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Posted 1/2/2008 5:15 PM (GMT 0)
Hi all:

 

Things are depressing here.  Bob and I are both pretty tapped financially.  He hasn't had work and we really can't afford the house we got.  The numbers worked when we got it, but with him out of work, they just don't add up.  He and I both aren't sleeping well.  I keep on thinking that relief will come from somewhere.....  I'm grateful that we're better off than many, I just wish that made me sleep better.  I'd hate to have to sell.  He's just going to have to sell his shop and add on to our garage, I think.  That's not going to help us this or next month, though.

 

That's most of the trouble now.  At least we're healthy.  My mammo was normal,   but that's nothing to dance about because it was normal when I had a 2.5 cm cancerous lump.  I didn't see the surgeon because he was so swamped, so I'll make it back to the city sometime soon and see him.  He'll probably want another Dillon scan, which does help me out anxietywize with detection questions (but again, insurance doesn't pay for it).  I suffer from barely manageable anxiety as it is.  My pelvic pain was successfully diagnosed last year (largely paid for out of my own pocket because I went out of network to have it done well and expediciously).  Guess these were my indulgences I couldn't afford.

 

Well, that's where I'm at.  I Haven't had much to give lately.  Was able to post to the newcomers and those in chemo and radiation in the beginning of December, before the financial situation became foremost on my mind.  I'll try to give back again to the posts soon.  For now, I'd just like to sleep better and find a way to afford my copays.

 


Posted 1/5/2008 2:28 PM (GMT 0)

Hang in there. That's why I'm afraid of buying a house. They have started doing layoffs at my job (whihc they have never done before) and I'm really scared I will be one of them. Unemployment doesn't pay much but at least I could get it. The housing market sucks pretty bad right now and it would seem like a good idea to buy one because people want to get rid of them. I'm sure things will work out. You have been strong through all of your medical problems and you can get through this too.

{{{HUGS}}}

Kat

Posted 1/5/2008 9:56 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Ellen, Been there, done that a couple of times. Our house in OH we built to retire and live the rest of our lives. Two short years later the plant where my husband worked hit the skids as many steel related plants did in those days. We moved to TX and rented a couple of years but finally found a good deal on a new house so we had two house payments because no one was buying in OH. Lived in that house two years and the oil industry went on the skids and the plant where DH worked closed down. We moved to Fort Worth with two house payments and needed a place to live. No way could we pay for three homes, so we had to let the one with the least equity go back. It was a VA loan and we "got" to make payments of $100 to make up the difference between the price the VA got and what we owed. Finally after seven years the house in OH sold for about half the original value and we bought a nice home on a lake. Lake properties never lose value, right? Yeah they do when the drought comes and the lake goes low and the gas drillers come across the road and put in several wells and a big pumping station. Last year we moved to a nice farming town away from all the mess to retire. That lake property that wouldn't lose value is supposedly sold for a lot less than our original listing price and now even that is being held up by the mortgage company the buyer is working with. So Ellen, don't beat yourself up about something that happens and you have no control over. Just go with the flow. Worrying never helps. Hugs, MK
Posted 1/7/2008 1:05 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Ellen

 

I really know what you are going thru......we were on the verge of loosing our home because of all of the medical bills and had to file chapter 13. Im not proud of it at all, just VERY angry at this disease and what it has done to us. We still dont have any extra money and we still have bills to pay. Im struggling with my Sarcoidosis because of all of the stress Im under. I have been working lots just to try and keep us afloat. And now to top it off I have more skin cancer to deal with. I had the one spot removed just a couple months ago and now there are 2 more I have to have removed on the same hand.

 

I think I need to start coming here more often, it always makes me feel better just to vent and have people other than my hubby to complain to. I can only hope that 2008 will be better.  I appreciate all of you here and miss you when I dont post.

