I have been working a lot, and I'm in a horrible flare up. I do not have a doctor, or insurance. I can't even move I am in so much pain, and all of my joints and bones are popping everywhere. My pain is 9.14 on a 10 point scale. I have been out of it and dizzy all day. I am thinking of going to emergency room, but can they really help?
Hi, you may wait for hours, unless you tell them you have been dizzy all day. They will help if you make sure and tell them you have been dizzy all day, and don't make light of it, but you must say that. If you just say you have fibro they won't do anything, so I would not even tell them that you have Fibro. They may not make you wait that long if you are really dizzy. So yes go and tell them you are scared as you have been dizzy all day. Good luck, Tawnycat
Hi Christina,
How awful to be in the midst of a terrible flare without insurance or help. From what I've read from others who've gone to the ER, the help there isn't great. Maybe they can give you something, though. It's worth a try.
There's another thread on here called "Help for Low Income Americans," that 'I suggest you read. You need to find someone who can test you for other illnesses that can mimic fibro and who can help with pain management. Would you be eligible for Medicaid?
Short of that, I would suggest that you try and dial back the number of hours you work if you possibly can. You need rest and recovery time.
I would also write to your local teaching hospital, telling them of your situation and asking if they can manage to see you long enough to stabilize you. If not, try the Salvation Army or even a local Baptist Church, as they like to help people, or Catholic Charities. Do you have someone who can advocate for you? It would really make life easier for you if you do.
I wish I had more suggestions but I don't. However, maybe some of these places will work with you. I'm hoping so. Good luck, Christina. How I wish you didn't have to suffer. I hope you can find someone to help you with this.
Gentle hugs,
Petunia
Good advice. It does seem that ER's don't take fibro very seriously so using another approach may work better.
Thank you for all of your help. I actually was given a vicoden by a friend the next day. That night I just went to bed super early. 6:30pm! The pain was so bad I was crying, and I have a high pain threshold. A friend of mine is going to send me to my dr in NY in a couple of weeks.
Thank you for all of your help and suggestions. I have tried medicaid, and denied. I have contacted the teaching hospital, and they don't have anything scheduled to study Fibro coming up. I had been working a lot starting new jobs, and soon I will make money to buy health insurance! (let's hope)
I wish you all happiness and health!!!
-Christina
Go, please. It's better to go and take a chance on getting a good doc and getting some relief. Don't sit and suffer, it only makes it worse in my opinion. I'm sorry I can't give you any advice about getting a doc or insurance as I'm in Canada and things are so different. Is there not some kind of social service you can get? I wish I could help, hugs, Charlie :)
Low income enough to not be able to afford health insurance but too high income to be eligible for help affording it? How disgusting our system is, letting sick people like you down! I can't help but feel a lot of anger about this, as well as with the teaching hospitals. I guess the best you can hope for is to get a super sized bottle of Vicodin so you can work for several months, save up the money and go to a few doctors.
I wish I knew the answer to this. If I had the money, I'd send it to you. No one should have to suffer like this.
Upset,
Petunia
If you don't have insurance, you should not go to the ER - they will dry your bank account. BCBS denied me for health insurance for having fibro, so I don't have insurance, either. When I get sick, I go to the urgent care and they are more helpful and caring than the ER with much shorter waiting time. Even if I had health insurance, I would not go to ER unless I am dying.