Bad news and Good news.

[ThomCat]

In the past 4 weeks while I've been in Physical Therapy I've LOST measurable strength and mobility. x(

I just had to sit down and talk to my boss. I have to document the days I've been unable to work because I couldn't physically get to to work. My doctor is having me meet with a social worker to figure out long term plans. I'm going to have to figure out what documentation I need to have ready for when I can't work any more.

We're a small business. My boss renegotiates our insurance every year. If we change insurance carriers I might not be covered for long term disability because it's a pre-existing condition. The company that he might change to is asking for documentation of my existing health conditions before they provide a proposal.

My boss just told me that if necessary he'll keep the carrier we already have (who would cover me because my decline started while we've had this carrier). It might cost the company more money to stay with this carrier, but he'd do it to make sure I'm covered. Yay! If I have to stop working I'll at least have disability coverage to live on.

I've been homeless once. I really don't want to ever be homeless again. So this is Major good news.

[VenusRising]

1. You should feel very lucky you have a good boss.

I'm sorry about the other things, but hopefully, with time, you will respond well to the PT.

Love and best wishes to you.

:hug:

[ThomCat]

2. Thank you.

I'm pessimistic about PT. It's never worked before. But I have to keep trying.

Right now I'm doing a complete round of tests with my doctors. I currently have 8 doctors, and 6 of them are involved in this current round of tests. Hopefully they will finally figure out what is going on and what to do about it.

[VenusRising]

6. There is nothing worse than not knowing what's wrong.

I hope they find out for you. Just knowing what the deal is makes it easier to handle.

I'll be keeping you in my thoughts. :hug:

[ThomCat]

10. Thank you.

Good thoughts and hugs are always appreciated. :hug:

[La Lioness Priyanka]

3. is this all an end result of the poisoning?

:cry:

i am glad your boss is being humane :hug:

[ThomCat]

4. LOL! No.

:)

This is the slow decline I've been on for 14 years since I first got hurt. That decline started getting serious in December/January and hasn't stopped. :(

I'm glad he's being humane about this too. If he wasn't, I'd be in a world of trouble.

[hfojvt]

5. wouldn't you have coverage

through social security and medicaid?
Might be inferior, but you should have something.

[KitchenWitch]

7. It takes a long time to actually get through all the appeals for SSDI

He is lucky to have a great boss.

[ThomCat]

9. In some ways he's the best boss I've ever had.

:)

[ThomCat]

8. It can take 6 months to 3 years to get approved

for Social Security Disability. I will be nice to get it if it comes to that, but I'll through that gap until it gets approved.

And that is if the republicans don't succeed in gutting SSDI. x(

[crim son]

11. You will NOT be homeless, ever.

I will have my own house and the front door is always open to you.

[ThomCat]

12. You're wonderful.

:hug:

I have offers upstate in Ithaca (gf) and Buffalo (close, dear "family") if it comes to that. Though because I'm who I am, I'm not sure I'd inflict myself on them. Who wants a pain-ridden person who can't take care of himself taking up space in their home? That would stretch anyone's good-will pretty quickly. I'd feel like shit imposing that way.

That's why I'm investigating all my options now to see how long and how well I can manage on my own.

[crim son]

13. Of course the first option is to be independent.

But listen: I was willing to take my horrible mother-in-law in her incapacitated old age. You'd be a joy compared with her. :hug: