I’ve posted already here on WTM so forgive me if you’ve already read but popping in again... We are small business and 70% down in the tourism/rental income. Small insurance agency stands unaffected. We are working with accountant towards SBA loan for the non performing business. A long long long process starting with 2019 taxes needing to be done ASAP. Not sure it will even be approved or worth the effort. Taxes for 3 businesses is not fun. We have each applied for several jobs in essential work. Nothing. But I have had 2 phone interviews for long term director/coordinator positions (non profit and 4 practitioner office currently non essential, so not open). So I’m optimistic for just the call backs. Huge step for the future but nothing for the short term.

They already provided a superbill with 6 codes (diagnostic but also testing, office visit)- I was told that is the extent of their itemized billing. I can ask again....but my feeling is that this length/complexity of visit is virtually unknown on the billing side of thing as most providers kind of rack and stack the various visits

We are MediShare members and they have been incredible with my complex medical issues and bills totaling $45,000. Only one bill has kicked back as 'ineligible' to be fully covered and I would LOVE some help from those here who have appealed medical bills. The provider does not accept insurance and so we paid the day of the office visit, and submitted for reimbursement. MediShare kicked backed the bill as"over usual and customary facility co-share" and "provider fee" and sent a check for $400- the amount they will cover out of the $2000 bill. We will not be cashing the check even though we could use that money. It was a 2.5 visit with a internal medicine specialist and a flat fee. All of her initial visits are structured identically and compared to other specialists who see you for 15-20 minutes max, and have you come back again and again, charging $500 an appointment. This is legitimately equal to 5-6 office visits, easily. She did in 5 in office assessments/tests as well- included in that flat fee. Prior to appointment I completed a 21 page intake- the most involved and complex medical treatment I've ever had. It changed my life. I do have visit and procedural codes that were on the original bill- which was submitted to MediShare.

DH does all errands now because I am high risk due to asthma, high BP, blood thinners and underlying conditions. We have elected to use Instacart when possible (usually scheduling 5 days in advance) OR parking lot pickup at our grocery store (4 days advance). The pickup takes a LONG time but I'm grateful to lower exposure risk even though it can linger on surfaces no matter what.

As of yesterday, here in CO we have tested 3,680 people suspected to have COVID and only had 363. So that tells me that while there are a bunch of back logged tests yet to be processed AND a lot of people who won’t be tested for various reasons, for the numbers we do have it’s clear there are other viruses and bugs making people sick. Which is normal. While it would be great to know everything for sure in every instance, IMHO it’s more important to keep ER’s as underpopulated as possible for those who are critically ill. Here in Denver we have a drive up testing system that requires a Drs note. It’s still a flawed process but much better than clogging up offices and Ers.

To be blunt, I did this for my own entertainment and curiosity. I’m 100% comfortable with camping. It’s not a safety concern for us but I’ve noticed such diverse reactions to so many COVID things I was curious. But I can see, given the atmosphere, how it could seem like I’m worked up over an insignificant thing. It’s more I’m trying to distract myself. Sure, I am higher risk physically and very aware of my at risk vulnerable parents in a retirement community out of state. I have legitimate concerns. But I’m SCARED WITLESS financially. The financial fallout is a reality for my household (we are 100% small business) and I literally have no idea what we will do. So, its not a “what if I get sick” future anxiety scenario- the financial crumble is already happening for us. And right now, I am trying to distract myself.

Yes the trailer has a toilet and shower- we generally only use public toilet for solid waste when we don’t have water hookup. Preference, not necessity. Yes the campground is still open. Several here are.... Private and state run. I know some smaller areas (Moab UT) have completely closed hotels and campgrounds to non residents. Yes I am higher risk with being on blood thinners (Don’t know why that’s a risk) and mild asthma- well controlled. I would not go group camping right now with the intent to hang out with others. That would defeat all of the isolation we’ve done so far. Our version of camping is extremely antisocial in normal times LOL. It would be a nice break from all the buzzzzz....

We rent RV trailers as one of our income sources. Every upcoming trip has been cancelled. Sigh. We are thinking of going camping locally (45 minutes away) next week- the weather is looking lively! Previously we were considering tent camping but now thinking the trailer would be even nicer and warmer at night. To us, being nature is just the BEST. It’s a state park campground and has 190+ sites with only 15 currently available. It’s a very open space and our only contact with others would be the restroom. Would you have any reservations about going camping RE COVID crap?

