In February of 2003, I was a healthy, 25 year old female with no previos medical history. I was working
full-time for a CPA firm and going to school part-time to eventually recieve my own CPA degree. I became VERY ill while sitting
in class on february 2, 2003. It was kinda like the flu, just a little more violent and with TERRIBLE PAIN! I was sick for
a week and a half before I went to the ER. I couldn't even sip water. They told me I had the flu and sent me home...well this
happened 3 times....before I finally said "the flu doesn't last for 3 weeks- so they admitted me and ran some blood work.....and
my enzyme levels were THROUGH THE ROOF! So...to make a REALLY long story shorter....in March 2003 they removed my gallbladder,
performed a sphyncterotomy on my bile ducts, diagnosed me with panreatis, SEVERE acid reflux, gastroenteritis, and still got
nowhere. In april 2003, they performed a laporoscopy for endometriosis and found none. Now keep in mind through all of this...I
had SO MANY colonoscopys, CTs, MRI's, and on and on..whatever you can think of, they did!
So it finally got to the point in August of 2003 after I had lost 56 pounds (I only weighted 140
to start), had feeding tubes up my nose because I was told I was anorexic (which I am not), on morphine drip for pain, Zofran
(cancer med) for nausea, on muscle relaxers because I was told it was STRESS (not hardly), and I have been in the hospital
for the most part of 7 months now....and I have been off work for this period too, FINALLY I aid enough's enough....I am going
to die pretty soon from malnutrition....and nobody seems to be able to help me! I was a MESS!!! Everytime I get close to returning
to work.....I was in the hospital again....I spent MAYBE 3 FULL weeks at home all together during this time! So in August
of 2003, I was "fired" from my job because they had to replace me because of how much work I had missed...I had been out the
most part of 7 months.
So finally I heard of this doctor (specialist) in chicago that maybe might be able to help...so i
contacted him and he was happy to see me. So I saw him...he did ONE test adn told me my stomache was paralized......GASTROPARETHIS
they call it....so he started me on some new meds and said ok....well see....I found a new job working for another CPA firm
in November 2003, had enrolled in Fall classes again after having to withdraw from the class I was in at the time I got sick,
and missed the whole summer semester (which KILLED my GPA) I thought I was cured.....or out of my nightmare anyways.....but
i got sick again in December 2003. I wanted to die! I thought....HOW!!!! How can this be happening again!!!!!! What did I
do to deserve this!!!! Anyways.....my doctor (not the specialist) sent me a letter in december that asked me to find another
doctor! WHAT?!?!?!?! FInd another doctor????? How can a doctor do this.....he can't figure it out...so he can just wipe his
hands clean of you????? What is wrong with this????? And to top it all off....I had on heck of a time trying to get my records
from this doctor transferred to my new doctor....So found a new doctor that was very understanding after reviewing my thousands
of pages of records......he started me on some nutrition vitamins and he decided to test me for something called SPRUE- celiacs
disease! Now my test came back negative, buit he was still convinced that I was having an allergic reaction.....so he started
me on a Gluten-free diet! For those of you that don't know about this diet....it's HARD!!!! Gluten is in EVERYTHING!!! Pasta,
bread, preservatives, canned items, milk,....EVERYTHING!!! So it has taken me this whole year to tie down the diet now to
the point where i am healthy....well.....not in the hospital...i am still fighting with alot of things that happened because
of the severe malnutririon issue that arose from all of this.......but anyways....I have not been sick since april of 2004....and
I can't be happier. I still have not been able to enroll in school again because of my financial problems and since i am not
full-time...i cannot get financial aid/grants.
Now to my REAL problem.....My cobra has expired now...and I have been searching and searching for
insurance.....well...guess what!!!! NOT ONE company will take me on......Why? because i have a "serious illness" that is "undiagnosed".
But also that I was diagnosed with so many things like pancreatitis, IBT, anorexia, and so on...that it looks like i am a
train wreck waiting to happen. So now my doctor has decide thsat I have an allergy to Gluten. But that is not a diagnosis....the
insurance companies told me that when you have an illness that was as big of a problem and as costly as mine was.....it has
to be "named"....so they told me that until i am symptom free for 5 years.....OR the doctor that diagnosed me with all the
things they "thought" it was makes a statement that it was false, (no doctor is gonna say they were wrong! That's just a lawsuit
waiting to happen) the chances I will find ANYONE to insure me is slim! Well....they were right! I have checked EVERYWHERE....adn
the companies that will.....want $500/mnth and will not cover anything preexisting...the problem with that is that since my
"problem" had to do with my stomache...they will not cover anything that is GI-well....that doesn't help me any! So my next
thought was to apply for Health benefits for workers with disabilities through the state. I thought MAYBE, just MAYBE....they
could help me! Well....i am not "disabled". My other problem is....that all through 2003.....i had insurance....well at the
end of 2003- i started recieving all kinds of bills that were not covered by my insurance....and when i called to find out
why....I found out that ....the doctors caused that to happen! The insurance company says that they kept me to long for the
diagnosis they gave me...or that the drugs they administered were not maintenance drugs....and are only for cancer patients.....stuff
like that! So I am now stuck with 100,000 that they are not paying. I have talked with lawyers and no one wants to take my
case because it is TOO difficult they say and will be to costly that it will end up costing me more to sue them than it would
just to pay th bills..... So...here I am....scared to death! I am 25 years old.....did i forget to mention that! YEAH!!! I
am 25! And now I see that I will have yo live with the negligence of these doctors for the rest of my life!!! I have to take
responsibility for my actions.....why don't they?
So....I now have 50% of my wages garnished for these hospital bills and still many more that are
dragging me to court, have no insurance (and have to see the doctor quite often/hopefully do not end up back in the hospital),
What am I to do?????
Really all I am asking for is someone that might be able to help me....let me know of where I can
go to to get some help! I have tried to get on some state programs, but I am and always have been a very hard-working girl!
And for some reason, the state only wants to help women who sit at home all day and make babies....which is quite unfair!
So...maybe someone can tell me of some charities or foundations that can help me with this nightmare....I am not askng for
your money....I know you have worked just a hard as I do to earn that money.....I just have nowhere to turn.....What ever
happend to the saying "you get what you deserve! If anyone out there can help me.... THANK YOU....
My Address is : 302 Hennepin Street
Mark,
IL 61340
Phone: 815-339-6701
