worried about my heart and spending time in jail.

[blazinspirit]

i have been in and out the hospital all month and most of the month I have been sick at home to the point of not even being able to get out of bed because of my afib and the high ventricular responce rates with chest pain, sob. to make a long story short, I missed a court date that I forgot about from being so sick and I was actually in the er that day that I was suppossed to appear. I have never been in trouble before and now I have a warrent for my arrest, I am going to the court house on the next open court with documents of my ongoing illness and apologys that I didn't realize that I failed to appear. I was told chances are I can be arrested and put in jail. I am afraid cause medications hasn't been working good for me and every little stress sends me into chest pain and arrhythmias and I am on a new drug tikosyn that the doses can't be late, along with other medications. Also I can't defend myself cause of my heart issues and weakness. Will I be taken care of if I am put in jail? I am prayin the judge will be understanding to the fact that I didn't miss court deliberately and my memory and judgement has been greatly affected by my illness.
I have had 22 cardioversion, at least once a month and many surgerys. I am scared to death and unable to work as result of all this. I am afraid of being sick, not recieving my medications on time and being jumped and hurt. Please respond asap!
Oh.. the tikosyn hasn't been working the best for me either.

[Cynaburst]

Are you able to contact a lawyer to help you deal with your legal isssues? I think that you will be able to get that resolved if you show up in court with papers proving that you were in the ER on the date of the scheduled appearance. Here is a link to some places that might help you find low cost representation in your area:

http://www.mcohio.org/revize/montgomery/government/public_defender/services.html

Try to just deal with things one step at a time. Stress is not good for your situation. I am sure things will work out, but you have to slow down and deal with things in a rational manner.

[blazinspirit]

Thank you, I called my doctors office and they are gonna print out my hospital records. I have my id bracelet from that date. I honestly forgot all about having to go back to court from being so sick. I have noticed it has effected my memory in many ways along with my judgement. The last few months seem foggy to me, I don't recall events or things that I normally would remember. I have been in the hospital so much and struggling to deal with a accident I was in, having little money to survive and no transportation. I have been slammed with so much, I hit a breaking point and had a breakdown and have been seeking help from my pastor of my church to get thru all my problems. I can not afford any legal help. I am having hard enough time not ending up homeless or hungry and the county I live in is impossiable to deal with.

[Cynaburst]

All of the links I gave you are to no cost or very low cost legal aid. It would be worth your time to call up some of these places to see if they can help you out. They are there to help those who cannot afford legal representation.

[gfox42]

Heart problems and legal problems are hard to deal with by themselves. Together, they have to be much harder.

The best advice is to NOT deal with them by yourself. Use the links Cynthia posted, and look up "legal aid" in your phone book. You really do have the right to an attorney, and in this case I think the job for an attorney isn't hard -- it's just that they'll know how to handle it, and you shouldn't try to handle it yourself.

Gordon

[Rene' Koenig]

Hopefully everything will work out and you won't have to spend time in jail. Certainly a Judge should understand that you were in the ER due to a chronic health condition.

If worse comes to worse and you have to go to jail, they probably won't have you with the general population. My brother, who also has HCM, is an alcoholic. 6 or 7 years ago, he was in jail and then actually in an Ohio prison for approx. 2 months. They had him in the medical section and had no problems at all, thank goodness. They gave him his meds and he was permitted to lag behind at times on the way to eat, go outside, etc., because he just couldn't walk as fast as the others, due to his symptoms. The only work he had to do was in the library, since he was sitting sown most of the time. He was very symptomatic and felt horrible most of the time.

Anyway, he wasn't in the ER and had no good reason not to show up in court...don't think being drunk qualifies as a good excuse, so away he went. The good news is that he had a myectomy at Cleveland Clinic 6 yrs. ago or so. He was still drinking heavily at the time and Dr. Lever encouraging him to stop didn't make one ounce of difference to him. Dr. Lever was very kind to him and was not one bit judgemental (I always went to the appts. with him). He has now been clean and sober for over 5 years and is on staff at a sober living home for men and has another full time job also. He has totally turned his life around, and I'm so proud of him.

Sorry I rambled on so long! Please let us know how everything works out for you.

Rene'

[Sarah]

Whenever someone doesn't appear in court, they automatically put a warrant out for their arrest. If you have a good reason, which you do, for not being there, you should be fine. However, it really is best to contact your local legal aid society so they can help you.

And pick up a give-away calendar or a super cheap pocket calendar to put your next court date in, and keep it on you. Check it at least every week if not daily. Also ask a friend or relative to remind you when your next court date is, too.

Good luck and keep breathing!

S

[blazinspirit]

I have decided to go it alone tomorrow and turn myself into a open court. I havemy medical bracelet dated that day I missed, along with other hospital test records that was ran on the same day from the hospital. I have a letter from the pastor of my church stating he picked me up from the ER. that day and lawyer papers showing where I am fighting for ssi and some of the doctors notes stating I have been hospitalized multiable times. I don't have transportation to get any where and I know about legal aid in surrounding areas can take forever to see. I am gonna take 25.00 dollors and wish he understands. If not I will sit it out for a week, I hear it's like 100.00 a day to sit. Hononestly I cannot take the stress of waiting any longer, it's causing me more arrhythmias. I will bring my medicine just in case. Wish me luck, tomorrow at 9:30 am.

[gfox42]

Good luck!

Gordon

[Rene' Koenig]

Good luck in the a.m.! Please let us know what happens.

Rene'

[blazinspirit]

Well I turned myself in today and I the judge pardoned me right then no questions asked, how ever I did state before I walked away that I had been sick and in the hospital with proof. My fine is all taken care off.:)

[Cynaburst]

Glad to hear it all worked out.

[progers]

I am very relieved for you that your legal troubles have ended. However, it sounds as though you are quite sick. Have you been diagnosed with congestive heart failure? You memory and confusion problems, coupled with your other symptoms sounds as though you might. You should definately get this checked out, preferably by an HCM specialist or, at the least, a cardiologist that specializes in heart failure. I wish you all the best - you are way too young to be dealing with this - as I am!

Good luck to you,

Paul

[Albert Rutecki]

How did the court date go? I am Rene Koenig's brother the one that went to jail and to prison. I hope you explained to the judge what happened and he should understand. I you do go to jail they will put you in the medial part of the jail and keep a very close watchful eye on you because you are the ward of the state and they did not want any law suits. I hope you don't drink or drug because I know from experience that makes things a lot worse. So don't stress that doesn't help either. IF GOD TAKES YOU TO IT- GOD WILL TAKE YOU THOUGH IT!

[Midge Rollins]

I am glad your court case is over no you can get on with taking care of yourself.

[blazinspirit]

No way do I drink or do drugs.lol
I am not a jail bird never been in trouble in my life, other than a traffic ticket or two. Thank God, and yes I have been diagnosed with CHF, but it comes in bouts. I was having trouble with that about 4 weeks ago and had put on about 10 lbs fast, got lasix for that short time, but now I haven't had no more troubles with that. I have had CHF since I had kids off and on. Most the time I do not need lasix, but since my hearts gotten worst I have noticed that I am loosing my train of thought constantly lately in all conversations and its kinda scaring me.