COVID Vaccine Eligibility

So currently in Ontario, where I live, there is a three tier plan, which itself is made up of stages.

Phase 1 is for High-risk populations including

• Congregate living for seniors
• Health care workers
• Adults in First Nations, Métis and Inuit populations
• Adult chronic home care recipients
• Adults ages 80 and older
• Adults with the highest-risk health conditions:

From this group, my Brother-in-law, my 2 nieces & my Dad were all quickly eligible for the first phase.

Phase II is described as Mass deliveries of vaccines. This is our current phasewhere we currently stand in the process. This phase includes:

• Adults aged 60 to 79, in 5-year increments
• High-risk congregate settings (such as shelters, community living)
• Individuals with high-risk chronic conditions and their caregivers
• Those who cannot work from home
• At-risk populations

So, with that description,you’d think I would be eligible in Phase 2 for either Endo, Fobro, CFS/ME, etc.. but no.. here are the lists of conditions that apply:

Highest-Risk Health Conditions, eligible at phase I:

• Organ transplant recipients
• Hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients
• Neurological diseases in which respiratory function may be compromised (e.g., motor neuron disease, myasthenia gravis, multiple sclerosis)
• Haematological malignancy diagnosed <1 year
• Kidney disease eGFR< 30

Of these conditions, I have none. .

High-Risk Health Conditions currently eligible

• Obesity (BMI > 40)
• Other treatments causing immunosuppression (e.g., chemotherapy, immunity- weakening medications)
• Intellectual or developmental disabilities (e.g., Down Syndrome)

Of these conditions, I have none. It’s interesting that someone who is so far they are morbidly obese has priority over someone with a heart condition..

I no longer has a BMI over 40.. At my worst, my BMI was over 50 ( I just looked that up & I’m like “Damn, Girl!”) My BMI is now approximately 33.. so, I’m not eligible for that either.

At-Risk Health Conditions:

• Immune deficiencies/autoimmune disorders
• Stroke/cerebrovascular disease
• Dementia
• Diabetes
• Liver disease
• All other cancers
• Respiratory diseases
• Spleen problems (e.g., asplenia)
• Heart disease
• Hypertension with end organ damage
• Diagnosis of mental disorder
• Substance use disorders
• Sickle Cell Disease
• Thalassemia
• Pregnancy
• Immunocompromising health conditions
• Other disabilities requiring direct support care in the community

Again no Fibro, No Endo, No CFS/ME.. Whil those last 2 are considered to possibly be autoimmune, they are not classified as such. So instead I qualify due to:

• Respiratory diseases – I have asthma. It is currently controlled & I would only need th ventolin for strenuous activity
• Diagnosis of mental disorder – I have chronic depression, have since I was 16
• Substance use disorders – I have an addiction to fentanyl – controlled & my last use was about 3 years ago.

I’m not sure what the “other disabilities ‘ entails.. But I doubt it covers the other conditions, but it’s so vague.

So, cuz I am depressed, cuz I used to need a puffer & cuz I like fentanyl a little too much, I am eligible for phase not cuz of the Endo, Fibro, CFS/ME. Apparently people with these condition are otherwise only eligible in stage 3 with the rest of Canada. That is unless their family doctor gets vaccines.

Crappy Week

So, I posted on the 13th of April about how crappy I was feeling on Monday… While I’m not having a problem getting my shower door open, I’m still feeling like crap.

It’s been a long time for me that I’ve have sustained a higher pain.level over more than a few days..feeling crappy started Sunday morning.

If you ask me what I did on Saturday? I went for a drive. I love to drive, but with the price of gas right now, it’s a little expensive. So, I has in & out of the car & driving around.. Even hopped on the highway to drop of my BFF’s birthday pressie..

So nothing was done out of the ordinary that could trigger a flare. To be honest, I’m surprised I didn’t flare the weekend before at the cottage when I *did* do something that could cause a flare – helping my Dad move the trailer.. I just don’t get it

And to top it off, I’m not sure what my body is trying to do. My pain levels are up. And all I have thinking about is fentanyl…. I just don’t know if it’s a want for pain relief or if the want is to be oblivious to everything cuz of the medication, or just to get high..

Addiction or Dependance?

My SO is always concerned about the potentially addictive medications I am on.. I try and assure him that, while dependant, I am not addicted.. He doesn’t see the difference.. Unfortunately, when I am tired or just generically foggy I find it hard to explain.. Medical Dependance is a body’s need, a requirement to be healthy.. For example, an Insulin-dependant Diabetic is exactly that, dependant. The insulin helps the body function properly with the problematic pancreas. For us with chronic pain, for whatever reason, we take the medication to function properly with the problems that each cause us pain. Yes, if we stop taking our meds, we do into withdrawal; it’s a chemical dependace, so of course we do. Should a diabetic stop taking insulin, would they not go into a withdrawal? Absolutely; sugar levels will start to rise, and the body’s functionality drops. Addiction is very different. Addition is filling a mental and emotional need to feel that high, and rarely a medical necessity. This is NOT why we take the medications we are prescribed.. We don’t want the high, we just want to feel less pain.. Less pain does not a high make.
Now, I admit that there are persons who take prescription medications to the excess, to go beyond the need to feel less pain, to the pain where there is no pain and they get that high, or continue prescription medications long after a temporary need has been resolved, again to get that high. These people are addicted. Just because you are dependant does not mean you are addicted.
Just because you are addicted does not make you medically dependant.