Guest guest Posted July 27, 2004 Report Share Posted July 27, 2004 Hi Donna, We all get tired of fighting... tired over unpaid bills, Drs. appts, meds, etc. I'm glad that you are going to see your Dr. about some help with the moods and feelings you are having. I hope, too, that you are able to go back to work. I know how difficult it must be not to be able to do so right now. At some point, if you feel you may be able to do a different job, that might have to be an option. I am training for a new career in the anticipation of not being able to run my business at some point. Well, I'm trying to train.. I am having trouble finding the energy to do it after work.. I hope things start looking up for you and that you start feeling better. Hugs, Jo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 27, 2004 Report Share Posted July 27, 2004 Donna, You are not alone. My husband and I just had to file bankruptcy and we are still in the hole and overdrawn at the bank. Have you thought about trying for Social Security? I finally did and had no problem getting it. I sure hope things will look better for you soon. Take care Kim -- Im tired of fighting *sigh*Its been one of those days. Playing phone tag with drs offices, u/r nurses, workers comp payment people and specialists offices. To top it off I'm in AIM with hubby who is starting to freak over finances and lack there of. What can I tell him other than Im sorry...I know that we are having financial problems...I can see the checkbook, I know what bills there are but Im helpless to do much other than wait things out, hope for the best with injections that are upcoming and try to muddle through. Im hoping each day brings me closer to returning to work. If I did any other kind of work I COULD return to work but I dont, this is the job I chose and unfortunately my facility isnt doing much to help me return even under a different job! So instead of being able to come up with a viable solution, Im here with tears in my eyes and once again no one that seems to understand how frustrated I AM...its no joy, no picnic not to enjoy the things I do during the summer months, to cringe over loud noises, to have my fingers ache like Im 100 yrs old and to have my muscles in my arms so weak I cant hold a 2 pd weight in my hands!I'm trying to keep in the positive mood I remind others of but Im not feeling positive at the moment. I feel fear, pain, frustration and sadness. I wont say Im sorry about venting here as I know that its a no no but it seems I post here more often than I care to when I hit rock bottom.I've never had a thought of needing psychological treatment or depression meds but this has put me at that point I believe. I can't handle these feelings on my own, I cant deal with not knowing the future, whether I'll be able to return to work, Im afraid for my family's financial future and all of this has been balled up in my mind for too long.Thank you for listening to me once again babble on. I'm off to figure out how to salvage what we have left in the checking account and try and get an appt with my PCP for some mood meds :)LoveDonna Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 27, 2004 Report Share Posted July 27, 2004 Have you thought about > trying for Social Security? I finally did and had no problem getting it. Can I apply for Social Security even though I am going through workers comp? I'm so depressed at this point and I have no idea what to do. Im aggrivated and frustrated and at a loss as to where to turn next. Donna Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 27, 2004 Report Share Posted July 27, 2004 > I hope, too, that you are able to go back to work. I know how difficult it must be not to be able to do so right now. At some point, if you feel you may be able to do a different job, that might have to be an option. I'm quite capable of doing some sort of employment just not the job I was hired for originally and my employer isnt willing to give me an alternative job at the same pay rate right now. Which I think is silly cuz they are having their insurance company pay me for staying home. > I am training for a new career in the anticipation of not being able to run my business at some point. Well, I'm trying to train.. I am having trouble finding the energy to do it after work.. What type of job training are you doing now? I'd love to do some sort of office job or something like that. > I hope things start looking up for you and that you start feeling better. Me too Jo, me too. Thank you for your encouragement. Hugs Donna Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 28, 2004 Report Share Posted July 28, 2004 Hi Donna, I am training to do medical transcription. I know lots of the terms! LOL I am a fairly good typist, still so it should be OK. I keep hoping that my hands cooperate with me for a few years! There are many things you can do at home, or in an office. I am doing an online course, but you can take courses at colleges, etc. Hope you are feeling better today. Hugs, Jo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 28, 2004 Report Share Posted July 28, 2004 > Hi Donna, > I am training to do medical transcription. I know lots of the terms! LOL > I am a fairly good typist, still so it should be OK. I keep hoping that my > hands cooperate with me for a few years! Thats