I only make k to k per year, it is adding my husbands income that pushes us right out of the assistance range with his additional k.
I am very strict on paying bills, and it is because of my other bills that I have just never bothered with going back to the doctor until recently... cause I did not want to add additional expenses for hardship.
Not like the old days when you could pay so much and they would leave you at that... now they set the terms of the payment plan and if you don't like it they will turn it over to a collection agnecy to destroy your credit. Just finished a 0 per month 3 year plan with them, and really don't want that high of an obligation again on payments. That is just the local hospital that does that.
The Doctors, are worse, one made me pay before I could even go into his office, just because I forgot my check book and sent payment 3 days after the prior time. Use to be that if people seen medical collections they would cut you some slack, but that is not the case any longer - a medical collection could be justification by your credit card companies to jack your interest rates, close your accounts, or reduce your credit limits.
I have been playing this cat and mouse game for years now, every few years go to the doctor and try to hit them with serveral problems at once, BUT they won't allow that any more - they deal with one problem and tell you to make another appointment before they will hear of any other problems! This year I got hit with a k bill for various issues playing by their rules. I am now lookiing for a new doctor, still have another k to pay before I am in the clear again.
I am a single employee - so there is no real suitable insurance plan which my employer has found for me yet. Though I do now have a pension IRA account (think can be used for medical emergencies) and just started a savings account as well.
I have been against the insurance companies for years, hard to justify them making more money then they will pay out.
Years ago through foster care I was in counseling, and had a medical card by the state, but that dropped once I came of age. I was so up on the counseling, that it was one of them things that I didn't think it was helping me any further since quite often I projected what I wanted others to draw conclusions on, if that makes any sense.
Caught my attention - a add at the side for some non-perscription called beCALM'n any feed back on this?
NightStar,
Beautiful name. You have had a lot on your plate besides your ADHD. Going through the foster system was probably no picnic.
The state of health insurance right now is very awful. They've cut benefits and denied services to people who were forced to change insurance companies due to de-regulation (at least this is the case in my state). Now they talk a lot about "pre-existing conditions" and how anybody with any kind of continuing medical problems can be denied services and benefits. This means if you are born with ADD, heart problems, kidney problems or asthma or any of those disorders and can't afford the medication, you're pretty much screwed.
Don't know how thankfull I am to find you all out here, it is a relief to know there are others that I can connect with for help, advice.
Well try to be brief with my situation - thanks very much -
Growing up, was always hyper active, grew up in the foster care system - passed around... medical was lacking as to who noticed and how long I was placed for someone to take me to the doctors for some check ups before being shuffled around again. Did this for many years, not understanding why I had so much trouble with my grades and making friends or just being able to function in general.
By my teenage years, I was miss diagnosed as having Depression, put on Prozac. Oh I felt fine at that time, about crazy kind of fine, I was so manic. I do miss them days.. but I noticed a problem I turned from being a meek low self esteemed person to all of a sudden having a back bone, and out bursts of agitation. To this day I now have a permanent problem with agitation.
So what I am is Bi-Polar, they switched my meds and put me on Ametriptiline & Lithium (sorry for my bad spelling). I only stayed on these until I realized I had been turned into a zombie, like someone stole all the PASSION right out of my life - well I could not have that, wanted the manic side back and eventually went off of the medication for good.
It has been more then 10 years no with no medication, have since married (8 years now) and husband don't understand the situation to really be supportive, he constantly exasperates over my constant change in subjects when talking. My mood swings (since I am not messing with other sort of drugs or drinking very much these days) has been for the most part stable. Oh I still have bouts with just feeling blah - stuck and frustrated that I can't improve my situation.
I tried college, but ended up dropping out, at that time medical provider provided me with the paperwork to turn in for disability. Which was soon revoked when I got married.
So back in the job market I went, the plan was to kept to jobs that are just as simple as could be, that you just do the same thing over & over again... not much concentration required kind of jobs. The only thing that has been constant problem for me is my attention span, racing thoughts, inability to organize and especially to plan and follow through with any major tasks.
Unfortunately I took a left turn somewhere - now I am working as an office manager for a job (I don't feel I should have any business trying to do) the multi-tasking would give any normal person fits keeping up with. I am stuck, I have really come to love the area of work I am doing, just not everything involved here. I hired on thinking it was a clerical secretary job, just type up letters and filing kind of thing.
