What to do where to go

[atydev]

Hello everyone,

Been awhile since I have been around. I am sooooo tired much of the time and my daily activities are getting fewer all the time. I went back to my cardio at LSU in Shreveport on wendsday. He is scheduling me another TEE and refering me to the surgen. There has been a third leak found. My mitral valve and my aortia is leaking in 2 places now. Well, what I am getting at is I got my appointment for the surgen and it is not untill August 25th. I am to tired and frustrated to wait that long. The 3rd leak occurred in the last 6 wks. This seems to be getting to be more crucial of a situation so why are they waiting so long. I was told the surgens in Shreveport could not do the surgery since it has now become such a delicate situation. They are going to refer me to New Orleans. Well, if I am not to see the surgen in Shreveport untill late August then how long will I have to wait till I see the one's in New Orleans. I have no insurance now and can not afford to just go to any doctor and tell them to take over. What can I do. My disability is still in appeal and even if they approve it this time that does not mean I will be able to get medicade to pay the bills. Anyone with any suggestions would be great.

Thanks
April

 

[Granbonny]

April

April

Tell your Cardio...to refer you straight to New Orleans. Perhaps, someone at Tulane Medical School?Don't wait another 6 months.... There are many people in America having babies..no insurance...And we are paying for them. Just not fair. Check around...Bonnie

 

[Ross]

April what type of disability have you applied for, SS? If so, do you have an attorney working on your case? If so, he needs to file for an expediated decision based on medical evidence now suggesting your entry into a critical state. If that is approved, State Medicaid will have to pay for the time being, at least that's the way it works up here. You may need to contact your Congressmans office to get the red tape removed from the door way.

 

[atydev]

Thanks

Thanks

Ya know I was thinking the same thing about contacting my Senator. I know it would have been a long shot but that is all I knew to do. Yes I do have a lawyer that filed my appeal on SS but from what SS is telling me my court date for my appeal is not till sometime in April. That is not to long from now but I want answers now. I have been down since June of last year ever since I got endo. and had the stroke I have not been able to work and I have been losing stamina ever since. ENOUGH is Enough. When I had insurance I had no problem getting the care I needed now no one cares if I live or die. There is no dispute my heart is getting worse but no one is doing anything about it. Thanks again.

April

 

[bethanne]

Hi April,
I am sorry you are going through this. I feel like you need an advocate. Someone to speak up for you. Do y'all have that type of thing in Louisiana. Here in the Houston area through our tv stations we have several. Probably the most famous one is Marvin Zindler, eyewitness news... He has stepped in and has cut the red tape for medical as well as financial issues for alot of people. And now several of the other stations have their own investigative reporting...

April is not that far away. Once your court date is here and you have a ruling I would think things should happen faster for you.
I am assuming you are gathering the info you need (along with lawyer) to prepare a strong case for the hearing.

Glad you are here and keep venting it helps

 

[atydev]

I don't know

I don't know

I am not sure if there is some type of advocate if there is how would I find them? I am getting my medical records and that is all I know I need for my court date. Do you know anything else I need to do to prepare for my court date? Anything I need to insure that SS does not turn me down again. I would think my medical records speak for themselves but they didn't do such a good job the first time around. It is not a guarentee that if I get SS I will get a medical card but I pray I do because I am being ****** around at the charity hospital in Shreveport. I want and need a second opinion. Thanks

April

 

[Ross]

Social Security Disability is the pits to get on. It took me 2 1/2 years before my case was finally approved. Once it's approved, there must be a 6 month period between when they find you as being disabled until your eligible for Medicare. You may be close to that time now just waiting. It depends on how they rule though.

My best advice is to get that attorney to see if he can speed it up any and if not, call your congressmans office and explain the situation. For some reason, they listen to congressmen.

Some people get approved immediately (Seems like the ones that don't need to be on it!) and then there are those of us that they jerk around forever hoping we'll drop the case or die before they hear it.

I'm not educated in your case, but if you'd care to email the details and such, I can see if there is anything else you can do or take to make this case be approved. It is very hard to get approved if they've denied you thus far. I'm not trying to discourage you, I'm only telling you from what I went through.

Did you want me to make your picture your avatar under your name?

 

[bethanne]

April,
I would encourage you to take Ross's offer. He is very knowledgeable. I do not have experience in your situation.

I did however go through a difficult child custody case 5 yrs. ago. At first when I was just trusting the system I wasn't doing very well. My brother in-law got involved and showed me how important that I participate in my defense. As good as attorneys are they are most knowledgeable about the law. You know more than anyone what your symptoms are saying and the more knowldeable you are about your condition, well it speaks volumes to your legal defense. Sounds like Ross's suggestion of contacting a congressman is good advice.

