mixing up meds

[Guest guest]

Marla, I take 1mg of Klonopin at night for PLMD (periodic limb movement disorder, similar to restless legs). My younger daughter also takes it, but bigger doses--for anxiety I think. Anyway, I've been locking up my meds for years, but I leave the bins for the week in a cupboard. 3 times after she was here, I realized all the Klonopin were gone from my night bin. So I started just putting them in an unmarked pill bottle, hiding it in my room & taking one out when I take my meds. No point confronting her--she'd just say, "Well, you have people in here all the time. probably took them (my teen granddaughter), or that druggie down the street." Anyway, one night I didn't hide the bottle after taking pm meds & the next morning I grabbed that bottle instead of the bottle with my am meds. I chuck all my pills at once, so didn't even realize I took a week's worth of Klonopin. I slept pretty much the next 24 hrs. I don't remember anything about it. So now Theresa, the daughter who lives with me, double-checks everything. It actually makes me angry at times, that with all the problems I have with memory, that's just another thing to have to remember--even have to remember where I hide the Klonopin! I'm not even keeping most of my meds in the lockbox anymore, because I'm afraid the whole box will disappear. Now I'm keeping them in a tote bag behind my headboard. I'm getting aggravated just thinking about it. Intellectually I understand about addiction & denial, but I've spent my entire life dealing with it, starting with my father, and I'm just about sick of it.

Anyway, my point is that we can put ourselves in serious danger. I trust Theresa & , so they are my safety net. I hope y'all can also find someone to help you keep track of your meds & prevent mixups. And to think, it was just over 2 years ago that I was trying to keep my mom's meds as well as mine straight. I sure couldn't do that now. If she were still living, Theresa would have taken that on also.

Ramblin' RoseModerator

It's not that life is so short-------It's that we wait so long to begin.

(attributed to Wooden, among others)

To: Neurosarcoidosis From: mebramer@...Date: Sat, 4 Sep 2010 21:44:57 -0600Subject: Re: Disability

Connie, Thank you, I am saving all these emails, and will be talking to my docs soon. Boy the memory issue is big for me, the other day I took my night pills in the am, and I take something that helps my restless legs, and makes me sleepy, well, I didn't realize I did that, even though they are clearly marked, and told my Mom, WOW I'm really tired today, took two naps, lol then couldn't stay asleep that night, so sleepy again the next day, it took a couple days to just recover from that:) Thank you for all your advice, you don't know how much I appreciate this. God Bless, Marla

I'm sorry I forgot something (does that sound familiar) The mental challeges we face, put all of them down; if you have short term memory problems, long term memory problems, trouble remembering to take your medicine, concentration problems, trouble finding words, trouble understanding or following directions sometimes, etc.

To: neurosarcoidosis Sent: Thu, August 26, 2010 9:26:08 PMSubject: RE: Disability Ooooo, I wonder if I've already gotten recyclables?!?

Ramblin' RoseModerator A merry heart is good medicine. Proverbs 17:22

It's not that life is so short-------It's that we wait so long to begin.

(attributed to Wooden, among others)

To: Neurosarcoidosis From: mebramer@...Date: Thu, 26 Aug 2010 16:50:59 -0600

Subject: Re: DisabilityI wonder do we get to pick, or do we just randomly get whatever?

Recycling is good!

Ramblin' RoseModerator A merry heart is good medicine. Proverbs 17:22

To: Neurosarcoidosis From: mebramer@...Date: Thu, 26 Aug 2010 16:45:28 -0600

Subject: Re: DisabilityHey Rose, Thanks for the info, I really appreciate it, I bet you saw that movie and don't remember, at a certain age like 70 it was mandatory that you show up to basically die, they recycle you, and people line up daily to be fed, that's the jest of it! God forbid we ever get to that. Thanks, again, Marla

I don't think I saw that movie. You aren't eligible for Medicare until you've had disability for 2 years, but I don't think it's mandatory. Seems like if you don't sign up when you are first eligible, you have to wait awhile before you get another chance & then it costs more money. I might have that wrong--it's been awhile--or the rules might have changed.

