Tag Archives: feminism

Activism and Agitation, Life, The Wanton Witch

Grief and Long Covid

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One of the saddest things about being in #LongCovid support groups, is new people who join who have gotten the condition in the last 6-9months, hopefully looking for a cure or treatment to get back to living their life.

They are frequently shocked to find there are no treatment protocols for #LongCovid approved by the HSE. All the clinics do is offer referrals to treat post covid consultations & symptoms.
We don’t even have the basics the NHS has about trying antihistamines.

When all the post covid conditions have been catalogued, & somewhat medicated, there is nothing for the crippling fatigue & brain fog.  For for the condition of #LongCovid it’s self.

None of the research being done in other countries about MCAS or microclots or viral debris, has been accepted here.
So they then want to know what supplements people are on or have tired, as Dr’s won’t talk abut or recommend them.

But while some of them may help, a small bit, none of them touch the chronic nature for #LongCovid

The latest thing we are now being told is, that our immune system is not behaving cos we are stressed, to quit #LongCovid support groups & try just to get on with our lives.

To be mindful, & work to get our parasympathetic nervous system to chill. So pretty much blaming us for our condition.

There are also people who are confused & then angry that they have gotten #LongCovid when they have been vaccinated, and if there is a vaccine, why isn’t there effective treatment.

They go through the entire cycle of grief. Which I know I am still in about how #LongCovid as restricted my life. I cant work, I have chronic pain, chronic fatigue, 7 new medical conditions I am on medications for and cost me a significant romantic relationship.

I understand their hope, hurt, disappointment and anger.

We need better led #LongCovid clinics, many infectious disease consultants do not want to be dealing with Long Covid.

And the HSE has to stop looking for the lowest cost ‘treatment’ for #LongCovid and the Dept of Social welfare keep not approving people for invalidity or disability payments.

Every time you get covid there is an increased risk you will develop #LongCovid even if vaccinated, many people new to the support groups were completely unaware of this & feel public health messaging let them down.

We are being ignored, written off, blamed, and gaslight about having the chronic condition with is #LongCovid.

At least 1 was 45 when I got it 3 years ago, I had lived some what of my life, unlike those in their 20s and the kids who have #LongCovid.
Right I am off to take my evening meds and extra pain killers cos this weather makes both the chronic pain and chronic fatigue harder to deal with.

Activism and Agitation

No Going Back

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Updated!

NO Going Back!

Our post #Repeal legislation will be up for review and possibly changing, we can not have agents of the State who will restrict and refuse our human rights.

Dear @greenparty_ie WTAF

This legislation needs to be improved as couples dealing with TFMR Ireland are still denied healthcare here.

The 72hour waiting time is not legally or medically needed, it is a restriction which needs to go.

With it looking like a FF/FG+ ind coalition I was already concerned about the review of this legislation.

We will have to keep reminding TDs and political party that ProChoice Ireland has not gone back to sleep.

Activism and Agitation

The Horrors of Direct Provision

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I had someone try and defend direct provision to me, saying it is a far cry from the Horrors of the Magdalene laundries or industrial schools.

The horror comes when people have been in such emergency accommodation for 9 + years, it is the only life some children have known.

When parents can not cook meals for children, get food when needed for sick children.
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/mother-in-direct-provision-denied-food-at-night-for-sick-child-1.3684032?mode=amp

 

When there is no privacy, as adults are forced to sleep 4+ to a cramped room.

 

When the accommodation is not clean or kept up to proper standards.

When children are raping other children.

When women who happen to be trans are forced to be in men only accommodation.
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/woman-buried-without-friends-present-after-death-in-direct-provision-centre-1.3917038

When women are having to consider sex work due to the lack of provision for school books and uniforms.

When curfews are imposed and unwell people are locked out after going to A&E.

When people detained there are moved, with out reason or notice to other centers.

When people raped can not access the medical care they need.
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/woman-buried-without-friends-present-after-death-in-direct-provision-centre-1.3917038

When those detained there have no idea if or when they will get to be released to have a normal life, or be sent back to a country where they will be killed; which results in them ending their own life.

The Laundries, Mother and Baby homes, the industrial schools, were all considered care carried out by those who were contracted, ie paid by the State to do so. They lacked care, compassion and were inhumane, and still people are deined thier Human Rights.

Direct provision is no different.

Want to help?

Find out what Support MASI need. https://www.masi.ie/support-us/

And get on to your TD https://www.whoismytd.com/

 

Activism and Agitation

Apology Not Accepted.

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This arrived yesterday.

I had a smear test which I was told I needed to, in the wake of the cervicalcheck scandal. I had been told to get one in the run up to the Repeal referendum last May, but delayed it for practical reasons, and the because I was scared.

It was December before I screwed up my courage and got it done. I needed it done as the all clear I had gotten after an abnormal smear may have been a false result and I could have had cells become cancerous and spread over the intervening 3 years from the first abnormal test.

