I think the antibiotics FINALLY kicked in and finished off the uti for me. So, I don't feel quite as sick as I did over the weekend. That was a BAD uti! I don't think I'd had one that made me feel quite that sick before.

It's just I'm still stuck with feeling worse than I did several weeks ago.

have to wait to go see doctors because it's so close to Christmas, and I'm trying to get appointments. Plus, my dad's eye has been having trouble all weekend. So, I have to help him deal with that. I've been putting drops in his eye every hour while we're awake. Well, at least since he's been awake. I kept going back to bed this morning.

Really want to change my insurance now. I just got another two bills for doctors that are close to $1000 (one was like $300, other one was just under $600, and that was for doctors that the insurance actually covers!)

That's what's making me really mad, is that my insurance skyrocketed when they changed everything. Wondering where that savings we were told we'd get went. I can't afford to do anything. Starting to wonder if rehab will be allowed again.

Erin, is your insurance independent of your parents? If so would you be qualified for Medicaid? My primary care doctor has so many new patients because of Obama care that he has had to hire 3 more nurse practitioners. I know I can call in the morning and see one that day. Glad the UTI is better. It will take a good while to recover from that. How is your nutrition doing?

yeah, my insurance is independent from my parents. (they have Tricare because my dad was in the military for 30yrs)

My insurance is Blue Cross of Nebraska. Which just severed their relationship with the largest health system in Nebraska which is CHI Alegent Health. You can imagine the absolute panic of most of the state, because a lot of the hospitals in the smaller towns, CHI is the only game in town for doctors. Some people have to drive to different towns, or come to Omaha or Lincoln to see a non-CHI doctor. It is so annoying!

I'm sure the non-CHI doctors are great, and perfectly capable. I just want my doctors. The ones that I've been using since I graduated high school in 1989. I talked about this with my regular doctor the other day when I went to see him about the uti. He's pretty ticked off about it too. I'll be losing my doctor, but he lost a crap ton of patients! He told me he just wants to take care of his patients, and the stupid insurance company is screwing that up.

I don't think I can get Medicaid. I might not have any money that I can actually use at the moment, but I do have a retirement fund that I can't access for a long time, (not working, but not *actually* retired. I'm only 45) and that apparently keeps me from getting things like disability.

I'm going to look into getting different insurance, but I'm still a bit scared that what we were told how "pre-existing" conditions would affect insurance might not be true. (half the stuff they advertised before passing the law turned out to not be true) Just feeling a bit burned by everything. Mostly burned by how the MS is turning out. Then I have to deal with the stress of the doctors/insurance debacle going on here in Nebraska. It's too much stress to deal with while dealing with a stressful disease. Especially when they tell you to avoid stress when you have MS.

gentle hugs! I feel so badly for you. Hope it helps that we worry.

On a positive note: the UTI may have been what was making issues so bad. My neuro always tests for UTI and infections before he starts any 'roids. He said that they have learned from numerous studies that infection can mimic falres; thus, treat the infection and symptoms alleviate. Hopefully the antibiotics will make you feel better!

i'm glad at least the infection is under control.

i hope things get sorted out for you. it sounds like a real mess for everyone.
just do the best you can and try to take one thing at a time.

keep us posted.

I'm still having problems.

My ability to just move around my house has been getting worse and worse. I don't know if this is something normal. It had been getting worse from month to month. But now, it's happening daily. I don't know why. Every morning I get up, things are worse. Sometimes during the middle of the day, I can be sitting down, things won't be that bad. But then I get up to walk across the room, and I feel like someone turned on a gravity machine, and made everything heavier.

I don't feel like my doctors are willing to help me. Don't really understand why that is. It's like everyone wants me to die or something. Because that's what it feels like from where I sit.

Erin, you need an advocate. Some one from an official organization that is used to dealing with medical red tape or whatever hoop they are making you jump through. Especially since you can't jump anymore. Sometimes MS can just make you so darned tired you don't have the emotional or physical energy left to deal with it

when you do that, do they make you give up your ability to choose what you want? There was a news story here in town recently that a woman went to the hospital for a respiratory infection of some sort, and while she was there, the doctors just up and decided that she wasn't able to make decisions on her own. She disagreed with that, and they forced her to stay in a care facility. She ended up going to court to make them let her go, so she could go back home. (she won, but she still has to have visits from some department of aging) I don't want to end up with a problem like that.

Erin,

So sorry hundreds for what you are going through. I am praying for you!
I know all to well the insurance war nightmare. I am going through the same thing. And I was forced to go over to the bully for 2015. As my doctors are not accepted with the other plan I have now.

That is one headache you don't need. Shame for the bully it is all about power and greed.

But you hang in there. God is the great physician, he will not forsake you.
God Bless and know we are here for you!

Can't sleep. My body is so uncomfortable. Everything hurts. Doesn't matter how I try to lay in bed, there is no comfortable position. I'd sleep more, but it's too uncomfortable, and painful.

I have an appointment with a physiatrist in January. just don't think I'm going to last that long.

Really hate the ms right now.