Hi Friends,
I missed you all. Since my SJS diagnosis and my wonderful Dr I have been improving. Recently though my health has gotten worse again. Plus my husband is unemployed. I cannot get insurance because of my SJS diagnosis and Cobra is $1100 a month. So looks like I might have to go on Medicaid. This is upsetting for me because none of my Doctors take Medicaid. So it looks like I might have to go Dr shopping. I am afraid because I hope this doesn't change my diagnosis. It took me four years and tons of Drs to get to a diagnosis and a Dr that was caring and an expect on SJS. I hope I can find another one.
I hope you can too - it is so frustrating and unfair.
There are few Rhuemy's in my area. I have already been to 3. There is maybe two left. The one I heard the takes government insurance I already have bad feels for. Fours years ago he went through my chart before he would approve me for a visit. He denied me because he said I was to advanced in the condition. The strange thing was I hadn't been diagnosed yet. That was a turn off!
Hey, Sleepy, great to see you here again, but I'm so sorry for your troubles.
Are you the gal whose husband is a fire-fighter?
I've all but given up trying to get any professional help for my "illness" - I can't take any more useless, dismissive and often down-right rude doctors. It must be so awful to have gone through all the hassle to find someone good, only to have to lose him.
Fingers crossed your husband finds work very soon, so you can keep your doctor.
:-*
Suzie
(((SLEEPY101))) I am sorry that Hugs are the only for of support I can give you. I can offer you tones that can help. I know that it is often too far from normal for most to even try.
Im sorry to hear about your troubles. I hope it works out for you.
Luna
Well, I feel your frustration as I'm in a similar boat. My husband was laid off after many, many years at a major company. We could not afford the Cobra payments, either. I am most frustrated that I cannot get my Evoxac, which helps my dry mouth quite a bit. My sister, who is an RN, told me that some companies will give their drugs free of charge if you fill out an application with the drug manufacturer. So, that may be an option for you for some of your meds. I am at least glad you are getting some relief of your symptoms from your current doctor. I have not been so lucky! I hope your husband has some success soon in finding a new job. It is challenging enough dealing with this diagnosis, let alone to be cut off from one's insurance!
Welcome home, Sleepy,
Sorry things are so difficult! Dang, it gets me sooo angry that everyone can't get the medical attention they need because some people are too selfish to provide for all.
Here you are loved and supported.....
Hugs
Elaine
Hi Sleepy,
With your positive blood work it shouldn't be a problem keeping your diagnosis. Make sure to get copies of ALL your medical records from each doctor.
Will be keeping you in my thoughts. Maybe the new year will bring a positive change in your situation (and a job for your husband).
Yes, Suzy that is me.
@ Joe even virtual hugs help:)
@everyone else oh how I am missed you my friends
I am sorry for the long post!:)
In the past I have shared with you about my husband. He was a fireman/Marine who I thought had PSTD from the IRAQ war. After I started getting ill he started getting worse and because a alcoholic.
Well four months ago(Aug) everything hit the fan. I had just gotten back from a two week vacation but he stayed home to "work." He looked fine the evening we came home, even sober. Well the next morning he woke up with the strangest thing I had ever seen! His left eye was swollen like he got in a fight. Will bright red bruises and puss. He even had bright red markings on the bridge of his nose and towards his other eye that was pussy also. No sign us this the day before. We went to GP he gave him some prescriptions and ordered a Xray to see if their was an object in his eye due to fire fighting. We had that done then we went to Pharmacy for his meds. There I noticed the spot on his nose started to bleed. About a minute later when we stood up to pay for the meds. He started to yell then fell down into a major seizure that lasted over 3 minutes. So thankful I was there because the pharmesist helped him and called the ambulance. He was very confused thought the year was 2002. His BP was over 200 and he is very fit and only 31. So they took him to the ER.
There he was less confused but as hours went on the confusion came back and he was seeing things. His platelets were very low, his urine was bloody, and all blood tests were abnormal. We were at a small hospital so he was there over night until he was stable enough to be transferred. After a full 24 hours and two ER rooms he was finally transferred to the VA hospital. At this point he was like a rabid dog. Very combative and confused. They had to try him down and he thought the security guard was my son and thought my name was our daughters. At the VA he admitted directly to the ICU and was there was for five days.
While he was in the ER they thought he might be injured from work because he said he had fought a fire a few days before and fell. I didn't have any info because I had been out of state. The doctors told me to call his work to see if they noticed anything or if he had been exposed to any chemicals. Well I called and got the surprise of a lifetime!! Remember this was Aug well I found out he had been terminated in May! He never showed up for the new season(he works for the forestry.) So for 3 months he had been wearing his uniform everyday and leaving for work every single day!!! He was still getting unemployment and I knew he hadn't got an actual check yet but he usually doesn't get paid the first month or so because it would go to our insurance bill from the off season.
Well his drinking problem was a lot worse then I thought. It had taken over his life. He tried to stop drinking and the doctors think that's what caused his body to shutdown. Well fast forward 4 months and he has been sober ever since!! A complete turn around and he is a different person!! He goes to a support group twice at week at the VA. That is such a wonderful place. I wish I was in the military!!
We are also lucky that his work insurance didn't expire till last month. I am a little surprised that he hasn't looked for a job like I thought he would. I am afraid to nag because I don't want a relapse. He has decided to change his career. Being away for weeks at a time on a fire while I was home ill with our four kids was to stressful for him. He has decided to go back to school, a welding program and it is going to be paid by the military. So I am not sure when he will be employed. His mom was just diagnosed with breast cancer so I am trying my best to look at the situation in a positive light because I know he is under a lot of stress.
Despite all this mess that has happened in the few months our household is so much happier. It is such a weight off my shoulders that he is sober. I pray their many more good days in our future:)
Stephanie
It sounds to me like your husband has a service connected disability (PTSD). If he has not applied for it he should. I know that it is not much but it will help. When he is in school, he may get living expenses. My PTSD has gotten worse over the years since MONTAUK. It has gotten to the point that I can not enter the VA admin building with out a severe reaction. I have trouble entering the hospital. Yes I am getting treatment but not from the VA.
If you have not gotten involved with Alanon you may need to. My dad was an alcoholic and did not find sobriety until he attended 60 meeting in 30 days. Mom went to Alanon for years before dad found sobriety. She continued going for years after he died. The last two months before she died, she was not able to attend meetings but still found support and provided support for others. Mom was a chemical dependency councilor. Dad became one after he got his sobriety.
May you be blessed with the peace and joy of the season.
Stephanie, my heart broke for you as I read your post. My wish for you is that every tear you have shed in sadness will be multiplied by tears of joy.
We're so lucky to have Joe posting here. I think his assessment is spot on. War is a terrible thing, and not all the injuries our troops sustain are visible.
I have also been helped by AlAnon. My daughter has become sober through AA. Those are two very positive organizations.