Sick days

The day after I got fired from my job, I was sooo sick. I couldn’t even get up out of bed. My whole body was sore, I had a fever, a runny nose, and I was coughing up green stuff. I was sick for three days straight.

What’s worse is I needed to be out looking for a job during those three days. So I only really had two days to look for a job.

I got sick at the worst time and right before my birthday.

My case manager didn’t believe I was sick and she yelled at me for being lazy. It took everything I had not to yell back. I held it in though and just did what she wanted me to do not matter how I felt.

Sick at the Largo Residential Reentry Center

Ted fell very ill on Thursday. He called yesterday and told me that he had begged several times to be taken to the hospital or a doctor. Each time, he was told by a staff member, “Leave me alone. I’m busy.”

Ted was unable to get out of bed and was throwing up repeatedly. He alternated between sweating and the chills. He was unable to eat and his nose was running. He also discovered a large bump on his skin.

Ted had previously told me a few months ago that the inmates at Lancaster would be getting swine flu vaccinations. I asked him if he had ever received one and he said no. Several of his symptoms were similar to the swine flu.

I called the Largo Residential Reentry Center and was disconnected four times. I was transferred to several individuals and kept repeating that Ted needed to get medical attention. Finally I left my number and told them I would be calling the Florida Department of Corrections in Tallahassee.

Within five minutes, I received a call back. I reiterated that Ted needed medical attention and had been told to ‘shut up and go away’. The person I spoke with said it sounded as if Ted needed to be transferred back to prison. I immediately got upset because it sounded as if he was being punished for being so ill. She told me that I had misunderstood and if he was that sick, he would be transferred to Zephyrhills C.I. where a doctor would look at him immediately. I asked if he would return to the Largo Center and she said it would be up to the doctor.

Several hours later, I called back to check on Ted. I spoke to the same woman and she told me two times that Ted did not have the flu.

They got Ted out of bed and put him on the phone. Ted told me that he had been taken to a walk-in clinic. I asked him how they determined he did not have the flu. Did they take blood samples? He said, no, they just took his vital signs and he did have a temperature. They had told him at the clinic he had a virus. (Note to staff: "The flu" is a virus.) Without a blood test, it’s impossible to determine if he has the swine flu. He was also instructed to return to the clinic to get a test of the bump on his skin.

Ted is feeling just a bit better today. The Center is charging Ted $70 for the clinic visit to be paid out of his earnings.

Widespread sickness

I spoke to Ted on the phone tonight. He said almost everyone around him seems to be sick in bed. I didn't think to ask if this meant the whole camp or just his dorm. It seems that a bad flu has hit Lancaster work camp. He told me he was feeling fine right now, but expected that he would come down with it sooner or later.

The symptoms of the sickness include a high fever, not wanting to get out of bed, and (in his words) "anal leakage". He said that those that were really sick didn't have to go to work if they went to Medical.

Hopefully, everyone will get better soon. Ted did say he mailed more blog entries out this past Monday.

Being sick in prison

I can write about how much prison sucks all day, but one of the worst times to be in prison is when you’re sick. It doesn’t really matter if you have a simple cold or the flu. The only thing you get for any sickness is generic non-aspirin – which doesn’t do a thing.

Plus, since I’m at a work camp, I have to work five days a week and it doesn’t matter how sick you are – you still have to go and do your job.

If you really wanted to, you can put in a medical request to see the doctor – who will give you something a little bit better than non-aspirin. But if you do that, it takes about three days or so for them to call you out and usually your sickness will be going away by then. Plus they charge you five dollars.

A lot of people, if they’re sick, will declare medical emergencies and go to the doctors right then, but all they’ll do is say that your condition isn’t life-threatening, charge you five dollars, send you back – then bring you back a couple of days later and charge you another five dollars.

No matter which way you look at it, it sucks to be sick in prison.

Sick in prison

I’ve been sick the last three days, and for the whole three days, I’ve been asking the correctional officers (COs) for Tylenol.

They keep telling me they’ll do it when they aren’t so busy, but for some reason I still ain’t got any.

I can’t see too much from my cell, but from what I can see, the correctional officers are never busy. They just sit around spitting out tobacco.

Now I know it’s their job to make us not want to come back, but the least they can do is get me some Tylenol.

My head and body won’t stop hurting and the more I complain about it, the less they come around my cell.

Also besides not being able to get medicine, the worst part about being sick in here is having to walk to and from the dining hall and having to sit out on the rec field for about two hours in the hot sun.

Letters at last

Today a bunch of blog entries arrived in the mail! Ted has been moved to the Central Florida Reception Center in Orlando. I called the prison and spoke with his occupational officer. He will be moved to his permanent facility on Monday. I was told to wait to deposit any money into his commissary account until he arrived at his permanent one. He is very sick, but does not have the swine flu, as he is in with the general pop, the officer said.

Hiya Mom,

For the last three days I’ve been so sick. It’s from one of three things. Either it’s from being hot with no A/C all day, this filthy cell, or them making us walk back from the rec field in the pouring rain. My guess is all of the above.

This is the first time in three days I’ve had enough strength to even write you.

Besides not being able to get medicine in here – the worst part about being sick is having to walk to and from chow hall and having to stay out on the rec field. They make us stay out there for two or three hours and the whole time, I just want to pass out.

Anyway, I’m still sick, but I’m starting to recover a little. I still can’t eat much, but I’m tryin'.

It’s so boring in here I can’t take it. Oh yea, they sent your books back. They've got to be from a book publisher or dealer. [They were.]

When I get to my permanent camp, I’m going to try and get my CDL license or take up carpentry. It’ll give me something to do. I’m really hoping to get my CDL though.

Anyway, even though I’ve been sleeping for three days, I’m gonna go back to sleep.

Give Cocoa a tummy rub for me. I love you and miss you.

Teddy