I mentioned here and here that I have was diagnosed with Intracranial Hypertension back in April. Since then, I've been on medication to increase the amount of cerebral fluid that my body disposes of to prevent a buildup of fluid pressure in my brain. I've also had a spinal tap.
The past couple of weeks, I've been slowly feeling like my symptoms are returning. I find myself feeling very "fuzzy" headed and disconnected from what's going on around me. I'm tired quite often and having headaches pretty much daily. About an hour ago, I finally got rid of a headache/migraine that started yesterday afternoon. It even seems like I can FEEL the pressure building back up behind my eyes and my vision, at times, is definitely starting to suffer again.
Luckily, I have doctors appointments with my Ophthalmologist and Neurologist this week, which couldn't have come at a better time. I'll definitely be talking to them about this. Perhaps I need another spinal tap or maybe my dosage of meds needs to be increased. Last time I saw my Ophthalmologist, he wanted to raise my dose of Diamox to see if my Field of Vision test would improve at my next appointment. He sent a letter to my Neurologist with his recommendation, but she didn't agree. I'll be bringing this up to her this week. As it stands, I've lost a good amount of my peripheral vision and at times that I'm stressed, it's even worse. I'd hate for this to spread even more.
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On a similar, but separate topic...I'd like to bitch a little bit. I've been off work for all of this, on doctors orders, since the 1st week of April. My job is very stressful and quick paced and I was working 60+ hours/week when all of this happened...so naturally, since I need to be stressed as little as possible to work on this, the doctors have had me off work. Luckily, I am offered both short-term and long-term disability insurance through my employer.
Now, I don't have much experience in dealing with disability insurance companies. As it is, the only other time I've utilized this insurance is for my maternity leave and that was only the short-term disability. The short-term disability has proven to be a piece of cake to handle. They fax forms to my doctors, my doctors fill them out and fax them back. Easy peasy (or however the hell you spell that).
The long-term disability insurance, however, has proven to be nothing short of a PAIN IN MY FREAKING ASS. I kid you not. They received my application about early to mid July. I was told it would take 4-6 weeks for review...but that they usually have it done closer to 4 weeks. We are now on week 11 and I still done freaking know if it's approved or not. WEEK 11, people.
This means I haven't received any money since the 1st week of July. Nearly 3 damn months without getting paid. You have GOT to be freaking KIDDING ME! It's been a train wreck of a process with no end in sight.
A quick run-down...
The get my app and I receive a voicemail saying it was received and given a time-frame for review. I call at the end of that timeframe and leave a voicemail for my contact and receive no call back. I speak to my HR Team at work and am told that the rep that handles our companies disability applications has been fired from the insurance company which is why I wasn't receiving a call back. They give me the name and # for our new contact. I call and leave her a voicemail asking what the heck is going on. I receive a call back from not the new insurance rep, but my original insurance rep. She was not fired...she was out on medical leave herself. Whomever was taking care of my file in her absence dropped the damn ball. So she says she'll get right to work on it and will have an answer for me in a week. Her answer...she needs copies of all of the tests and information from all of my doctors. That was like 4 weeks ago.
DUDE! All of this CRAPTASTIC lack of communication and passing the buck does NOTHING for keeping my stress levels down. Not to mention...not getting paid for 3 months, with a toddler at home, an already tight budget, and a husband that works in the auto industry...NOT STRESSFUL AT ALL. Maybe next they'll decide to just take my health insurance away too. That would be a lot of fun.
I personally think they've just been jerking me around because my doctor's appointments were coming up soon and they wanted to see what the doctors say because about 3-4 weeks ago, the person I've been speaking with said she thinks they'll only be able to approve to to the date of my next appointment instead of to October 31st, which is when my doctor has currently written me off work until...and that's only depending upon my test results this week.
My husband thinks I should contact an attorney.
If I am not back to work by the 1st week of January, my employment will be "voluntarily terminated". If I contact an attorney...I'm pretty damn sure I'll be fired anyway. What's a girl to do?
I'm just so overwhelmed with all of this and don't know what I should do.
I do realize that I'm whining my ass off and that there are a lot of people out there that have it a lot worse than I do, and for that, I'm sorry. I just feel like this is why we pay so much in insurance to our employer. These benefits are part of our compensation package...and here I am, when I finally need them after working there for 7 years, using them is like pulling teeth. I've been told by some of my co-workers that have had to deal with the long-term disability insurance that they've had to deal with the same crap, so I know it's not just me.
In reality, I am thankful that I even have health insurance through my employer...and even disability insurance which I gather is hard to come by. I know most people don't even have that. I also realize that finding affordable health insurance privately is nearly impossible and this is a challenge I could very well be faced with, should I be fired or "voluntarily terminated" from my position at work. (Please tell me how it's "voluntary" if you don't want it?????)
If you happened to actually read all of that, thank you, you're fabulous and I envy your patience.
I'm stepping down from my soapbox now. Thanks for listening.
The past couple of weeks, I've been slowly feeling like my symptoms are returning. I find myself feeling very "fuzzy" headed and disconnected from what's going on around me. I'm tired quite often and having headaches pretty much daily. About an hour ago, I finally got rid of a headache/migraine that started yesterday afternoon. It even seems like I can FEEL the pressure building back up behind my eyes and my vision, at times, is definitely starting to suffer again.
