Worst two years of my life,Medical Bills
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I'll try to keep it short, since if I went on with every detail you guys would be reading this for a while.
In December of 2011 I started having some heart problems, very infrequently. I played soccer 5 days a week and worked out a few days a week, and was completing my last year of college. Sometimes when I would go play soccer or workout my heart would feel like it was working way harder than it should and I'd lose my breath easily. On those days I was unable to play. It happened a couple times a month then.
By May of the following year it was happening a couple times a week, and when I would hang out with my friends it would happen then too. I had planned on staying in the city and getting a job and trying out for professional soccer leagues, since I was trying to make soccer my life, but I tore my hamstring very badly while playing soccer, first serious injury ever. I couldn't walk for a week and I was out for 9 months of soccer.
After I tore my muscle I spent all my time alone in my apartment, and the heart problems starting getting worse, I couldn't breathe most of the time, I was terrified to even leave my apartment.
I had to move back to my mothers and look for a doctor in town, since by then I had huge panic attacks when I left the house due to me thinking there was a problem with my heart and breathing. After 3 months I found a doctor and he sent me to a psychiatrist, while I was hoping for a real heart doctor, but I listened to the doctor. The psychiatrist was no help, and by then I had already spent a few hundred dollars, so due to financial issues I wasn't able to go back to the doctor for a while.
In December of 2012 I moved in with my girlfriend back in the city, unable to pay any of the bills. I lived off of 700 dollars a month that my mother gave me, and 550 of it was for bills, my girlfriend paid for the apartment and electricity on her own. My mother was my only source of income, and still is currently.
Eventually I went to a heart doctor in February of 2013. I paid roughly $2,000 to find out I have Atrial Fibrillation and they suggested surgery. Having the surgery would ruin my soccer career so I should try the meds instead, which didn't help, and I didn't have the money anyway.
I was also seeing a Pulmonologist to check for lung problems. I have had 3 emergency room visits, and in effort to help breathe better I had surgery for my deviated septum, which failed by the way. I now wear a little metal insert to keep my right nostril open at all times so I can breathe out of the right side. It helps, but two of theses things cost 34 dollars and they break easy. Luckily this one seems to be lasting a while.
I frequently had intense cramps in my stomach which lasted up to 14 hours straight as well due to all inactivity and stress so I decided to see a Gastric doctor. At the time I didn't know stress was the cause, I had no clue.
From May of 2012 until March of 2013, until I was able to get some anxiety and heart medication I spent all my time at home, alone, not playing soccer, not ever working out, unable to even go to the store by myself. Some days I couldn't even get out of bed in fear my heart or breathing problem would get worse since I felt more comfortable lying down.
After I got anxiety medication life got a little easier, the heart problems went away mostly, since it was related to stress, and the gastric problems became less frequent. I still get these problems a few times each month, but at least it's not every day now.
I am trying to get better to the best of my ability and get a job. First I started playing soccer again, which has helped me a lot. Just getting out there again and exercising has helped a lot. I still have many bad days, but the medication helps some. I still have panic attacks when I go to new places, and I probably would have them for weeks if I started a job somewhere, but for now I'm trying to apply for SSI, Supplemental Security Income from Social Security. Since I have been unable to work for over a year I may be qualified to get a few hundred dollars each month for living expenses, but I've heard it's very difficult to get. I won't hear back from SSI for a few months while they are processing my application.
The root of all of this is probably when I had to take care of a suicidal friend for two years straight up until May of 2012, they were going through some rough times, and I was there for them everyday. I never imagined that living for someone else for two years would cause me to have so much built up stress which resulted in all of my problems. They depended on me for everything and I was with them everyday. After that passed I spent a lot of time alone and soon after the stomach cramps started, then the heart and breathing problems, then after months of that I started having bad anxiety attacks. Now that I know all of this is caused by stress, I am trying to live a stress free life. I never thought for a second that all of the built up stress would affect me so greatly. I just wish It wouldn't have cost me 10000 dollars for me to figure out what caused all of this. The heart and pulmonary doctors suggested I have heart surgery and I was on asthma meds for several months. I just wish they would have thought that stress might be the cause, not asthma and physical heart irregularities.
This is unrelated, but I also had my wisdom teeth taken out a few months ago, and had to have fillings done for 3 cavities, so those bills are 2500.
My mother gave me over $15000 to help me the last two years and she is unable to continue supporting me. I wish to pay that back to her in full, but I will work on that myself, I owe her a lot. I have almost 10000 in medical bills in addition to what I owe her. Not counting my $15000 of college loans and 4,000 i still owe on my car as well as $5000 for a credit card.
I am currently seeing a psychiatrist every two months, and although after realizing that all of this was caused by stress and my mind, mental issues are harder to get rid of than most people think.
These last two years I spent everyday thinking it was my last and worrying that I'd die alone and without any close friends. All of this has distanced me with most all of my friends and most of them don't even know about all of this. I have been trying my best and my girlfriend has helped me tremendously.
I do not expect much from this, haha, but anything would help. I just don't know what else to do, even if I were to get a job, with all of this, my credit card, and school/car debt I don't think I'll ever be able to pay this medical stuff off in addition to all the others and the money I owe my mother. All I want is for the last two years of my life to disappear, get a job and go on with my life like I was supposed to two years ago.
Thank you all, even if you just shared this page. Any help is greatly appreciated!
