As many of you may know, On Tues, February 23rd I became so ill that I was hospitalized. My feet legs and midsection were swelling with water. A nagging cough that had been hanging on for a month turned into a relentless dry hacking and I lost the ability to travel even short distances without needing to sit down to calm my breathing
after 3 days of observation I have been sent home with an Easter basket of medications. Looking over them all It's hard to say what they think I got. No doctor ever came forward and said "THIS one thing" was the culprit. We know my heart is big and floppy, possibly from years of stress deadlines and High Blood pressure, or just as likely for a guy my age - it's a virus. They don't know.
Now at home the swelling is down, but is still being controlled with "water pills" that are supposed to make me pee like a race horse. The Dry hacking cough has turned "flemmy" which I prefer -- get the stuff out of me I say -- but it's also more painful. I have a basket of Meds for Blood pressure, Cholesterol, Borderline Diabetes, and Antibotics, flu shots, N1H1. I got it all. Maybe one will do the trick -- if not back to the hospital I go. I guess.
<SOAP BOX>There is no union for a guy like me, A freelance artist. There is no easy 401K, no dental, no health care. All Eli and I have is our diligent scrimping and saving of every dime to plan for a future.
This one stumble could undo all of our hard work. Why? Because how the American system has chosen to take care of each other in this country is so fundamentally broken, it's like a Greek tragedy. Call/Write to your Senator or Congress Person and tell them that we can not continue to live this way. What is the United States of America if not the largest trade union on the planet? WE the people need that bargaining power. -- Universal Health Care - for all.</SOAP BOX>
NOW THAT'S OUT OF THE WAY....
What I wanted to talk about was you guys. Oh my god. the outpouring of love and support I have received in the past three days has me on the verge of tears. You are all such beautiful awesome people, and I can not thank you enough. Money has been coming in from the Donation Link that the Foglios set up. Which will go a long way to prevent my total financial collapse. I truly feel like George Baily at the end of "It's a Wonderful Life" surrounded by so many friends. It's a lonsome life as a freelance artist. And you seldom get a chance to see what kind of an effect you have on other peoples lives. Thank you all so much
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cheyennewright- cheyenne wright
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Comments
Since what I tell you three times is true, I'll add this one more time for good measure - please let L and I know if we can help in any way at all.
I will continue to pray for your health, as the world needs more of your amazing creations! Also sending prayers of strength for you both as you sort out the financial repercussions.
Hooray for the Foglios for starting this fund for you, and thank you for mentioning it. I'm adding the link here for folks so they don't have to go look for it:
http://savage-blogger.blogspot.com/2
I'm coming over tonight, btw. Mostly to visit the cat. :D Hahaha! Kidding. You know he's dead to me!
I have one of my bags set aside to auction off for you as money is tight for me right now.
Hospitals suck.
Any road --I'm glad you're getting better, and think of it this way: next time you go out for groceries, you'll know every single public bathroom 'tween your house and there! ;) Besides, this world needs more people like you - different IS good! *hugs*
Whether it will do jack-sh**? Your guess is as good as mine.
More money will come as I can manage it. I, too, am a freelancer, and on a MUCH lower link of the food chain than you. But we are each other's insurance in this game...we are the only union any of us has to rely on. And furthermore you color pretty.
Now.
You, sir, have been given a medical probation, not a true release. Which means Take Care Of Yourself. You got incredibly lucky and you escaped with a warning. You and Eli be good to yourselves. Rest well. Make Phil take you out walkies or throw a stick for you so you get outside and get some exercise. Smile -- smiling lowers your blood pressure. Really. Eat high fiber (apple a day). And know we care...and are trying to provide a bit of a safety net, be it ever so fragile.
You two aren't alone. Your friends are Legion. (Bwahahahahahaha)
that said....
i know when you are sick you cant really be coherant enough to ask... BUT you dont need to go back to the hospital (and the higher fees)
you NEED to get the paperwork from the hospital and have a doctor look at it.
first of all, call the hospital with your "patient ID number" and explain that you dont understand the diagnosis.....
see if there is any further information.
then hand everything you got (a copy! not the original) to a good general practitioner and ask them to tell you what to do next. which may mean more tests....
IF YOU do not have a good GP.... there is a VERY good one who does consultations on a payment plan (cheap) who doesnt practice near you :( but can do email/phone conuslt.
LJ user witchwestphalia
aka "Dr. Betsy"
she is very good.
as to the rest of it...
you need to make sure you drink enough water, that you have electrolytes! and that you cut your "simple carbohydrates" and sugars down. this cannot hurt and probably will help.
I understand the pain of our medical system. I've been sporadically employed for two years w/o insurance. Luckily, nothing terrible has befallen me. My husband was a freelance artist until just a few months ago. He has Type 1 Diabetes, so the ride has not been fun. :P
Anyway, well wishes and hugs!
~V
all that good health advice up there? take it. eat more vegetables. move your body. keep your blood pressure down. (be a carrier, not a sufferer.)
and know that there's a whole community of people you don't even know that've got your back.
I also understand your frustration with dealing with medical bills. I have been uninsured for over a year now and I have medical conditions like yours - high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, etc. If I may, I would like to offer some advice based on my experience.
First, if you haven't already, take account of your current financial situation - your monthly income, your savings, and all of your monthly bills. Once you have this done, contact the billing department at the hospital and talk to one of the consultants about your lack of insurance and difficulties in paying. Depending on your particular situation, you might be able to get some of the cost waived (if not all of it). Barring that, you might be able to get on a payment plan so you can budget the cost with low monthly payments. Currently, I'm paying off my medical bills by giving the hospital $25 a month.
Second, talk to your family doctor about the medications you are on. See if you can get the $4/month or $10/3 month supply ones that places like Walmart offer. Also, some doctors have drug samples they get from pharmaceutical companies and give them to their patients that are uninsured and have financial problems (like myself). These are basically free drugs - to both you and the doctor.
Third, go to TogetherRxAccess.com and sign up for the prescription savings program. It is a program set up to help the uninsured get the medications they need at a discount. Hopefully, this will save you some money in the long run.
Finally, remember that you are not alone in this, and your friends and fans are rallying to aid you in any way they can.
Good luck and good health.
. . . wait, would there be a right end of a flesh-eating squid? I'll need to experiment.
So sorry to hear you're in the hospital. You are one of my favorite people, sending you love and hugs for a quick recovery. You in all of our thoughts and prayers and I'll let everyone at Farpoint know.
You get better,
Darcy
The cost driving taxation, litigation, and regulation are removed when you are away from the monster, this can make healthcare affordable. You can be across the boarder, keep your income the same/ or similar and reduce your expenses while living better.
Your friends could visit.
You colour our world and have for so long. When your life is in dark shades of grey, let us help bring back some colour to your world.
*Please* call me if there's *anything* (constructive) I can do.