Kathi

[Guest guest]

((((((((((((Hey Okie~Girl))))))))))) ... so good to " see " you here with

us. I miss you SO much. Thank you for your prayers and crossing body

parts! : ) When I get slimmer, I'll hitch-hike to OK and give you a

great. big Oregon hug!

Lovingly, Always...

Tessie

PS ~ Have I told you lately that I love you?

((((((((((((((Kathi))))))))))))))

[Guest guest]

Iris-

If you are losing it....we are all in there together! I know the

embarassment and it is very real and very bad. I tried to contact an attorney,

in hopes

of speeding the process, and was told by several well known law firms that

they do not even talk to you unless you have already been denied at least once!

What a rip! I have worked since I was 16 ....I am now 56 and I have to fight

to get some help! We really did not choose to be sick....we did not choose to

be unable to work!! I'm sorry - it has been a bad day. Not only do I have

a sick computer, but I also have a sick husband. Please take my rant for what

it is ---just frustration. But...Iris and Kathi...you are not alone!

Gentle Hugs & Prayers,

Carol M. in CA

[Guest guest]

Hi Kathi,

How are you my okie friend? I'm waiting on those Aggie jokes! We went to

Missouri last week and

drove through Oklahoma. What is it with all of those burnings? We smelled smoke

the entire trip

through your state.

I too have come to the conclusion that SS puts you through all of this just so

you will drop your

claim. I forgot to say that I decided to do what SS said...be a florist...I

worked for four days

around Valentine's Day. It almost killed me. I had to go to the doc and get

steroids for the

swelling. It took me several weeks to get over the pain. At least that episode

will be in the

doc's records. My lawyer told me that it is a good thing to show that you tried

to work. I asked

her how many times did they need as I have lost several jobs due to effects of

these diseases. The

worse part is the way no one understands in your family why it takes so long to

be approved. It

gets old having to validate your reasons.

Embarrassment is a real emotion when it comes to filing for SS but what is worse

is feeling

paranoid and looking around to make sure that they aren't watching you to make

sure that you

really do have a legitimate case. I have seen those type of situations on news

programs like

20/20. Am I losing it, or what? Hugs to you. Iris

--- Kathi <iamladybird@...> wrote:

> Iris: It is so good to see you post...although sad to see you are

> going through so much. I know alot of people think that SSDI is

> going to be easy when they consider your medical records, but it is

> alot harder than most think. In this area (Texas, Oklahoma) the ADJ

> waiting list is at the least time 8 months, I waited 14 months on

> the list, in a case they knew I was going to win....also people

> don't realize that the docs SS sends you to are hired by then for

> their benefit (by them I mean SS) and anything that your docs write

> are also a biggie in the ultimate desicion....if your doc says you

> are being treated for depression then that is one of your diagnosis

> and whether it is controlled or not it still is a condition for

> which you are being treated. Your medical records are a major

> consideration in your case, and if you don't have a lawyer and are

> fighting this yourself, you need to get your doc to write a letter

> stating how your illness affects you on a day to day basis....So

> many people give up when they are denied the first 2 denials and

> scared away by the waiting for the ADJ, but this is actually what SS

> is relying on, and alot of their cases just go away.....I can

> remember when I was going through mine, I met a man that had

> Hodgekins his family did'nt expect him to live more than a year, he

> was on the waiting list for the ADJ and in the end was gone before

> he ever saw the judge, I thought that was real conveniant for

> SS....please don't give up, I know it is hard, but eventually they

> do make a descision, I still have my fingers crossed for you, and

> believe me I know what you mean about not needing the extra

> aggravation when you are sick, add on to the fact you feel so lousy

> about not being able to work, and embarrassed about even trying to

> get SS in the first place....they don't make it easy, and now when I

> hear people say things like " People on SS getting over, or being

> bums " I laugh because there is know way anyone gets a hand out from

> the system.......hoping things get better and so GOOD to see you

> posting......Kathi in OK.......BTW I have a bunch of Aggie jokes

> saved just for you....LOL

>

>

>

>

> > > Dear Group,

> > > I have been a mess stressing about my SSDI physical exam by

> their Dr. My

> > > exam was scheduled for yesterday at 5:30....but they called to

> reschedule in the

> > > morning. I had to get a ride and get ready so it took me

> awhile. Then from

> > > rushing around, I took all my medication , but forgot my list of

> medication

> > > (usualy they just copy the list instead of me writing it out).

