topic Not sure if this is the right place in Depression

Not sure if this is the right place

Aunt Jobiska — Mon, 17 Aug 2020 09:16:26 GMT

Hi - I'm not sure if this is the right place, it didn't seem to belong in the coping with coronavirus thread, and I do have bipolar disorder...

I have a respiratory condition called gustatory rhinitis. All that means is that if I eat / drink, I can get a runny nose.

What that means, is that in coronaland, I am a leper. So many places ask 'do you have a cough, cold, runny nose...' etc - and if you have one, they tell you to not come in / leave. I also have medication-induced sedation. Fatigue. Medication side-effect. Like my gustatory rhinitis runny nose, I've had it for years. I went to my health insurance office this morning. Sign on the door: if you have cough, cold, or FATIGUE... don't come in. Another place that considers me a leper. A pariah. For having a medication side effect.

Last time I went to my GPs office, I walked in the door and was handed a piece of paper by the receptionst. If you have a cough, cold etc go outside and ring reception from outside. I went outside, and had to wait in the cold and wind (it was late afternoon and raining) until the GP came outside and told me I could bring my occasionally-runny-nose inside. That's going to happen every time I go to the GP.

Tafe SA says 'If you are unwell for ANY reason don't come to campus'. Any unwellness, stay home. So if you've got a migraine, chronic fatigue syndrome, depression, a sprained ankle... stay home. No education for you.

Last time I saw my psychiatrist, I got asked cough/cold questions... but they left out the runny nose! Hooray! They let me into the waiting room. Ironically, I see him at the psychiatry clinic of the local public hospital. I vented to him about my frustration about being treated like a pariah for my gustatory rhinitis and fatigue, and he said he didn't have a problem if I answered no to those questions. He said that only new-onset cold-and-flu symptoms were a virus concern, that chronic respiratory symptoms even were not a coronavirus risk. I'm not a risk. He's telling me lying is okay. That was the expert opinion of the clinical director of the inpatient psych unit at a teaching hospital.

Corona is used as an excuse to discriminate against sick people. People with chronic illnesses, even mild virtually-non-existent-ones like mine are treated like lepers. Public health policy actively discriminates against chronically sick people for no good reason.

Being discriminated against causes me anxiety and distress. I'm told to go away. For the forseeable future.

Not sure if this is the right place

Ggrand — Mon, 17 Aug 2020 10:23:09 GMT

Hello Aunt Jobiska,

Everywhere I go, which is not really often..I get asked the same question,,on my outs I have my support worker with me each time...I have bad anxiety...

I have a cough due to asthma..but my support worker tells me to say no, when they ask me the question and they they generally mention within the last 14 days...

On going coughs, runny noses etc that are diagnosed problems from the past isn’t really what they are asking for...

I do tell them that I have an asthma cough..they accept that..my neighbour smokes a lot and tells them she has a smokers cough..also that has been accepted..

I think we are not discriminated against...even though it might feel like it...They are just trying their hardest to protect everyone....the best they can..

If you just tell them you struggling with the medical condition gustatory rhinitis and explain to them what it is..I think they will let you inside...

Maybe ask your GP..to write out a little note stating that..

My kind thoughts with my care..

Grandy..

Not sure if this is the right place

romantic_thi3f — Tue, 18 Aug 2020 00:34:28 GMT

Hi Aunt Jobiska,

Thank you for your post and I am sorry to hear about what you are going through. I know that you're not alone, especially with an already supportive post from Grandy.

I can absolutely relate with the symptoms of fatigue and feeling unwell, although this is an invisible symptom unlike yourself and Grandy.

I do understand the need to lie, and I don't see it as being dishonest but I see it as "I am already safe despite these symptoms" and "even though I have one of these symptoms these are not new and have a medical explanation". Otherwise all signs would say "If you have a cough, cold or runny nose do not enter unless you have a diagnosed medical condition in which case you can come in" - which isn't quite as short and in your face as it needs to be.

Grandy mentioned a letter from the GP and I highly recommend it - something as simple as a signed little note inside your bag/wallet can save so much hassle and time.