Talon Issue #104 - CoEds & CoVids"

Putting Yourself First

Being symptomatic, but not taken seriously

Savannah Parris

I work at a pet store which is deemed essential during times like these. Which is completely understandable because pets deserve everything they need, just like us humans. I took precautions, as did my work. We had extra cleaning procedures and I stayed doing what I needed to. I even had to ask customers to step away from me because they would get too close. I am one of the only employees that didn’t change their availability and was still willing to work. Things went well at the start and I felt that it was going to be almost impossible to catch it. Then a customer called saying she was outside and she was exposed but she needed dog food. Nobody else was willing to risk it so I was the one who carried it to her car and tossed it in the trunk. I didn’t touch anything of hers and she stayed in the car, but it as still risky. I disinfected everything and washed my hands immediately. Then it went downhill. I started not feeling good and watched my symptoms. My cousin is a doctor and she told me that the virus presents itself in different ways in different age groups, so I went ahead and called my work so they were aware I wouldn’t be there for a few weeks and I set up a doctor’s appointment. By the time I could get to the doctor, I was super sick. I slept most of the day, had an ongoing headache, congestion, and even had body chills. My family doctor is in a small town and she was booked so I had to see someone else. I got tested for the flu, which was negative, and then they asked me to leave. No medicine, no treatment, nothing. I went home and called the health department and they told me I could only be tested if the doctor filled out a form for them but the doctor said I didn’t have a fever so I wasn’t someone she was worried about. I was sick like this for almost two weeks. I wasn’t able to work, and had to fight for my pay. The doctors acted as if I was making it up and didn’t even want to give me doctor’s notes. I was extremely frustrated and felt as if I wasn’t taken seriously. I eventually started feeling a little bit better and have started working again, but my main point is that I wasn’t treated how I should’ve been. I get that there isn’t a lot of tests and that they are doing what they can. It just seemed as if my health didn’t seem as bad as others at the time so I was swept under the rug. But if I feel as if I am risking others health, I did the right thing by staying home. I am thankful that Avila is taking the precautions they need to, even though it is a difficult transition. They are offering a ton of support and most professors are willing to talk about things and fill you with reassurance.