Phew

So, as predicted, the shit did hit the fan last Thursday. The result was one positive and one negative event.


First the positive. About a year ago I started feeling discomfort in my left breast. Eventually the discomfort became pain and I noticed a lump. Due to the fact that I was more than half the time in the US (with no insurance) and in Canada couldn't ever get a timely appointment, and frankly, in part due to the fact that I was somewhat trying to bury my head in the sand I never went to the doctor. Finally after several months I made an appointment with my doctor in Canada. Of course she could not see me until literally two days before I went back to the States for good. She checked me out and said that there was a 'significant lump' but that she was fairly confident that it was probably a harmless cyst.

I explained to the doctor that I was moving to the States in two days and she said that that was fine because it would take literally months to get an appointment in Canada. I told her that it may be months before I could get an appointment in the US too since I would have to wait for our health insurance to kick in. She basically said that it was up to me; that she felt that it was nothing to worry about but that there was no way she could actually tell by looking or feeling alone. I didn't want to risk my health, but financially there was really no other option. So I waited.

Eight days after our insurance kicked in I had an appointment with a lovely new doctor who I liked a lot. She said pretty much the same things as my first doctor and wrote me an order for a mammogram. I had to wait to schedule the appointment because we didn't have the money for the co-pay, we thought. But after a few tense days I called to find out how much the co-pay was and was told that it was free! Yay! So, I scheduled the test.

I had to go alone due to the fact that Paul didn't dare take time off work (see below for the reasons for that). But, everyone was quite nice and it was a really fancy, pretty office and everything. I had the mammogram and was told to wait while a doctor looked at it. After 10 or 15 minutes my tech came back and said that there was a bit of an issue. My left breast was totally inconclusive and would need an ultrasound. And my right breast, which I had had no concerns about, had a big spot on it (which I saw on the X-ray and...geez). I was kind of freaking out but wonder of wonders, I didn't have to schedule a bunch more appointements, they could just do everything there. So, first they did what I think they called a 'spot compression' on my right boob. Ladies, you know how there is that big tray that squashes you for a regular mammogram? Well, this one was just a teeny tray that pressed just one small spot and hurt like a bitch. But, the results were that it was nothing but regular breast tissue. Then they took me to another area to do an ultrasound on the left boob. And that seemed to be okay too. The tech said that it was, in her opinion, 'unusual but not abnormal breast tissue'. She told me not to worry and that my doctor would call with her opinion whether it was just normal tissue or if she wanted me to get a biopsy.

Two days later my doctors office called and told me the results were negative. I was so freaked out that I pulled a George Costanza and said 'that's good, right? So, I'm totally fine and don't have to worry?' The woman laughed and said that that was correct. My doctor feels that probably I should start getting regular mammograms earlier than other women since my breasts are 'extremely dense'. But, all is well. Who doesn't love a happy ending?

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Now here is the story I was going to tell you about our other worrisome issue (with some identifying details changed and a VERY long story made shorter). Paul is a painter's assistant. This is a good job that pays well, but means very long hours and very physical, hard work. It also means that whoever he is painting for is pretty much in control of our lives. Paul's boss (the painter), let's call him #1, liked him a lot but was recently promoted to the position of 'big boss' of the shop. #1 then hired #2, a new painter. #2 immediately gave Paul the impression that he didn't like him. EVERYBODY likes Paul so we were a bit puzzled. Paul tried to talk to him but he remained silent unless he was yelling. Paul became so nervous that he started coming in early and/or staying late almost every day, fearful for his job. Much to our dismay, Boss #1 announced a weeklong vacation and we just knew something was going to happen while Paul's protector was gone. It did.

The very first day of #1's vacation, #2's son began working at the shop. This boy had never worked in a body shop before and did nothing, which was not surprising since his dad did nothing either. A day or two later Paul's co-workers began telling him that they were 'really pissed' for him or 'really sorry' for him. He asked what they were talking about and they said that #2 had been going around telling everyone that he was paying his son out of Paul's salary. Paul went to payroll and was informed that his pay had been cut by more than half. His pay was now 45% of what it had been and the son of #2 was now getting paid as much as Paul (and his dad had given himself a little raise with the remainder). Paul and I discussed what to do and decided to ride it out until #1 came back. But then Paul got his paycheck and #2 had reduced Paul's pay moments before the last weeks payroll had gone through so his check was less than half of what we expected. Paul and I were LIVID! And everyone in the shop couldn't believe it but Paul stuck it out until #1 came back. #1 was furious and gave Paul the money he was owed for the paycheck he had just received, but he couldn't raise Paul's pay again. He told #2 and Paul that they had to get along but #2 would not budge on the money, or on his son working there or on just treating Paul like a human being. So, since Paul is just a painter's assistant and easier to replace than a painter, he lost his job. #1 didn't want to do it, but he had to.

Paul came home an hour later with an interview already scheduled at another place. He showered and changed and headed off to that interview. He came home after 6 on that Thursday with a promise from the guy who interviewed him that he would call him on Tuesday, after the Memorial day weekend. So, we crossed our fingers and spent the weekend updating Paul's resume and sending it to a few places.

This is where the story was going to end. But, something unexpected happened. On Monday night we went to bed with the cordless phone on my nightstand, hoping to be awoken by a job offer. Nothing, though. Paul finally called the office but was told that the guy was out of the office for the day. Bah! The next night we went to bed with the phone beside us again and were indeed woken up at 8:15. Paul nodded a lot and said 'uh-huh' etc. Then 'I'll see you on Monday morning!' I gasped and said 'you got the job?!' 'No', he told me, 'that was #1, the shop is falling apart without me and he needs me to come back'. #2 is still there but Paul is supposed to completely ignore him and go to #1 for anything he needs. And he got his old rate of pay back.

So, Paul was beside himself with happiness. Not only did he get his job back but he got another five days of very, very well earned vacation. Of course, we need the money badly (this fiasco lost Paul a week and a half of pay), but he works SO hard that he needed that break. So, we hope everything will be okay now. The whole thing was odd and we are a bit shocked by it all. But, he's at work and hopefully we will be able to catch up on money soon (and eat something other than ramen noodles!)

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Of course, new concerns immediately replaced the old ones when they got resolved. But, at least I am now assured of my health and we feel confident that we will be able to get back on our feet after a few more paychecks. That's the story, as short as I felt I could make it. Don't you hate it when bloggers do this - Write nothing for two weeks and then write a LOOOONG post? I do.