A FORCED s-l-o-wdown

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-20-2004
A FORCED s-l-o-wdown
5
Wed, 07-06-2005 - 9:03am
A week ago today, I was feeling pretty good, enjoying sometime off, worried about progress on bills, worrying about what classes I will take in the fall. And in a very short period of time, everything came to a screeching halt, and I found myself flat on the back with kidney stones, which really is annoying, but not such a big deal. I have several of them, in both kidneys, chances are the pain I am suffering now will pop up again at some point down the road. But it puts things into perspective a bit.. then I found out from the docs yesterday that I am anemic borderline to where they would start doing blood transfusions and all of a sudden, I'm off of work at least another couple of weeks and getting used to being a pincushion. I am worried as ever about the bills, but luckily, when we were choosing our health insurance, we opicked the best one offered because my parents are a good example of whta happens when you cut corners in this category. I still expect it to go over a thousand. The kidney stone probably will require surgery under general anesthesia because of its size, I will be subjected to many labs in the not so distant future until we figure out exactly what is going on with my blood counts. I am slowing down. I can't even drive!! since the painkillers I am on make that illegal.
I am not the type to slow down, so much so that my bosses at work are saying things to me like "You will do everything the doctors ask of you, right?" and I know I have caused my husband and kids a lot of worry. I thought i was always tired just because there are literally days where I get no more than three hours of sleep. I have a feeling things are about to change.
Anyhow, this is pesky, but so far, correctable. Requiring of a major lifestyle change, that at age 28, I thought was at least a few years off.
I wonder what will happen to my debt reduction efforts now...our emergency fund is a whopping $220. I will probably be making payment plans to pay all the medical bills, etc.
Anyhow, I am bummed, but I have gone down to the radiology lab three times in less than a week, not even counting when i was in the hospital as inpatient, and I think about how probably half of them are there for cancer treatmenst, and it is a very lonely place to be. The gowns are paper thin, the floor is cold, it is eerie and quiet. Anyhow, I have lots of sick pay, enough to cover another full month with pay, if needed. I have short term disability too, which I never actually thought I would need, so really, i am ok for now. Just a little worried, but I am using this time to evaluate whether or not I am pushing myself too hard (which I am) and trying to figure out how to change the very core of my being so that i actually learn something form this (I always push myself too hard)
Anyhow, just wanted to vent a little bit. Tomorrow is another day. Heather
Avatar for cl_phocid
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 07-06-2005 - 10:28am

Heather - I'm sorry to hear about your medical difficulties...but very glad to hear that you have good health insurance.

All my best,
Danni

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-20-2004
Wed, 07-06-2005 - 4:03pm
Thanks for the encouragement, Danni. It is really hard to swallow the fact that we will have to pay our electric bill a few days late because of all the copays I've had to shell out so far. But at least we have paid all of our other bills, and we have enough money to go grocery shopping and cover my next set of copays. I could take money out of savings to pay the electric bill, but I figure that is a bill I can afford to pay a bit late..if I get charged a $2-3 late fee, I can live with that. My husband and I both get paid next week, we will muddle through until then. Not much sense worrying about the bills until they come anyhow. Hanging in there...
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-12-2004
Wed, 07-06-2005 - 7:55pm
Hi, Heather. Hope you are feeling better. It is easy to say "dont worry" about bills, etc., since everything will be there, but actually, you will save $$ in little ways. Thank your lucky stars you have the porsche of health insurance. Just be sure and verify what they will pay, preauthorization, etc. and get names of who you talk to. 2) When you go back for your office visit after discharge, ASK your MD for samples of meds. You have to ask. I got my sinus infection antibiotics, and other meds (samples) for "free" and saved $$$. 3) ASK for an itemization of your hospital bill. Everything listed from IV's to slippers and meds.There may be errors, so look carefully. 4) Your body is telling you to slow down. This is the time to pamper yourself. Treat yourself to inexpensive indulgences (a new CD, hairtrim and premium shampoo, and girls' day out for lunch!) after you get home. You will feel like a $$$ bucks. Get well soon, my friend. Whiz.
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-09-2005
Wed, 07-06-2005 - 8:56pm
Hi,
Just wanted to add all good thoughts toward your recovery. Just do what the Doctors say -- your health is the most important thing.
Best wishes in all of this.
Megan
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-30-2003
Wed, 07-06-2005 - 10:53pm

Sounds like a good time to listen to what your body is shouting at you! I think that you have hit it square on-this is the time to figure out how to change the core of who you are. Now, while you're young enough to bounce back is a very good time to learn the lesson that is being presented to you. Maybe you're also going to get to learn how to let people help YOU, instead of you being the rock. (I don't envy you this particular lesson...I'm still working on it myself, lol)

The debt reduction will come in time, and it is very good that you have such great insurance.

I don't know what to tell you about the lonely, eerie feeling. Take a book? (I'm a librarian, that is how I fix things, lol) I'm not sure it would put me in the right frame of mind to be healthy! Will the staff let you bring your own robe or something?

Good luck on your surgery-maybe the stone will go away on its own-

hang in there-

Lisa