h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

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*Sigh* ... with regard to the first part of your posting ... you know, sometimes I think that 'old-fashioned-values' may not be all bad.

Regarding your brain 'tumours' ... all I can say is, I'm praying for you.

And finally ... that was five days ago ... did anything else go wrong?

Hey Richenda, how are you?

Oh my strange roomate

Good Luck with the findings on your tumors.
Hopefully nothing will have to be done and you'll be ok leaving them alone.
It can happen!
The sooner you know the better, that is an awful limbo to be in the meantime.

Well...neurosurgeon has had the films for three days...I still haven't gotten a call back.

And no it wasn't rock bottom.

I left work early yesterday...bp was 208/106 and the doctor wanted me in soonest. Got to work today and found out that half the department had been let go yesterday. 'Supposedly' no one else is going to be cut...but all of us took home our personal belongings just in case. No work = no insurance = no medical care. Sure hope that doctor gets back soonest.

Beginning to question when is it time to stop dying a little piece at a time and just do it up right. I've got the how and where determined...all there is left is when.

Oh my what a shock to walk into to work and see that!
Yikes can you retain your health insurance after you leave (if you have to)?
It can equal the price of rent in some cases , half in many systems when you have to pay it yourself. (COBRA act is the name I think)That is difficult to impossible without an income

I do hope things look better for you in a few days.
A job guaranteee for a while would help!
Push the medcal system to be timely if at all possible.
Some Dr.s will help speed things up *if they know* you are in danger of losing benefits soon.

I have no idea how things work in the USA, however what you have said brings to mind some things which happened to me about 9 years ago.

I had someone living with me who wouldn't go and who was incurring expenditure and not paying rent. I went to see my neighbourhood law centre to find out what my rights were. On their advice, I gave him notice to quit and sold it to him on the grounds of it helping him to find a council flat (which it did). Until I had got legal advice, I didn't really know what I could do and I was afraid of the person - he was known to be violent.

You may be able to claim against him - or it may be a waste of time if he is what we call over here a 'man of straw', ie with no assets. Making a claim in those circumstances would be a waste of time.

It might be worth finding out who you can turn to for free advice and what steps you may be able to take. What would be the best and worst you could hope for?

COBRA, the Consumer Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, does provide that an employer must allow a terminated employee to continue with that employer's health insurance coverage for up to 18 months after the date of termination. It does not, however, require that the employer pay any portion of the premium. The terminated employee may be required to pay the full premium, at the rate in place for workers still working for that employer plus an administrative fee of up to two percent of the total premium.

In Colorado, the total premium for a pre-medicare individual (under age 65 and not drawing Social Security disability benefits) with decent coverage runs from about $450.00 monthly to $600.00 monthly. Double that for a couple.

I wish you and B the best, Richenda, and will keep you in my thoughts. The only thing I can see as an "up side" is that, after terminating half of a department, your employer really is probably done for now. If they were going to get rid of more employees, they'd probably have done it at the same time. About the only thing that could possibly be worse publicity for an employer that eliminating, say, 75% of its staff all at once would be eliminating 50% of its staff and then, a few weeks or months later, eliminating 50% of those who survived the first round.

NBY

That's CONSOLIDATED Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act.

Hi Richenda, though "high" you certainly are not!

I know the sydrome of the sponge all too well, as you know. The only good thing is that once he's finally gone, he will be less of a drain.

Does he have a mother, father or ANYONE who might be able to put pressure on him to settle his debts? I know it goes against the grain to do this sort of thing, but when you've been taken for a ride, your "good nature" sometimes has to be abandoned for the sake of survival.

Certainly pull out ALL the stops with regard to official Social work agencies, that's what they are there for, use the buggers!

As for the tumours, i really don't know what to say. Having health problems of this sort of magnitude along with all the other stuff is the worst kind of s**t; you don't deserve it.

With BP that high, your doc should be concerned. Ask him if Beta Blockers would help, i have been on these now for about 15yrs, no side effects & they not only lower BP but help with palpitations & physical effects of anxiety.Plus seem to stop migraines.

