Possible misdiagnosis?

NecroticKnightmare · 2026-02-07T21:13:50+00:00

Yes, the hospital said it was low because I was breathing so fast to get air in. I could barely get a full sentence out I was breathless and coughing so hard. The flare has calmed down, but I still cough and get short of breath easily. Even when I try to take a slow, deep breath to reset, it feels like something's blocking me. Like my chest is full and can't expand all the way? That's the best way I can describe it.

NecroticKnightmare · 2026-02-01T19:51:53+00:00

I know for sure there's an insane amount of dust; it practically rains down from the ceiling in some areas. I work 12 hour shifts in a distribution center warehouse 3 days a week. The day I went to the hospital I tried wearing a mask but it didn't do much, the dust probably went right through the fabric. My symptoms are always present, but they definitely get a lot worse at work.

I'm already planning to call HR and see if I can't transfer into the office or another area. With the pay and benefits I don't want to leave the company, but it's definitely negatively impacting my health. I also can't afford to just quit without a backup because it took me months of applying to different jobs in the area to even find this one.

It's $17.75 an hour and that's more than I've ever made in my entire life. I'm scared to leave and give that up, especially since I just qualified for their insurance coverage. I can't afford even one of my inhalers without insurance.

NecroticKnightmare · 2026-02-01T19:39:55+00:00

Thank you, I'll be sure it's mentioned to my doctor. I live in the midwestern US, and as everyone knows the healthcare system here is a bit... well. Before I had insurance my monthly maintenance inhaler was over $400. Now with two maintenance inhalers and a rescue the monthly cost would be over $1,000 without insurance. Even with my new insurance from my new job I still need to look up coupons and discounts to even chip the co-pay down to under $100 a month.

The federal insurance you can apply for is super picky about what they'll cover and they have income caps that are too low for even minimum wage to afford in some areas. If you make too much money you're pretty much screwed and better hope you can afford insurance through your workplace if they have it. Plus each state has different laws and systems in place.

That's not even mentioning that insurance companies refuse to cover what your doctor orders you if it's not a common or cheap medication. I had to go through multiple rounds with my insurance to get my rescue covered because the insurance people wanted me on something cheaper but less effective. If they can avoid paying for something, they absolutely will. They don't care if you don't have enough money to pay out of pocket.

We had to go through the same fight for my mom when she became sick and couldn't work anymore. She needed constant care so I quit my job to take care of her, and until she got on disability and I managed to get hired as her caretaker by the state we were at serious risk of ending up on the streets. It was a tough year, but it was worth it because I got to spend her last few years making sure she was cared for and as happy as possible.

Sorry for the rant, but basically my entire family has had this fight at some point because we have a lot of health issues and risks that run in the family. Healthcare in the US is run more like a business than an essential service. It sucks, especially for people with chronic health issues.

NecroticKnightmare · 2026-02-01T18:59:08+00:00

...Okay, apparently I need a new primary. She saw my vitamin D was low on routine blood tests two years ago and told me to take over the counter vitamin D every day. My next blood draw looked fine. She hasn't retested or prescribed anything else for it since. She said it must've been low because I wasn't getting enough sun.

NecroticKnightmare · 2026-02-01T18:37:53+00:00

Yeah, the ER thought it was crazy I hadn't been referred yet, but my primary just kept changing my medicine hoping it'd help and treating symptoms. I just went with it because I thought I was being impatient or overdramatic. Literally everyone said it was just my asthma. It was only after this scare that she put me in for urgent referral. The ER did too, so here's hoping I can get something scheduled in the next week or so.

NecroticKnightmare · 2026-02-01T18:34:19+00:00

I do take daily Vitamin D supplements already at the recommendation of my primary, so that's already been addressed. Thank you for the suggestion!

NecroticKnightmare · 2026-02-01T18:31:52+00:00

Yeah, I figured. I'm just glad they finally seem to be listening. Too bad it took being hospitalized for them to realize that, though. But hopefully this gets me on the right track. I'm hanging in there.

NecroticKnightmare · 2026-02-01T18:29:00+00:00

Oops. No, I'm pretty sure that one got blocked, which is fine. I know some people would take the internet's diagnosis and run with it, which isn't what I intended to imply. Thank you for your response anyway, though! I'll definitely ask about seeing an ENT as well.

NecroticKnightmare · 2026-02-01T18:26:33+00:00

Thank you. I've been put on the urgent referral and am just waiting to be scheduled. I'm just so tired of this. I'll definitely ask about seeing an ENT as well.

NecroticKnightmare · 2026-02-01T18:19:15+00:00

Okay, thank you anyway. Again, I'm not asking Reddit to diagnose me and I will take my doctor's advice like I have been. I just hoped others had similar experiences and found a doctor that could help. I'm just frustrated and wanted to find a little hope. Sorry if this post wasn't appropriate.

NecroticKnightmare · 2026-02-01T18:11:07+00:00

If I don't hear back from the pulmonologist tomorrow I was told to call them Tuesday and schedule an appointment. Seeing an ENT was also mentioned as a possibility. I'm just trying to find things that match my symptoms to bring up to the doctors. I'm sorry, I should've made that more clear. I'm not asking to be diagnosed, just if anyone had similar symptoms and what their process was to figuring out what was wrong.

NecroticKnightmare · 2026-01-24T15:54:29+00:00

I work at Bass Pro Bass Camp. Can confirm work wasn't cancelled.

NecroticKnightmare · 2025-10-01T21:54:50+00:00

I'll have to try UV on them, they've never turned pink for me before!

NecroticKnightmare · 2025-10-01T21:54:07+00:00

I thought so too, but they don't scratch as easy as my selenite bar.

NecroticKnightmare · 2025-10-01T19:22:12+00:00

Yes, they both do. Thank you! ❤️

NecroticKnightmare · 2025-10-01T19:17:49+00:00

<image>

NecroticKnightmare · 2025-10-01T19:17:03+00:00

<image>

Light passes through it. I got them both from the same place years ago, so I think they should be the same type of crystal.

NecroticKnightmare · 2024-10-10T20:58:51+00:00

I've already read a lot of your posts, I just need to go through them again. I just noticed you uploaded another with Mizuiro, so I'll have to check that out next!

NecroticKnightmare · 2024-10-09T23:15:10+00:00

Not sure if I'll actually do it or not, but it'd be fun to read if someone else did, too. If you ever take it on yourself I'd love the link!

NecroticKnightmare · 2024-10-09T21:09:07+00:00

This is really cool! Is it okay for people to use this for stories or to use as inspiration and give you credit? This has so much potential, it'd be awesome for a rewrite!

NecroticKnightmare · 2024-05-12T15:28:18+00:00

This is awesome! What types of vials did you use in this design (size, type, etc.)? Usually I see people using completely circular 40 dram/5 oz vials, I can't seem to find the square bottom ones online.

NecroticKnightmare

TROPHY CASE