> Well, I had to

> > > write all of the 12+ list of medications - it took me forever-

> and by the time I

> > > was done my wrist & hand was more red & swollen than usual ( 2

> fingers would

> > > not bend). The Dr. was very nice, he said that I had " severe

> swelling in my

> > > hands ; feet; ankles; knees & shoulders caused by advanced

> arthritis " . He

> > > also asked me to walk - but he asked me to do this barefoot????

> I do not walk

> > > well without shoes and had to struggle to get my shoes back on

> to be able to do

> > > this part of the exam. I guess I feel strange about this. The

> Dr. verbally

> > > confirmed what my Dr. says- which I guess is unusual. My sister

> was with me as

> > > an observer. But I think I actually expected him to argue that

> NOTHING was

> > > wrong and I could go back to my other life before RA. Funny how

> our minds

> > > work? I still have a psychological exam on Friday because I

> take antidepressant

> > > medication. Very frustrating - the whole thing! Through all of

> this, I still

> > > have not received any LTD payments - they keep putting me off by

> needing

> > > additional records. I just feel bummed about everything.

> Everything is a fight

> > > and sometimes I just don't have it .......my body is doing

> enough of that as it

> > > is. Sorry about the grumpiness.

> > > Gentle Hugs & Prayers for all,

> > > Carol M. in CA

> > >

> > >

> > >

[Guest guest]

Iris: We traveled quite a bit last week also, as it was spring

break....the burning is controlled burning...I know it has to do

with the farmers fields, and spring but beyond that I don't know

much more....it would seem like with the burn ban going on it

would'nt be going on but it is.....pretty awful huh? I know that

workmens comp watches people, but I never heard that SS does, I am

sure it could be possible but I never worried to much about that. It

is the nature of these diseases to have good days and bad days and

SS is aware of that...it is employers that have a hard time

understanding......Where in Missouri did you go? Geez I wish you had

called..I am assuming you came straight up I35 which does'nt come

by me, but we were in the OKC area 3 out of 5 days last week and I

could have met you briefly somewhere for coffee or

whatever...anyways I have been at my husband to take me down to

Grand Prarie to the Dillards wharehouse so maybe then......You are

in my thoughts and I am keeping body parts crossed this will end

soon for you....Kathi in OK

> > > > Dear Group,

> > > > I have been a mess stressing about my SSDI physical exam by

> > their Dr. My

> > > > exam was scheduled for yesterday at 5:30....but they called

to

> > reschedule in the

> > > > morning. I had to get a ride and get ready so it took me

> > awhile. Then from

> > > > rushing around, I took all my medication , but forgot my

list of

> > medication

> > > > (usualy they just copy the list instead of me writing it

out).

> > Well, I had to

> > > > write all of the 12+ list of medications - it took me

forever-

> > and by the time I

> > > > was done my wrist & hand was more red & swollen than usual

( 2

> > fingers would

> > > > not bend). The Dr. was very nice, he said that I

had " severe

> > swelling in my

> > > > hands ; feet; ankles; knees & shoulders caused by advanced

> > arthritis " . He

> > > > also asked me to walk - but he asked me to do this

barefoot????

> > I do not walk

> > > > well without shoes and had to struggle to get my shoes back

on

> > to be able to do

> > > > this part of the exam. I guess I feel strange about this.

The

> > Dr. verbally

> > > > confirmed what my Dr. says- which I guess is unusual. My

sister

> > was with me as

> > > > an observer. But I think I actually expected him to argue

that

> > NOTHING was

> > > > wrong and I could go back to my other life before RA. Funny

how

> > our minds

> > > > work? I still have a psychological exam on Friday because I

> > take antidepressant

> > > > medication. Very frustrating - the whole thing! Through

all of

> > this, I still

> > > > have not received any LTD payments - they keep putting me

off by

> > needing

> > > > additional records. I just feel bummed about everything.

