Read on Twitter
1/ “Someone passing me on the street cannot see that my spine curls around my lungs and reduces my ability to fight respiratory infections.”
Beyond proud to share my first piece for @statnews, about how to fight systemic ableism in #LongCovid https://www.statnews.com/2020/10/07/covid-19-long-haulers-experience-hidden-disabilities/
Beyond proud to share my first piece for @statnews, about how to fight systemic ableism in #LongCovid https://www.statnews.com/2020/10/07/covid-19-long-haulers-experience-hidden-disabilities/
2/ Research published after this piece went to print shows that nearly ⅓ of COVID patients experience neurological symptoms.
Even if we finally get this pandemic under control, we are about to have a sudden increase in the disabled population. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/05/health/Covid-patients-mental-state.html
Even if we finally get this pandemic under control, we are about to have a sudden increase in the disabled population. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/05/health/Covid-patients-mental-state.html
3/ There is a long history of why most of medicine & society is not set up to care for people with vague and/or hidden symptoms, and now we are watching it play out again in real-time.
Unless we do something about it.
Unless we do something about it.
4/ A huge thank you to @PJSkerrett of @statnews First Opinion for giving me this space.
5/ On a personal note, I started a distant ancestor of this piece months and months ago. It was my first foray into the disability sphere.
I endured rejections from every kind of platform and benefitted immensely from the guidance of @katie_ventre & @BurgartBioethix.
I endured rejections from every kind of platform and benefitted immensely from the guidance of @katie_ventre & @BurgartBioethix.
6/ I’ve tried to traverse the fine line between my disabled identity and that of a medical student and future #DisabledDocs.
Indulge me a moment while I thank some friends from across this bridge.
Indulge me a moment while I thank some friends from across this bridge.
7/ I am only able to speak openly about disability because of those who came before us and mentors like @Tara_Moss, @Imani_Barbarin, @Okanlami, and @CheriBlauwetMD.
8/ As a med student, I quickly found a home on #MedTwitter at the beginning of the pandemic when my home at school was closed down.
I cannot thank friends and mentors like @LashNolen @drjessigold @ChaseTMAnderson @RyanMarino @DrJenGunter enough for their encouragement.
I cannot thank friends and mentors like @LashNolen @drjessigold @ChaseTMAnderson @RyanMarino @DrJenGunter enough for their encouragement.
9/ I have some more to say after class, but for now, please consider sharing with your networks both on twitter and off.
“The more we all learn and talk about what it means to be disabled, the more equitable our society can become.”
“The more we all learn and talk about what it means to be disabled, the more equitable our society can become.”
10/ While I am glad to share a little bit of my story, as usual when I speak about disability, I do so to encourage people to look ahead.
Let's discuss why I used the word "hidden" rather than the more common "invisible disabilities."
Let's discuss why I used the word "hidden" rather than the more common "invisible disabilities."
11/ I can't take credit for this idea, but I forgot to bookmark the tweet that first described it. If anyone from #DisabilityTwitter #InvisibleIllness #spoonie knows, please send along.
12/ When we say a disability or symptom is invisible, we make it okay not to look.
The slight grimace of someone in pain.
The lower energy of someone with chronic fatigue.
The proximity to walls of someone with dizziness.
We can all learn to recognize disability.
The slight grimace of someone in pain.
The lower energy of someone with chronic fatigue.
The proximity to walls of someone with dizziness.
We can all learn to recognize disability.
13/ I mean no disrespect to my incredible mentors and colleagues in medicine. But we are not taught how to care for patients with vague symptoms without known etiologies.
And far too many people take shortcuts and write off the pain of Black and female patients, especially.
And far too many people take shortcuts and write off the pain of Black and female patients, especially.