aweseome Jo. Im taking an at home course for medical assitant. I'm almost done with the course, I think I have 4-5 more lessons. But I dont know how long I'll be able to work as one once I complete this course. I also dont know if since Im dealing with w/c I'll be able to apply for a new job. Hugs Donna > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 28, 2004 Report Share Posted July 28, 2004 Like Jo, I'm going to be training for a different kind of job here within the next 2 months hopefully. I'm on the waiting list for Vocational Rehabilitation. If you go to your Local Job Service, ask them about where the nearest Vocational Rehab is at......and, once you go, they will have you fill out a few papers, and you'll have to go to an Orientation that lasts about an hour. While there, they will let you stand, sit, walk around, lay down, whatever you might need to do if you can't sit there that long. Then, depending on what State you are in, like here in Iowa, I am on a waiting list that all depends on how disabled you are. Severely Disabled, you are only on the list for maybe a month, Moderately Disabled (which is where I'm at), 4 months wait, and the rest are last, waiting 8 months before getting off the waiting list. Once you are off the list, if you want to start your own business, they'll send you to a class that has the "teacher" who is someone that is someone who is an expert on starting a home based business/any business, but works for the State........and, they'll pay you like $25,000 to start your own business. If you want to go back to college to get whatever you need, or go for the first time, the State will pay for the college tution, books, milege, and if needed, Transportation. They will also help you with getting a Vehicle, wheel chairs, or anything else medically needed if you desperately need it. But, either way, they will train you in how to do a different job if you are unable to go back and do what you was doing, including getting a degree for a job better than what you had.......like, if being the boss of what you was doing is easier, they'll help you get that job if it's open. Plus, they will help you FIND a job after you get all of the training over if you don't want to start your own business! Tonia -------Original Message------- I am training for a new career in the anticipation of not being able to run my business at some point. Well, I'm trying to train.. I am having trouble finding the energy to do it after work..I hope things start looking up for you and that you start feeling better.Hugs,Jo ____________________________________________________ IncrediMail - Email has finally evolved - Click Here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 28, 2004 Report Share Posted July 28, 2004 -------Original Message------- and try and get an appt with my PCP for some mood meds :)LoveDonna=========================================== Donna, I also wanted to mention that your Primary will only be able to prescribe a month or two of Antidepressants....at the beginning dose. After that, you will have to find a Psychiatrist or Psychologist to take over that aspect of your medical care. I've been on Antidepressants since Oct. 99......off and on....and, each time I've had to go to my Regular Doctor, I've had to start back on the beginning dose and then go find a Psychiatrist to take over so that if the doses needed raised, or I needed any other kinds of meds that they can prescribe (Anti-depressants, Anti-seizure, Anxiety), then they would. Good luck, and don't worry, quite a few of us gets that same feeling when we look at the bills and the checkbook.......like it's a hopeless case no matter how long you look at them. Tonia ____________________________________________________ IncrediMail - Email has finally evolved - Click Here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 28, 2004 Report Share Posted July 28, 2004 Good luck, and don't worry, quite a few of us gets that same feeling when we > look at the bills and the checkbook.......like it's a hopeless case no > matter how long you look at them. *sigh* I'm procrastinating when it comes to this. I so dont want to take anything, I want to work it out on my own but deep inside I know Im losing the ability to do that. Im trying to come up with the words to explain to this little Armenian guy that I am really having a hard time. I keep hoping somewhere in my twisted little mind that Im going to go to sleep and wake up in the morning and this nightmare will be over. I'm only 35 and in my mind I keep saying it cant be happening, Im young and should be able to fight this! But yes I do live in reality, I KNOW its not going anywhere for the moment and I KNOW I need the help to deal with it. The checkbook...HAH! I just looked at it..there is $4.00 in there right now and here I am being relived that at least its not negative LOL and I get my check tomorrow...I spent time on the phone yesterday with the people in charge of my checks and got them to start adjusting my checks to reflect the date I left work and not the original date of injury as I worked fulltime since october with the injury, never took time off for it and followed all the instructions I was given. She said it was special circumstances...however that doesnt help me this week and all the bills..just thankful it was a 5 week