NO what I got, was administration, having to conduct sales, customer service, lots of paperwork, counseling businesses & consumers about credit. Process requests for multiple products, calls, I likely get 10 to 50 calls - never the same thing twice. Tech support for multiple programs on the internet, it just never ends the complexity of the work here.
And to top it off, I was left alone, I only see my boss once or twice a month, I had help until recently. Now I am just overwhelmed - procrastinating.
I tried going back to the doctor to get something for my attention span, but I kept getting the run around. Twice she tried setting me up on a med, that when I got to the pharmacy I about fell over. Would run over 0 to 0 per month (I don't have any insurance coverage). So after fighting on this, I left dejected that I was doomed - having to play catch up to pay the last round of bills for wasted trips to the doctor that proved worthless.
I don't want to give up, I want to in fact go back to school, I have grand ideas and plans - places I want to go with my new found skills. I would very much like to open a business teaching / counseling. I would very much like a down sized job of what I am doing now.
I feel like I am being held hostage from my life - just because I can't afford the medications! I have the task of now trying to look for a new doctor, since my existing one has totally changed gears taking money and not helping me solve the problem of affordable medications - his staff actually told me to go to the health department (which we make too much money for help there).
What I am looking for is a list of medications specifically for attention disorder, so that I can research and when I find a new doctor - be better prepared, to fight for some kind of treatment.
Thanks, very much for your time,
Pammila
NightStar, I am not bipolar so I am only repeating things I have read. From what I understand bipolar people with comorbid ADHD usually can't treat the ADHD becuase the meds for that disorder tend to make the Bipolar disorder worse. Maybe you were on to high of a dose of the bipolar meds before and that is why you felt like a zombie.
I agree that maybe a different physician could help you sine yours doesn't seem to have your best interest in mind. I don't know what we would do without insurance between regular doctor psychologist and prescriptions we would be broke. It sounds like you are caught between a rock and a hard place. I wish you the best.
Thanks so much for your feedback, I am not concerned with the Bi-Polar problem, it is like I have been in remission for years - no serious ups or downs to deal with, least to this point I have been able to kind of step back and evaluate my situation before getting in trouble, lol
It is the ADD that is continuing to huant me, I am trying my best to improve and move in new directions, but I am afraid that I will be doomed to failure if I can't fix or get under control the ADD.
I have been trying to write a book, which is just sitting to the side now. I have a few ideas going at once as to what I should do... I am stuck with my employment (make too much money to move to a new job and get the same pay!). But in the past when things got to bad, I usually ran it into the ground until I was just fired because of poor performance.
That is why I was thinking of trying to get a new job now easier (before I ruien things here) or try to go back to school to get some kind of degrees to match what my skills are as well as improve so I can get matching pay or better.
My third option was to try to open a business of my own (which I know nothing about) but I know that I have a marketable skill... least possibly may be if I can follow through or get help (partner of some sort).
I am afraid if I don't take action now, I am going to be facing some serious problems soon. When I panic I regress -
I had always thought that these two (Bi-Polar & ADD) ran together, I did not until today realize that there were two seperate things... But I am willing to forsake the Bi-Polar treatment to work on the ADD problem.
Thanks,
Pammila
daaammit.
i think alll of this is so entirely unfair. you guys! i used to be prelaw. if i became a lawyer i think i would strictly represent our ISSUES!
mental health is obviously seriously important. our nation has the mental health system of a second world country..the way they've reduced budgets. hey yessss good idea we will let everyone get dumped out of state mental programs to pay off all that other crap we spent too much like : junket trips and campaigning and the freaking iraq war! that will make america bettah.
anyway
dude.
where do i start? i'm so talkitive typative.
so nightstar. have you tried to qualify for any state run programs for medical assistance? or for subsidized prescription coverage? or have you sought your local mental health association?
when i was younger i sought out therapy..so i was able to walk in. dump my tragic life history in their lap.thereby overqualifying to get some mental help. LOL and i met with a therapist who did all of my testing (at no additional cost) for a slide scale fee..(25$ dollars) it was awesome. plus they can give you references...
good luck
sumi