Posted by Craig on March 27, 2000, at 1:00:49
In reply to Re: It's 12 years later and now, posted by M on March 25, 2000, at 12:04:07
In one post, you've given me more information than I've ever gotten from anyone else. Thank you. I don't know the ropes about this stuff. I didn't apply for disability from the government. I didn't know until recently that I should have applied for unemployment all the times I was terminated from jobs due to medical leaves. Nobody ever told me, but then I never asked about it either. I've been living off my savings, which have lasted a long time because I live with my parents. I have Blue Cross through the state pharmacists association, which I belong to because I'm certified as a pharmacy technician. I've never worked in that field, but I passed the certification exam in 1985. That's another story I won't go into now. Suffice to say that I have virtually no recollection of taking the course. My parents pay the BCBS premium, which runs close to $4,000 a year. (Yes, I know I'm very fortunate.)
I've always worked in hospitals, mostly with medical records and partly with admissions. I used to be accredited as a record technician, but I wasn't able to keep up with the continuing education requirements so I lost my accreditation. Going back to school doesn't seem likely with my memory problems and difficulty concentrating. I think I'd do best relying on what I already know how to do. It would be ideal if I could work at home via my computer, yet I don't know if that's realistic. I guess I've become a little phobic about working around other people. The only conversations I'm good at anymore are ones like we're having here - talking anonymously on a bulletin board. I don't have any problem spilling my guts here as long as it's to somebody I will never meet. My latest fear about the "real world" is that people will develop a false impression that I've been in jail or something equally as bad because of my dismal work history.
Enough about me. You said that you can no longer afford most of the meds you should be taking. Maybe you already know this, but I learned on this board that drug companies have compassion programs to provide drugs for those in financial hardship. You would contact your doctor or the companies about that. A directory of different pharmaceutical company programs is at www.phrma.org/patients/index.html plus a couple of other sites are www.themedicineprogram.com/links.htm and www.needymeds.com/
I wish you well and hope future days are better for you.
poster:Craig
thread:28106
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000321/msgs/28216.html