What should we do?

[~PICKLE~]

Today was the day my husband went to his doctor. As some know, my husband is in a study and he get couceling and monthly shot to prevent him from drinking. So this doc isn't a doctor that can tell us what we need to know. When we got there they did have other doctors waiting for him.Still none that can tell us for sure what is going on. They got his records from the Hospital that my husband was in and they did a EKG on him again. And they all come to the same conclusion, that my husband needs to see 3 different specialist. Heart doc, Head doc, and a doctor for the varcous veins in his leg. I'm saying the simple terms because I can't spell half of the medical terms. SORRY!!! And they all agree on a nother thing, to go to these doctors now. Only problem, which no one seems to care about, we have no insurance. And we can't afford these kinds of doctors. So how are we suspose to do this. I did go by the nearest health department today and got an application for him medicaid, but I'm not sure if there going to laugh at us or what. I have no idea what to do. At least 5 doctors have said go to a heart doctor, so something is wrong and we need to find out what. What should we do? Please any prayers would be helpful. I think I'm losing my mind, my family is falling apart w/ thing after thing, is God testing me. I know he will never give me more than I can handle, but I'm real close to runing and never stopping.

 

[~PICKLE~]

Okay, first of all I'm not trying to embarrass my mom or nothing, I just need advice how to handle the situation and the best way I know how is to post what the conversation was, so please don't jump down my throat for poating this~k.

MOM: If you don't have enough respect for Bubba to get on the phone right now and tell Bubba so he can make other arrangements, don't expect any more help from me. It isn't fair. You have known this all day, and he needs to know. Also what are you gonna do to pay your bills without money? I understand that Mike may be sick but you still have to live. It has nothing to do with Bubba either. It is ya'll and those kids I'm worried about. I don't have any money to leave you and I can't pay your bills. What about Reeds school supplies, next week?
MOM: I'm goin swimmin

picklereed: You know this is all very new to us and we are scared, The thought process is still top level. He is scared and doesn't know what to do. I don't need you screaming at me. HE will call when he calls. He doesn't know what he is going to tell him yet. HE knows we need money, mom but he knows he can die if he gets to hot again. Now what would you do. He knows bills are comin and pawn is due, but dying to pay them is not a opinion in my mind. I'm not asking you for help. If I was I'd have already asked.
BUZZ!!!
picklereed: HE is scared and so i'm I, it is possible that medicaid won't take him and then what? We can't afford those doctors, we're extended with the bills we already have.
picklereed: KElly has been helping him and I'm tired of the guilt trips, I can't force him to go to work. It's his life and his body. What would you say to him going to work tomorrow and him falling out and they can't save him this time. Reed and Teagan will be without a dad, mom, do you know how scary that is.


Oh by the way, she refused to answer me after this, She might later but, So far she hasn't.

 

[~PICKLE~]

okay please help me here, I need some advice please!!!!!!

 

[slimfish]

You may want to go to your church and see if they can help out. My church back home has something called a Galatians Fund. It is a fund for families that need money. If your church doesn't have a fund like this they may know a church that does. They may also know someone that can help, churches are full of doctors and people that want to help. Reach out to them.

The only other advice I can give is to keep praying. Pray for your husband's health to improve, pray for help to deal with the medical bills, pray for everything you can think of, but especially pray for understanding if something bad were to happen. I'll be praying along with you. May God be gracious to you, and bless you and cause His face to shine upon you and your family.

slimfish

 

[Ruhama]

I know this won't help a whole lot, but in general I understand hospitals will work out a payment plan when you can't pay anything up front. If it comes down to it and you have no funds, you can still get the treatment - you'll just be paying for it years down the road. Get a good doctor and ignore the cost, if that is the choice you have.

 

[desi]

Try to get on welfare while getting the Dr.'s to do what they have to to help. Don't worry about paying for it. God will provide.

 

[~PICKLE~]

Right now we do not belong to any church. We have visited the church my mother goes to, and a Baptist church right down the road from us. So I can't ask anyone to help us there. My husband is going to get up early and be at the health dept when the doors open with his application and his medical records from the hospital the other night. So hopefully, they will accept him and rush his case. I hate to use the system, but really we have no choice. 2 Weeks ago I was in the ER b/c of BC patch problems and my bill was close to 6 grand. Plus his bill for 24 hours and the stuff they did to him, his bill is gonna be outrages. Now these doctors from the study saying he needs other docs. ANd they say don't wait. This one doctor asked my husband all these ?'s about what happened and how it made him feel and he looked my husband in his eyes and said. "it's not my field but from the sounds of evrything you just told me, you did have a heat stroke. But from the sound of things I "think" you may have heart diese.(SP?)" Both of our mouths dropped. And the tears started flowin'. The doc said that for a better diagnoses, he needed to see a heart doctor. Plus since the day he got over heated he has had vision problems. And I don't have the money even for a doctors visit. We have discussed that if he is denied medicaid, tha he go back to the hospital that took care of him last WEd/Thurs, and let them check him out again. It will be a hefty bill though. Oh well thanks for the comments and the prayers.

