MARK HAD TO BEG FOR BLOOD WORK TO PROVE HE HAD MORE THAN A COLD.
In January 2021, just 2 weeks after getting over Covid-19, Mark felt completely exhausted. He visited multiple urgent care centers who didn’t think anything of it because Mark appeared to be strong and healthy. They recommended a few over-the-counter drugs to temporarily alleviate his pain, but nothing helped.
As the days went on, Mark got weaker and weaker to the point where he couldn’t even walk. He consulted more urgent care centers, but no one believed his pain. When asked about his experience, Mark said, “I called day after day, telling them I was getting worse, but they just wouldn’t listen.” Mark is used to living a very active lifestyle, so this uphill battle was both debilitating and scary.
Mark reached the point where he felt like he was literally going to die, so he checked himself into the hospital. Again, he was sent home. He went back to the hospital a few days later and demanded more tests be done to prove he had more than a cold. Finally, to his doctors’ surprise, tests revealed that Mark had pericarditis, or dangerous swelling of tissue around his heart. He was released to a cardiologist who gave him prescription medications to bring down the inflammation. Mark got better, but a few months later, it happened again.
After another round of lab tests, Mark reviewed his results online and realized that the pericarditis had returned. 3 days passed and he didn’t receive a call from his doctor, so he called, and called, and called. It was irritating and infuriating because he needed immediate medical attention but was not getting it. He tried everything in his power to avoid going back to the emergency room, but no one listened to him. He felt powerless, infuriated, and confused by the reality of the situation.
Mark finally got in touch with a doctor who has helped keep his pericarditis under control, but wishes his pain was addressed sooner. He stressed, “Just because I’m a big man that looks like I can take on anything doesn’t mean I don’t experience pain.” He continued, “Something needs to be done to ensure Black people are given equal care, including prescriptions, physical therapy, surgeries, and more.”