I am hosting the Sunday Lunch from Hell tomorrow, but assuming i survive, if you want to give me a call in the evening here, please do, it would be great to hear from you & FEEL FREE to moan, rant, scream, whinge & rail against the absolute unfairness of life ! I can take it, i may even do a bit myself!!!!!



Terri

*wonders and waits for hopeful news*

I've spoken to her on MSN, hope it helped a little.

*wonders if "not banned yet" is who i think it is?*

zdt

*waves* Is that you D-sys?

I was right, yes it is!

Yes, I am me. At least, I was the last time I checked. This is subject to change without notice.

This is not, however, my journal, and I don't want to sidetrack the important information/thoughts/feelings that Richenda has to share.

Richenda...

Any news?

NBY

OK
*waits*

Brief glimpses of them being online on MSN, but my system isn't quick enough to catch them!

Some rays of sunshine...however not enough to make scenario 8 not a reality. Suicide is not an immediate concern, eventhough my therpist really would like to see me in a 'day therapy' situation. She didn't commit me involunarily so she must not think I am a current threat to myself.

Still employed.

I now have an appointment scheduled with neuro...Feb 24. He is out of town until Feb. 17. He 'thinks' I am seeing him for a blockage in carotiod artery (which I have known about since last June). I 'think' I am seeing him for the two lymphomas. I asked the nurse for a call when he gets back in town. Simple question, "are the lymphomas present on both the MRI and the CT...yes or no." sigh Why can't a get an answer to that question?

Knee does not need surgery...just worn cartiledge. Surgeon wants me in therapy 2x week for 8 weeks. When he submits his report, we shall see if the insurance agrees.

The HMO has finally authorized the BiPap machine for B and they are delivering it tomorrow.

Roommate situation is still looking bleak. One of the four people who were scheduled to see the room actually showed up and he decided on a place closer to work. The other three didn't even bother calling to cancel their appointments. So if anyone knows of someone needing a place in the NW suburbs of Chicago, please let us know.

Right now we need a quick fix to pay our utility bills before they are shut off...a $1000+ sounds about right. We make too much to qualify for federal or municipal help (well...we did get $50 from the Salvation Army to cover water and the township managed to get our trash pickup reinstated through March. We have tapped out local friends and family. So if any of you have something to give to the kitty, we're not too proud to take it. If we could get caught up, we would be able to stay current.

The government has agreed that B is officially disabled and will be getting regular SSDI payments. Those plus what I earn will almost pay the basics. IF we quickly find at least one roommate and preferably 2 and the house appraises low, we MIGHT have a chance to save it. If not, given the current rental prices in the area, even semi-decent apartments that will allow us to keep the dogs will cost us more than the house. Right now, the dogs are probably the most significant factor in not giving up.

Ok...don't all volunteer at once, but if push comes to shove, who can welcome us and the dogs to pitch a tent in their backyard or curl up in their basement? If you're not local, we wouldn't be able to contribute anything until I find a new job, but knowing we had a place to go would sure be a help.

Gang, I'm clutching at straws. For those of you who don't know, scenario 8 goes something like..give dogs to collie rescue, drive out west to a desert, swallow a handful of pills just around sunup, roll up the windows, turn off the car, and roast to death in the car. I have the method, the location and the date (which is in late July and was calculated by checking the average tempature for the location over the last 30 years..weather.com is wonder!).

Help, anyone?

i know this situation, i know you're not exagerating, i know this is desperate

i will pass the word on

i cant help with money, in same bloody place myself with that, but will spread the word

i would welcome you here, but need to move myself too (where?how?)& france is a bit far from usa!

i still have phone, shall i ring you? would it help at all?

sorry for typing & no caps, my left arm seems to have died again

dont go to the desert yet, hang on in there, we will find a way

yes, keep going for dogs, much more reliable than most humans & they need you

at least the twat danny is out of your lives!

love, hugs, solidarity (cant do smileys with one hand)

terri & yoda

Richenda, I am sorry I can't really be of any concrete help, being on very limited disability payments myself, but I will be praying that you find some roommates quickly. Do you have a sign on the street, plus ads in the newspaper? I wish I lived near you and could spread the word that you need a roommate. I wonder if you could post to Askh2g2 asking if any researchers near Chicago know of anyone?

JEllen