Apparently, I forgot to change my address with my health insurance carrier when I moved almost a year and a half ago. Oops. My poor therapist has not been getting paid!! They send the checks to me and I sign them over to her. When I stopped getting them, I just figured they were going to her directly. So, she hasn't been paid in over a year. I signed into their website to look at my account and update the address. At the same time, I wanted to be sure that her services were being paid (even though the checks were returned to the health insurance company).As I scrolled down the list of payments made for my various medical treatments, I have been stunned by the huge financial ramifications of my stress related issues. All of this since late 2006.
GP Doctor visits: $1,622
Anxiety Meds: $3,720
Specialist Dr visits: $2,264
Counseling: $7,740
Lab/Blood Work: $604
ER Visits: $1,970
Tests (U/S, CT Scans, MRI, Stress test, etc): $7,834
If we're to call my PCOS abuse/stress related, then you can add another $2400 to all of that. And that's a whopping total of $28,154. Spent on, and by, me as a result of abuse and stress related issues. In a period of not even two years. That is unbelievable. Absolutely unbelievable.
The non-financial costs? What has the anxiety and stress of my past cost me physically? I'll start from the top of my head and work my way down. Migraines, cluster headaches. Ocular migraines which are visual auras, light streaks and disturbances. Migrainous vertigo. Jaw clenching, teeth grinding. Panic attacks. Chronic neck and shoulder pain. Chest pains, pounding heart. Feelings of having a heart attack. Numbness in arms. Arthritis in hands. Difficulty breathing. Abdominal/intestinal pain so severe it doubled me over and rendered me unable to walk. PCOS with ovarian cysts Arthritis in knees and ankles.
Funny when I put it on paper it looks like less than it feels like. Maybe because I've had repetitive bouts of so many of these things or seen numerous doctors for most symptoms in an attempt to figure out what was happening. And of course, the price my sanity, security and self worth have paid....it's immeasurable.
While searching for an image for this post, I came across this and it was too funny not to include:
While searching for an image for this post, I came across this and it was too funny not to include:
2 comments:
Believe me - I HEAR you! Been there, spent the money and know the $$$ cost of abuse. My husband has said (only half joking) numerous times that we should send my parents a bill. Thing is, they wouldn't see it as having anything to do with them which would just piss me off more and send me into MORE stress!
GGGRRRR!!!
I too have thought of sending a bill. I figured it up one time and it was an astronomical amount.
I'm surprised your T didn't mention the lack of payment?
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