pay period for me and a 3 week pay period for hubby (he gets paid every 2 weeks) Anyway..enough rambling... Hugs Donna Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 28, 2004 Report Share Posted July 28, 2004 > I'm going to start focusing on that. I NEED to do something, if for no other reason than to feel like Im contributing, right now, I dont. I mean, I maintain my home, do laundry, clean and cook but some days even thats a chore, like today...Im sore from therapy yesterday and the weather isnt helping. Anyway, I'm going to go on the mass webiste for w/c and see what they have to say, then I'll contact UR and find out where I can go to get into this type of program. Thank you guys Donna Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 28, 2004 Report Share Posted July 28, 2004 Hell, you are doing more around the house than I do! lol. I can start cooking something, but then Gene has to take over and finish it for me..... I can do laundry to a point.....like putting it into the washer and starting it, but when it comes to taking it out and putting it in the dryer and then taking it out and folding it and putting it away...forget it. I can't bend over to get the clothes in and out of the dryer, and I can't hold my arms up long enough to fold the stuff. It's not like it stays folded once it hits the girls' rooms anyways.......it either gets thrown into a drawner or into the bottom of the closet or just on the floor until they wear it, and then it ends up back on the floor! I don't know how they can figure out which is clean and which is dirty once they get done! I haven't got a clue as to what UR is.......I dealt with W/C, but, I was only working Road Construction, not in anywhere that had big offices and such. The only place that I know that really can tell you anything about Vocational Rehab is Job Service.... BUT! Don't do anything about Vocational Rehab until AFTER your W/C case is over!!!! Otherwise, you'll get screwed out of whatever money/medical you are entitled to from W/C because going to Vocational Rehab will show them that you are capable of working still. So, wait until the case is over, and your doctor's have shown them that you are unable to work doing what you was doing......and released you, before you go..... Tonia -------Original Message------- > I'm going to start focusing on that. I NEED to do something, if for no other reason than to feel like Im contributing, right now, I dont. I mean, I maintain my home, do laundry, clean and cook but some days even thats a chore, like today...Im sore from therapy yesterday and the weather isnt helping.Anyway, I'm going to go on the mass webiste for w/c and see what they have to say, then I'll contact UR and find out where I can go to get into this type of program.Thank you guys :)Donna ____________________________________________________ IncrediMail - Email has finally evolved - Click Here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 28, 2004 Report Share Posted July 28, 2004 Donna, Just be thankful that you are still getting checks from W/C!!! I was injured Oct. 11, 2000, finally started getting checks on 11/21/00, and they quit sending me everything as of Dec. 31, 2000. They stopped sending me checks, they stopped paying any medical bills, even to the doctors that THEY sent me to......and mileage. All because I finally told them that I had a lawyer. I had one the whole time actually....but, the lawyer told me to NOT tell them that I had one........until one day, I answered the phone, listened to the idiot from W/C on the other end b8tch me out and kept going for an HOUR! It was then, I finally told her to stick it up her butt, and she could complain to my lawyer all she wanted, gave her his phone number, and hung up on her! That was the last check i received from them. I went from 12/31/00 to 8/03, without a single thing from them......then, my lousy lawyer decided to settle for a measly $25,000, no medical, nothing. THEN, even though he didn't do a damn thing......the first lawyer and I did all of the work........he took $10,000 of it for himself! And, after paying some of the medical bills, getting my car fixed, and buying school clothes for the kids.....I was flat broke again within 30 days. Let me Rephrase that.....I didn't get the check until Sept last year......it took a month before I could actually get it from the lawyer's office. Something about they had to wait for the W/C check to clear at the bank before I could get my share of it. So, don't always believe that those checks will be there.....trust me. they can stop them without saying a word to you! Tonia -------Original Message-------The checkbook...HAH! I just looked at it..there is $4.00 in there right now and here I am being relived that at least its not negative LOL and I get my check tomorrow...I spent time on the phone yesterday with the people in charge of my checks and got them to start adjusting my checks to reflect the date I left work and not the original date of injury as I worked fulltime since october with the injury, never took time off for it and followed all the instructions I was given. She said it was special circumstances...however that doesnt help me this week and all the bills..just thankful it was a 5 week pay period for me and a 3 week pay period for hubby (he gets paid every 2 