Re: Social Security and Restarting Treatment

[Guest guest]

Connie

Good Luck on the med's I know you are not looking forward to it but hey

hopefully you will be helping your liver and that is the main goal. It only

took us 3 months to get a hearing date after my husband's 2nd refusal for the

SS and we didn't have an attorney or representation. Good luck on this

project also it is a chore especially when you are not feeling well on top of

it. Make sure you take copies of everything again with you in case as you

said they try to leave some of them out. We had people that knew my husband

before the treatment and during the treatment write letters on his behalf and

that helped him also get approved. Hang in there - hoping things get better

for you.

Winne

[Guest guest]

Connie

Good Luck on the med's I know you are not looking forward to it but hey

hopefully you will be helping your liver and that is the main goal. It only

took us 3 months to get a hearing date after my husband's 2nd refusal for the

SS and we didn't have an attorney or representation. Good luck on this

project also it is a chore especially when you are not feeling well on top of

it. Make sure you take copies of everything again with you in case as you

said they try to leave some of them out. We had people that knew my husband

before the treatment and during the treatment write letters on his behalf and

that helped him also get approved. Hang in there - hoping things get better

for you.

Winne

[Guest guest]

Connie

Good Luck on the med's I know you are not looking forward to it but hey

hopefully you will be helping your liver and that is the main goal. It only

took us 3 months to get a hearing date after my husband's 2nd refusal for the

SS and we didn't have an attorney or representation. Good luck on this

project also it is a chore especially when you are not feeling well on top of

it. Make sure you take copies of everything again with you in case as you

said they try to leave some of them out. We had people that knew my husband

before the treatment and during the treatment write letters on his behalf and

that helped him also get approved. Hang in there - hoping things get better

for you.

Winne

[Guest guest]

Connie

Good Luck on the med's I know you are not looking forward to it but hey

hopefully you will be helping your liver and that is the main goal. It only

took us 3 months to get a hearing date after my husband's 2nd refusal for the

SS and we didn't have an attorney or representation. Good luck on this

project also it is a chore especially when you are not feeling well on top of

it. Make sure you take copies of everything again with you in case as you

said they try to leave some of them out. We had people that knew my husband

before the treatment and during the treatment write letters on his behalf and

that helped him also get approved. Hang in there - hoping things get better

for you.

Winne

[Guest guest]

good luck Connie!

I've got about 2 months worth of meds in my fridge. I'll find out in a few

weeks if I'll be finishing them or if doc takes me off. Not that I think

he'll find any problems, but he almost took me off at 6 mo even tho I'm a 1B

and undetected. Oh well. He was more worried about perm sides of treatment

for me, than the hep. I was more worried about feeling like I'm death warmed

over lol.

Alley/Pat

alleypat@...

http://www.livejournal.com/users/hepatitis_c

" There's no better way of exercising the imagination that the study of law.

No poet ever interpreted nature as freely as a lawyer interprets the truth. "

Giraudoux

[Guest guest]

good luck Connie!

I've got about 2 months worth of meds in my fridge. I'll find out in a few

weeks if I'll be finishing them or if doc takes me off. Not that I think

he'll find any problems, but he almost took me off at 6 mo even tho I'm a 1B

and undetected. Oh well. He was more worried about perm sides of treatment

for me, than the hep. I was more worried about feeling like I'm death warmed

over lol.

Alley/Pat

alleypat@...

http://www.livejournal.com/users/hepatitis_c

" There's no better way of exercising the imagination that the study of law.

No poet ever interpreted nature as freely as a lawyer interprets the truth. "

Giraudoux

[Guest guest]

good luck Connie!

I've got about 2 months worth of meds in my fridge. I'll find out in a few

weeks if I'll be finishing them or if doc takes me off. Not that I think

he'll find any problems, but he almost took me off at 6 mo even tho I'm a 1B

and undetected. Oh well. He was more worried about perm sides of treatment

for me, than the hep. I was more worried about feeling like I'm death warmed

over lol.

Alley/Pat

alleypat@...

http://www.livejournal.com/users/hepatitis_c

" There's no better way of exercising the imagination that the study of law.

No poet ever interpreted nature as freely as a lawyer interprets the truth. "

Giraudoux

[Guest guest]

good luck Connie!

I've got about 2 months worth of meds in my fridge. I'll find out in a few

weeks if I'll be finishing them or if doc takes me off. Not that I think

he'll find any problems, but he almost took me off at 6 mo even tho I'm a 1B

and undetected. Oh well. He was more worried about perm sides of treatment

for me, than the hep. I was more worried about feeling like I'm death warmed

over lol.

Alley/Pat

alleypat@...

http://www.livejournal.com/users/hepatitis_c

" There's no better way of exercising the imagination that the study of law.

