Hi everyone! post treatment update

survivor31
survivor31 Member Posts: 72
edited August 2011 in Head and Neck Cancer #1
Hi everyone I really missed you guys! I hope everyone is good and well, as for me ive been going through a lot since I was last on to start with I lost my health insurance five months ago and have not seen my doctor for my cancer check ups which im supposed to go for every two months and have not seen for five months the reason I lost my insurance was because my disability ran out and they informed me if I still was unable to work I could file for my unemployment I did so and when i got approved I let my medical worker know and gave proof of how much i was getting in return he sent a letter stating that I now have a 800.00 share of cost to pay in which i cant afford my rent alone takes half of the unemployment and the little bit thats left is bills food ect.... so theres nothing left not even a little bit is not even remotely close to covering this share of cost and when I asked my worker should I discontinue my unemployment to save my insurance he said he dose not recommend that and for me to wait untill my unemploment runs out and then come and reapply I informend him im a cancer survivor and finished treatment a year and a half ago and that its very inportant for me to see my cancer doctor he said he dose not know what to tell me so for the past five months ive been living in utter fear every sneeze cough or pain I think is reocurance and im having a hard time eating even going days without food imhaving difficulty because off the taste bud thing it has almost been two years since treatment and I would say only about ten percent of the taste is back it still as though im in the begining or middle of treatment I still have not wrapped my mind around the fact that this is it and I will never taste food again but in my heart I know this is the case I must find a way to eat for survival and not taste and this is devestating to know that it is gone, and im having stiff jaw or something with tingling and a little bit of pain that radiate to my head and the stiffness is getting harder and stronger by the day and the tingling of the head is weierd to say the least I feel scared and lost without my doctors here to tell me im fine and I know I might get a lot of slack for this but because ive been so stressed out and nervous I picked back up a habit that should have scared the life outta me and thats smoking there is no justification for this I know and every time I light one my heart just crumbles I had all these people fighting to save my life and God blessing me to here the words NED here my actions show it was all in vain my wreckless behavior on the ciggaritte thing is keeping me up at night i need help to stop a habit I should not have started back in the first place I stopped before treatment started and started back three months ago and thoose around me say its ok to have a smoke now and then and by the way your cancer did not come from smoking but even I know better than that but im praying to God to take this ciggarette urge away and to help me keep my sanity ive been stopping by this site from time to time reading you guys post to get hope and inspriration from the warriors on this site but was afraid to reach out beacause of the smoking thing wow I just been going on and on but i will stop now lol plz any words of advice is greatly appreciated I will keep you all in my prayers plz do the same for me take care God bless you all

Comments

  • Glenna M
    Glenna M Member Posts: 1,576
    #2
    Survivor...
    First, I am so sorry about your health insurance and second (you knew this was coming) get rid of those cigarettes!!!

    Please don't give up on trying to get some help with the medical bills, there are other organizations out there that can help you. I'm not sure what type of insurance you had but it sounds like Medicaid, if it is couldn't they put you on a spend down program??? You should also contact the hospital/cancer center where you are being treated, most of them have financial assistance programs that can help you and most doctors have payment programs for the underinsured. I know, I have Medicaid and I have 4 different doctors who I am on a payment plan with and it's tough but I need my doctors.

    You could also try contacting the American Cancer Society and see if they can help you find some type of assistance. There are many other organziations that can help.

    I'm not going to lecture you about your smoking...you know it's wrong but only you can stop. I know how hard it is, I smoked for over 40 years and now I'm paying for it. I'm now on oxygen 24/7 because of severe emphysema, not to mention the fact that both of my cancers are caused by smoking. Your "friends" are WRONG, a cigarette once in a while is NOT okay. I'll stop now because I said I wasn't going to lecture you, you know what the right thing to do is and only you can do it.

    Will keep you in my prayers,
    Glenna
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #3
    Glenna M said:

    Survivor...
    First, I am so sorry about your health insurance and second (you knew this was coming) get rid of those cigarettes!!!

