[Cocosurviving]

In June 2024, I signed up for Ticket-to-Work through SSA, and started working part-time.

In Aug 2024, I started working full-time with the goal of gaining access to private health insurance. I signed up for private health insurance this month, October, and my plan is much better than Medicare. My specialist copays cost half the price!!!!

I never thought that having a rare illness, Hereditary Angioedema, would help me land a job. It turns out giving myself IV infusions came in handy. I work in blood collections.

Lupus SLE: I received a second opinion on Aug 16th, 2024, which confirmed a second time that I have Lupus SLE.

Food and Wellness: My rheumatologist also recommended I adhere to an anti-inflammatory food lifestyle. I walk a lot for mental well-being.

Stress: My work schedule varies between first, second, and third shifts, including some weekends. Stress is definitely part of my life. I try to reduce my stress by planning ahead such as meals, laundry and running errands. I avoid “woe is me” family members. I also put a big focus on rest and relaxation.

Fibromyalgia: Last month I started regularly experiencing muscle spasms. I take Hydroxychloroquine for Lupus SLE. Because of my work schedule, I had to buckle down and make sure I don’t miss any of my medication doses. I also started back regularly using natural products that help with pain.

Medical Cannabis: I surrendered my medical cannabis license in February to prepare for returning to the workforce. That said, medical cannabis absolutely helped me. I used to use gummies at night to relieve pain and sleep well.

On Saturday, I completed a DRS - Career Planning assessment, which is a step towards returning to school.

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[lizardlady]

Pflower, do you have a supplemental plan to go with Medicare? My supplemental premium comes out of my soc sec check before I even get paid.. Alternatively, if you also qualify for Medicaid there are cost free supplemental plans.

[lizardlady]

I'm here to vent. Don't need any advice just need to whine a bit.

I live in Florida. We just got snacked by TWO hurricanes. Stress makes fibro and CFS worse. Prepping, living through the storm, then dealing with clean up has me beat down. I spent days helping the friends I stayed with clean up the mess at their house. Was finally able to get home a week later. Spent days working on clean up here. Finally Sunday I told myself it was not a race to clean up. Am working on prioritizing what gets done. Downed trees that blocked access to the property HAD to be moved out of the way. Half a tree blocking my front door HAD to be moved. My storage shed got creamed by a tree that came down. There were things in the shed I HAD to move to protect from the weather. Spoiled food in fridge/freezer needed to be tossed. Needed to pick up some groceries. Eat hurricane supplies for a couple of days til I could get to the store.

At this point fibro and CFS are kicking my butt. I'm so tired I feel drunk. Am trying to pace myself now. Still need to wipe down the inside of the fridge. A week with no power let some interesting bio experiments start growing. I need to clean out a spot in the barn for the stuff from the shed, then move the stuff. After that I will be cutting up downed trees until the end of time.

Thanks for listening. I really needed to vent.

[Pflowers]

I'm sorry the hurricanes impacted you so badly @lizardlady ...
________

To answer your questions, I don't qualify for Medicaid in my state, and the monthly premiums on the Medicare Supplement Plan (Plan G) are more than I can afford to pay for out of pocket each month.

[DeeeSchmeee68]

I have a diagnosis of fibromyalgia but these are my recent labs. Has anyone had anything similar to these? I feel like something more complex is going on

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[Pflowers]

I haven't seen anything like that in any of my labs (yet) @DeeeSchmeee68.

I say yet because due to finances, anxiety and phobias it makes it nearly impossible for me to do anything medical so I haven't been in to be seen about in a couple of years or so. Like you, though, I'm pretty sure more is going on than just the one diagnosis.

Also, it's not all that uncommon to have several conditions going on at once...

Especially when it comes to autoimmune diseases.

[DeeeSchmeee68]

Originally Posted by Pflowers

I haven't seen anything like that in any of my labs (yet) @DeeeSchmeee68.


I say yet because due to finances, anxiety and phobias it makes it nearly impossible for me to do anything medical so I haven't been in to be seen about in a couple of years or so. Like you, though, I'm pretty sure more is going on than just the one diagnosis.


Also, it's not all that uncommon to have several conditions going on at once...


Especially when it comes to autoimmune diseases.

Oh no! Hopefully , you're able to get more testing done

I appreciate your reply also

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[DeeeSchmeee68]

Today, my face was burning, and my eyes were puffy. My cheeks were flushed and warm

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