shookymonster

[shookymonster]

It’s a presyncope kinda day 🫥

[shookymonster]

I feel like I should make a post about this because it’s not something that’s very well-known, and that Americans in particular may need to know about given the uncertain state of our healthcare system at the moment. I’ve wanted to write this out for a while, It’s kind of a long post, so sorry about that!

If you have an emergency and have to go to the hospital, you’ll owe the hospital a lot of money. (I got into a car wreck and broke my ankle and my arm. My hospital bill was around $20,000)

You’ll also owe the ambulance provider, if you need one. (My ambulance bill was about $800)

You may get separate bills from the anesthesiologist or surgeon. (My anesthesiologist bill was $1,700)

You may need follow-up appointments. (My orthopedic surgeon billed me for the appointments and his surgery together and it was about $1,000)

You’ve also got to pay for medical equipment you need afterward, like crutches or a walking boot. (Mine cost about $75)

Altogether, I ended up with almost $24,000 in medical debt from one car accident. That’s a really scary number for someone like me who makes $10/hr at a 12 hour a week job.

I got my debt down to $1075 by making some phone calls and submitting some paperwork.

The first thing I did was contact the hospital. They don’t make it easy to find, but many hospitals (perhaps most hospitals?) have financial assistance programs for people who can’t afford medical bills. I don’t make a lot of money, and I have bills to pay, so they were able to help me. I called the billing department and asked if they had any assistance programs for low income people who can’t pay their bills. I had to call multiple times, and I got transferred in circles by people who didn’t know what I was talking about. Finally, I got an appointment with someone in “Eligibility Services” (I don’t know what other hospitals call it, if it’s something different). I had to bring my pay stubs and copies of all of my bills. When I got to the hospital for the appointment, nobody knew what I was talking about so I had to wander a little to find where I needed to go. I spoke with the guy in Eligibility Services, and I waited for a decision on how much of the bill they would forgive. A month later, I got a call telling me it was totally forgiven.

I did the same thing for my ambulance bill and my anesthesiologist, but the process was a LOT easier. I just had to mail some paperwork and it was totally forgiven.

I didn’t bother with the medical equipment suppliers, since the bills came from separate companies and I didn’t feel like going through the process twice for $75. I was assured at the hospital that they had similar programs for debt forgiveness, so I could have probably avoided paying that too.

The only thing I couldn’t get taken care of was the surgeon/follow-up appointment cost, but they were able to put me on a no-interest payment plan.

Medical debt is scary because it’s something that can come from stuff that’s already really scary. I didn’t need the burden of $24,000 in debt on top of trying to get around on a crutch with a broken arm (it’s not easy, believe me!).. but I can’t imagine what it would be like with a bigger debt or a more severe medical emergency. I see lots of people in even worse trouble than I was in, both financially and medically. Please know that there are options for you when that GoFundMe doesn’t do enough. Even if your income is higher than mine, it’s worth a shot even for partial debt forgiveness.

[shookymonster]

I’d like to unsubscribe from being hungry. Thank you.

[shookymonster]

Ugh, I ate something I shouldn't have to comfort myself after blacking out earlier. Skipping dinner. 😑

Edit: And it wasn't even 🩷 day chocolate :(((((((

#tw 3d vent

[shookymonster]

Your ED confused when you black out not from under eating but because you have a chronic illness:

#tw 3d vent #tw chronic illness #ed behaviour tw #eating disoder things #tw ed #tw ed memes #tw 4n4rexia #4n4rexia #tw restrictive ed #tw restriction #ed not ed sheeran #ed not sheeren #ed not sherran #@n0r3xia #@nor3×14 #@na vent #€d #tw €d #€d diary #€d blog #tw ed diet #tw 🦋 #🦋tw #🦋rant #🦋diary

[shookymonster]

Maintaining is better than gaining.

MAINTAINING IS BETTER THAN GAINING

[shookymonster]

So I usually do curbside grocery pick ups to better control what foods I buy. But I went into the store today, the day before Valentine's, and I DIDN'T BUY ANYTHING BAD. 🥳

#i'll prob be crying abt it tmrw tho #tw 3d vent #ed behaviour tw #tw @na #tw ed thoughts #tw eating disorder #tw €d #€d #€d diary #4norexi4 #4n4rexia

[shookymonster]

Just under 1.2k what is happening. Scared to jinx it, let's just see how the rest of the week goes. 🤞

#tw restriction #tw food log #tw calories #tw counting calories #tw calorie counting #tw restrictive ed

[shookymonster]

Well that was a shock. Don't think I've been that low since January. I don't feel hungry so I'm a little confused. I'm not about to complain though lol.

#tw restrictive ed #tw counting calories #tw food log #tw calories #tw calorie counting #tw diet #tw restriction

[shookymonster]

[shookymonster]

I'm getting back on track, thank god. My sister is on a diet now so hopefully that will help keep me out of binge mode. I don't know how I went the last couple weeks of January around 1200~1300 and now I'm at this. I know I feel like crap during this POTs flare but I've been through worse and ate less no problem. I'll sort myself out eventually. Just gotta keep going.

#tw restriction #tw restrictive ed #tw food log #tw calorie counting #tw counting calories #tw calories #ed food log #ana food log

[shookymonster]

Please just end me. 🫠

#tw ed #tw restriction #tw calorie counting #tw calories #tw counting calories #tw food log

[shookymonster]

I am locked out of my main account!!!! 😭😭😭😭😭

[shookymonster]

I’m ready for the day to be over so I can be unconscious again.

[shookymonster]

Made a zero c4l electrolyte drink for my POTs as an alternative to my 200 c4l coconut water OJ drink. 1/4 tsp salt and 1 tbsp lemon juice in 16 oz of water. It tastes like pickle brine 😂

As I drink it I feel something from the salt but the lemon provides very little potassium.

I’m planning to get Nu Salt to add for potassium. I hope it dissolves well. Otherwise I’ll have to buy something expensive like sugar free Liquid IV. I don’t really want to be drinking juice and coconut water just to hydrate. That’s a lot of sugar for no reason.

#tw 3d vent #tw €d #tw restrictive ed #tw ed #tw eating disorder #tw 3d #tw restriction #@nor3x14 #tw @na #tw @na diary #4n4r3x1a #ed problems

[shookymonster]

[shookymonster]

Well, I did it again. No use crying I suppose. I honestly thought it would be more. I think my biggest challenge is that I've started a daily 200 calorie electrolyte drink routine. I'm having problems cutting back my food to make room for the new calories. I do feel way more hydrated though. I can't explain the feeling but my gut feels good. Been a while since I could say that lol.

#tw 3d vent #ed food log #tw food log #tw ed diet #ed behaviour tw #tw ana diary #tw 3d #tw 🦋 #🦋log #🦋food #🦋diet #🦋tw #🦋diary #🦋rant #tw @na #ed not ed sheeran #ed not sheeren #ed not sherran #tw calorie counting #tw calories #tw counting calories #tw eating disorders #twed #@n0r3xia #@nor3×14