No poet ever interpreted nature as freely as a lawyer interprets the truth. "

Giraudoux

[Guest guest]

Thanks Alley, that is one thing you don't forget is

those side effects. I have been trying to sleep and

just having nightmares and laying there so I decided

to get up.......Take Care, Connie

--- Alley/Pat <alleypat@...> wrote:

> good luck Connie!

He was more worried about

> perm sides of treatment

> for me, than the hep. I was more worried about

> feeling like I'm death warmed

> over lol.

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Thanks Alley, that is one thing you don't forget is

those side effects. I have been trying to sleep and

just having nightmares and laying there so I decided

to get up.......Take Care, Connie

--- Alley/Pat <alleypat@...> wrote:

> good luck Connie!

He was more worried about

> perm sides of treatment

> for me, than the hep. I was more worried about

> feeling like I'm death warmed

> over lol.

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Thanks Alley, that is one thing you don't forget is

those side effects. I have been trying to sleep and

just having nightmares and laying there so I decided

to get up.......Take Care, Connie

--- Alley/Pat <alleypat@...> wrote:

> good luck Connie!

He was more worried about

> perm sides of treatment

> for me, than the hep. I was more worried about

> feeling like I'm death warmed

> over lol.

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Thanks Alley, that is one thing you don't forget is

those side effects. I have been trying to sleep and

just having nightmares and laying there so I decided

to get up.......Take Care, Connie

--- Alley/Pat <alleypat@...> wrote:

> good luck Connie!

He was more worried about

> perm sides of treatment

> for me, than the hep. I was more worried about

> feeling like I'm death warmed

> over lol.

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 2/15/01 2:00:08 AM !!!First Boot!!!,

constance_clearwater_florida@... writes:

>

> Well I received my second denial from SS today.

> They feel I could go back into the line of work I was

> in, even though I am getting Long Term Disability from

> my former Employers Inasurance Co. Liberty Mutual is

> going to takeover the case and go directly to step of

> a hearing. They said it will probably be 6-9 months

> before getting a hearing. I guess SS was afraid to

> use the same excuse they used last time. I don't know

> if you all remember but it was: I am very educated

> and also being treated for my Illneses (NOT) and I

> should be able to work in some field because of my

>

Dear Connie,

If you can afford it, go to see a reputable psychologist for a few sessions.

Have he/she write you a letter concerning your state of mind. I might not

have done this on my own, but the Navy demands that you see a

psychologist/psychiatrist if you are diagnosed with a chronic and potentially

terminal illness. My disability went through like greased lightening. The

only thing I didn't get paid for was the months that I was seeing the Army

docotors at Womack. They managed to lose my records , so I couldn't varify

that portion of treatment.

Hope this helps. We'll all be praying for you. Don't let those sides get

you down. Personally, I'm waiting for Roche's pegasys. I can't tolerate

another round of ribavirin. I haven't recovered from the anemia YET. And

I've been off treatment for over a year.

LOL, Anne

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 2/15/01 2:00:08 AM !!!First Boot!!!,

constance_clearwater_florida@... writes:

>

> Well I received my second denial from SS today.

> They feel I could go back into the line of work I was

> in, even though I am getting Long Term Disability from

> my former Employers Inasurance Co. Liberty Mutual is

> going to takeover the case and go directly to step of

> a hearing. They said it will probably be 6-9 months

> before getting a hearing. I guess SS was afraid to

> use the same excuse they used last time. I don't know

> if you all remember but it was: I am very educated

> and also being treated for my Illneses (NOT) and I

> should be able to work in some field because of my

>

Dear Connie,

If you can afford it, go to see a reputable psychologist for a few sessions.

Have he/she write you a letter concerning your state of mind. I might not

have done this on my own, but the Navy demands that you see a

psychologist/psychiatrist if you are diagnosed with a chronic and potentially

terminal illness. My disability went through like greased lightening. The

only thing I didn't get paid for was the months that I was seeing the Army

docotors at Womack. They managed to lose my records , so I couldn't varify

that portion of treatment.

Hope this helps. We'll all be praying for you. Don't let those sides get

you down. Personally, I'm waiting for Roche's pegasys. I can't tolerate

another round of ribavirin. I haven't recovered from the anemia YET. And

I've been off treatment for over a year.

LOL, Anne

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 2/15/01 2:00:08 AM !!!First Boot!!!,

constance_clearwater_florida@... writes:

>

> Well I received my second denial from SS today.

> They feel I could go back into the line of work I was

> in, even though I am getting Long Term Disability from

> my former Employers Inasurance Co. Liberty Mutual is

> going to takeover the case and go directly to step of

> a hearing. They said it will probably be 6-9 months

> before getting a hearing. I guess SS was afraid to

> use the same excuse they used last time. I don't know

> if you all remember but it was: I am very educated

> and also being treated for my Illneses (NOT) and I

> should be able to work in some field because of my

>

Dear Connie,

If you can afford it, go to see a reputable psychologist for a few sessions.

