V-Day at the ER

[hummingwolf]

It's a shame I couldn't bring myself to call 911 over the weekend, really, as I'm sure I had a fever then (even though my normal temp. is below normal anyway). If I had had a fever and a cough, I would have gotten to wear one of those nifty little masks.

Eh, after feeling oogie for so long, it was just a little bit of blood in the mucus that made me dial the three digits; and even then I waited a while before I could make myself do it. Since the ambulance drove me out of the state, my flavor of Medicaid would not even get me a ride home. After a few calls on the cell phone (with depleted battery), I arranged a ride with a friend I really had not wanted to bother--and I had not wanted to bother her even before I remembered the friend does not see well at night. And, since the hospital was not in my state, there was nobody there who could give me good advice on how to deal with social services where I live (or if there was somebody who had good advice, they left for home well before I did).

Not my most memorable V-Day ever (that would be the one where I spent several hours trying to talk someone out of suicide). But with wayy too many hours spent in the hospital, not the most fun one I've ever had either. Though I did get to talk to a nun (a Catholic hospital), which was nifty.

Now I have to figure how in the heck I'm getting to the pharmacy tomorrow, since walking 2.5 miles does not seem at all wise.

Oh, the diagnosis? Eh, bad bronchitis. No surprise there.

My blood pressure's high enough right now that I'm not in danger of passing out, so I guess I need to find something to eat. Mmm... peanut butter.

Comments

[cowboybud.livejournal.com]

Take care of yourself, CB.

[zoopownsyou.livejournal.com]

What the smart man said.

[hummingwolf.livejournal.com]

Well, if I can figure out how to take care of myself, I fully intend to do it. Anything I've tried in recent months simply makes my situation worse.

Gahhh. I need help I cannot figure out how to get.

[hummingwolf.livejournal.com]

See what I said to the smart man.

and I still want a hug, dammit.

[mystified13.livejournal.com]

Hang in there, lady! Would it be possible to call one of your brothers?

[hummingwolf.livejournal.com]

Hang in there, lady!

Hanging takes energy that should be going towards healing. What I need is the chance to lie down and let somebody else hang for a while.

I'm tired. And cranky. I'm cranky largely because I'm tired. I feel like I'm too old for this, but people keep telling me I'm not that old yet. People lie.

Would it be possible to call one of your brothers?

For what? I need someone local who can help me deal with all the social services stuff, help me get medications, etc. (Preferably someone who actually knows what they're doing, probably someone who's getting paid to do it if such paid positions exist. What I need probably doesn't exist, but that doesn't change the fact that I need it.) None of my relatives are local.

[daisydumont.livejournal.com]

you were taken to Providence, i guess? i've never been there. did the sister say anything about catholic charities?

[hummingwolf.livejournal.com]

Yep, ended up at Providence. I'd never been there either (actually didn't realize it was R.C. till I got inside and saw the little crucifixes on the walls!). Wasn't a bad place, for a hospital emergency area.

No, she said nothing about Catholic charities or anything else like that. She did say I should talk to a social worker at the hospital, but the worker left long before that became a possibility.

[flewellyn.livejournal.com]

Wow, that really sucketh.

I wish I knew more about services in your area, but not a clue. Shame you aren't in Minnesota...

[hummingwolf.livejournal.com]

Yea verily, it sucketh mightily.

So, if I were in Minnesota, what kinds of things would you suggest? Even if you don't know specifics about how things work around here, your suggestions might give me ideas I haven't already had.

[flewellyn.livejournal.com]

Well, considering your income, and the fact that you have a disabled child you look after, you could get on Medical Assistance or MinnesotaCare. I think. I know that your son would be eligible, and you probably would as well.

Then there's housing assistance, food assistance, general cash assistance, and for emergencies, emergency assistance.

And of course disability services.

[hummingwolf.livejournal.com]

Ah, I think you have me confused with someone else. My income is nonexistent, and I have never had children; the disabled person is me, and I have enough trouble trying to look after my own self. I have been getting food stamps and medical assistance, but those are being cut off at the end of the month. Because of my inability to work, I was getting a small amount of income from the state till last November and have been fighting bureaucracy ever since trying to get that back. Since that effort has worn me out to this point of getting a nasty infection that's been with me for a month & a half, I have been hoping to find, not social services, but someone who can help me deal with social services because I no longer have the ability to deal with them myself.

If I were in Minnesota and looking for someone to advocate for me, what would you suggest?

[flewellyn.livejournal.com]

Whoops! Guess I do have you confused. Y'see, I have two folks on my friends list in very similar situations. Sorry about that.

Anyway, if you are disabled and unable to work, then you would qualify for state Medical Assistance, food and housing assistance, and such. As well as disability advocacy through the social services department.

I go through the county social services center in my county. Other counties have similar.