 

L&H to all

Bernadette

 

Posted 1/7/2008 10:47 PM (GMT 0)
Bernadette, that's what we are all about, a place where you can get understanding and vent all you want to get it out of your system. There is help with medical bills. Don't be ashamed of asking for it or signing up for any programs that might help. How about disability and medicare? I was telling my daughter she needed to be looking into that. Take care of yourself stress is not good for breast cancer or any other medical problem. Hugs MK
Posted 1/9/2008 7:55 PM (GMT 0)
Hi MK

Thanks for the reply, I did look into financial help but they say we make too much for any. They dont take into consideration the fact that hubby pays almost 2k a month for child support for his 3 kids. (he was a late starter) so his income looks like a whole lot more than he really brings home. I applied for disability thru my work to try and get some of the money that we lost during my sick time and they said I needed to be off 2 more days in order to get it. Last year I ended up using 2 weeks of my vacation time for sick leave........luckily I get 3 because of how long I have been there. So I guess we will just be poor a little while longer. It gets frustrating some times because we have both worked so long and hard, but can't get help when needed.

Well enough of feeling sorry for myself I need to celebrate the fact that Im still here and having one more birthday (today) and that for now Im cancer free except for the skin cancer.

Thanks again for all of your support.
L&H Bernadette
Posted 1/9/2008 11:03 PM (GMT 0)
Ellen, I think we've all been there and done that. Having moved more times than I can count, I'll tell you that it is a fact that we spend thousands of $$$ more the first couple of years after a move, because we're spending money on "the house." So hopefully you are about through with that phase of moving! Money comes and money goes, and it isn't worth your health to worry about it. I know that is easier said than done, though.

MK, I hope Carolyn will get the disability process started asap. I think Medicaire doesn't kick in for 2 years following approval for disability. Maybe that has changed, but that was the situation when my husband went on disability. It is a long wait when what you really need is the health coverage. I have a friend who is on disabilty for 18 months, and has been waiting for Medicaire to kick in so she can have a hip replacement surgery she desparately needs so she CAN get back to work! Talk about a SNAFU. There is Medicaid, but the financial restrictions of that are so stringent.

Keep your head up, Ellen. Things will have to look better one of these days.

Hugs...
BEV
Posted 1/10/2008 12:23 AM (GMT 0)

Hope things start turning around Ellen.  The economy these days just sucks.  You do what you have to do to get by.

 

My husband's middle management job went away after many years, and he got another job for less pay, but I took up the slack.  Then he began to have seizures, eventually had a stroke that caused him to lose partial sight and is now unemployed.  Other than his retirement benefits from the former management job and the military, he is not earning.  So, now I'm IT.  Trying to get SS disability benefits, but they tell us that even though he can't do anything he used to do and can't drive, etc., he could "certainly" find work.  Who wants to hire a 60 year old, half blind guy who has seizures?  Anyway, going before an Administrative Judge on that.

 

Of course, going on about my problems doesn't solve yours, but wanted you to know that at least you had some "excellent" company!  (Hope that made you smile.)

 

Worrying doesn't help people like us, as I'm sure you're well aware.  If it gets to the point where you feel you have to sell something, sell it.  I would.  No matter how much we like our "things," they're only things.

 

Keeping a good thought for you and yours.

 

Glenda

Posted 1/10/2008 8:24 PM (GMT 0)
Oh don't you know it!  I just two weeks ago re-started selling stuff on ebay.  It started when Mom gave me another hand-me-down.  We left it unsaid, but I'm pretty sure she knew it was going to go on ebay.  She loves to shop, so.....  Well, it didn't sell, but I've now been selling old pieces of jewelry (my own from old boyfriends and inherited silver and such).  It's been ok so far.  It's put gas in the car at least.  I made a georgous bracelet for a co worker who bought a necklace, told her it was coming and she's been waiting, wearing the necklace.  Well, she wasn't expecting the price, but it's worth it, (LOVE LOVE LOVE LAPIS). 

 

Anyway, thanks for the support.  I was leary of sharing about this stuff, sort of noncancerous, but this really helped.  We'll get by.  The pressure is off in a way because the denial's gone.  No more nagging feeling, just the situation, right in front of my face. 

 

For a psychologist, I do a great job of denying problems until the absolute limit. 

Posted 7/22/2011 12:24 PM (GMT 0)
why did you chang to femarra if the others was working for you. i took femarra for one year and it didn't work for me, but my breat cancer is 100% estrogen strong and hardly any progesterone, what about your breast cancer
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