You know what’s funny? When you post a shot from a local webcam to your blog and then it updates itself throughout the day. Well, I think it’s funny anyway because then somehow my whining about being cold seems more justified. I can say look, here, this is what I’m going through. And then garner the appropriate amount of sympathy one should if there’s really nothing wrong with her life, just the fact that there’s snow outside; outside the very warm house. Wow, I am annoying.
So now that that whining is complete (it’s not really at all, but let’s pretend!) I want to thank all of you again for your concerns about my head/brain/fuzzy/dizzy feeling thing. Over the last few days, I’ve done a lot of research on not only what to do about insurance (which I had already done before I quit my job, of course, just not to this extent because, NO, I was not thinking major-medical in the next 30 days, okay? I just wasn’t) should this issue become something scary or otherwise needing more attention, but what the hell it could be causing this weirdness in my head.
The bad news is, I still have no real answer. I have a lot of possibilities. Let me tell you how reassuring and sleep-inducing that is. (Read: NOT AT ALL.)
The good and bad news is, I got all of the initial heavy stuff in before my former employer’s carrier would enforce the Drop Dead Date (nice phrase they use, isn’t it? Yes, that is actually what they call it.) This means that I will not be asked to pay $5,000 or more for an MRI. Not legally, anyway, which I also researched with the help of an attorney friend. (Tip to all with friends in law school: bring them caffeine, food, booze, or whatever else they ask for when they’re studying for 90 hours strait. It will come back to you ten-fold later in life. Promise.) Everything from yesterday forward is not covered, understandably.
The other good news is, I live very close to a teaching hospital that a) has a brilliant neuro-medicine department, b) has a pro-bono budget they just love to use on “mystery brain stuff” (apparently it’s like when geeks get new electronics, or when people who love shopping step into Neiman’s: cost be damned!), and c) I have a connection there (read: my friend, Amy, is now married to the man I dared her to flash at a Mardi Gras party in 2004, and that man is a physician. I know, it’s like I can tell the future.)
All in all, the news is good. Not having an answer at this point, I can’t really say what the worse-case scenario is. I have some thoughts, some theories I’ve shared with my doctor and my family, about what led to all this, but I won’t go into those things now, mainly because I am not a neurologist and therefore don’t want my theories to get anyone too excited. But I will say it’s kind of fascinating the trail of breadcrumbs you can follow about your own body and your own health once a few points are connected.
That’s where I’m at right now. The fuzzy/swirly head feeling still comes and goes, though a little less in the last couple days. Those of you who said stress may very well be onto something; if it’s not the cause, it could very well be the aggravator. We’ll see. But, again, my worse-case scenario at this point, should I speculate, is not that bad.
In the meantime, I’m doing everything as normal, and keeping busy celebrating what is otherwise a pretty exciting and scary point in my life all on it’s own.
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
I somehow already knew that you would have started investigating your symptoms pretty thoroughly. I’m glad that you are able to tap into some of the karma points you have built up. Hoping for the best.
Sounds like you know and/or have made the right connections!! Now I am curious, you keep saying 30 days, do you have something in line 30 days from now…and also, isn’t COBRA also an option? I know it’s expensive, but depending on what they might find, it might be cheaper than out of pockect costs…
Keeping on sending best wishes.
Ohhh! Maybe you have one of those thingys that’s going to enable you to see the future! You wouldn’t have to worry about not having a job because you could make the talk show circuit. But do it before the government kidnaps you and takes you to some underground bunker to conduct top secret experiments.
Whatever it is, keep us posted. I’m glad you have friends in high places who can help.
I’m glad you’re getting clarity on possible causes – and that’s awesome about the teaching hospital. You may get better care there than a regular one!