> > Everything is a fight

> > > > and sometimes I just don't have it .......my body is doing

> > enough of that as it

> > > > is. Sorry about the grumpiness.

> > > > Gentle Hugs & Prayers for all,

> > > > Carol M. in CA

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

[Guest guest]

Hi Kathi,

We didn't leave Dallas until 7 in the evening and drove straight through until

we hit Branson

around 2. We took 75 on the way through Oklahoma but came home through Arkansas.

It was one of

those trips that you have to sit through a one hour timeshare presentation to

have your hotel,

show tickets, and some meals free. Ian had a great time and really enjoyed the

shows. I wish we

could move up there. does want to play professionally again so it would be

a good place to

land.

I wish I could have stopped but it was whirlwind three days. I am still looking

forward to you

visiting your son here. Don't you forget to call! Hugs to you. Iris

-- Kathi <iamladybird@...> wrote:

> Iris: We traveled quite a bit last week also, as it was spring

> break....the burning is controlled burning...I know it has to do

> with the farmers fields, and spring but beyond that I don't know

> much more....it would seem like with the burn ban going on it

> would'nt be going on but it is.....pretty awful huh? I know that

> workmens comp watches people, but I never heard that SS does, I am

> sure it could be possible but I never worried to much about that. It

> is the nature of these diseases to have good days and bad days and

> SS is aware of that...it is employers that have a hard time

> understanding......Where in Missouri did you go? Geez I wish you had

> called..I am assuming you came straight up I35 which does'nt come

> by me, but we were in the OKC area 3 out of 5 days last week and I

> could have met you briefly somewhere for coffee or

> whatever...anyways I have been at my husband to take me down to

> Grand Prarie to the Dillards wharehouse so maybe then......You are

> in my thoughts and I am keeping body parts crossed this will end

> soon for you....Kathi in OK

>

>

>

>

> > > > > Dear Group,

> > > > > I have been a mess stressing about my SSDI physical exam by

> > > their Dr. My

> > > > > exam was scheduled for yesterday at 5:30....but they called

> to

> > > reschedule in the

> > > > > morning. I had to get a ride and get ready so it took me

> > > awhile. Then from

> > > > > rushing around, I took all my medication , but forgot my

> list of

> > > medication

> > > > > (usualy they just copy the list instead of me writing it

> out).

> > > Well, I had to

> > > > > write all of the 12+ list of medications - it took me

> forever-

> > > and by the time I

> > > > > was done my wrist & hand was more red & swollen than usual

> ( 2

> > > fingers would

> > > > > not bend). The Dr. was very nice, he said that I

> had " severe

> > > swelling in my

> > > > > hands ; feet; ankles; knees & shoulders caused by advanced

> > > arthritis " . He

> > > > > also asked me to walk - but he asked me to do this

> barefoot????

> > > I do not walk

> > > > > well without shoes and had to struggle to get my shoes back

> on

> > > to be able to do

> > > > > this part of the exam. I guess I feel strange about this.

> The

> > > Dr. verbally

> > > > > confirmed what my Dr. says- which I guess is unusual. My

> sister

> > > was with me as

> > > > > an observer. But I think I actually expected him to argue

> that

> > > NOTHING was

> > > > > wrong and I could go back to my other life before RA. Funny

> how

> > > our minds

> > > > > work? I still have a psychological exam on Friday because I

> > > take antidepressant

> > > > > medication. Very frustrating - the whole thing! Through

> all of

> > > this, I still

> > > > > have not received any LTD payments - they keep putting me

> off by

> > > needing

> > > > > additional records. I just feel bummed about everything.

> > > Everything is a fight

> > > > > and sometimes I just don't have it .......my body is doing

> > > enough of that as it

> > > > > is. Sorry about the grumpiness.

> > > > > Gentle Hugs & Prayers for all,

> > > > > Carol M. in CA

> > > > >

> > > > >

> > > > >

[Guest guest]

Thanks Miss T....Hope you are having a good day......K in OK

> Congratulations Kathi, how wonderful, I am glad to hear the good

> news, T