Have he/she write you a letter concerning your state of mind. I might not

have done this on my own, but the Navy demands that you see a

psychologist/psychiatrist if you are diagnosed with a chronic and potentially

terminal illness. My disability went through like greased lightening. The

only thing I didn't get paid for was the months that I was seeing the Army

docotors at Womack. They managed to lose my records , so I couldn't varify

that portion of treatment.

Hope this helps. We'll all be praying for you. Don't let those sides get

you down. Personally, I'm waiting for Roche's pegasys. I can't tolerate

another round of ribavirin. I haven't recovered from the anemia YET. And

I've been off treatment for over a year.

LOL, Anne

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 2/15/01 2:00:08 AM !!!First Boot!!!,

constance_clearwater_florida@... writes:

>

> Well I received my second denial from SS today.

> They feel I could go back into the line of work I was

> in, even though I am getting Long Term Disability from

> my former Employers Inasurance Co. Liberty Mutual is

> going to takeover the case and go directly to step of

> a hearing. They said it will probably be 6-9 months

> before getting a hearing. I guess SS was afraid to

> use the same excuse they used last time. I don't know

> if you all remember but it was: I am very educated

> and also being treated for my Illneses (NOT) and I

> should be able to work in some field because of my

>

Dear Connie,

If you can afford it, go to see a reputable psychologist for a few sessions.

Have he/she write you a letter concerning your state of mind. I might not

have done this on my own, but the Navy demands that you see a

psychologist/psychiatrist if you are diagnosed with a chronic and potentially

terminal illness. My disability went through like greased lightening. The

only thing I didn't get paid for was the months that I was seeing the Army

docotors at Womack. They managed to lose my records , so I couldn't varify

that portion of treatment.

Hope this helps. We'll all be praying for you. Don't let those sides get

you down. Personally, I'm waiting for Roche's pegasys. I can't tolerate

another round of ribavirin. I haven't recovered from the anemia YET. And

I've been off treatment for over a year.

LOL, Anne

[Guest guest]

It only

> took us 3 months to get a hearing date after my

> husband's 2nd refusal for the

> SS and we didn't have an attorney or representation.

Winnie, when he did get approval did they make it all

retroactive except for the normal 5 months they don't

pay? I have ER charges I need to pay and being dunned

for it does not help the situation. I am going to

have to try and make it by on the least amount of

bloodwork I can. I am going to just have to judge on

how bad I feel, how sick I am getting from treatment(I

hope I am able to do it). I have a wonderful caring

Dr here who is helping me and not charging me, but he

is a GP and doesn't know much about Hep C. He is the

one wrote the script for bloodwork and told me to just

go and have it done and to have them bill me. He also

gave me about a months worth of VIOXX, 32, 25mg pills.

He said to take one a day. I really don't see or

rather feel like they are doing that much. You know

anything about VIOXX, and peoples results with the

med? SS has no idea how bad their denials hurt

emotionally do they? Or as a matter of fact, don't

care either..........Thanks Winnie, Connie

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

It only

> took us 3 months to get a hearing date after my

> husband's 2nd refusal for the

> SS and we didn't have an attorney or representation.

Winnie, when he did get approval did they make it all

retroactive except for the normal 5 months they don't

pay? I have ER charges I need to pay and being dunned

for it does not help the situation. I am going to

have to try and make it by on the least amount of

bloodwork I can. I am going to just have to judge on

how bad I feel, how sick I am getting from treatment(I

hope I am able to do it). I have a wonderful caring

Dr here who is helping me and not charging me, but he

is a GP and doesn't know much about Hep C. He is the

one wrote the script for bloodwork and told me to just

go and have it done and to have them bill me. He also

gave me about a months worth of VIOXX, 32, 25mg pills.

He said to take one a day. I really don't see or

rather feel like they are doing that much. You know

anything about VIOXX, and peoples results with the

med? SS has no idea how bad their denials hurt

emotionally do they? Or as a matter of fact, don't

care either..........Thanks Winnie, Connie

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

It only

> took us 3 months to get a hearing date after my

> husband's 2nd refusal for the

> SS and we didn't have an attorney or representation.

Winnie, when he did get approval did they make it all

retroactive except for the normal 5 months they don't

pay? I have ER charges I need to pay and being dunned

for it does not help the situation. I am going to

have to try and make it by on the least amount of

bloodwork I can. I am going to just have to judge on

how bad I feel, how sick I am getting from treatment(I

hope I am able to do it). I have a wonderful caring

Dr here who is helping me and not charging me, but he

is a GP and doesn't know much about Hep C. He is the

one wrote the script for bloodwork and told me to just

go and have it done and to have them bill me. He also

gave me about a months worth of VIOXX, 32, 25mg pills.

