Hi Beth,
I'm sorry that you have had to go back to work and are not well. I can relate to what you have said about you FMLA running out. I was forced to go on FMLA at the beginning of the year and my boss (pretty much) said that when I came back, I needed to be well enough to NOT miss anymore work! I ended up resigning and lost my insurance??
If you had to resign would you qualify for Medicaid? I didn't because my household income was too much and so I am waiting to be put on my husband's insurance. Are you married? If so, could that be an option if you resigned? To be added to that insurance.
I would check with your Human Resources about all of the options available to you (i.e. COBRA, etc). I wish the FMLA was longer but it isn't. 12 weeks gets used up quickly when you have an illness like this! Maybe your employer would work with you to let you work some from home?
Since I was forced to resign, I applied for Disability and was awarded it but I didn't know that it is a federal law that you have to be disabled (i.e. without work for 5 full months) before receiving benefits.
I know with your pain, you need insurance and medical treatment and, with Disability, you don't get Medicare benefits for 2 years after the Disability.
I really don't know what your particular options are but I certainly would
research EVERYTHING before you resign and lose insurance (if you choose to do that). For instance, if you are married, the spouse will have a short window to add you to any medical insurance they have (I missed that window and am now having to wait till January). You could check Medicaid (again, you will have to meet income guidelines.)
If, at some point, you do have to resign because of your health, I would apply for Disability right away and be VERY descriptive on the tons of paperwork. I even put on the paperwork that I could not do dishes because I couldn't stand long enough (that happens when you have no pain management except OTC meds). Otherwise, be prepared to appeal because it is very hard to get Disability awarded. I was so glad when I got my award letter the first time around.
I know this doesn't help you much now. :(
I wish I could give some advice about the shunt but cannot. I want your pain to be managed! I would recommend getting refills on your prescriptions in case, for some reason, you have to resign.
I wish I could help more. I'm sure someone else will have something more valuable for you. But I do think I saw that it is your birthday on Sep 1.