At the end of my rope�. - Anon

Just venting……..I am so bummed.  I was doing so well a couple of years ago.  I was working as a Radiology Transcriptionist for six years for a very, very large radiology facility, two days in the office and the rest of the week from home in the evenings.  Then they went to VR, but kept me on because the some of the docs were not complying with VR so those reports had to be typed and in addition I was doing editing.  I was making good money and was able to put away some money for a rainy day.  In addition to that job, I was an IC for two gastro docs for 12 years. The office was small but busy and I picked up tapes every day, typed, printed the reports and then delivered the next day. The monies for this job covered my rent.   I then found another part time job writing IME reports from the submitted medical records and worked in the office three days a week.  So.with all these jobs, I was doing pretty good.  In 2009, I was diagnosed with breast cancer.  It was caught early, but I still had to have surgery and undergo 40 radiation treatments.  I needed time off for the surgery, told the radiology office and was fired on the spot !!   I was devastated !  I contacted three lawyers and not one would take my case.  I decided to focus on my health issues instead of a lawsuit.  I turned to my brother and sister (who is a nurse) for some help to at least drive me for my surgery and all they did was wish me luck and never bothered with me again.  My two closest girlfriends also turned the other cheek. I guess I was an “inconvenience” to them.   So, here I was, fired from my main job, no healthcare, no family and no friends.  I was put on emergency Medicaid, took a cab to my own surgery and recuperated alone with no help from anyone.  I went through 40 radiation treatments which was not easy.  I could not even look for a job during that time. How could I?  I could not dress appropriately because I was so burned and I could not commit to any set hours because I went for treatments every day for 8 weeks.  During this time, I lived off my savings to pay rent and the rest of my bills.  When I finally felt a little stronger, I started looking for more work, not necessarily transcription work, anything medical related.  Nothing.  I was forced to move from my apartment because I could not afford the rent anymore.  I packed and moved six months ago to another place (and I’m not happy here) but am trying to make the best of it.  I live very frugally.  I don’t have any credit cards and am not a shop-aholic. I have learned to do without.  I can’t cut back anymore than I already do. 

Well, last Friday was the straw that broke the camel’s back.  I went to the gastro office to pick up my tapes and was informed that my services will no longer be needed as of October.  The office is going EMR.  I’m not that surprised, but that leaves me with one job that only brings in about $1000 to $1200 a month.  I looked into Section 8 for help with rent, but the program is closed. I can’t even get food stamps.  According to them, I “make too much money”!!  My only option at this point is to move to Florida with my aunt and uncle (my only living relatives) and live with them until I find something there (which is highly unlikely) and then find my own place once I get on my feet.  I have such mixed feelings about moving out of state.  My roots are here, my doctors are here, my memories are here.  This is where I grew up.   I’m so afraid that all this stress is going to affect my health.  I’m trying to hard to put the breast cancer behind me and stay healthy and move on with my life, but each and every time I take one step forward, I’m pushed three steps backwards.