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

Pati C. wrote:
Hopefully I won't ramble too long here. Need to call the Social Security
lawyer and do some other stuff around here. G

What's happening in the Cook household? Well, Rick is finding more work,
now to see if it holds and he can get the money coming in regularly in
sufficient quantity. He is happier when he can get the work to do.G
We have contacted a lawyer to deal with Social Security and my
application for disability. And that may eventually help things.
However, being off my meds (because of no insurance to pay for them or
to pay a doctor to prescribe them) is causing some setbacks. As is
having to keep a "pain log" of what I am feeling like every day. When I
can try to ignore it and pretend the feet don't hurt I can block more of
it. If that makes sense. G

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

A few more good thoughts would be nice this week. The probate court
hearing is supposed to be Thurs. afternoon in Texas. Then we just have
to wait for the judge to approve the distribution of funds. That will
get us out of the hole and on our way to better health in lots of ways.
VBG (Including my Houston working "vacation" in Oct/Nov.VVBG)

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

So things are progressing. But slower than I would like. Would love to
have more energy to get some sorting/organizing done, but we cope with
what we have. And the temperatures are finally beginning to come
down... it is actually supposed to get below 80° at night this week!!!!

Good thoughts going out to those who need them. Congrats and Happy
Dances are being sent as appropriate. Thanks for being here and letting
me vent occasionally.

Pati, in Phx

Fingers crossed that all goes well.
--
Kate XXXXXX R.C.T.Q Madame Chef des Trolls
Lady Catherine, Wardrobe Mistress of the Chocolate Buttons
http://www.katedicey.co.uk
Click on Kate's Pages and explore!

Leslie & The Furbabies in MO. wrote:
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.

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!

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

Same here!

--
Kate XXXXXX R.C.T.Q Madame Chef des Trolls
Lady Catherine, Wardrobe Mistress of the Chocolate Buttons
http://www.katedicey.co.uk
Click on Kate's Pages and explore!

Elly wrote:
You have a very good point there Anne come to think of
it...........Dentistry in Britain being a prime example but I won't
even go there... Oh well maybe a little bit
I'm still trying to decide whether to give up her 'private' complete
care but expensive dentistry to be in a NHS dental practice.. with
minimalist care (and the possibility of gold crowns in the
future..yuk.. all I'd need was a patch on one eye and a wooden leg..
oooh arrr mee hearties Mind it's nice to have that choice I
suppose.
Elly

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...

--
Kate XXXXXX R.C.T.Q Madame Chef des Trolls
Lady Catherine, Wardrobe Mistress of the Chocolate Buttons
http://www.katedicey.co.uk
Click on Kate's Pages and explore!

You have an NHS dentist to go for, Elly?! Apparently you have to be on
Income support here first!
Sally at the Seaside~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~uk
http://community.webshots.com/user/sallyswin



Elly wrote:
You have a very good point there Anne come to think of
it...........Dentistry in Britain being a prime example but I won't
even go there... Oh well maybe a little bit
I'm still trying to decide whether to give up her 'private' complete
care but expensive dentistry to be in a NHS dental practice.. with
minimalist care (and the possibility of gold crowns in the
future..yuk.. all I'd need was a patch on one eye and a wooden leg..
oooh arrr mee hearties Mind it's nice to have that choice I
suppose.
Elly

Anne Rogers wrote:


Elly wrote:
Hi Pati, vent away. You're having such a tough time by the sound of
it. It makes me appreciate having a NHS here in Britain listening to
your story.
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

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. G
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:

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

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.G 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???) G

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. VBG

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

Pati,in Phx
http://community.webshots.com/user/PatiCooks



Polly Esther 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

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

Dee in Oz

On Sep 19, 7:20 am, "Pati C." wrote:
Hopefully I won't ramble too long here. Need to call the Social Security
lawyer and do some other stuff around here. G

What's happening in the Cook household? Well, Rick is finding more work,
now to see if it holds and he can get the money coming in regularly in
sufficient quantity. He is happier when he can get the work to do.G
We have contacted a lawyer to deal with Social Security and my
application for disability. And that may eventually help things.
However, being off my meds (because of no insurance to pay for them or
to pay a doctor to prescribe them) is causing some setbacks. As is
having to keep a "pain log" of what I am feeling like every day. When I
can try to ignore it and pretend the feet don't hurt I can block more of
it. If that makes sense. G

A few more good thoughts would be nice this week. The probate court
hearing is supposed to be Thurs. afternoon in Texas. Then we just have
to wait for the judge to approve the distribution of funds. That will
get us out of the hole and on our way to better health in lots of ways.
VBG (Including my Houston working "vacation" in Oct/Nov.VVBG)

So things are progressing. But slower than I would like. Would love to
have more energy to get some sorting/organizing done, but we cope with
what we have. And the temperatures are finally beginning to come
down... it is actually supposed to get below 80° at night this week!!!!

Good thoughts going out to those who need them. Congrats and Happy
Dances are being sent as appropriate. Thanks for being here and letting
me vent occasionally.

Pati, in Phx

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