Good attitude Sunny,
You need to move on and live your life, especially if you are young enough to do so, I am near retirement and know my company would love to eliminate me.Luckily I ended up in the hospital and they can't do anything but when I go back I will be on some kind of warning, which started this year. Apparently I'm not performing up to par, wonder why with pneumonia and COPD.

Jazzkeys so sorry you have been in hospital. Companies do not have compassion for loyal employees like they did years ago when I first started working. I guess a lot has to do with the government changes through the years. Hope you get better soon.

Jim,

Thank you for your kind words. You have a way with words! I have read your post multiple times and each time I feel better and know you are right.

Sunny I would keep an eye out and an ear to the ground in case they hire someone else. I'm telling you I fought it and won. In less it is a danger to anyone your 02 is no different than glasses or a hearing aid.
I am too proud (and stupid too) to wear mine at work but that is my choice. I keep a compressor at work just in case. It is your right.

Sunny, I am so sorry that you had to go through this and am praying that the results of your fight will be positive after being treated so shabbily.

I agree with you that Jim's posting is both wise and understanding. And that's no surprise.

I'm glad you have filed for UI and it looks like it's assured. I agree with Jim about looking into getting a lawyer who would take the case on a contingency since it looks like a case of blatant discrimination.

I'm glad you are here too. I feel blessed to be a part of this group of wonderful people. Big hugs, Cindy

I am so sorry to hear about that! Please call your local or state EEOC (Equal Opportunity Commission). It is very illegal for them to fire you based on your health. And since there were many comments, do your best to list them and have them ready. Also call the Disability office. They had a duty to make sure you got disability. What state are you in?? But I would definitely make some complaints with EEOC, or find a local disability group. Even ACLU is a civil rights group you can call to see what rights you have. This makes me so angry that employers think they can get away with this. Plus you have the American's with Disabilities Act law to back you up. I have asthma and that is now considered a disability and so is COPD.

But now with the Affordable Care Act there aree many options, and you should be able to either get SSDI (Social Security Disability) or a high risk pool insurance. It is now illegal for an insurance company to deny you based on pre existing conditions.

Take care and keep us posted. I do like yoga breathing to keep my mind calm. My dad has COPD and it helps him with the anxiety that comes with it. He does chair yoga for COPD.

Here is the Federal EEOC link
http://www.eeoc.gov/laws/types/

Just saw you were in Tennessee. They have the Tennesee Disability Coalition...
http://www.tndisability.org/article/about-coalition

And also here is the Disability Law & Advocacy Center of Tennesee
http://www.dlactn.org/

I cannot believe they fired you for your O2 tank. That is so illegal and cruel. Not ok!!! I'm sorry for all the posts, this is just so wrong. I also agree with signing up for Medicaid, that should help the gap of insurance. But seriously the employer should have to pay something for doing that to you.

wow red, good info!!!

Red, thanks for all the information. I have been reading on the EEOC site and if I understood it correctly, I may have a case if they put someone else in my position. I was also not aware that an employer was not suppose to ask about your health problems. Multiple times I have been asked if the O2 was going to be permanent or if I was going to be able to stop using it. In 2011 I had 3 discs fused in my neck and was out on short term disability, that was the beginning of the discussions regarding my health. I have witnesses to some of the conversations, but they will more than likely not be truthful and it would be hard for me to prove.

Found some insurance on marketplace.gov, not great but at least I can have peace of mind on that issue.

Found a deal to purchase a home concentrator and a portable so I don't have to pay the monthly rental.

Turned the oximeter back in to the clinic today so they can download and read the results. Thanks everyone again for your support.

Yea because of the HIPPA law (enacted in 1996 I think) your helath information is yours alone. Now there are times when it may be in your best interest to tell your employer (i.e. for me Ihad 4 doctors appointments for various ailments that cropped up and i just told my employer Ihad to see a gastro doc after seeing my lung doc, but Ileft out the info on being checked for cervical cancer because I didn't want them to know about that). Anyhow the point being you should be able to give what info you want and what you are comfortable with. I have felt the fear that my numerous appointments will affect my work relations before at a previous job with a supervisor commenting that I was "like an 80 year old lady" or "too young for so many issues". I responded by giving them less info and using vacation time instead. Its unfair and makes me angry that they do this. But EEOC is a good place to start, and it should be noted that most states require you to file a complaint first before you are allowed to sue your employer. So if that's the route you want to go, I would start with EEOC.

Also what I did was hire an attorney referral service to do an employment check. They call your former employer as if they were going to hire you and want to verify past employment. This gives peace of mind when its recorded and you can read what they are saying about you to potential employers. And if they say anything about your health or otherwise illegal you have it recorded in writing and may take futher action as needed. I forgot what Ipaid something like $70 or less...

Good luck! And I'm glad you found insurance!!!!

Well finally got the results back from overnight test. Dr. said O2 only dropped below 90 for 1 minute during the night, so he does not think I need to be on oxygen anymore. I guess that is good news, just nervous that it was based on 1 night. Any insight?

From my experience the sleep tests are accurate. did the dr say how low your 02 dropped in that 1 minute? did you get several hours sleep while taking the test?

What wonderful news that you have gone from moderate to mild & no longer need any 02 even at night now!!!
that is so wonderful & I'm so happy for you
((((HUGS))))

btw; i always get a copy of my tests "just in case" i need them & also so i can review myself to what they say as the dr's always seem to go so fast over them i can't retain all that was said.
so you might want to get a copy of each of the PFT tests & this sleep study while they are "fresh for the gettin'' :)

He didn't say what it dropped to just that it was below 90. I slept about 7 hrs off and on due to waking up and checking what it was reading, usually 91 to 93.

Thanks