Literally No One Asked What Happens Next

I have been dealing with an ongoing medical issue for the past two months.  

Between the doctor and myself, we’re doing our best to handle it, and I have no strong reason, at this point, to think this has become a chronic illness. 

There has been some pain associated with the issue and I’ve coped with that.  However, it’s made me question pain tolerances, pain scales, and what we consider normal. 

Dealing with this issue has taken time and money and introduced significant stress in my life.  

At the same time, I am, for the most part, still able to work and function in a way that at least appears normal.   

I know that I have a considerable amount of privilege.  

I have a steady job, with reasonably decent protections and a strong union.  

I have a sick leave balance—at the moment.  

I have a supportive partner.  

I have access to a doctor and can afford the fees.  

In the scheme of things, I have good reason to expect that this situation will eventually end. 

But I find myself examining my situation and projecting into the future, and it feels decidedly wobbly. 

What happens when my sick leave balance runs out, and I need to start taking intermittent leave without pay? 

What happens when my workplace starts asking questions I can’t easily answer? When will this be resolved? How much more leave will I need? At what point do they decide they may be better off without me?

What happens when my partner is left to hold the household, the finances, his own job, and presumably myself together?  What happens if he finds he actually can’t do it anymore? 

I have a reasonable amount of privilege, and a variety of in-built safety nets.  But from where I stand right now, those nets are looking extremely flimsy.  I can see the bottom, and crashing onto it would drastically change the lives of my entire family.