bsmcneil
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- May 22, 2006
You may (or may not) have seen my previous thread about a health challenge that won't abate ... and no one seems to care. I can go over it again - but - yeesh.
I just found out that I tested positive on the ANA antibodies test (likely meaning autoimmune or cancer). It looks like a similar Thyroid antibodies test is positive. I have a MRI next week about a mass that seems to be bothering me (pretty badly). Terrible numbers (kidneys, livers, lung function). Majorly high BP (and pitting edema - which made me check my BP around ankles and it's stroke level). Had a couple frustrating dr visits this week. People see weird things but never follow-up. Pulmonologist was like, "How are they treating your .... [some word I never heard of]?" I mentioned no one had told me about it, let alone treated it - but it was part of the endoscopy I had in early December and when I reached out (once in Dec and once in Jan), I was told they were too backed up and would get back to me.
All of that already felt hard enough. But I felt like we could hopefully figure this out in the next 6 months (which would make a year of issues), as September (6 months) was when my 2-year job program would end.
Turns out, that may nooooooot be the case. I could lose my job and insurance as soon as March 31. Maybe May 31st or June 30. Definitely not Sept 30 as we were told.
Is there a way I can impress upon the doctors how important it is that we test fast? My MRI was originally not scheduled for 3 months (despite there being a mass). I got it bumped up 6 weeks. Cardiologist and another specialist cannot see me until JUNE/JULY! I have no idea what to do. No backup/safety net, no family. Nothing. I don't know. My only two hopes were (a) find it fast and get treated before my job ended in September. or ... (b) morbidly ... die while I'm still working to pass along the life insurance. I am just at a loss.
I just found out that I tested positive on the ANA antibodies test (likely meaning autoimmune or cancer). It looks like a similar Thyroid antibodies test is positive. I have a MRI next week about a mass that seems to be bothering me (pretty badly). Terrible numbers (kidneys, livers, lung function). Majorly high BP (and pitting edema - which made me check my BP around ankles and it's stroke level). Had a couple frustrating dr visits this week. People see weird things but never follow-up. Pulmonologist was like, "How are they treating your .... [some word I never heard of]?" I mentioned no one had told me about it, let alone treated it - but it was part of the endoscopy I had in early December and when I reached out (once in Dec and once in Jan), I was told they were too backed up and would get back to me.
All of that already felt hard enough. But I felt like we could hopefully figure this out in the next 6 months (which would make a year of issues), as September (6 months) was when my 2-year job program would end.
Turns out, that may nooooooot be the case. I could lose my job and insurance as soon as March 31. Maybe May 31st or June 30. Definitely not Sept 30 as we were told.
Is there a way I can impress upon the doctors how important it is that we test fast? My MRI was originally not scheduled for 3 months (despite there being a mass). I got it bumped up 6 weeks. Cardiologist and another specialist cannot see me until JUNE/JULY! I have no idea what to do. No backup/safety net, no family. Nothing. I don't know. My only two hopes were (a) find it fast and get treated before my job ended in September. or ... (b) morbidly ... die while I'm still working to pass along the life insurance. I am just at a loss.
