Hello,
I'm Pam Sykes. I am having a total knee replacement surgery on Monday December 30th 2019. I am terrified and not just because, aside from two sleep studies I was in three and a half years ago, I haven't spent the night in a hospital since 1960. I was born preemie; I have no memory of that experience. Barring any complications, I should only have to stay overnight.
No, what I'm terrified about is not having paychecks for about three months. My doctor uses a robot to assist in the surgery so, my recovery time may be shorter because the robot yields better precision.
I work as a cashier at Walmart; my net hourly wage works out to about $9.40.
I am lucky, I do have insurance which will cover 75% of the surgery. My hospital stay is mostly covered but, as of now, I do not know what the doctor's charge will be. I just know that I will be able to finance the payments.
I do know how lucky I am to have insurance and a very well respected orthopedic surgeon (Ronald Hudanich D.O.). I am extremely grateful for this.
My knee has no cartilage. Walking is especially painful. I am currently on leave from work so the pain has decreased but, during eight hour shifts at my job there were many times that I went into the bathroom to cry for a few minutes because of the pain. For the last three years I have been unable to climb stairs normally. I step up with
my right leg (the left knee is the bad one), pull up my left leg, keeping it straight and continue in this fashion. I reverse the process going down, only bending my right knee. I live in a townhouse so, I use stairs a lot. On a humorous note, my right butt cheek is in really good shape.
I used to be a very active person. I worked out at the gym 3-4 times a week. I took walks. I rode my bike. I used to be able to run. I can't even perform my job properly. I can't work self checkout because it involves a lot of walking and turning and pivoting among cash registers to help customers who are having scanning issues. I can't go do price checks to help my co-workers or help customers locate items in the store.
Even sleeping isnt easy. Often when I turn over in my sleep I jerk something in my knee and suddenly awake in excruciating pain. This surgery is absolutely necessary.
Unfortunately, that means I need to take 6-12 weeks off from work. That means I will miss 3-6 paychecks. This is where I really need your help.
Here is a run down of my monthly bills (my portion as I have a roommate)
Rent $500 (lease rolls over on the 31st. It will probably increase)
Electric $90
Water $35
Auto insurance $80
Medical/vision/dental insurance $101
Car payment (buying through private sale) $100
Gasoline $70
Groceries $300
Bi-polar meds. $3.00 (yep, love my insurance. I am grateful)
Phone $40
This totals $1319 each month.
For three months that is $3,957
At this point I only know the cost of the hospital stay. That is $2,000
So, I need $5,957.
While I am on leave I am looking foronline work and am working on my blog site that I eventually want to turn into an online magazine.
I will be tremendously thankful for every dollar that you kind readers send me.
Some of my surgery related reading material from my hospital: Advent Health.
Some hospital instructions booklets.
Thank you all, again, for reading this and helping me.
Pam
I'm Pam Sykes. I am having a total knee replacement surgery on Monday December 30th 2019. I am terrified and not just because, aside from two sleep studies I was in three and a half years ago, I haven't spent the night in a hospital since 1960. I was born preemie; I have no memory of that experience. Barring any complications, I should only have to stay overnight.
No, what I'm terrified about is not having paychecks for about three months. My doctor uses a robot to assist in the surgery so, my recovery time may be shorter because the robot yields better precision.
I work as a cashier at Walmart; my net hourly wage works out to about $9.40.
I am lucky, I do have insurance which will cover 75% of the surgery. My hospital stay is mostly covered but, as of now, I do not know what the doctor's charge will be. I just know that I will be able to finance the payments.
I do know how lucky I am to have insurance and a very well respected orthopedic surgeon (Ronald Hudanich D.O.). I am extremely grateful for this.
My knee has no cartilage. Walking is especially painful. I am currently on leave from work so the pain has decreased but, during eight hour shifts at my job there were many times that I went into the bathroom to cry for a few minutes because of the pain. For the last three years I have been unable to climb stairs normally. I step up with
my right leg (the left knee is the bad one), pull up my left leg, keeping it straight and continue in this fashion. I reverse the process going down, only bending my right knee. I live in a townhouse so, I use stairs a lot. On a humorous note, my right butt cheek is in really good shape.
I used to be a very active person. I worked out at the gym 3-4 times a week. I took walks. I rode my bike. I used to be able to run. I can't even perform my job properly. I can't work self checkout because it involves a lot of walking and turning and pivoting among cash registers to help customers who are having scanning issues. I can't go do price checks to help my co-workers or help customers locate items in the store.
Even sleeping isnt easy. Often when I turn over in my sleep I jerk something in my knee and suddenly awake in excruciating pain. This surgery is absolutely necessary.
Unfortunately, that means I need to take 6-12 weeks off from work. That means I will miss 3-6 paychecks. This is where I really need your help.
Here is a run down of my monthly bills (my portion as I have a roommate)
Rent $500 (lease rolls over on the 31st. It will probably increase)
Electric $90
Water $35
Auto insurance $80
Medical/vision/dental insurance $101
Car payment (buying through private sale) $100
Gasoline $70
Groceries $300
Bi-polar meds. $3.00 (yep, love my insurance. I am grateful)
Phone $40
This totals $1319 each month.
For three months that is $3,957
At this point I only know the cost of the hospital stay. That is $2,000
So, I need $5,957.
While I am on leave I am looking foronline work and am working on my blog site that I eventually want to turn into an online magazine.
I will be tremendously thankful for every dollar that you kind readers send me.
Some of my surgery related reading material from my hospital: Advent Health.
Some hospital instructions booklets.Thank you all, again, for reading this and helping me.
Pam