Not in the traditional sense of Coach bags and Louboutin shoes, but the sheer financial cost of chronic illness. 

I’m lucky enough to have a great job with really affordable insurance for the whole family, but I can easily meet my deductible in the first six weeks of the year, then the out of pocket by April.

Between eight doctors, twelve prescriptions, four supplements that are doctor ordered, blood tests every 3 months, and a whole host of physical tests including a yearly MRI and the almost obligatory CT scan every time my clumsy ass winds up in the ER (hint: I’m on a first name basis with 90% of the nurses and send Christmas cards to three of the doctors), PLUS durable medical equipment that needs adjusting, replacing, fed, vetted, and appropriately attired, PLUS shoes that fit, PLUS the incidental over the counter stuff like athletes foot cream for my perpetual rash under my brace, I get really expensive, really quick. 

It’s expensive to be chronically ill. Sometimes I sit and look at the stack of receipts for copays and bills for what I need to pay for the deductible, pharmacy receipts, vet bills, PayPal transactions for my dog gear...and realize I could afford a nicer house and a nicer car, better horse trailer, have money for horse shows, the list goes on.

But, my body is falling apart like an old junker car. Hit a pothole just right and a door falls off. The muffler rattles when you hit the gas, and you have a popping noise when you turn a corner. Take it to the mechanic and fix one thing, only to have two more go wrong, and you discover the only thing keeping the muffler on is a rusted piece of wire coat hanger. You keep throwing money at it, but it never really gets any better.

I’m not too big of a fan for analogies, but sometimes it’s the only way for people to really understand. 

So, yeah. Unfortunately I’m high maintenance. I didn’t ask for this, but here I am.

Pleaae note: I probably wouldn’t wear Louboutin shoes if I could. I could have a really supreme horse show outfit for about the same price.