• DarthKaren@lemmy.world
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    23 hours ago

    I’m a disabled vet. I’m unemployable. SSDI is the only thing that makes things breathable for us. The only real way I have to make any money on the side is by painting DnD minis, dice towers, or maybe Gunpla commissions. It’s so difficult to do much in a day that it takes me quite some time to paint just a couple minis. Months on a gundam. I just don’t have the stamina to do much in a day. Fatigue is killing me. I’ve got a few painted, but I haven’t had the energy to put them up anywhere yet. I have just as many to paint still.

    Body wide small fiber neuropathy, a central nervous system issue and colon removal really tanked me. Winter (Wa state) and fronts rolling through, even in summer, tank me even more. I think the change in air pressure is what does it.

    A cut in medicare means that I also now have copays. I have tons of doc appointments still. No one can tell me what the root of the issue is, or at least prove it as it’s very likely chemical exposures. All funding that would have led to a “here it is” was shuttered. Regular blood tests due to colon removal. Regular tests due to the fucked up nervous system, which is still progressing 20 years after the last exposure and 18 after it started.

    My wife is a PARA, but we’re in a low income area and PARAs don’t make shit. From my excel math, we can make it by with no SSDI. However, we’ll have absolutely no extra money. No money to replace clothes. No money for home repairs. No money for vehicle repairs. Before you say it, we do need them. Taking public transit is incredibly painful, and shitty at best. Plus I have no energy to do that. I can barely do the appointments I have, even driving myself the only 20 mins, avg, to the various doc appointments.

    I feel like such a waste already. I love math. I love engineering. I love turning a wrench. I love cooking. I can barely do any of it. These assholes seem to think we’re all grifting and “welfare” queens. Sad thing is, there are many more vets in my position. Yet many don’t seem to realize that the GOP hates us. They’ll keep voting for it. Voting for that shotgun to the foot and pleading for more like a gimp gagging daddy for more.