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Home > Archive > Chronic pain Support > August 2004 > Today's outcome - Merle Bloom
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Today's outcome - Merle Bloom
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| Linda Bloom 2004-08-25, 12:00 pm |
| Well, this wasn't the best doctor visit we've ever had.
To cut to the chase, they basically said that the cancer is so widespread
throughout his skeleton that there's very little chance they can do anything
to help with the pain. They did order blood work and an MRI of the entire
spine, which is scheduled for all day Monday the 23rd. They also recommended
that he see a medical oncologist as soon as possible, so I'll need to fax
our PCP and request a referral.
Merle asked questions and learned that his bones are being disintegrated by
the cancer and will eventually start to fracture with movement. Of course,
the doctor would not even make a guess at how long he has to be mobile, let
alone live. All in all, it was a very somber, downbeat experience, and Merle
took it very hard. Please pray for him!
We're having problems with the HMO. They won't pay for Merle's ADD meds at
all, so the doctor is trying to get them to approve a generic substitute
that won't be as effective but will hopefully keep him functioning. They
will only pay for half the quantity that the doctor prescribed every 30 days
on his pain meds. There's no way we can afford to make up any differences,
so we REALLY need prayer on this one.
To top it off, we've received a letter from DCF saying that we now have too
much income (the disability of $1,612) - our food stamps are cancelled, and
that our income is $1,651 over the "Medicaid Medically Needy Level" (which
means that we have to have $0 income and be spending $39 a month to have
Medicaid??? That makes NO sense!) which requires monthly proof of "share of
cost of $1,651" effective 09/01/2004. We have NO idea what that means, but
are staying on the phone until we find out - in the meantime, please keep
praying that we can get the testing and the referral and the consultation
with an oncologist all accomplished before the 31st, just in case!
I wish I had the luxury of sitting all alone somewhere for a good long cry,
but that's not in the schedule, so please pray for me, too. God bless you
all for your concern and support.
Linda
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| Gigglz 2004-08-25, 12:00 pm |
| Hi Linda,
I don't post all that much...or even read all that much in here, but I
DID read this post. :-( I am so deeply sorry for you and Merle.
The diagnosis was a big enough nightmare without adding in the rest.
I realize we don't know each other, but that doesn't mean I can't put
you in my thoughts and prayers!....and I WILL! Bless your heart.
This makes me very tearful and sad. I'll never understand why bad
things happen to good people. Please take care of yourself and know
that there are people everywhere who care...people who have read your
story, people you don't even know. You can cry to me any time via
email. I will always listen and lend my support. I wish so badly I
could help you in some way.
Be blessed!
Love,
Nada
On Thu, 19 Aug 2004 16:53:32 -0400, "Linda Bloom"
<compumom@hotmail.com> wrote:
>Well, this wasn't the best doctor visit we've ever had.
>
>To cut to the chase, they basically said that the cancer is so widespread
>throughout his skeleton that there's very little chance they can do anything
>to help with the pain. They did order blood work and an MRI of the entire
>spine, which is scheduled for all day Monday the 23rd. They also recommended
>that he see a medical oncologist as soon as possible, so I'll need to fax
>our PCP and request a referral.
>
>Merle asked questions and learned that his bones are being disintegrated by
>the cancer and will eventually start to fracture with movement. Of course,
>the doctor would not even make a guess at how long he has to be mobile, let
>alone live. All in all, it was a very somber, downbeat experience, and Merle
>took it very hard. Please pray for him!
>
>We're having problems with the HMO. They won't pay for Merle's ADD meds at
>all, so the doctor is trying to get them to approve a generic substitute
>that won't be as effective but will hopefully keep him functioning. They
>will only pay for half the quantity that the doctor prescribed every 30 days
>on his pain meds. There's no way we can afford to make up any differences,
>so we REALLY need prayer on this one.
>
>To top it off, we've received a letter from DCF saying that we now have too
>much income (the disability of $1,612) - our food stamps are cancelled, and
>that our income is $1,651 over the "Medicaid Medically Needy Level" (which
>means that we have to have $0 income and be spending $39 a month to have
>Medicaid??? That makes NO sense!) which requires monthly proof of "share of
>cost of $1,651" effective 09/01/2004. We have NO idea what that means, but
>are staying on the phone until we find out - in the meantime, please keep
>praying that we can get the testing and the referral and the consultation
>with an oncologist all accomplished before the 31st, just in case!
