Very OT-- Update on situation here and stuff....

Thanks for the update Pati. When my blood pressure rose, as a result of frustrating waiting, the doctor suggested I might go across the country and punch the culprit in the nose!!!! I guess my BP would have gone down languishing in jail >g< I'm really hoping that little by little, chipping away at these setbacks will finally get you in the clear. It must all be such a worry. Keep your chin up when you can - just keep a fist up for those devious left hooks! . In message , Pati C. writes

Pati-

Good luck with the disability lawyer. Filing is a lot of work- my word!- talk about paperwork. It's almost like if you can manage all this paperwork for the application it proves you can hold down a full-time job. And the waiting for an answer is tough, too. I understand exactly what you are saying about ignoring pain. When I hurt the most is when I work the hardest. It's the only distraction that will keep my mind from dwelling on the pain. Sounds dumb to those who haven't BTDT, but 'we' know.

I am keeping all appendages crossed for you- on all fronts.

Leslie & The Furbabies in MO.

Hang in there, Pati. I went through the disability process several years ago. It's not pretty and they always turn you down first go r ound. But appeal by the deadline and you will keep the process rolling. It exciting to consider that you might get some money coming in, but degrading to try to prove that you can't work anymore. I can tell you that you are in good company.

I will keep you in thoughts and prayers, Sunny

An interesting thing about Social Security. I used to work for them as a Claims Representative about 23 years ago. Recently I went with the mom of one of my students. The dad had been killed by a drunk driver and mom with 3 children under 9 had to file for survivor benefits.

When I worked there, you didn't have appointments. You showed up and waited. We now had an appointment. We showed up on time and waited 2.5 hours any way. Then when we were "interviewed" an application that used to take me a half hour to complete and document and take a data review technician 15 minutes to input now took the interviewer almost

2 hours to complete and input - most of that time with us sitting there and him banging away on the computer. When I worked there, we felt that the claimants' time was valuable and only kept them to get information. Anything that could be done behind the scenes was. Payment that used to take 6 weeks to make, still took 6 weeks.

Ahh . . . progress

L>Pati-

Pati, I hope things improve for you soon and that -- at the very least

-- you'll be able to get the meds you need.

it swings both ways, I was very severely injured by medical negligence within the NHS, but despite that, I got far from optimal treatment, ridiculous loop holes seemed to appear all around, I couldn't be referred to both a rheumatologist and an orthopedist at the same time, despite needing both, physiotherapists weren't even allowed to do stuff that could have been helpful and that they were trained to do (go to a private physio in the UK, same training, completely different treatment), the list goes on and on, most of my injuries weren't even evaluated/diagnosed. My husband then got a job in the US, which turned out to have very good medical insurance, the amount of recovery I've gone through in the past year is almost miraculous, time is a factor in that, but mostly it's been access to treatment and I really have a hard time with that, because it's massively unfair that I can get top notch treatment and Pati (who's story I don't know) can't even get any meds to give her some release, but it's ridiculous too how many people in the UK are going through the disability benefits system because of lack of treatment.

Cheers Anne

Good thoughts and prayers still bounding and abounding your way, Pati. Thanks for the update on you and Rick.

Karen, Queen of Squishies

Yes, lots! This was a major goodie bag from my pain management course.

Ah, just to be able to pay for the meds will help enormously.

Fingers crossed that all goes well.

Don't we just! And at the moment I don't have any physical work to get on with, really, and the mental stuff is all at the 'think hard and picture this' stage... No distractions and lots of pain = depression! UGH! Want Alan home!

Same here!

Pick your dentist carefully, Elly. Mine is sometimes cheaper than NHS treatment for the same process because he doesn't have to charge for the stipulated time and the paperwork! If he spots a little thing that needs doing, he can do it there and then and charge only for the materials and the one appointment rather than having to make a second appointment and fill in several bits of paper...

You have an NHS dentist to go for, Elly?! Apparently you have to be on Income support here first! Sally at the Seaside~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~uk

Elly wrote:

Anne, the basic problem with the health insurance program in the US is that it is expensive. We had to drop our insurance because it was over a thousand dollars a month,(and deductible of 2 thousand, plus copays) which we couldn't (and can't) afford. There are thousands of people in the same boat. We dealt with it for well over a year, but that is part of why we are in the financial mess we are in. Sigh. And some rather basic tests weren't even covered... at least a couple of which we found out about after the tests were run. My situation is far from unique, and I know that. But it is very important to me. And I can definitely see the advantage of some sort of national plan that provides at least the basics without charging people an arm, a leg and an eye in addition. Sigh. Don't really want to get into a discussion on the pros and cons of politically sensitive stuff, but it is a dilemma. (And let's not even get started on "Medicaid" and the other equivalents.......)

Pati, in Phx

Anne Rogers wrote:

Pati, during my career days, we had a precious friend whose favorite indoor sport was taking on bureaucracies; Social Security and Workman's Comp were his dearest targets. He beat the stuffing out of them every time. He enjoyed hammering them so much he never charged for representing folks. We want you to be well and soon; we'll pray that God will make it so. Polly

Thank you Polly, and everyone else. Things are beginning to look up. Not sure when I will manage to get back to a doctor for meds and such, but at least we are now able to buy groceries and cat food. And have good hopes for the hearing tomorrow and that the judge will move expeditiously to approve the initial payout of the estate. Sigh. The disability thing will happen when it happens. Have a meeting with the lawyer on Fri. because SS sent some forms that they want filled out. (these are the "what is your average day like and how has it changed" plus additional info forms. Sigh. Since when is there such a day as "average" when you have serious depression plus constant pain at some level???)

Thanks again everyone, it helps to know that I can "talk" it out when I need to without anyone getting upset at me for crying and all.

this is such a great group.......

Pati,in Phx

Polly Esther wrote:

Good to hear that things are looking a bit brighter for you Pati.

Dee > Hopefully I won't ramble too long here. Need to call the Social Security

Pati - I'm sorry to hear that you are having a time of it. Sending good thoughts and warm wishes to you for a quick and speedy resolution on the estate as well as for you to be able to obtain your needed SS disability. Hang in there...

- dlm. in central MA