Board 8 > My health sucks and it's destroying my finances [BlogFAQs]

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TL:DR I've been off work since the end of January on medical leave due to sleep and heart issues, going broke not working, doctors suggest extending leave due to complications, not sure work will let me, not sure can afford it, freaking out tremendously over it.

So there's a possibility I might need some more serious treatment or surgery related to medical stuff. I won't know until I get some additional tests done. It's weird how the body is so intertwined and connected in every way if you really think about it.

Last year, I went to the Doctors as the back pain I'd been experiencing for most of my life was bordering on unbearable. I was sent for x-rays and was not contacted because my family doctor was a joke. A couple months later my back was still killing me so I decided to call, and was informed they'd spotted something on my x-ray and I was being referred to an internist. They never even bothered to contact me.

So I got that scheduled and underwent a series of tests. What they'd spotted is I suffered from a pretty serious cardiomyopathy. I was told to adhere to a strict low sodium diet, exercise, and to avoid high stress environments. As some of you know, I work in a contact center selling internet services. It's a pretty high stress and tenuous environment. The hours are long and it doesn't allow for much free time. My diet and exercise started lagging behind and being neglected after the first couple of weeks, I just felt strapped for time and I've never been great at keeping things in balance when faced with stress, my mind just doesn't handle it well.

Things got worse. The holiday season wore a heavy toll on me as things were incredibly hectic, I stopped really sleeping. Near the end of December and for the first three weeks of January I was sleeping on average 2 to 3 hours a night, and that was heavily interrupted as I woke up constantly. I tried taking melatonin but it didn't help. It got to the point where I was having difficulty remaining conscious during day-to-day tasks. I used my sick days and most of my vacation for the year in mid-January while trying to get in to see my Doctor. After he refused to do anything whatsoever to help me, I effectively had enough of that s*** and switched doctors to one roughly an hour away. I also took a leave of absence from work, which effectively started on January 27th.

The new doctor was good. I finally got a referral put through for a sleep study, new x-rays and ultrasounds were being done for my back, and I was prescribed something for sleep. The sleeping pill worked, and it took my body a long while to adjust to it. It just leaves me exhausted, I know I'm sleeping but it's as if I didn't actually rest. But it saw improvement. I had to extend my leave in February as I was driving an hour for various tests a few days a week, which my employer wasn't willing to schedule around.

My leave is scheduled to end on March 8th, but from a call I just got from my new Doctor it seems they think sleep apnea is causing complications with my gigantic heart. In the meantime, he wanted me to avoid any serious stress. Which is the sort of the definition and entire basis of my job.

Being off work has put a serious strain on my finances, I'm not bringing in enough to cover bills and if I was to extend my leave again I don't know if I could continue to afford, you know, being alive. I'm not even sure my work would let me extend it again or would just fire me. The worry over all of these things is causing me quite a lot of stress and my mood has zeroed out. I feel worthless. I haven't been able to do anything for months, and it could end up longer. I have no f***ing clue what to do. I'm honestly freaking out. I don't know what to do. I don't know what would be best. I'm at a complete loss.

Yeah. Sorry. I just really needed to vent.
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I'm sorry you have to go through this, and am glad you have found a doctor that seems to know what they're doing.
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Sorry to hear about all that. I speak from experience that this kind of thing is very difficult - only difference was when 2012 happened, I was not employed. I legitimately felt like I was going to die and could not motivate myself to do anything for months. That said, this was a post-surgical healing pain as opposed to sleep and heart issues.

The American health insurance system is pretty horrific. We're charged a premium to be healthy and alive, which in a free country would be a basic human right. I hate how it works, but even though I work for a state Medicaid program, I can't do anything about it. The regulations are way too specific and only pertain to kids with severe enough impediments (disabilities or illnesses). I wish it weren't so strict so more people can get the coverage they need in order to live. That'd be a good step to a system where it's taxpayer-funded, but with small co-pays for appointments ($20 for PCP, $35 for specialist, $75-150 for a scan, $100+ for a surgery, etc.) so those that use it more pay more. And I work for Medicaid and want that!

