I really meant to write more last week. I had penciled in on my calendar “write blog posts” . But then, I went to my mental health appointment, and they changed my meds. The change from Celexa to Cymbalta for depression is supposed to help me feel better in the long run, but for over a week now, all I have done is sleep. In the bed, in the recliner, in the car, in the chair in Mama’s room at the rehab center. Yesterday was the first day that I felt awake, but today the drowsiness is back. If this doesn’t change soon, I’m going to ask them to change me again to something else.
Just in case you are new, I have been in pain 24/7 since my surgery in May of 2012. I had some intestinal issues, which led to surgery to remove a blockage, which led to an intestinal rupture, which led to peritonitis, which led to major complications and five surgeries. In the end, I lost some of my abdominal muscle and went home after 34 days in the hospital with a colostomy. The colostomy works fine and does not give me any trouble. Except that I do not want to be this woman with a pouch hanging off of my abdomen.
The pain is from the loss of muscle from my abdomen. I have nothing to support my gut, so that it feels like it is falling out all the time, most likely because it is. I can not do many things I did before the surgery, 15 months later. I have been told by three doctors that I need to have two more surgeries to repair the damage done from the first round of surgeries, but because I do not have health insurance, and these two surgeries are “elective” no doctor will do them. So, I wait. For what, I don’t know.
At first I was waiting for the Affordable Health Care Act to kick in in January 2014, but then I found out that the state of Georgia has opted out of the program.
Via: The Advisory Board Company
I thought that meant that there would be no option for me to get a low cost insurance policy from a state pool. But I have since learned that what it means is that if were living under the federal poverty level I would not be eligible for medicaid.
I WILL, however, be able to get a subsidized policy under the AHCA. After spending a little over two hours searching the internet I finally found the Healthcare.gov website. It has a ton of information about the Affordable Health Care Act, how it will affect you as an individual, which states have a their own health insurance pools, and more. There is even a calculator, created by the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, that will show you your approximate costs for health insurance under the Affordable Health Care Act based on your particular circumstances.
I used the calculator to find out that my health insurance premium will be approximately $80 a month, with no more than $2250 out of pocket deductibles per year. I hope that is right, because I have not been able to afford health care insurance since 2000, when my coverage under COBRA expired. I hope that the Affordable Health Care Act will make it possible for me to get the surgery I need to repair the damage to my abdomen that happened last year. I want to be free of pain, and the depression it brings.
I want to live a normal life, and be back to my normal self. If I have to wait until January 1, 2014 for that to happen, that is just a little while longer. It’s unfortunate that I have many friends and family members who are of the opinion that this will be the end of America as we know it. I am ready for the change, ready to be a happy healthy person again. Sorry this turned into a rant.
Sally in WA says
September 14, 2013 at 3:57 pmSounds like you need a hug, Karen. So I am sending a virtual one your way. { { { Karen } } }
I have been worried about health insurance myself. I am currently covered but I know one day I will need to find my own policy and the costs associated with it are downright frightening! Your post brings me hope.
I pray things work out for you and you can get the surgeries you need.
Alison says
September 14, 2013 at 4:03 pmI hope you get some good insurance Karen!!!
Gaelyn says
September 14, 2013 at 4:48 pmSure hope you can get help and insurance soon. And thanks for the links as I’ve been trying to find out more about ‘ObamaCare’ lately.
Nicole says
September 15, 2013 at 12:25 amLord knows I have dealt with enough of my husbands insurance and medicine problems, I am always worried about dilemmas that will pop up.
Rachel says
September 15, 2013 at 12:45 amYou know my feelings on the Affordable Care Act but this is not the time or the place for that conversation. That being said, I hope you can find something to help you get back to the quality of life you had before the surgeries.
Sheri says
September 15, 2013 at 9:16 amI’m sorry Karen. I don’t even pretend to understand health care in the US. It is unfathomable to me that people have to pay get treatments they need. I really hope you see improvements sooner than later. BIG HUGS.
Chris Smith says
September 15, 2013 at 9:39 amKaren, please see my email to you this morning.
Kimberly says
September 15, 2013 at 10:24 amI’m sorry that you have to go through all of this. Medicines can be so expensive too. It’s crazy that it’s near impossible for people to afford the health care that they need.
I hope the meds start working for you soon, or else you need to switch. You don’t want to sleep your life away.
What about homeopathic remedies? Have you tried any of those?
Dianna @ oyveyaday says
September 15, 2013 at 1:32 pmI hope that ACA benefits you. I do believe that we should all have access to affordable healthcare – even if we, as a country, haven’t quite figured out how to make that happen in the best way possible.
Henrietta says
September 16, 2013 at 7:09 amI hope that you are able to get the care that you need Karen! We currently do not have health insurance, our kids were on Chip for awhile but we were unable to renew it last year for some reason. My husband and i haven’t had insurance for years. I am in the process of applying for chip again for my daughter right now. I am interested in seeing if the new laws will benefit us or hurt us.. we will see.
trisha says
September 16, 2013 at 3:34 pm((HUGS)) I hope you feel better soon,
trisha
Kim L says
September 17, 2013 at 11:34 pmI am so sorry you are having to wait, but hopefully you will find an affordable option. So sad that so many Americans can’t get the medical care they need.
Hope you get to feeling better! HUGS!
cheryl connolly says
September 19, 2013 at 1:04 amI wanted to suggest to you that if the cymbalta doesn’t work for you or is too expensive, then try effexor xr( thats what I am on) I was on cymbalta first and find them to be similar, but effexor comes in generic and you can get it cheap. at walmart you can get a 90 day supply, even without insurance for a low co pay. they have many generic brands for chepa without insurance for like $10-15 and most are 90 day supply. but i think if you are looking to feel more energized, effexor will be a better choice. I suffer from depression and I know how hard it is to find one that works well. by the way, we have been doing this same obama care thing in massachusetts for 2 yrs and its worked out great. everyone can choose a plan that the state offers( many of them) and you choose by what you can afford. it has worked great for massachusetts and not all the problems, everyone seems to think will arise. it actually forced the insurance companies to be more competitive with their rates. by the way, when obama care starts the insurance companies will no longer be able to deny people insurance to people for preexisting conditions as they do now! IT will be better for everyone! there will be affordable insurance plans for everyone, like is happening in massachusetts and as always the poor will get free insurance! people should be greatful there is finally some affordable insurance available. some people do not really understand how it works at all.