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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 7/7/2009 2:33 AM (GMT 0)
For example, my remicade insurance bill, which I get once a month was 13,333.72. Yeah,!!!!!!I saved 13,333.72 because I used an anthem network provider!!!!!!

Like anyone short of a millionaire could afford that without insurance.

Granted, I am on the highest dose but come on.

I really feel that health care should be affordable to all!!!!!!
Posted 7/7/2009 2:57 AM (GMT 0)

hana24 said...
I went without health insurance for 5 years because I couldn't afford it. Then I got married and then I got sick..... I am very lucky it was in that order or else I would be screwed....I don't even care about being an engineer anymore - I just want to be well and that's the only thing I think about anymore. Part of me thinks at least I am focused on the "important" things in life now. I guess it is all relative.

So I have to comment on this. I totally understand your comment here. I had health insurance with my parents before I got married, but I wasn't sick then. I had symptoms, but I also had family problems. My first step was to get out of the house and on my own. Once that was taken care of I had gotten engaged. Then 2 years into my marriage my UC showed up. I work in child care and my work doesn't have any insurance, so I'm thankful for being married and have such a wonderful husband who makes sure we have health insurance. I just think things fell into place just the way it should and it worked out really well.
Posted 7/7/2009 1:47 PM (GMT 0)
I currently have a job with very flexible hours. I am not sure I could work a job with rigid hours. I think they would have fired me earlier this year. Now, I am doing well, but for several months earlier this year when I was first diagnosed, I had a lot of late mornings where I could not get out of the house for the D and cramps. It stresses me out to get sick and miss work. I am glad I have my current situation. The longer I am on medication, the better I feel as long as I don't pig out too much.
Posted 7/7/2009 2:22 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, I've continued working -- even when I was in my worst flare. My coworkers were great and covered for me; I think I should have been in the hospital at one point, but I was the only breadwinner at the time, and up for a promotion. Scary times, I'm not sure how I made it through...but I thank my friends and coworkers for helping me out through those rough days.
Posted 7/7/2009 10:43 PM (GMT 0)
I've been out on disability twice - once for 6 weeks and once this year for 2.5 months. I agree that having a supportive office/manager is KEY to being able to work while sick. I actually felt extremely guilty for having to take so much time off, but my doctor kept saying if I went back too soon I would probably go into remission and when I shared my concerns with my boss, she said "if you don't have your health, what else do you have? take all the time you need." So that made me feel really good about it. Sadly I'm probably leaving this job at the end of the year to move closer to my family, so I'm nervous about finding another supportive environment but I do believe that most people are more supportive than not, especially if they see that you are really sick and struggling.
Posted 7/8/2009 12:04 AM (GMT 0)
I've only missed one day of work since diagnosis. I'm self-employed, no work, no pay. I love my job though and really enjoy working, although it's very physical and I am exhausted and have to take a good nap when I am done and I go to bed early. I have a mobile dog grooming van and I go to people's houses and park it and groom their dog(s) in the van. When my energy was really low I cut back on the amount of dogs I groomed in a day, but I never stopped.

Even in a bad flare I only missed one day of work and that was due to a severe reaction to the Imuran I was on. When I was really bad and couldn't even go shopping I could work because I am alone in the van and rigged up a port-a-potty (okay, my waste basket -- if I used it I just tied off the bag liner to keep the stink in). The dogs didn't mind. Heck, many of them pooped in front of me!

Right now Remicade is keeping me in an almost-remission, but after two years I cannot shake the last bit of inflammation in my rectum and my is recommending the surgery. I'm not getting any better and he says unless I was in a complete remission it's just not worth the as yet unknown risks of being on these meds long long term. I agree, I am sick of feeling unwell so much of the time so I am currently trying to save money to cover my expenses while I am recovering and rebuilding my business when I get back to work.

Meesh
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