Day 3 for us... The workload is increasing but Spring break is next week. So it’s weird. Our district (82,000 kids) which our charter is a part of, announced elearning until April 18 last night. Kids are deflated and dragging a bit because of that. Again, my kids have a set schedule of school- must be online from 9:30-12:30pm. So it’s structured differently than others here but pretty efficient- most classes offer time to do work. DD16 (sophomore) has Spanish2 and hates it...45 minute call with the entire class which is chaotic and the teacher drones on and on and then assigns 1 hour of additional work. A bit aggressive compared to other classes... DS12 (7th grade) has had some bigger projects thrown his way but less work overall than DD16, which is what we would expect. Im grateful they have classes to be honest, but feel for them as this all has emotional aspect to it as well as the toll of relational isolation and picking up our massive financial stress (we are self employed)

We are self employed and have a primarily tourist based rental business as our main gig. It’s dropped 90% in 2 weeks. And we can’t get unemployment or government loan. Good thing I didn’t have to suddenly close my business last year after a traumatic brain injury or this would be a really scary and crappy financial year. (Eyeroll)

My kids still have online school so we aren’t digging deep yet DD rearranged her room DS made no knead artisan bread DD made key lime pie neighborhood walks new art supplies for DD DS helped DH with a rental camper project practice driving for Dd16 (permit) we have exercise equipment so kids will use it... I won’t mandate it yet tho. DD uses it due to health issues And once the weather is closer to decent (we are in CO and it’s snowing this week)l and still a smidge too chilly at night) we will go tent camping. The kids LOVE this!!! IF we hear that the school won’t be continuing with distance learning I will likely implement our schedule like summer....4 consecutive hours screen free time (reading, cleaning, cooking, laundry and exercise) and then free time. So my kids have that familiarity built in.

Charter school here.... they have to login in from 9:30-12:30 and keep to a 4 block schedule... Attendance is taken for each class. So far its been a small amount of instruction or taped lecture and then homework. Very pared down workload but keeping up with study schedule. Officially, they only have relearning this week and then regular Spring break. Nothing official has been posted beyond that although other Denver schools are cancelled they April 7 already- no instruction.

100% We are a small business family and already hit hard- the pull back is immediate. It’s already real and happening and not theoretical. Most small businesses have no means to offset things like this...Just as and most employees cannot go for 4 weeks without income, or “choose” to stay home. Some things just are. The larger ramifications won’t be felt by “others” who are quite financially insulated for some time and then screaming will presumably begin. My friends who are SAHM and have DHs who have BIIIIIIG jobs have no concept of economics implications because they are a insulated. Yet they are convinced they have a pulse while nothing has changed for them besides inconvenience and generalized fear/anxiety/worry. My self employed friends (travel agent, bakery owner, AirBnB owners, restaurant owner) are already hurting and concerned because none of us see any easy or swift end to all of this. Why would anyone think it will simply go away in a month or not return next Fall?

Some people do not have the luxury of hunkering down.....More people than the financially comfortable people would like to acknowledge. I’m so frustrated by those who can stockpile and who aren’t working or who can work from home just assume that everyone else is like them.

No I am not overly worried. A friend who is a PA and her husband an ER DR, posted on FB yesterday that 150 infants died from the flu in the last month. No, I didn’t ask for citations. She was making the point that this flu season alone has sickened at least 19 million across the U.S. and led to 10,000 deaths and 180,000 hospitalizations. my point? Im just as concerned about the flu as I am CV. Same precautions. BUT I do feel the reaction to CV will be considerably more, already proven by toilet paper shortage and epic threads here on WTM , than the flu which is active and all around. ETA I didn’t finish my thought.... I think the response is proving to be profound and will likely have impact on most large cities, which impacts me. Best article in terms of psychology behind of all of this.... https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20200304-coronavirus-covid-19-update-why-people-are-stockpiling

From about 10 months ago, prior to my health drama.

I didn’t say working full time...I said full work/school goal. 😜 I was making the point that it’s a huge change and was challenging for my friends who went from years of an open/self guided schedule, to a massive unrelenting workload. That’s not a negative thing or a critique. It just is a realistic factor to consider.

Yep! OP, I saw your comments on massage therapy and had to laugh- I am NOT NOT NOT a physical touch person at all. At all. Ask my family. And frankly, I don't know many massage therapists who are touchy types- quite the contrary. A lot of us are highly intuitive, healer/empath types and that (plus a love of health and interest in the human body) is what draws us to the field. But that proves a large point that many times jobs and careers really aren't based on or built around what we think they are. So OP, ask questions about the jobs and fields you are interested in! Especially here on WTM, there is so much variety! I have 2 MA degrees (non clinical counseling and Divinity)- earned by the age of 27 and I have only mildly used them. My end goal was to earn a PhD (Psychology- specifically trauma) or work in Hospice or Hospital chaplaincy. Given life events that upset the apple cart (my DH's job loss 5 years ago that almost destroyed us financially and now my brain injury and subsequent related significant chronic illnesses) everything has changed. I mention all of that to say about predicting a future that is still far off.... its a tricky business. Especially when spouses don't want the same things. It can create a lot of stress. So OP, I would say you probably need to hone in a bit more on what life could/might look like in the future for you and your husband. You can't predict it, but I would lean in to exploring that a bit more and talking about it. I'd say start with small steps with the big picture in mind. Yes a lot of women embark on such journeys at this age. I am close to 3 who have done the exact same thing (headed for MA in counseling) in their 40's, 2 of them after homeschooling. I see the inclination to go from full on stay a home mom, not working for 15 years and kind of sequestered, to a full on school/work goal.....its a HUGE leap! For my one friend, she found a great job after earning her BA degree in psychology.... but still wanted her MA so eventually quit the job and went onward. She is now finishing her 2nd year of supervision. So if you make the big goal, know that if played right there will be many opportunities along the way and thats a wonderful thing. 🙂

That is helpful to hear-that it really can disappear! And, sounds about right, pain wise. It was breathtaking and I could not stand up straight even if I needed too, and found it difficult to talk to DH who was furiously googling LOL. And then, it started to fade and was eventually gone enough that I could sleep. I felt like such a dork telling my Dr that this was very sharp and intense pain that, for me, was worse than labor in some ways- so sharp. Maybe because with labor I knew the pain had a purpose and I was expecting it. ??