Luckily, I have doctors appointments with my Ophthalmologist and Neurologist this week, which couldn't have come at a better time. I'll definitely be talking to them about this. Perhaps I need another spinal tap or maybe my dosage of meds needs to be increased. Last time I saw my Ophthalmologist, he wanted to raise my dose of Diamox to see if my Field of Vision test would improve at my next appointment. He sent a letter to my Neurologist with his recommendation, but she didn't agree. I'll be bringing this up to her this week. As it stands, I've lost a good amount of my peripheral vision and at times that I'm stressed, it's even worse. I'd hate for this to spread even more.
***********
On a similar, but separate topic...I'd like to bitch a little bit. I've been off work for all of this, on doctors orders, since the 1st week of April. My job is very stressful and quick paced and I was working 60+ hours/week when all of this happened...so naturally, since I need to be stressed as little as possible to work on this, the doctors have had me off work. Luckily, I am offered both short-term and long-term disability insurance through my employer.
Now, I don't have much experience in dealing with disability insurance companies. As it is, the only other time I've utilized this insurance is for my maternity leave and that was only the short-term disability. The short-term disability has proven to be a piece of cake to handle. They fax forms to my doctors, my doctors fill them out and fax them back. Easy peasy (or however the hell you spell that).
The long-term disability insurance, however, has proven to be nothing short of a PAIN IN MY FREAKING ASS. I kid you not. They received my application about early to mid July. I was told it would take 4-6 weeks for review...but that they usually have it done closer to 4 weeks. We are now on week 11 and I still done freaking know if it's approved or not. WEEK 11, people.
This means I haven't received any money since the 1st week of July. Nearly 3 damn months without getting paid. You have GOT to be freaking KIDDING ME! It's been a train wreck of a process with no end in sight.
A quick run-down...
The get my app and I receive a voicemail saying it was received and given a time-frame for review. I call at the end of that timeframe and leave a voicemail for my contact and receive no call back. I speak to my HR Team at work and am told that the rep that handles our companies disability applications has been fired from the insurance company which is why I wasn't receiving a call back. They give me the name and # for our new contact. I call and leave her a voicemail asking what the heck is going on. I receive a call back from not the new insurance rep, but my original insurance rep. She was not fired...she was out on medical leave herself. Whomever was taking care of my file in her absence dropped the damn ball. So she says she'll get right to work on it and will have an answer for me in a week. Her answer...she needs copies of all of the tests and information from all of my doctors. That was like 4 weeks ago.
DUDE! All of this CRAPTASTIC lack of communication and passing the buck does NOTHING for keeping my stress levels down. Not to mention...not getting paid for 3 months, with a toddler at home, an already tight budget, and a husband that works in the auto industry...NOT STRESSFUL AT ALL. Maybe next they'll decide to just take my health insurance away too. That would be a lot of fun.
I personally think they've just been jerking me around because my doctor's appointments were coming up soon and they wanted to see what the doctors say because about 3-4 weeks ago, the person I've been speaking with said she thinks they'll only be able to approve to to the date of my next appointment instead of to October 31st, which is when my doctor has currently written me off work until...and that's only depending upon my test results this week.
My husband thinks I should contact an attorney.
If I am not back to work by the 1st week of January, my employment will be "voluntarily terminated". If I contact an attorney...I'm pretty damn sure I'll be fired anyway. What's a girl to do?
I'm just so overwhelmed with all of this and don't know what I should do.
I do realize that I'm whining my ass off and that there are a lot of people out there that have it a lot worse than I do, and for that, I'm sorry. I just feel like this is why we pay so much in insurance to our employer. These benefits are part of our compensation package...and here I am, when I finally need them after working there for 7 years, using them is like pulling teeth. I've been told by some of my co-workers that have had to deal with the long-term disability insurance that they've had to deal with the same crap, so I know it's not just me.
In reality, I am thankful that I even have health insurance through my employer...and even disability insurance which I gather is hard to come by. I know most people don't even have that. I also realize that finding affordable health insurance privately is nearly impossible and this is a challenge I could very well be faced with, should I be fired or "voluntarily terminated" from my position at work. (Please tell me how it's "voluntary" if you don't want it?????)
If you happened to actually read all of that, thank you, you're fabulous and I envy your patience.
I'm stepping down from my soapbox now. Thanks for listening.
3 comments:
So you have something that is made worse by stress, and then you have no money, causing you to have more stress than you would have if you stayed working?? Talk about a catch-22! I feel really bad for you, I wish that I had some good words of advice except to say that you cannot let finances cause more stress!
Thanks Otin. 'Tis a vicious cycle!
Thanks for stopping by my blog, I appreciate the comments! :) <3
I am sorry to hear about all the crap you're going through. I have no good advice for you, but I do have to say... the wedding party I shot today laughed their butts off when I said "Craptastic" - and I knew I wasn't the only super cool badass who said that word. Thanks for confirming that for me. ;)
PS, love your blog layout.
Jenn (Ex Hot Girl)
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