    Please don't give up on trying to get some help with the medical bills, there are other organizations out there that can help you. I'm not sure what type of insurance you had but it sounds like Medicaid, if it is couldn't they put you on a spend down program??? You should also contact the hospital/cancer center where you are being treated, most of them have financial assistance programs that can help you and most doctors have payment programs for the underinsured. I know, I have Medicaid and I have 4 different doctors who I am on a payment plan with and it's tough but I need my doctors.

    You could also try contacting the American Cancer Society and see if they can help you find some type of assistance. There are many other organziations that can help.

    I'm not going to lecture you about your smoking...you know it's wrong but only you can stop. I know how hard it is, I smoked for over 40 years and now I'm paying for it. I'm now on oxygen 24/7 because of severe emphysema, not to mention the fact that both of my cancers are caused by smoking. Your "friends" are WRONG, a cigarette once in a while is NOT okay. I'll stop now because I said I wasn't going to lecture you, you know what the right thing to do is and only you can do it.

    Will keep you in my prayers,
    Glenna

    Glenna...
    My sweet abi-normal friend....

    Just wanted to say HI and let you know that Shelley and I love you and you are always in our thoughts and prayers...kick azz.

    John
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #4
    Hey Girl
    First off we love ya and don't stay away or feel that you'll be judged because of anything...especially when you need help....

    Now, like Glenna said...time for some tough love....Get rid of the cigs... find something else to replace them, support groups whatever....

    Just think about all that you've went through and survived....make it count and do your best to work on getting off of those things.

    Also very sorry about your taste issues, but never give up hope and keep trying different things from time to time...capitalize on the tastes that work for you.

    Also concerning the treatment, cigs and surviving...

    If I remember you have a certain aunt or relative that you just have got to prove wrong...you aren't being punished, you made it through treatment (and like your name...YOU ARE A SURVIVOR)...and you need to stick around for a long life. If nothing else just to bug her, LOL....

    Thoughts and Prayers,
    John
  • mixleader
    mixleader Member Posts: 267 Member
    #5
    Post Treatment
    Hi, Survivor. I am sorry to hear of your troubles with insurance. It is still beyond me why the greatest country in the world cannot do a better job on keeping it's citizens insured, especially towards catastrophic things like cancer. Like others said, there are programs out there to help and there are social workers who know how to access those programs. It is a complicated system that most of us cannot even understand when we are not ill, much less when we are befuddled with this horrible disease. Get some help with this problem. I never much liked the term "It takes a village", but it sort of does take a village of people to help someone through something this horrible. I am hoping and praying for a good outcome for you on this.

    Roger
  • Greend
    Greend Member Posts: 678
    #6
    mixleader said:

    Post Treatment
    Hi, Survivor. I am sorry to hear of your troubles with insurance. It is still beyond me why the greatest country in the world cannot do a better job on keeping it's citizens insured, especially towards catastrophic things like cancer. Like others said, there are programs out there to help and there are social workers who know how to access those programs. It is a complicated system that most of us cannot even understand when we are not ill, much less when we are befuddled with this horrible disease. Get some help with this problem. I never much liked the term "It takes a village", but it sort of does take a village of people to help someone through something this horrible. I am hoping and praying for a good outcome for you on this.

    Roger

    How are you doing mixleader?
    Just wondering
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #7
    Hi Survivor
    You are correct your NPC was not caused by smoking but smoking does not help the rest of your body. I am not going to scold you about smoking just please do your best to give it up as soon as you can as you don’t need added problems. Also try not to stress as it too is not good for you. On your Jaw; everyday you need to open your mouth as wide as possible and hold it for 30 seconds or so, do this 10 times a day or more. On the tingling, a lot of the nerves were affected during your treatment, to me that is normal for you as I too have a lot of tingling in my face. You need to see your doctor for follow-up so try and see what you can do to get assistance, contact the American Cancer Society or some support group for help. Most of all pray every day for Gods help and I too will be praying for you.

    All the best
    Hondo

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