Normal People Food Kills Me

posted 30th July 2009    Written by: Marisa    CATEGORY: All Posts, Marisa, Quarterlife Crisis, Season 1

In three days I will no longer have health insurance.

…WHAT?!!!…

It’s true; in three days I will be joining the other uninsured 47 million United States citizens.  The available COBRA option given to people in my situation is still too expensive for this funemployment gal and I have no choice but to be uninsured.   And I know I’m freaking out more so than most people in this situation.

Yes, I am young and for the most part healthy, but I am sadly unique when compared to the health needs for the average person.

I have severe food allergies.  And by severe I mean I’ve been to the ER twice due to anaphylactic shock.  I am unique all right.

In fact, I’m actually part of a very small percentage of adults who have severe food allergies past the age of 25.  I’m part of a percentage of only 250,000 in this country who have a severe food allergy to one or all of the seven major food allergies: milk, eggs, soy, peanuts, shellfish, tree nuts/nuts and wheat.  Yay for me, I have four out of the seven.

I didn’t grow up with these food allergies though.  It started at 16 with a reaction to clams while attending a formal, and then when I was 20 to a granola peanut butter bar during one of my English Lit. classes.  Both times I was saved at the ER.  Both times I had health insurance.  Then most recently after some extensive testing, soy and tree nuts came up as positives.

With these results and finding out exactly what was in processed food, I had to basically teach myself how to eat again.

My last visit to the ER was in February of this year.  My eye started to swell while I was at a Jazz club with some of my friends and I knew exactly then what I had to do.  My ER visits record had been swept clean since I moved to Portland, almost three years without a visit.  Luckily this visit wasn’t as life threatening as the past two but nonetheless, just as stressful and scary at times.

I don’t know what to do now.  I can panic I suppose.  Well, I know I will here and there but I don’t want this worry to consume my every day life.  I have my Benadryl, I have my epi-pen and I have some sanity about me whenever I get a reaction.  However, rationality and logic are not always present.  I’m scared shitless when I really think about it. I live alone, I AM alone.  And I don’t think my cat Sophie will be able to dial 911 from my cell phone.

I guess the point of this post was to expunge some of my worries and stress that involve such a huge part of my life.  My current journey to live a happy life has bumps and this large bump will never go away.  It’s the permanent speed bump that slows me down here.

I do have hope though. On the news a few weeks ago I witnessed President Obama hug a woman who had cancer of the kidneys and who was also unemployed and uninsured.  This gesture and his speech had such an impact, I actually have hope that somehow or someway I will be able to afford healthcare soon.

But for now it’s like any other day, pursuing and living a happy life, one free of ER visits and one that will always miss peanut butter like crazy.


photo credit: Bob.Fornal

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Comments (9)

9 Responses to “Normal People Food Kills Me”

  • the beast girl Says:
    July 30th, 2009 at 11:50 am

    My advice: get an individual plan, even if it is only partial coverage. DO NOT allow a laps. It will make it sooo much more difficult to get it. I have an individual plan through Regence and am 70% covered. Preventative care doesn’t cost me more than when I was 100% covered. You can choose which plan fits your financial needs whether it be low monthly payment, low deductible, or out of pocket max you are most worried about.

    Honestly, if you have to, get a second shift or another job but get health care!

    Oh, and I think you have 30 days grace after one plan ends and another begins. It is not considered a “laps”.

  • Molly Hoyne Says:
    July 30th, 2009 at 3:54 pm

    @beastgirl I told Marisa the same thing about 30 seconds after I first read this post! I was scared for her too… Marisa? What’s the verdict?

  • Lindsey Says:
    July 30th, 2009 at 4:42 pm

    Hi! I was wondering if you have thought about making your blog postings with the ability to comment on? For example, the most recent posting about lack of health insurance, I would like to leave a tip that I think could benefit other readers: Cobra is not the only insurance option out there for those unemployed, and definitely NOT the cheapest. My best friend and I were both laid off last year and after paying for 4 months of extremely high Cobra insurance at about $360/month, my friend found out that you can go through a private insurance carrier and get basic insurance for around $100. Much better than paying for something unexpected, like an ambulance ride, down the road!

  • the beast girl Says:
    July 30th, 2009 at 4:48 pm

    Lindsey, great tips. Yes, I pay just over $100 / month. MUCH more manageable than $300 or $400!

  • Marisa Says:
    July 30th, 2009 at 4:50 pm

    Thank you all! I actually contacted my State Farm agent and was able to kind of pick a plan that adapts to my situation. I’m also looking into private insurance carriers with my parents (thank goodness for them) but it’s a little hard since some insurance agencies consider food allergies a “pre-existing condition”. But I have hope and it’s great to hear everyone. I’ll be fine! P.S.-Molly! Alexia and I are going to Seattle this weekend, let’s meet up!

  • Sunyi Says:
    August 4th, 2009 at 12:34 pm

    Great to meet you today! I hope u get that insurance ASAP! See you at the next ‘sho’. Cheers -Sunyi

  • Marisa Says:
    August 4th, 2009 at 1:06 pm

    Sunyi-It was great to meet you too! Thanks again for today!

  • Andrea Says:
    September 9th, 2009 at 9:49 pm

    Marisa I never knew your kitty was named Sophie! Mine too! Hope you got your insurance =)

  • Marisa Says:
    September 10th, 2009 at 11:55 am

    Ah! She’s adorable! What does your Sophie look like? I’m working on the insurance. Have hope after last night though :)

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