You need to support your insticts by research so you can feel more confident about what you are feeling. Emotions by themselves without facts and tangible information just label you or me as "an emotional case". You are more than that.

Ask questions, and read through the forums here. There are valuable links in the resource forum.

Keep in touch... and remember don't settle for less than you deserve.

 

[atydev]

Thank you

Thank you

Thank you I am doing just that and I did send my senator an email right after Ross suggested that. I am doing as much reading as I can. Although I am now getting somwhat tired and will be going down for my daily nap shortly, but I will be back after that to do some more reading. I know how I feel and no one can tell me any different. My lawyer my doctor anyone. It stinks that I get dizzy. chest pains are almost a constant thing, I stay nervous all the time. I can feel my heart beating in my eyes and neck. I am tired I get out of breath just sweeping my floor. I forget things due to the stroke. The symptoms are long. Thank you for the encouragement.

April

 

[bethanne]

You go girl. It can be overwhelming and a lot to absorb so make sure you take care of yourself and rest!

 

[xtremlee]

Alot of hospitals have charity funds and programs. I would call the hospital and ask if they have such a thing there.

 

[Nan]

My heart goes out to you! I don't have any answers, but want you to know that I am thinking about you and hoping for the best. Hopefully in April you will get the SS. I do know that many times they deny almost automatically the first application, but many times on appeal the applicant is successful. I certainly hope that is the case with you.

Best Wishes!

 

[atydev]

Thanks

Thanks

Thank you all for the encouragement. I have been busy on the phone trying to get some answers form someone. I did get my TEE scheduled for March 18th then the next step is to get my referal to the surgeon, so he can refer me to New Orleans. When that is done I should have a date for my surgury. I am so ready to feel normal or at least better than I do now. Thanks everyone

April

 

[catwoman]

April:

Bethanne may have a good idea: There are reporters who would love a human interest story of the underdog fighting the system. And readers/viewers always root for the underdog. And public officials read the papers -- if they don't, they do have employees who do so for them.

Find the largest newspaper near you and a good TV station reporter. You live between Monroe and Shreveport, so the papers are the Monroe Star? World? (can't remember) and The Times in Shreveport, which is the larger of the two. I was a copy editor and sections editor at The Times in 1976-78; it's owned by Gannett Corp. and I think the Monroe paper is too. Gannett owns USA Today and a lot of papers across the U.S. If one paper has an exceptionally great story, the editors put it out over the Gannett News Service. At least, they used to.

Watch the various TV stations, see what stories different reporters gravitate toward.

Before contacting the media, sit down and write everything you can about yourself: Age, occupation, family info, when your health took a nosedive and why, what you were like before this, why you have no insurance, what the health system is doing to you because you have no insurance, what delays in medical attention can mean to you. Get written copies of your medical records and tests so you can give correct medical terms; look up those terms in a medical dictionary or go on line (heartcenteronline.com is a good starter) so you can explain the condition to the media.
If you have a friend who is very calm and collected, have him/her be with you when you are interviewed. I would strongly advise this for anyone being interviewed by the media unless you're very articulate and can "read" the interviewer.

Beth: I didn't know Marvin Zindler was still working. I remember his stories from the mid-1960s in Houston. Wasn't he the one who busted the "Chicken Ranch" with his stories?

 

[atydev]

Thanks

Thanks

I think I will do just that. I do need someone to be with me ever since I had my stroke last summer I stay nervous all the time. Thank you for that.

 

[carlapv]

Protection and Advocacy

Protection and Advocacy

April,
The Louisiana Protection and Advocacy Office provides information and advocacy services to people in your state who are disabled. They will have someone there who can answer all your questions regarding SS. Also you may want to ask questions about Medicaid. Eash state administers Medicaid differently, so there may be a way to qualify for it now. Medicaid is a program for low income people as well as people who are disabled. You can reach the Advocacy Center at 800-960-7705.

Good luck, my thoughts are with you!!

Carla

 

[Marty]

Rec: Medical School Teaching Hospital

Rec: Medical School Teaching Hospital

April, When I was at Indiana University Medical Center we accepted referrals from all over the state for "interesting" patients. I bet they do this in Louisiana too.

 

[atydev]

Great

Great

You guys never cease to amaze me with the info I am able to get here. Thanks I will call the 800 # you gave me and will try some of the other hospitals here.