Memories

I can still recall how my life transpired from 17- about 25. Before the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) anyone with a disability feared applying for a job. Even worse you were afraid to admit you had any form of medical issues. There were organizations that employed ONLY the disabled, so I tried one of those for a few months. It only took a few months long to realize:
1. I was not that disabled.
2. I would never achieve the few dreams I had left.
Sitting in a bare office, trying to tele-market light bulbs was not for me. It was great for those who truly needed it . Just not me. I guess this is why to this day I'm on the Do Not Call List.
I decided to try finding a job in my chosen field at that time: medical.
I went back to school and became a Medical Assistant, but symptoms began to show and it was difficult maintaining the low-pay, hectic office where I was at the time.
So I went back to work at the hospital and became a Pharmacy Technician. It was a slower pace, I was not in the public arena where germs ran rampant, and I had found my niche. For awhile.
I eventually took a job with the county health department which afforded me better benefits. It was at this point I began asking what the benefits were as opposed to negotiating a salary. I could always get a 2nd job to cover bills, BUT good health insurance coverage was mandatory.
It was also around this time I began to cough up blood. I think my cardiologist, David Chinoy MD (at the time) was going to have a coronary himself when I casually mentioned it during a visit.
I was quickly informed this was a major red flag!
From what I remember: the pressure gets so high in my heart and lungs that the arteries were bursting and I was coughing up fresh blood. He scared me to death when he mentioned I could eventually hemorrhage (?). I was also quickly becoming a CHF (congestive heart failure) patient with all the fluid build up happening in my heart. I still wonder to this day if he was doing this mainly to scare me into behaving. After all I was only in my early 20's and rebelling.
My rebellion is another story all in owns right, which I'll attempt on my next writing. Until then stay safe, stay healthy, and please don't be like I was -Listen to your doctor. After all it's your money you give them for your care.