Which meant the more time passed I was possible moving passed the window were non surgical treatments were an option. There is a history of several cancers in my family including this one.

The date on the letter shows when I had the test done, the 21st of December 2018 and the date I rang my GP and the Practice nurse told me the results was the 9th of August 2019, over 7 months. I was given the all clear, but I still have my concerns, my trust has been eroded.

I had my first smear at 19, I advocated and educated about them for years, in person and online. I welcomed the Cervical Check service when it was rolled out, but it left me in frankly mental and emotional anguish for over 7 months.

Over 7 months of trying not to think about it, over 7 months of worry and heartache and what if. Over 7 months of Schrodinger cancer inside me.  Over 7 months of desperately trying not to disassociate when I thought about it or when it was mentioned in the news.

Over 7 months of fretting I would have to have surgery and what impact it would have on me in my life. Over 7 months of worrying, my name may be added to the list of women who have and who are dying due to the lack of oversight in running what is a much needed service for anyone with a womb.

I am still working through all of this, I am relived but so damn fucking angry. So no, Apology Not Accepted.

 

 

Activism and Agitation

Abortion services to be provided in Ireland from today

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https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2019/0101/1019777-abortion-services-ireland/

It’s really real.

We still have to be vigilant and make sure the services are good enough and person centered, and no one makes anyone feel ashamed for accessing this type of health care.

We need to make sure it’s properly accessible to the most vulnerable and that those who this law does not cover know that they can contact Abortion Support Network

Activism and Agitation

Thank you Pope Francis & the hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church for your part in #repealthe8th.

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Yes this post is entitled:
Thank you Pope Francis & the hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church for your part in #repealthe8th.

Let me explain why.

See the thing is, the Roman Catholic Church last year changed its policy in relation to excommunication in relation to abortions. It used to be if you had an abortion or helped someone have one, you were automatically excommunicated, & need to see a bishop to reconcile with the Church.

In 2016 the RC Church had a year of extraordinary mercy, and down grade the level of sin, so you could see your local parish priest to be reconciled. So many people, mostly women did this, that they down graded abortion & helping in any way (money, info ect) to a matter for your parish priest permanently.

Which means having an abortions or being complicit in someone else having one, became the same level as ordinary Sin. This was a huge shift in attitudes which is rarely spoken about.

It made it easier for many mass attending Catholics, to #VoteYes. I have devote Catholics in my life, the conversations around this have been fascinating.

And when the year was done the RC Pope (he is one of 3 popes) extended the terms permanently.

https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/as-year-of-mercy-ends-pope-extends-priests-ability-to-forgive-abortions

So your parish priest who’d you’d confess all your everyday sins to, could absolve you from your sin of abortion and reconcile you to the church. I am not Roman Catholic, but I know women who are, who use contraception, who have had abortions and this brought them ease and comfort.

I genuinely believe this helped us #repealthe8th, but I never saw it covered in our media, esp by religious correspondents, even when it happened, and it’s a seismic change.
Knowing this I had zero concerns in taking part in performances of The Renunciation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-SERRw4KcM

The Refrain in it was “People of Ireland, lift up your voices. We are all worthy of our right to choose”. And we did.
We #RepealedThe8th

So thank you Pope Francis & the hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church for your part in #repealthe8th.

But honestly @Pontifex you are still wrong when it comes to LGB people & esp Trans people, protecting pedophiles, protecting abusers, wanting control of schools & hospitals & failing to make reparations. Maybe sort that before visiting.

Activism and Agitation

Tipperary for Yes

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I was invited down to Nenagh by the Tipperary for yes team. It was wonderful to meet them, some of them I have been chatting with on twitter for years.

I had never been to Nenagh before and was looking forward to the trip. It isn’t a long journey down, it’s about two and a half hours, the same as getting to many other towns and city across the country.

I was speaking with Nurse Polly from Midwifes for Choice, Arlette Lyons from Terminations for Medical Reasons and Matt Doncel from Lawyers for choice.

We had a lot of questions about what provision (services) will look like after legislation and how it needs to be Free, Safe, Legal and Local so that people don’t have to travel to far to access it, esp with the proposed 72 hour waiting time.

Also about the process via which legislation goes through the Dáil and Senand, how that process may change the proposed legislation.

After (fingers crossed) we get a Yes result on the 26th of May we need to support our TDs in bringing forward the legislation. We need to tell them the type of legislation and provision we want to see across the country.

For a very long time the other side was regularly in contact with TDs making the point they would loose vote and possibly their seat if they did not fall in line with their ideology. We need to let our TDs know how many of us are Pro Repeal and Pro Choice and that they would loose our vote for voting against healthdcare inline with best international pratice and which has a human rights framework.

Unsure who your TDs are, you can find out here www.whoismytd.com  

Again thank you to Tipperary For Yes for inviting me down to speak.