Undiagnosed With MS-Related Symptoms and No Insurance-What Can I Do?
Hello, I am Tami, age 52 and 3/4 :-/ I am experiencing several of the symptoms related to MS, and they are getting worse. I have no health insurance for several reasons: I don't qualify for Medicaid because even though we're not married they need to include my boyfriend's income and insurance information from his workplace, I recently lost my job where no health insurance was provided, and I have no job currently. I have made an honest attempt at working in a grocery store deli, as a pizza delivery driver (what a disaster that was-what was I thinking?) and this past year for seven months,12-hour shifts in a fast-paced pharmaceutical manufacturing facility assembling parts and operating machinery. I couldn't handle the mental stress or the physical demands of any of them. I was fired from two of those jobs because I couldn't keep up (not fast enough and inefficient), then pair that up with difficulty retaining information (I had to be told several times how to do tasks cuz I couldn't remember). The pizza delivery job is kind of self-explanatory there-I'm not from this area and GPS doesn't necessarily send you via the quickest most efficient route or enable you to see missing house numbers in a dark trailer park-So let's just say that the deliveries were running frequently behind! The younger AND older people were working circles around me, and now I feel like I can't work anywhere and can't do anything. My boyfriend knows I haven't been feeling well for quite some time, but with no insurance or diagnosis, I can't keep running on this hamster wheel anymore. In order for us to afford this house and pay bills, I have to work. Somehow, somewhere, sometime soon or he's gonna find a new girlfriend to move in and help him pay bills. Of course, he's upset with me for not being able to hold down a job and feeling like crap all the time, so I can't blame him for feeling that way but I just don't know what to do now. Time is running out for me here and I don't know how to fix this. My only option is to go live in a homeless shelter and try to work someplace I can handle in the meantime so I can save up some money for a car or a place to live. But then again, my self-confidence is non-existent so why bother trying if I'm just going to get fired? Looking for some advice here folks, desperate times call for desperate measures. Thanks for listening to my spiel, I'll stop now.
Hi Tami! Thank you for sharing with us. I am sorry you are going through this. Have you tried applying for SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance)? While applying takes some time, it may be worth looking into. It sounds like you are trying your hardest to keep working, but it's not always possible when living with a chronic condition like MS. Also, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS) has some great resources to help people with MS live life as fully as possible. They can sometimes help with employment issues, among other things. You can start here and see if they are able to help -- http://www.nationalmssociety.org/Resources-Support. And, while I am sure you know this, please don't let your feelings of worth be measured by your ability to work. You are worthy of love and respect. And, despite the seriousness of your post, I have to say that you have a great way with words! I hope this information helps and please know you are welcome here anytime; for support or just to vent. You can also check out our Facebook page if you would like -- https://www.facebook.com/MultipleSclerosisDotNet. Have a good night and feel free to update us on how things are going with you, if you feel comfortable doing so. Best, Erin, MultipleSclerosis.net Team Member.
Thank you for your response, Erin! I have not applied for SSDI yet because I haven't been diagnosed with MS and have no primary care provider to go to without having insurance. If I apply will they perhaps send me to a doctor for an evaluation at no cost to me? That would be my only option, but I will definitely look into it. I enjoy writing, it helps me vent and at the same time retain my sense of humor! Just wish I could make it a career and get paid for it! I don't have the credentials or experience that most article and blog sites require and just the thought of writing a query is daunting! There must be something out there I can do. I have made an appointment at my local state employment agency on Wednesday to meet with the displaced older workers coordinator. My boyfriend is taking me there (I don't have a car either) so maybe she can help me find a job somewhere that I'm capable of doing without getting fired! I really want to work from home but there are so many scams out there and it's hard to find a reputable organization that is willing to give me a chance. Thank you for allowing me to share my story here! I'm not looking for sympathy, rather some support or advice from other members who may be going or have already gone through what I am experiencing. My situation is unique but hopefully familiar, in some way or another, to someone out there struggling to find themselves and a purpose for their lives!
