Re: scha Medical Update: Getting Mad and Getting Even

[Guest guest]

" Schaafsma " <compucruz@y...> wrote:

>

We are including briefs on recent court decisions citing the right

of Lyme patients to sue when their treatment is delayed. One such

lawsuit in another state ended with the jury awarding several

million dollars in damages.

Hi ,

I would make sure your sister emphasizes that somplace on the first page of the

letter. No threats, just stating facts. That will get their attention quick.

Glad to hear you're getting through to some of those lunkheads, and feeling

better at

times. Progess!

d.

> Who says you can't do both?

>

> I posted about some personal setbacks last week, wanted to bring you

> up to date.

>

> 1) I formally initiated an appeal of the adminstrative status

> decision by phone Monday. I spoke for nearly an hour with one of two

> officials who signed the denial letter, and she couldn't even

> explain the decision, let alone defend it.

>

> Yesterday I wrote a blistering, 7 page appeal letter. My sister

> drafted a more measured, concise 3 page version. She is working on

> incorporating the best elements of both into a letter that will be

> faxed to the local Medicaid HMO's offices tomorrow.

>

> Having to do this is of course very frustrating, but in the process

> of clarifying the issues we are also forcing my Medicaid HMO onto

> new terrain, where Lyme disease is concerned. Even if I lose, the

> effort is worthwhile.

>

> We are including briefs on recent court decisions citing the right

> of Lyme patients to sue when their treatment is delayed. One such

> lawsuit in another state ended with the jury awarding several

> million dollars in damages. The patient in that lawsuit appears to

> have been in better shape than I am.

>

> Thanks to those who suggested getting an a non-Lyme diagnosis, and

> reapplying on those terms. First, I want to fight the good fight one

> more time as a Lyme patient, but I will be trying to clarify what

> alternate diagnoses may apply with the new neurologist I see this

> coming Thursday.

>

> 2) I was successful in getting the neurologist's office to seek my

> brain MRI and neuropsychiatric evaluation from UCSF. They called me

> yesterday to announce that they've been promised both items will be

> in their possession before my appointment Thursday morning.

>

> 3) On Monday I faxed an urgent plea for help to my LLMD's office,

> and called the Office Manager there to make sure she got the letter

> to my LLMD. I mentioned all three problems, but emphasized the pain

> specialist seeming to back out of agreeing to see me.

>

> My LLMD phoned the pain specialist, and it must have worked. His

> office called me today to schedule an appointment for next Monday,

> explaining they had heard from my LLMD, and also obtained the

> original radiology reports from my lumbar and cervical MRIs (very

> grizzly, should help them to grasp the reality / severity of my

> pain).

>

> 4) I've had to stop the Diflucan a second time. I am not convinced

> the adverse response I'm having is herx, but whatever it is I can't

> cope with it while I'm trying to manage all this stuff.

>

> 5) It's very, very tricky these days to speculate about cause and

> effect. I started Testosterone at the beginning of March, and IM

> Bicillin exactly one month ago. What's clear is that my symptoms are

> becoming a good deal more variable. The bad days are worse than

> anything I've experienced to date, but the good days are sometimes

> surprisingly good.

>

> 6) Tomorrow I hope to hire a local driver to help me get to doctor

> appointments. My friend Bob is in danger of exhausting his vacation

> days driving me to these things, so this is long overdue.

>

> 7) Why am I posting this at 3am? Unfortunately, something's causing

> the pain in my neck to spike. I was falling asleep sitting up, went

> to bed early, and woke up with spasms at 11, midnight, and a little

> after 1am. *Sighs* Otherwise, I've been bearing up under the stress

> pretty well.

>

> This scha Medical Update has been brought to you by:

>

> Spite Cola. All the sugar and twice the caffeine. Have a cold,

> refreshing glass of Spite today. You deserve it - and so do they.

>

> Thank you for listening. This is Agent Scha, reporting. Over and out.

[Guest guest]

On Wednesday, April 13, 2005, at 06:46 AM, Schaafsma wrote:

> We are including briefs on recent court decisions citing the right

> of Lyme patients to sue when their treatment is delayed.

Any chance we could read this section?

- Kate