>
>I wish I had the luxury of sitting all alone somewhere for a good long cry,
>but that's not in the schedule, so please pray for me, too. God bless you
>all for your concern and support.
>
>Linda
>
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| old goat 2004-08-25, 12:00 pm |
| Dear Linda,
My heart goes out to you and Merle and your family and I pray for the best
for you guys. I can't address alot of the problems you are having, but I
have a suggestion as far as the medication issues go. A few months ago I
was having problems getting my HMO to pay for my medications. It was taking
a great deal of time, they were dragging their feet and everyone I spoke to
at the insurance company just gave me a run around. After talking to my
pharmacist, I found darn near everyone with my HMO was having the same
problem.
I called the state insurance commission (should be in the blue pages of
your phone book) and filed a complaint. They contacted my pharmacy to
verify what was going on the same day. The following day I had my Rx. My
pharmacist made up a bunch of complaint forms for people to file complaints
with the state insurance regulators. Since then the prescriptions have been
filled immediately, taking only as long as the phone call to authorize the
dollar amount (that supposedly was the hang up - it was more expensive than
the plan allowed) and them to count the pills. Everyone else who had a
problem filled out a form and their Rx's go through without a hitch as
well. According to the pharmacist filing a complaint with the state is a
real black mark on their record and enough complaints can keep them from
doing business in that state. So dont be afraid to be a squeaky wheel.
Also when it comes to Medicare, the usual "part A" is pretty worthless when
you start getting in to real serious medical expenses. If you haven't yet,
think about applying for the "part B" supplemental coverage. My aunt ended
up in a nursing home the last year of her life and the only way to pay for
the nursing home was to have the supplemental coverage. She didn't have any
surviving family except for me and her retirement income wasn't a whole
lot, I don't remember if or what the qualifications for "part B" were, but
I know it took care of the big stuff. Just a suggestion if you haven't
looked in to it yet.
Don't worry about coming here to vent or even if you're just looking for a
sympathetic ear or a shoulder to cry on. It's not as good as somebody being
there in person, but part of the groups name is support, so we're here
anytime you need some.
My best to you and Merle and I hope things begin looking better for you
guys real soon.
Take care, stay strong and hang in there.--og
Linda Bloom <compumom@hotmail.com> wrote in article
<Gq8Vc.25724$3I1.21811@bignews5.bellsouth.net>...
> Well, this wasn't the best doctor visit we've ever had.
>
> To cut to the chase, they basically said that the cancer is so widespread
> throughout his skeleton that there's very little chance they can do
anything
> to help with the pain. They did order blood work and an MRI of the entire
> spine, which is scheduled for all day Monday the 23rd. They also
recommended
> that he see a medical oncologist as soon as possible, so I'll need to fax
> our PCP and request a referral.
>
> Merle asked questions and learned that his bones are being disintegrated
by
> the cancer and will eventually start to fracture with movement. Of
course,
> the doctor would not even make a guess at how long he has to be mobile,
let
> alone live. All in all, it was a very somber, downbeat experience, and
Merle
> took it very hard. Please pray for him!
>
> We're having problems with the HMO. They won't pay for Merle's ADD meds
at
> all, so the doctor is trying to get them to approve a generic substitute
> that won't be as effective but will hopefully keep him functioning. They
> will only pay for half the quantity that the doctor prescribed every 30
days
> on his pain meds. There's no way we can afford to make up any
differences,
> so we REALLY need prayer on this one.
>
> To top it off, we've received a letter from DCF saying that we now have
too
> much income (the disability of $1,612) - our food stamps are cancelled,
and
> that our income is $1,651 over the "Medicaid Medically Needy Level"
(which
> means that we have to have $0 income and be spending $39 a month to have
> Medicaid??? That makes NO sense!) which requires monthly proof of "share
of
> cost of $1,651" effective 09/01/2004. We have NO idea what that means,
but
> are staying on the phone until we find out - in the meantime, please keep
> praying that we can get the testing and the referral and the consultation
> with an oncologist all accomplished before the 31st, just in case!
>
> I wish I had the luxury of sitting all alone somewhere for a good long
cry,
> but that's not in the schedule, so please pray for me, too. God bless you
> all for your concern and support.
>
> Linda
>
>
>
| |
|
| