For some who might not know, I suffer from a debilitating and brittle form of Type 2 diabetes. And because I used to work, I DO have some functioning idea of what is like to put food on the table from a paycheck and have to pay for medical care out-of-my-own pocket along with insurance.
In 2001, I developed myfirst runaway infection. Though its not funniest place, it was at the top of my butt. I tried nearly a year to control it through Rocephin (injectable antibiotic Ceftriaxone) and high doses of other pill form antibiotics to try to stem its growth. I even had to have personal primary care physician use local anesthetic and a scalpel to open up the wound so it could properly drain several times over several visits.
Eventually that did not work, so I had to resort to a surgeon specialist in Bellingham Washington that had to cut out the infection in an outpatient surgical setting. Having to wear a special diaper for nearly three months while it was effectively healing. I remember a special medical tape that felt like a specialized ductape that held my butt together. Its in a very sensitive area where the spinal cord connects to lower body fuctions. If there had been one mistake, I might not be walking!
In 2002 & 2004, I had both of my outer metatarsal toes amputated because they were infected to the point that the infection was moving up the leg. I had heavy doses of antibiotics including intravenous and healthcare stays in hospitals because of the uncontrollable nature of the blood glucose levels. Some might say that know me in my real life, think that I might be a type 1 or 1.5 or a cross between the two. Eventually after seeing a world renown wound specialist that couldn't seem to pinpoint the source of the infection, I had an orthopedic physician cut them out.
This lessoned into two visits after foot surgeries to local nursing homes with rapid infused antibiotics to help kill the infection in my feet in what what remained of them. During these three years, I had to swallow my personal pride and ride around town in a wheelchair! Eventually I did take my wheelchair with me on my next move & adventure.
At this point around 2004, I knew that I had to make a change both for my own mental acuity but also for my health. The local Bellingham transportation system for those who do not drive is very limiting if you live out in the rural area. And in some areas, its just stifling because you be basically shut-in some times of year (the winter) OR you get used to the local yahoos up there. A lot of my young adults friends have moved away from this community because its so very limiting mentally. A lot of people who continue to live there move there for its quaintness, the local university jobs, closeness to Seattle or Vancouver BC jobs or have the income from a job or career retirement to live out the rest of their lives there.
For a youngin' adult, its a place that most move away from for employment, economic OR educational ideals and mature in their lives. Some may move back but I have not heard any of my friends interested in moving back except for the ocassional family gathering during a holiday event.
In 2005 when I moved back to Vancouver in Clark County, Washington, I became fully aware that I needed to have a retina reattachment surgery to effectively treat my ailing right eye. I had all ready had three to four years of laser eye treatments through a Seattle retina specialist that I was referred too to try to control the bad eye vein growth and inner eye bleeding.
I want to thank any medical professionals that may be reading this from Clark County. I may have been one of your patients for some reason OR another. We have some of the best physicians in the WORLD here who moved here to our little piece of heaven. Right next to an airport, alpine skying in the winter, bike trails, mountain climbing and the ocean that is ninety minutes away. Thank you for taking such great care of me!
Since I moved here, I have only had three emergency room episodes. MY blood sugar control is better
and my health is better. Got out of my wheelchair and started to walk in special foam insert diabetic shoes for the next four years. For the ocassional flare up, I'd use my trusty crutches to take off the pressure.
I also used crow wakers & boots. So some might say I'm a medical supplier's dream!
Now fastforward to today:
My next journey is to try and find some form of woundcare to take over for my podiatry which the state is cutting due to budget cuts.
Link: http://hrsa.dshs.wa.gov/News/Budget/Medicaidproposedcuts.pdf
Or the prettier version: http://tinyurl.com/29h5y2f
Yep, I am now amongst the living poor who cannot afford insurance. And if I don't have insurance or medical coverage, I'm a dead goner. If you have not read above, I am have had all of these complications BEFORE my 36th birthday. Nope, not 50, 60 or 70 year old centurion that most of these usually hit as a diabetic.
I am walking amongst you and you may not know that I bleeding from an perforated foot ulcer that won't heal. That I am one of the lucky few that loves to see a medical professional to cut out that overgrown deadskin that cycles from "Oh, its wonderfully healed" to "Oh God, how deep is that?" several times a month.
Add to that, the cycling depression up and down, the worry in January 2011 of "how the fuck am I going to get my medical coverage covered?" No, I do not want to be a ward of the state but with this disease as bad as it is & has robbed me of so much, do you think I could keep a good, clean, calm composure when I see what local bloggers say and what the governor proposes to cut?
My medication in March 2011, Vision, Dental Health and podiatry are cut immediately. And the coup-de-gre for me is this:
"An additional three-visit limit a month on emergency room visits would be added for Medicaid clients." Ocotber 22, 2010 press release. Link: http://hrsa.dshs.wa.gov/News/Budget.htm
Have you ever been in a crisis where your body does not respond to a beaurocrats idea of beancouting?
Would you like to face the hospital who is going to call after YOU Have been in the hospital with a chronic disease and is calling to collect on a ER or other hospital bill you have NO money to pay? No, I am not talking about some person skips out on their responsibilities but the one who is so poor, so sick that there is no option left but to visit the local emergency rooms like all the other people who cannot afford medical care because of the other cuts?
Maybe one of my local state representatives or senators might see this. Because I believe they TOO know someone, maybe a very close person to them who may a chronic disease like recurrent cancer, diabetes and many of the other wonder ones that take YEARS to kill their victims. But when you now have to choose between your medical care or eating, which one would YOU choose?
