, & editor, writing to uplift humanity. A Spiritual person who practices Reiki and finds inspiration in nature.
Mother of four, grandmother of two, British American dual citizen living in the States
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