Thanks for asking! The low level pain has backed off quite a bit as of this evening.... I went to my family/GP doctor yesterday morning....then for ultrasound in the afternoon (which ended up being clear for cysts). Ruled out ectopic pregnancy and kidney infection. Dr thought 'the middle of the night agony" sounded like a ruptured cyst (even though it was uterine pain and in the center, not off to the side near ovaries- but what do I know?) Anyway- during the exam and palpation, she thought the lower left quadrant pain was more in line with diverticulitis due to placement..... near left ovary, but further away from midline. No idea if the two pains are even related - could be 2 different issues. Ultra sound was clear for cysts. Yes, it could have been a weird placement or have overlooked as it would be empty (having ruptured), but i'm not concerned. If I have that pain again or develop a fever in the next few days, I am to head to ER. Works for me. I choose to just release it an not worry about it- if that makes sense. With chronic, complex health issues like I have, there isn't enough energy to worry about all the things. I do my best to prioritize, and then release it. RE possible diverticulitis, Dr ordered a CT for Thursday, which I am going to decline at this time- assuming everything stays quiet. She was ok with that., because it is on my radar to have a full GI workup in the near future, due to other issues. With dysautonomia, digestive issues are extremely common. Since I have diagnosed small fiber neuropathy in my feet, it can also be present in my GI system, causing nonesense and could be, in my case, causing this reoccuring pain and affecting transit time. Another rabbit hole to dive down. So, $8K deductible, here we come. Again. And while the medical system absolutely frustrates me beyond words, I'm grateful I have access to great care and grateful for MediShare which has been incredible throughout this journey.

Endometriosis could definitely fit based on what Ive read....

All at the same time? That had to be intense. Yes I’m got in to beg to be seen tomorrow by my Dr. I don’t feel it’s emergency room level right now- and would have gone last night if it didn’t ease.

Does this sound familiar to anyone? Last night I woke up at 1am with severe uterus cramping/pain. Nauseous, dizzy and at about a 9 on the pain scale. It’s not my period (I’m mid cycle) and while I just started a new progestin only birth control pill, it’s been fairly calm. I have had 2 miscarriages and 2 unmedicated births as a frame of reference- so, I do not use “severe” loosely. This was severe. This was a very sharp and intense pain- felt like something was ripping or pulling. I was literally writhing in pain- and we were on the verge of going to the ER- wondered if it was a ruptured cyst or overlay torsion. After about 10-15 minutes and farting twice, an urge to pee and having a surprise bowel movement, I grabbed the heating pad- still doubled over. Eventually it started to ease. The what helped. Today I have leftover lower left quadrant pain that I’ve had before- constant and mild to moderate- like 3-4 pain. Feels full and heavy, and like I’m constipated (but I am not). I’ve had todays pain before (2-3x) - sometimes finding it difficult to walk. I feel like I have my period but I don’t. But have never experienced anything like last nights pain. Im calling my GP tomorrow AM, but know she will likely refer me to GI specialist and/or OB. I’m exhausted at this prospect. I’ve had SO many medical issues and expenses sorted thru already in the last 9 months (mild TBI, POTS, APS, MCAS and all the associated gremlins). It’s overwhelming and exhausting. I really can’t take more but still know that’s last night is nothing to play around with so I’m trying to figure it out . 😞

I was just diagnosed with APS last month. History of multiple miscarriages, preeclampsia, migraines, livedo reticularis and so on. For DS, the pregnancy where I had high BP and preeclampsia, I also had a clot/thrombosis on the umbilical cord, next to placenta. DS & I were very fortunate. I’m now on a blood thinner for life and it is helping with my chronic headaches. It baffles me in many regards, how little is known and researched for women’s health issues. Why isn’t a simple blood test administered more often? Why do we have to endure multiple devastating miscarriages before we “look into it”? And don’t ge time started on preeclampsia. It’s like Drs know little more than they did 50 years ago. I won’t drag out my soapbox, but I have more medical issues (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome-POTS, being one of them) which demographic wise, affects primarily women. Very little is known and very little significant research is being done. Most POTS patients are at some point, usually treated as “hysterical women” who only have anxiety disorders. It’s deeply angers me to see the inequality in medicine.

Does anyone know anything about the intensity of the connection between elderberry activating the immune system? I’ve used it for years (in the winter) and bought berries today to make more syrup. These berries had a large label on it warning about autoimmune and blood thinners. I have autoimmune conditions and a clotting disorder so I’m on a blood thinner. I’m googling away but wanted to check with the Hive.