LogFAQs > #969504083

I got sick on Saturday while working. I work installing cat6 ethernet cabling/jacks for various businesses, like setting up internet and phone connections for desks in a new office space. This weekend it was at a machine shop, replacing a few old workstations that were still active. We had to get it finished during their downtime on the weekend so that it wouldn't interrupt their production lines.

I felt fine for most of the day, tbh. It came completely out of the blue, with no indication or warning. I was talking to my buddy as we were putting the finishing touches on the main part of the job (pulling all the cables physically into place and through into the switch room), and I had one of those weird burp/hiccup/cough simultaneously moments that just sorta throws you for a loop. I sorta paused for a second, said "I think I'm gonna go to the bathroom...", took about 2 steps before I dropped to my knees and vomited on the floor. It was not pleasant.

But the boss had literally just been talking to us 10 minutes earlier about how good we'd been doing and how much faster we'd gotten everything done than expected. And if we could just knock out these last few things in an hour or two, we wouldn't need to come back the next day to finish up. So I asked my coworker not to say anything to the boss. Took a couple minutes in the bathroom just washing my face and cleaning myself up as best I could (thankfully didn't get anything on my clothes), then a quick trip to the custodian closet to grab a mop bucket and cleaned the mess. I obviously felt like shit at this point, but I was able to push through and we got the job finished.

Sunday I pretty much felt normal. Come monday, my stomach was a little upset but nothing more than a little discomfort. Then tuesday it spiked, and I threw up again. But it's been JUST my stomach, no trouble with anything else like aching joints or trouble breathing or anything. So I just went up to the store and got some normal otc stomach/nausea medicine. Then yesterday happened... -_-

I spent the majority of yesterday in the bathroom. Threw up twice and just couldn't do anything to get relief. Finally said fuck it and went to the ER. I then sat in the waiting room for over 5 HOURS waiting for a room to open up. I threw up 4 more times in the waiting room bathroom just while waiting to get seen. They eventually get me in, hook me up to an IV for some fluids and anti-nausea drip, and do some bloodwork. They say they want to get a CT scan too, but there's a list so it's gonna be a bit. I sat in the room for about 2 MORE hours before they got me in for the scan. Wasn't 10 minutes later that the doc comes back and basically says "Yeah, you're fine. It's just a stomach bug. Here's 2 days' worth of anti-nausea pills. Stay hydrated and get some rest. Bye."

So by the time I get home I still feel like absolute trash, it's like 6 in the morning and the pharmacy isn't open yet so I can't even get my prescription filled for the pills, and I haven't had a decent meal or sleep in like 4 days. I try sleeping, and it's not very refreshing but I do manage to get a few hours. First thing I do when I wake up is go pick up my prescription. I take the first one and it has no noticeable affect whatsoever. I threw up again about an hour later. I still haven't eaten anything more than a handful of plain cheerios, and can only sip on water to keep my mouth and throat from drying out completely. My voice is just shot right now.

The worst part of the whole situation is that I don't have insurance. My work is contract-based, and jobs have been very spotty lately. I can't afford insurance. But I also know that I probably won't be able to afford the bill I just accrued getting absolutely no help whatsoever. They asked me while I was there if I was interested in financial assistance, and I said yes, but I haven't gotten a call yet from anybody about it. So I have no idea how screwed I'm going to be.

And I'm still sitting here having to put in conscious effort to not throw up. Fuck this country's healthcare. It's fundamentally broken, and now it's going to break me.