 

[Flipper]

Try to get on welfare while getting the Dr.'s to do what they have to to help. Don't worry about paying for it. God will provide.

I agree. Sometimes if there is a great need like this, the paperwork can be pushed through faster. Usually if the specialists are affiliated directly with a hospital, or employed by a hospital, medicaid will cover. If the study is through a hospital, and the doctors there told him this, maybe the hospital's social workers can help with getting the paperwork through.

 

[Blessed2003]

Try to get on welfare while getting the Dr.'s to do what they have to to help. Don't worry about paying for it. God will provide.

I am standing in agreement with you on this, God WILL provide, do not believe any of the lies that the evil one will speak, you (picklereed) speak that this is already done, and God will make a way, even though He may not map it out for you, and you may have to live day to day in total faith, Just BELIEVE. I am in agreement.
God Bless you, and give you Love, and Strength, and mostly FAITH, to get through this, and your husband, I am praying for you.
Love,
B

 

[Tuffguy]

I personally think welfare is never the answer. Isn't there someone in your/his family that can lend a hand? How about payment plans like someone mentioned? Make sure any doctor knows you don't have insurance BEFORE you get the bill. If you're paying out of your pocket they will often cut the cost 30-50%. Be creative,,i am sure there is a way.

 

[Flipper]

medicaid and welfare are two completely different things.

 

[~PICKLE~]

i don't know much abot the situation but I do know that medicaid and welfare are different. My hubasband was there at the office at 8 this morning And at noon the whole office takes a lunch so he came home, he is going back up there and 1:oo to wait some more. they told him if they can fit him in they will see him. Hopefully he doesn't waste his day sitting up there hoping to be seen. He going in with all his medical records from last week plus the records saying he needs to be seen immediatly.

 

[slimfish]

Pickle,
First off ignore what Tuffguy posted. While welfare and medicaid are not something to live off of your entire life, they are there to help you if you need them. There are many assistance programs that you can probably get on if you need them. Talk with someone at your local social services office. That is the reason we pay taxes, and its a very good reason. God bless Pickle. slimfish

 

[Jenna]

I second slimfish. *nods* Give me honest folks with financial need, and I don't blink an eyelash over paying taxes for folks on welfare. There's a huge difference between helping someone in need, and enabling folks who just don't want to work.

 

[~PICKLE~]

HE is still up at the welfare offce, they have not seen him yet.They gave him the opion of waiting til they can fit him in or to make an appointment. it may be a month before he can get an appointment. So he is choosing to sit there all day, everyday, until they can fit him in. Thank you for the prayers, we really need them. Mikey is 39 and for him to have something wrong with his heart is pretty scary.

 

[Jenna]

Oh yeah, they'll make you wait all day, and don't you dare forget anything the first time! lol But, in the end it makes a lot of difference. If it weren't for help from welfare, my family would have been torn apart when I was young. My parents sent me and my sister to live with our grandparents because they couldn't feed us and didn't want us living out of the car with them. Until someone is dirt poor and has to watch their babies go hungry, I don't think that they should speak ill about welfare. It is abused by some, but for those who are honestly in need, I'd give all I can. I just wish that more churches would get their 'heads' on straight and take care of their brothers and sisters, regardless of whether their names are on a roster or not. If a person can't turn to members of their own body, who can they turn to?

 

[Flipper]

HE is still up at the welfare offce, they have not seen him yet.They gave him the opion of waiting til they can fit him in or to make an appointment. it may be a month before he can get an appointment. So he is choosing to sit there all day, everyday, until they can fit him in. Thank you for the prayers, we really need them. Mikey is 39 and for him to have something wrong with his heart is pretty scary.

Maybe if his doctor could get him admitted for "observation," the hospital social workers could push the applications, since he is already being treated.

 

[~PICKLE~]

Flipper that is a very good idea, tomorrow we may call and see if his doctoe can do that. Since his a Psycoligist(SP?) I'm not sure if he can do it, but we will try. Well now since the work day is over, my husband wasteda whole day, Right before they were gonna close the doors they called him up and gave him an appointment paper for the 25th of this month. I guess I can't fuss, at least their willing to see him. Another possiblity is go to Sherman and go throught their community hospital. I'm not sure if you have to make an appointment like Parkland or not. All the people that are from Dallas will understand what I mean. I just found out about it today.

 

[Tuffguy]

Pickle,
First off ignore what Tuffguy posted. While welfare and medicaid are not something to live off of your entire life, they are there to help you if you need them. There are many assistance programs that you can probably get on if you need them. Talk with someone at your local social services office. That is the reason we pay taxes, and its a very good reason. God bless Pickle. slimfish

You have your views I have mine. I don't believe taxation should be used to take from people and give to others. That is socialism.

 

[Jenna]

Yup, we shouldn't have to rely on welfare programs. Christians should do as they are told and take care of the less fortunate.