In December of 2011 I started having some heart problems, very infrequently. I played soccer 5 days a week and worked out a few days a week, and was completing my last year of college. Sometimes when I would go play soccer or workout my heart would feel like it was working way harder than it should and I'd lose my breath easily. On those days I was unable to play. It happened a couple times a month then.
By May of the following year it was happening a couple times a week, and when I would hang out with my friends it would happen then too. I had planned on staying in the city and getting a job and trying out for professional soccer leagues, since I was trying to make soccer my life, but I tore my hamstring very badly while playing soccer, first serious injury ever. I couldn't walk for a week and I was out for 9 months of soccer.
After I tore my muscle I spent all my time alone in my apartment, and the heart problems starting getting worse, I couldn't breathe most of the time, I was terrified to even leave my apartment.
I had to move back to my mothers and look for a doctor in town, since by then I had huge panic attacks when I left the house due to me thinking there was a problem with my heart and breathing. After 3 months I found a doctor and he sent me to a psychiatrist, while I was hoping for a real heart doctor, but I listened to the doctor. The psychiatrist was no help, and by then I had already spent a few hundred dollars, so due to financial issues I wasn't able to go back to the doctor for a while.
In December of 2012 I moved in with my girlfriend back in the city, unable to pay any of the bills. I lived off of 700 dollars a month that my mother gave me, and 550 of it was for bills, my girlfriend paid for the apartment and electricity on her own. My mother was my only source of income, and still is currently.
Eventually I went to a heart doctor in February of 2013. I paid roughly $2,000 to find out I have Atrial Fibrillation and they suggested surgery. Having the surgery would ruin my soccer career so I should try the meds instead, which didn't help, and I didn't have the money anyway.
I was also seeing a Pulmonologist to check for lung problems. I have had 3 emergency room visits, and in effort to help breathe better I had surgery for my deviated septum, which failed by the way. I now wear a little metal insert to keep my right nostril open at all times so I can breathe out of the right side. It helps, but two of theses things cost 34 dollars and they break easy. Luckily this one seems to be lasting a while.
I frequently had intense cramps in my stomach which lasted up to 14 hours straight as well due to all inactivity and stress so I decided to see a Gastric doctor. At the time I didn't know stress was the cause, I had no clue.
From May of 2012 until March of 2013, until I was able to get some anxiety and heart medication I spent all my time at home, alone, not playing soccer, not ever working out, unable to even go to the store by myself. Some days I couldn't even get out of bed in fear my heart or breathing problem would get worse since I felt more comfortable lying down.
After I got anxiety medication life got a little easier, the heart problems went away mostly, since it was related to stress, and the gastric problems became less frequent. I still get these problems a few times each month, but at least it's not every day now.
I am trying to get better to the best of my ability and get a job. First I started playing soccer again, which has helped me a lot. Just getting out there again and exercising has helped a lot. I still have many bad days, but the medication helps some. I still have panic attacks when I go to new places, and I probably would have them for weeks if I started a job somewhere, but for now I'm trying to apply for SSI, Supplemental Security Income from Social Security. Since I have been unable to work for over a year I may be qualified to get a few hundred dollars each month for living expenses, but I've heard it's very difficult to get. I won't hear back from SSI for a few months while they are processing my application.
The root of all of this is probably when I had to take care of a suicidal friend for two years straight up until May of 2012, they were going through some rough times, and I was there for them everyday. I never imagined that living for someone else for two years would cause me to have so much built up stress which resulted in all of my problems. They depended on me for everything and I was with them everyday. After that passed I spent a lot of time alone and soon after the stomach cramps started, then the heart and breathing problems, then after months of that I started having bad anxiety attacks. Now that I know all of this is caused by stress, I am trying to live a stress free life. I never thought for a second that all of the built up stress would affect me so greatly. I just wish It wouldn't have cost me 10000 dollars for me to figure out what caused all of this. The heart and pulmonary doctors suggested I have heart surgery and I was on asthma meds for several months. I just wish they would have thought that stress might be the cause, not asthma and physical heart irregularities.
This is unrelated, but I also had my wisdom teeth taken out a few months ago, and had to have fillings done for 3 cavities, so those bills are 2500.
My mother gave me over $15000 to help me the last two years and she is unable to continue supporting me. I wish to pay that back to her in full, but I will work on that myself, I owe her a lot. I have almost 10000 in medical bills in addition to what I owe her. Not counting my $15000 of college loans and 4,000 i still owe on my car as well as $5000 for a credit card.
I am currently seeing a psychiatrist every two months, and although after realizing that all of this was caused by stress and my mind, mental issues are harder to get rid of than most people think.
These last two years I spent everyday thinking it was my last and worrying that I'd die alone and without any close friends. All of this has distanced me with most all of my friends and most of them don't even know about all of this. I have been trying my best and my girlfriend has helped me tremendously.
I do not expect much from this, haha, but anything would help. I just don't know what else to do, even if I were to get a job, with all of this, my credit card, and school/car debt I don't think I'll ever be able to pay this medical stuff off in addition to all the others and the money I owe my mother. All I want is for the last two years of my life to disappear, get a job and go on with my life like I was supposed to two years ago.
Thank you all, even if you just shared this page. Any help is greatly appreciated!
Organizer
Shawn Castle
Organizer
Greensboro, NC