weeks)Anyway..enough rambling...:)HugsDonna ____________________________________________________ IncrediMail - Email has finally evolved - Click Here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 28, 2004 Report Share Posted July 28, 2004 > Hell, you are doing more around the house than I do! lol. I can start > cooking something, but then Gene has to take over and finish it for me..... I have to stick to simple meals, something that can be tossed on the stove without much preparation otherwise I cant complete it. This frustrates me to no end cuz I love to cook and prepare soups, chicken pies, etc. > I can do laundry to a point.....like putting it into the washer and starting > it, but when it comes to taking it out and putting it in the dryer and then > taking it out and folding it and putting it away Laundry sucks, but I have to do it..everyone else is working 40+ hrs with me home, it takes me 3 times longer to do but it does get done if I do it every day. My muscles ache from folding and by the time I get done I'm having to take a few tylenol to ease back the aching. UGH > > I haven't got a clue as to what UR is U/R is ultilization review..they are basically the backbone of everything I rely on from approved treatments to my weekly check. We are on a first name basis by now because of all the times I've had to followup on things LOL > > > BUT! Don't do anything about Vocational Rehab until AFTER your W/C case is > over!!!! > Otherwise, you'll get screwed out of whatever money/medical you are entitled > to from W/C because going to Vocational Rehab will show them that you are > capable of working still. They wont honor my medical issues if I take another job? What if this is a lifetime issue (which I have no doubt it is?) does that mean never returning to work? > They will be dragging me off to the local funny farm before this is all over Donna Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 28, 2004 Report Share Posted July 28, 2004 > Tonia, I have no doubt that at any time they could stop paying me. I had long stopped living in a fantasy world. They basically rule over my medical issues right now though..makes me wish in a way that it had been an outside accident where my health insurance was paying cuz things would move quicker but then I wouldnt have them paying for me being out of work. I cant threaten them with a lawyer as I dont have one at the moment and I'm following their instructions to a T. I have to report ot the utilization team each time I see the dr and I have to check in with my case manager once a week (I dont mind, shes cool). In the meantime, I keep my fingers crossed daily that they will keep me on the books and be of some assitance to me when the time comes that I am no longer eligible for w/c benefits. *sigh* who knows from one day to the next right? Donna Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 29, 2004 Report Share Posted July 29, 2004 I would still get a Lawyer.... Even following their instructions to a "T"....that doesn't always mean that they'll stay honest with you. I was going to every doctor's appointment, Physical Therapy appointments, and even went back to work when they told me that I had to......until the supervisor told them that there was no way for me to be able to stand up on crutches for 10-12 hour days, stopping traffic.... I did everything they told me to do, went thru 3 Case workers without asking them why I kept getting switched around from one to another.... And they STILL cut me off without any warning or reason. All I got was 6 checks from them. And, considering I was bringing home checks totalling over $450 a week while working, all I got from W/C was a measley $187.79 a week.....and, while I was actually getting that, along with Gene drawing his Unemployment that winter because his job depended on the weather, he was unable to work once the weather either got too cold, or it snowed.......we was unable to received Food Stamps or Medical for the girls. When we did receive Food Stamps, we got a whole $52 a month....while he was only drawing $600 a month in Unemployment, with a family of 4. That was after I stopped getting my checks. I'd love to know how the hell the DHS figured that we could pay the bills, buy diapers and formula and milk, plus groceries, on less than $100 a month....which that includes the $52 they gave us. Right now, for a family of 5, without Gene working, we get $550 in Food Stamps....and, with the prices of Meat and Dairy going up......that only buys about 2 weeks worth of food for my family. It probably would go further if Gene wasn't so picky about what he eats and if Sami would stop eating constantly every time she actually takes a few seconds break from talking constantly..... I've actually had to start going to the Food Pantry about the middle of the month, getting food from there just to make it the final week or two until the beginning of the month when I get more Food stamps. You'd think that they'd raise the amount a family gets when the food prices goes up like they have.....but, they don't. If I could actually get a check coming in every week or two, or even get on SSI/SSD.....that would really help out with buying groceries, diapers, and milk. Petey goes thru 3 gallons of milk himself a week......plus what the girls uses in their cereal, what is used for