The Detour

When you're young, you have so many hopes and dreams. Life gets in the way, things happen and before you know it you're 52 and struggling to survive. It's like you're on a highway with a big DETOUR sign telling you to go a different way.

In 2013, I left an abusive relationship and came to Dallas because I have cousins here. I am an only child, with no children and my parents are deceased. I am pretty much alone in this world. I was finally able to get insurance and thus began a series of multiple diagnoses, specialists, surgeries. I knew something more was wrong in addition to all the other health problems I was having so I began doing my own research. 

It seemed to me that I might have some sort of immunodeficiency. I found an Immunologist that listened to me and was finally diagnosed with Hypogammaglobulinemia in 2019. Hypogammaglobulinemia is a problem with the immune system that prevents it from making enough antibodies called immunoglobulins. Antibodies are proteins that help your body recognize and fight off foreign invaders like bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Without antibodies, you're more likely to get infections. 

This explained why I was sick all of the time. My doctor fought the insurance company to get immunoglobulin infusions approved. I now receive them every 3 weeks. The abbreviation for these infusions is IVIG since I receive them intravenously, not subcutaneously. 

So what now? I had to miss work every month for infusions, I also missed work due to illness and surgeries (more on this later). Several people suggested that I apply for disability. Simple, right?