Ramblin' RoseModerator A merry heart is good medicine. Proverbs 17:22

To: Neurosarcoidosis From: mebramer@...Date: Thu, 26 Aug 2010 14:25:45 -0600

Subject: Re: DisabilityIt probably did, it's hard when you don't look very sick, since selling MK I've always tried to look my best so I can sell it right. Well that's where everyone gets this idea I must feel as good as I look, they just don't know it took some major plaster work:) I have a question, do you automatically get put on Medicare too? Or if you have insurance through your husband can you just stay on that? My husbands worried thatI will get put on Medicare and with this new Obama care, when I reach a certain old, they will say I'm too old to be treated for anything, you know like Solent Green, remember that movie? lol I shouldn't laugh I guess anything possible? Anyway just wondered if you knew? Hey did I see leave us? Marla

Well, it wouldn't hurt to start the process, as it may take quite awhile. Now my daughter Ginny got approved on the first try, in about 3 months. I was astonished. She was on long-term TPN (formula feedings through IV's for the non-medical folks out there), after about a year of j-tube feeding (tube directly into small bowel through her belly), so maybe that impressed them. Or maybe she just got lucky.

Ramblin' RoseModerator A merry heart is good medicine. Proverbs 17:22

To: Neurosarcoidosis From: mebramer@...Date: Tue, 24 Aug 2010 21:32:36 -0600

Subject: Re: DisabilityRose Thank you so much, I'm still thinking, should I or shouldn't I? Thanks,Marla

Marla, here is one of Connie's posts about disability. I'll be sending some more through today.

As to the bottom question, it is all offices on the initial or recon level. You just have to remember on the recon level, something has to change in the allegations or the decision will usually remain the same. I do all initial cases now. I don't understand why it is commonly thought that lawyers change our opinion. They do not write up paperwork and send it to us. They may help the client fill out their paperwork, or forward medical records; but that's about it. Occasionally, the client will want us to talk through them, but that doesn't change anything either.

Jackie, age, type of work, description of past work, and adult funtioning paperwork are all things that can cause a case to have problems. Even though I am older (53); the fact that I do what is considered a sedentary job (computer work-office work) this can hinder approval for someone like me. If you are 49 or younger, or if your job is less physical; such as mine it is a little more difficult. If he can get his doctor to write a "Medical Source Statement" regarding his limitations this is extremely helpful for him, and have family and friends write letters describing how limited he is, plus answer the adult functioning paperwork himself "brutally" honestly, it will help When someone is fighting fibromyalgia they need to tell us just how awfully limiting it is. How limited he is as far as standing, sitting, how much it affects his sleep, how much it limits the amount of weight he can pick up, how far he can walk, how much household activity is limited, how severely it has changed his life; and then when he writes up his job sit down and think of all the things he does. Does he carry equipment, does he drive alot, does he walk alot, does he go long distances from building to building, is it painful for him to sit, is it painful to stand, walk, etc. Is he exposed to the weather (high heat, cold, etc.), and how does this affect him. Medical records only tell us so much, and function is the key word as far as disability is concerned. If it proceeds, and gets to the court appeal level he needs an atty then. It is also better if for some reason you are initially denied, that you refile a new case; recon cases seem to have more trouble. I have found cases that should have been approved the first time and reopened them back to the first case, it happens. Hope this helps, you can always ask a question, I will do my best to answer it. I just can't work on cases of people I personally know. connie

Ramblin' RoseModerator A merry heart is good medicine. Proverbs 17:22

To: Neurosarcoidosis From: mebramer@...Date: Mon, 23 Aug 2010 09:00:14 -0600Subject: Re: Disability Thanks Rose, I went through the archives and didn't find much, maybe I'm not using the right word to have them come up, not sure, I am in such brain fog right now, seems like I can't think. Thanks, marla

Marla, I know that Connie is a disability certifier (? title) in Florida, but she is very knowledgeable about the process. We do have lots of stuff in the archives, but I have saved several especially good posts. I'm fixin' to hit the sack now, but will look for those in the next couple of days.

Ramblin' RoseModerator A merry heart is good medicine. Proverbs 17:22

To: neurosarcoidosis From: mebramer@...Date: Sun, 22 Aug 2010 15:20:25 -0600Subject: Disability

I know there is someone or use to be, but with brain fog I can't remember who, that did or knew how to dodisability, I've put it off thinking I can just work more in my MK business, but I can't, it's still just too much work for me. I guess I should check out the archives too, I will do that too. But suggestions are appreciated.Thanks:)Marla