But yeah, it sucks, and if there's anything I can do to help, lemme know.
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I'm really glad things have improved since your nadir in December and January. Sounds like work will be tough once again. Is there any low-hanging fruit for you in terms of things you can do now to improve your situation? Assuming 'find a new job/doctor/apartment' are not easy targets.
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Finding a new doctor has gone well, finding a cheaper apartment would be difficult to begin with. Finding a new job, I don't know. I've looked before, it's not a good area for work that pays well. I'm basically just looking around my home and seeing things with price tags, it's the only thought I've had on how to get through this.
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I feel like there's no choice but to extend it again, so I'll be doing that tomorrow morning. Will provide updates when available just to put my thoughts somewhere.
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That sucks dude. I hope your health gets better soon. As far as finances, you may want to look into starting a gofundme or something similar, or turn to friends and family or even board 8. With your situation I think people would be willing to help you
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By the looks of things I'll need to go back to work or never go back tomorrow. Theres a slim possibility this could change but it seems unlikely. I feel like I'm choosing how to die.
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Start a gofundme or other crowdfunding thing for sure.
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That's the thing, I just dont feel deserving of charity with what other people have to go through. I know needs and issues can't be weighed against others, it's difficult not making the connection.
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Please. People have started gofundme accounts for far worse reasons like making bad 100k bets in stocks. (And at least one person donated 5k to the guy that did that.)

Don't stress out too much though. I heard you can always visit the emergency room for medical needs.
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I_Like_Beards posted...

That's the thing, I just dont feel deserving of charity with what other people have to go through. I know needs and issues can't be weighed against others, it's difficult not making the connection.

man you have medical issues and can't work at the moment, you're totally deserving. You shouldn't have to stress about finances, eating, having a place to live, and all that just because your health went bad.
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I would suggest going back to work and seeing if you feel you can do it. If not, let them fire you so you can at least collect unemployment, to help you a little with your bills. They basically said quit or go back to work, so there is no downside to trying to go to work. And, forcing them to fire you forces their hand into giving you income for 6 months through unemployment.

As far as your health, I hope it gets better.
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You do need to switch jobs though eventually because you said it's "a pretty high stress and tenuous environment". Maybe a contact or call center with less stressful types of calls.
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how have you been handling work?
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I am aware it is likely for the best I look into changing jobs, I've been doing so. My work has been nothing but understanding so far through this and I've got a meeting on Monday to go over things. Which I guess is good. My savings are gone though and they're not assisting financially.

Maybe I should try a gofundme. I've been thinking about it, when I've bothered thinking. I've not been this depressed in a couple years now. Trying to stay positive, stay strong. I'm failing though. Failing bad. Physically, mentally, it's a whole lot of pain and unrest. But I'll keep trying. Until I'm dead I'll keep trying.
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Medical reasons are totally valid for a gofundme.

Make sure the details are ... detailed. The more you write, the better.

I am pretty sure it starts with friends/family until it reaches a point and then goes to the actual site.

I would say link B8 to it, but uhhh ToS?
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Sorry dude, rooting for ya.
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get on discord kora
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Thanks guys. I honestly don't know if I can make a gofundme, but I'll keep looking into it. I need to figure something out.

TheRock1525 posted...

get on discord kora

Very rarely active, but pretty much always on it.
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Headed in for that meeting at work in a few hours. Should probably sleep, calm my nerves.
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Update?
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Series of backhanded remarks basically, but since I have proper documentation they approved the additional time. Doesn't help my finances at all, and it's still kinda unnerving, but it's one less thing to think about for now I guess.
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Sounds like they want to get rid of you but cannot come up with a sound ground to do so.
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Take the victory -- glad you got it.

Does your job have a sick day-bank or something similar? Some jobs will let co-workers hand off their sick days for someone else there who needs them more. Not sure if it applies to you since you're not getting paid while not working, just brainstorming.....
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kora :(
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Corrik posted...

Sounds like they want to get rid of you but cannot come up with a sound ground to do so.

You're probably right. Outside of the medical problems they've actually liked me quite a bit there, but as time drags on I get their. I don't like it, as I don't feel like I can control it, but I get it.

HaRRicH posted...

Take the victory -- glad you got it.

Does your job have a sick day-bank or something similar? Some jobs will let co-workers hand off their sick days for someone else there who needs them more. Not sure if it applies to you since you're not getting paid while not working, just brainstorming.....

Nothing of the sort would be an option unfortunately. I've always got games to sell if it comes to that, I'd rather it didn't. But life comes first.
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Just remember as long as you are paying something towards your medical bills they cannot report them to your credit bureau. So, pay at least like $10 a month or something towards it.
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No way you can work reduced hours of any sort?
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It's been discussed, it's not something they'll do.
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