He said to take one a day. I really don't see or

rather feel like they are doing that much. You know

anything about VIOXX, and peoples results with the

med? SS has no idea how bad their denials hurt

emotionally do they? Or as a matter of fact, don't

care either..........Thanks Winnie, Connie

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

It only

> took us 3 months to get a hearing date after my

> husband's 2nd refusal for the

> SS and we didn't have an attorney or representation.

Winnie, when he did get approval did they make it all

retroactive except for the normal 5 months they don't

pay? I have ER charges I need to pay and being dunned

for it does not help the situation. I am going to

have to try and make it by on the least amount of

bloodwork I can. I am going to just have to judge on

how bad I feel, how sick I am getting from treatment(I

hope I am able to do it). I have a wonderful caring

Dr here who is helping me and not charging me, but he

is a GP and doesn't know much about Hep C. He is the

one wrote the script for bloodwork and told me to just

go and have it done and to have them bill me. He also

gave me about a months worth of VIOXX, 32, 25mg pills.

He said to take one a day. I really don't see or

rather feel like they are doing that much. You know

anything about VIOXX, and peoples results with the

med? SS has no idea how bad their denials hurt

emotionally do they? Or as a matter of fact, don't

care either..........Thanks Winnie, Connie

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Connie

The system sucks as you know for SS. Yes we got 7 months back pay which

helped us catch up on lab bills and things we just couldn't get paid until we

got that money which was $4,911. Now he receives $728 a month. WE will be

reviewed again in a year which will be in September of this year. Your

doctor sounds like a wonderful man as well as a doctor and ours helped us

with the process also. Be sure and get those letters from people and family

that know you well. The Judge you will find is a lot more sympathetic then

the rest of the system for SS. We were in and out of there in 5 minutes

approved and on our way. I also wrote a letter on my husbands behalf and the

Judge looked at my husband and said is all of theis true and he said yes sir

and that was it. The Judge kept telling me over and over again what a fine

letter it was so I was glad I had taken the time to do it describing the way

he was before we found out about the disease he had and how it had affected

him then and once on the treatment.

The Vioxx has never helped my husband and even in the commercials for it on

TV they tell you it is bad for your liver. My husband tried it at the

beginning of treatment and then the doctor put him on the Vicoprofen. We

just tried it again for 5 weeks since his liver is in remission and it did

not help him again so he quit taking it since it is not good for your liver

and the doctor put him back on the vicoprofen which helps him alot so he can

at least get up and move around and not feel quit like such an invalid.

We know that stress is one of the wose things for the liver and once we got

through the process I know it helped my husband with his stress level. The

Government makes it so hard on you and then with added bills due to the

illness it is hard not to worry and we stressed.

My husband wants to know if you have enough credits to draw the SS if not

that maybe why it is taking you longer to get to the Judge and the hearing.

I make to much money for him to get the SSI so he is on regular SS instead

which is better in the long run.

Good luck Connie - get on those Meds and do what ever you have to to get

through it your SS will come through and then you can catch up then on bills

due to the illness. We are lucky and have great families that helped us also

but it is still hard and stressful.

Your in our thoughts and prayers as everyone on this list is - we have to

stick together to make it through this and hopefully change the way it is

dealt with. Let me know if we can help in any way to get you through this

and answer any more questions you might have on the SS.

Winne

[Guest guest]

Connie

One more thing - the letters that were written on my hubands behalf I would

be glad to send you a copy of them and you would get an idea of what I am

talking about. If you want these send me your address privately and I will

get those out to you - they helped his case a lot.

Winne

rlwinne@...

[Guest guest]

Hi Connie,

Vioxx is an anti-inflammatory, a II

inhibitor. It relieves pain in inflamed joints and in

me it also seems to help with muscle aches too. Why

did he give it to you? If your problem, the reason he

gave them too you, isn't this type of problem then it

may not work for you. It's not a " pain " medicine,

like Vicodin or something along those lines.

Good luck,

Claudine

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Hi Claudine,

It is for the joint and muscle pain that I have. It

seems to work better today. I was wondering if it is

one that works better after taking it for a bit. This

is my 3rd day on it and I do see a difference today.

Thanks, Connie

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

I tried Celebrex (like Vioxx), that didn't work either. None of the

anti-inflammatories really worked for me on the joint pain and stiffness.

Occasionally I'd get a shot of aristacort and that would help.

Alley/Pat

alleypat@...

http://www.livejournal.com/users/hepatitis_c

" We were born to make manifest the glory of God within us "

Mandela