Dr. can't believe I got denied again

[Spinolio]

Do doctors really just not get it? I saw my GP today and he was floored that I got denied for a second time. I told him even though I hoped otherwise, I kind of expected it. Whats really scary though, is I don't know how long it will take to get a hearing for an appeal with an ALJ. I have an appointment to talk to my lawyer about my case on Wednesday. The problem is I can no longer wait. Everyone says "Don't give up". I lost my house, my job, my retirement fund, my dogs and last night I almost lost my wife, as she tried to kill herself with an overdose of insulin and I had to take her to the hospital. There's no telling when she'll be able to come home. She has done her best to try to support us, but her own health issues keep getting her fired before she can get a foothold anywhere. We both worked in the same plant and when it closed we both lost our jobs. I was on LTD, she was a team leader. So its not like she was unskilled labor or anything. But in a years time she was only able to get three grunting-hard labor jobs that she couldn't physically do. And those were with a big pay cut. Finally, this last job she just started, was as a crew member at a taco bell. A crew member, not a manager, or a trainee, a crew member making minimum wage with a bunch of high school kids. Her self esteem has bottomed out. So should I give up? I don't know how I can get a job. Lord knows I've tried. No one will hire me, but I think I have to try. All this is my fault anyway. I should have never elected to have the damn surgery in the first place.

[backless]

Thankfully Drs.(or most)don't get into the why's and why nots of SSDI.They tend to stick with the medical side.In my case .my Dr.,through experience knew I had medical conditions that would someday qualify for SSDI.Unfortunatly the system is what it is.Thee is a recient post that refers to an article in the NY times.That story is sooooooooooooo true.The reality is,things will get worse.You don't mention your ailments,but,if your here on this site,you likely are disabled and cannot work.I only wish I could tell somrthing that would change your situation.But I cant.i also feel for your wife.She too seems to suffer physically and with both of you having ailments that limit your working ability it MUST be mentally hard as well.Try and hang in,you need to go to the hearing level.I almost think ,if a person isnt terminally ill,they are put off until a hearing.Thoughts and prayers.Backless.

[DavidC642]

Sounds like to me that your wife also needs to apply for SSD right away. Who knows, she might get approved the first time! I am sorry that you did not get approved and must wait for an ALJ hearing, I had to do that too. I nearly lost my mind with worry about finances during that time, but I was approved at the ALJ level and I am sure that you will be too. However, before your wife kills herself trying to work, she needs to see if she is eligible to apply. Just my humble opinion.

[JAVISI]

I know that it is hard and waiting can sometimes drive you bonkers. It is good that your Dr is on your side and it is really good that you got a Lawyer! Most of the people that I have talked to have been denoed twice and the 3rd time is the charm and, they finally get approved. I understand the devistation that not working can do financially, and emotionally!

I lost a lot but gained back my ground when I was appeoved! None of my Doctors could beleive that I did not get approved on the first try! The Dictors approval helped me alot in the end. Maybe your Lawyer can get your hearing bumped up sooner due to hardship? That is what they did with me and I was approved!

I am so sorry about your wife! Life can be so unfair at times and we often wonder how we are going to make it and in the end we do, some how some way. If you go back to work it would be the begining of more problems in your approval for SSD. iF your wife can not work then she too should apply for disability!

I wish I could take your problems away, but all I can do is give you words. Even though it is tough right now I hope you can se that flicker of light at the end of the tunnel. Now that your wife did this, I am in hopes that she will get the help that she needs and is able to get some of that feeeling of hopelessness out!

Dreaming Big and Reaching for the Stars, Javisi;)

[moose53]

((((((Spinolio)))))),

Don't blame yourself for any of this. It's NOT YOUR FAULT.

I believe it's a combination of the doctors not writing a good (read, "tear-jerking") summary sheet of your medical problems and the bean-counters in Washington that try to cut where they shouldn't.

I was lucky; I was approved in just under 4 months. And I believe it's because my primary physician wrote a summary letter that actually brought tears to my eyes. I don't believe that the Social Security Administration is actually sitting down and reading voluminous medical records to determine whether or not one should be given SSDI. I think the summary letter (which a lot of doctors refuse to write) is extremely important. It summarizes on one page all the medical problems of the patient and it also predicts the future outlook for the patient.

I tend not to go to a doctor unless I'm really falling apart, so ... if you looked at my records, you'd see sporadic office visits.

David's right. Have your wife apply also. I've heard that psychiatric issues pretty much guarantee approval. Of course, there's no way of proving that.

Now that your wife is not working ... (I attempted suicide 7 times while I was married. I understand the mental torture that your wife is feeling. My heart is with her. I don't want anyone to ever feel like that. I pray that she gets the help that she needs.) ... Now that your wife is not working ... have you tried applying for Medicaid and SSI?? Also, a Section 8 Certificate for putting a roof over your head. Food stamps. Food pantry. Oh, hospitals, too: hospitals that get Federal funding have to give back by means of a free-care pool in their communities. You might want to also apply for free-care for you and for you wife so that you don't ramp up any medical bills that you guys can't pay.

I think it's an abomination that people that live in the richest country in the world who get sick unexpectedly end being just about poverty-stricken. There should be some sort of catastrophic assistance fund for people who get side-swiped by illness.

One more thing, do you have copies of what was given to the Social Security Administration as documentation?? I'd see if I could get a copy of that and make sure that it's accurate. I truly believe that doctors know how to write convincing documentation of medical problems -- that's what persuades the insurance companies to pay them. There may be a problem with the documentation in your case. Just a thought.

My thoughts and prayers are with both of you. It's just so unfair that people are brought to their knees by a system that's supposed to help. Bless you both. Hugs.

