07-18-2022, 01:01 PM
out of the emergency room, no insurance. what are my options?
Hello, this has been an emotional few days, so bare with me. I am an 28-year old male, obese and dealing with apnea issues. I've had chronic nasal blockage (breathing though one alternating nostril while the other is heavily congested) for several years now, which has caused me to snore pretty loudly. People who have lived with me have noticed and were constantly worried about me, and while I did previously check with a doctor about potential allergies or sinus issues, things didn't really progress from there.
My sleeping issues have felt pretty mild up until very recently, where I was noticeably getting less and less sleep overall. It came to the point where, very recently, I couldn't breathe or sleep at all. I was self-admitted to the emergency room of my local hospital and told my story. The general conclusion is that I likely have OSA caused by my large tongue falling back into the airways (on top of my previous nose issues). I've been told that fat affects the general area of where OSA happens and that weight loss will help fix up things, though I'm still concerned about my nasal blockage (mostly because I'm unsure if weight loss will help in that regard). I was prescribed an over-the-counter nasal steroid and was referred to an ENT and sleep specialist.
Sounds hopeful at least, but here's where things get complicated. I have no insurance (was removed from my parents' insurance a while back & was recently laid off from my job), and I live in a state where I'm unable to qualify for medicaid or medicare. Even worse, the marketplace options that are available are well beyond what I or my family are willing to pay, due to our collectively low income. This all feels overwhelming and scary, but I'm not ready to give up just yet. Right now, I'm focusing on diet & exercise, but is there anything else I could do?
My sleeping issues have felt pretty mild up until very recently, where I was noticeably getting less and less sleep overall. It came to the point where, very recently, I couldn't breathe or sleep at all. I was self-admitted to the emergency room of my local hospital and told my story. The general conclusion is that I likely have OSA caused by my large tongue falling back into the airways (on top of my previous nose issues). I've been told that fat affects the general area of where OSA happens and that weight loss will help fix up things, though I'm still concerned about my nasal blockage (mostly because I'm unsure if weight loss will help in that regard). I was prescribed an over-the-counter nasal steroid and was referred to an ENT and sleep specialist.
Sounds hopeful at least, but here's where things get complicated. I have no insurance (was removed from my parents' insurance a while back & was recently laid off from my job), and I live in a state where I'm unable to qualify for medicaid or medicare. Even worse, the marketplace options that are available are well beyond what I or my family are willing to pay, due to our collectively low income. This all feels overwhelming and scary, but I'm not ready to give up just yet. Right now, I'm focusing on diet & exercise, but is there anything else I could do?
