How well we cope with this exact situation, is precisely what determines the very possibility of employment. There aren't any easy answers for it. Sadly the catch 22's you are seeing seem more typical than exception in terms of low cost health care. On the other hand, if you had no job or income, were on welfare, it would all be paid for. Perhaps it's reasonable at some point to say that it would be cheaper to go on welfare than to try to fund your required care. It usually doesn't go like that though. Meanwhile, your illness is pushing against the situation uncomfortably. The worse the illness gets, the worse the medical situation get, the worse the work situation gets, and....well, you get the idea. In all of that, and for always, you need to develop a solid ability to sort out for yourself how bad it is, and what you really need to do. If it wasn't hard, not so many of us would have lost everything in the process.

I'm trying to encourage you actually, and am suddenly worried like I made it sound gloomy. lol.

You see correctly, the system is pretty anemic. But it sounds like you need to be willing to really know for yourself how you are, and what you need. does that make sense?

Good luck dolfin, it's hard, but with humor like yours, you can make it.