Barb

[backless]

Something for you and your Atty.to consider.My atty.got sworn testimony from my Dr.He had a court reporter dictate question and answers to my Dr about my conditions.This document is as good as the judge seeing the Dr.It certainly helped my case.Perhaps if you presented this type of doc.with a 'HARDSHIP"letter as new evidance ,and some info about wife,you may get your hearing moved up,or better,the judge might issuse a off the bench decision(think its called that)which is a decision the judge can make prior to your hearing without you and your atty.needing to attend.It is designed to cut the time based on new evidence submitted after the reconsideation stage.Ask your atty.about it.my atty.is in S fla.a very slow state,he is an ex.alj knows lots of tricks others dont know and is well respected by the SSA.

[Spinolio]

I appreciate the support and suggestions. Tomorrow, I have a phone interview with my lawyers in the morning and then an appointment with my neurologist in the afternoon. So I'll know more about how we're going to proceed. As for my wife, she is going to apply, but we were trying to wait until I get mine so at least one of us has some income. There was a question about my affliction. In November of 2004, during a ctscan to determine the source of sudden severe headaches, my dr. found a colloid cyst in the third ventricle of my brain. This is a rare benign brain tumor that if left unchecked can block the flow of cerebrospinal fluid through the brain causing hydrocephalus or which is more commonly known as water on the brain which is fatal. Obviously my dr. ordered emergency surgery. I had no problem with that. But after a couple MRIs the neurosurgeon told my wife and I that the size of my cyst was halfway between the size that they "take it out immediately" (13cm) and "leave alone and keep an eye on it" (8cm)! Yes, I was lucky enough that mine was 10cm so the neurosurgeon left the decision up to me. I chose to take it out. I now have epilepsy, I've lost my short term memory, I have no balance, and my IQ has plummeted to where I'm now in the bottom 5-10% for my age group according to SSA's own psychological testing. (I used to do engineering-level work in a computer chip factory for 20 years. Now I can't do 4th grade math or remember what I just read in a 5 line paragraph.) Oh yeah, I almost forgot, in case you hadn't noticed, I'm depressed.

[Spinolio]

Oh I forgot to mention....the surgery did nothing to rid me of the headaches. It only made them worse and more frequent! Go figure...

[moose53]

((((((Spinolio)))))),

Talk to your doctor immediately about getting something to help with the depression. As someone who's spent close to 50 years fighting depression, there's no reason for anyone to suffer like that anymore.

I know what your heart feels with regard to your surgery. I consented for my Mom to have a surgery that she specifically DID NOT WANT. Ended up the doctor that did the surgery screwed it up badly (I found out afterwards that he had a history of successful malpractice lawsuits against him. Plus, he was a rude, inconsiderate jerk.).

You have to forgive yourself, Spinolio, over decisions that you made in the past. We all do the best that we can with CURRENT knowledge. If you'd been able to predict the future, you might not have consented to surgery. But, unfortunately, that was a talent that neither you nor I had when we made our decisions. Forgive yourself. What helped me was to go to my synagogue after hours (when no one else was there) and just sitting and praying and asking for forgiveness. I stayed there until the calm and the peace and the forgiveness entered my heart. I'd like to hear that you have the same experience.

Take to heart all of the advice that you've been given and start implementing as much of it as you can. It can't hurt and it might just speed everything up.

I was down to picking up soda cans to buy ramen noodles for me and cat food for my cats when I applied for Medicaid and SSI. I remember what that felt like. I wouldn't wish that on anyone.

You HAVE TO keep fighting. And ask for any service that you can think of that will help you get your balance back until your SSDI checks start.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v90/moose53/MINIS/HUGS/thholdinghands1.jpg

Barb

I've got hundreds-and-hundreds of bookmarks:
http://public.murl.com/moose53/

[Spinolio]

Don't misunderstand me about the surgical results. The neurosurgeon was in no way at fault. I don't blame him at all. I don't blame my GP dr. at all. I credit them for perhaps saving my life. I knew the risks of the surgery going in. The bottom line is that the brain doesn't like being cut open. The surgeons skill enabled him to remove the bugger without killing me or blinding me (as they also happen to grow in close proximity to the optic nerve). He had to leave a piece of it in so he wouldn't damage the optic nerve. They also found another small tumor on my pituitary gland. He left that alone as it was small enough to watch for now.
When I married my wife, I made a promise to her to care and provide for her and our kids for life. Luckily, save for my son who's almost 18, all the kids are grown and gone. Nevertheless, I feel like I'm not holding up my end of the bargain. I can't ask the kids for help as they are young and struggling themselves to keep their heads above water. My daughter though, does as much as she can anyway, even though she works two jobs. :)
My wife and I try to have very open lines of communication. I told her I blamed myself for our problems and felt as though she blamed me for them. She emphasized that she knew it wasn't fair to me and it wasn't my fault, but on some level she did. She resented the fact that the responsibility for supporting us had fallen solely on her shoulders. I can't blame her, it's not fair.

[suzq]

Have been reading your posts with interest as I also lost my career in dentistry because of a tremor disorder worsening rhuem arthritis. Was denied after six months, then got a lawyer who only specialized is disability cases. He did tell me it would be at least a year before I was granted a hearing. I had my day in court a year ago today and was found fully favorable.

Keep at it and make sure your wife does too. Its frustrating the waiting but toward the end (2 years later) I just started calling SSD on a weekly basis, I think they got sick of me because my lawyer told me SS called him with my date in two weeks, He said he never got calls before, always letters. I just smiled to myself.

Hope your wife is better, I am also in insulin and didn't know one could overdose from it. Suzq

[Spinolio]

Thank you. Suzq. She's getting there. As for the insulin, yes, from what I understand you can overdose. Be careful. Too much will bottom out your blood sugar.

[Aeroman]

see above, thanks