cooking.....it ends up being like 5-6 gallons of milk a week, and now it costs $4 a gallon. Hamburger is $2 a pound....Steak is $2.79 a pound, and Pork is a buck more than that! Just for me to make Taco's here at home, it costs right around $7 for that meal alone....and there is never any leftovers from it. And, a person can only handle so much mac and cheese, spagetti, or soup..... It's really going to be impossible once Petey starts eating to where he's actually feeding himself instead of only eating what we feed him off our plates! When he eats, he'll eat more than Crystal does! If you give him hamburger, he'll eat 2 sandwiches worth of meat. He LOVES his meat....but hates veggies. He will gladly eat fruits though.....he loves the individual packs of Baby Food Fruits and can eat 2 containers of them....which is actually 4 servings!!! And, when Crystal actually will eat, you can't get her to stop for nothing! She'll eat anything and everything she can see......but, then, she'll go from 2 days to 2 weeks to where she'll barely pick at her food. And, once school starts, she will stop eating lunch, because she doesn't like most of the school lunches, or, because they try and make her eat half of everything on her plate in one sitting.....and Crystal isn't like that. She has to be able to eat some, get up and play for a few minutes, and then goes back and eats some more, etc. The school won't let her do that......so, she doesn't eat at all while there except for some cereal in the classroom that the teacher keeps on hand. Well, enough rambling....I better get my butt back to bed so that I can get up in time to get my stuff mailed out before the mailman comes around..... I've been sleeping until 12-1-2pm myself...... Tonia -------Original Message-------Tonia,I have no doubt that at any time they could stop paying me. I had long stopped living in a fantasy world. They basically rule over my medical issues right now though..makes me wish in a way that it had been an outside accident where my health insurance was paying cuz things would move quicker but then I wouldnt have them paying for me being out of work.I cant threaten them with a lawyer as I dont have one at the moment and I'm following their instructions to a T. I have to report ot the utilization team each time I see the dr and I have to check in with my case manager once a week (I dont mind, shes cool).In the meantime, I keep my fingers crossed daily that they will keep me on the books and be of some assitance to me when the time comes that I am no longer eligible for w/c benefits. *sigh* who knows from one day to the next right?Donna Image byButterfly and Orchid Garden IM Letter byCountry Lane Graphics Stationery____________________________________________________ IncrediMail - Email has finally evolved - Click Here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 29, 2004 Report Share Posted July 29, 2004 > I would still get a Lawyer.... > Even following their instructions to a " T " ....that doesn't always mean that > they'll stay honest with you. > You're definetely not the first person to advise me about getting a lawyer. I'll have to find one that will work for free until such time as I get a settlement or something though cuz I certainly cant afford one out of pocket right now. > > All I got was 6 checks from them. And, considering I was bringing home > checks totalling over $450 a week while working, all I got from W/C was a > measley $187.79 a week Thats what I've been fighting right now. After insurance (80 per wk) and taxes I was bringing home 350.00. I was told that they had to go back to original date of injury and average that from date of hire which was 5 months prior. Thats what was killing me..I had to start at 8.00 an hr til I passed my certification. Because I had 10 yrs experience in a hospital setting they promised me 12.50/hr after I passed which I eventually got but not until the middle of last Sept due to corporate issues..anyway, with those averages I took a big hit. what I didnt know was that my casemanager had sent them an alternate case # which was dated for an additional injury due to the original injury..this one was dated may 2004 so when I talked to the supervisor about this she agreed to base my pay on the date I was taken out of work (June) and go back 1 yr and average that calling it " special circumstances " which will increase my pay some anyway. Fortunately my husband makes decent money doing internet maintenance for a real estate company and he does side jobs which bring in decent money when he can get the work but its not enough with the cost of living increasing. School is coming up and we all know what that means. I have 2 others working and living in the house but they both have bills as well and though they try to help out its a struggle. But I'm not telling anyone anything they dont already know > I've actually had to start going to the Food Pantry about the middle of the > month, getting food from there just to make it the final week or two until > the beginning of the month when I get more Food stamps. I hadnt considered the food pantry we have here in town, perhaps I'll take a wander down there. Take care Tonia and thanks for the advice Donna Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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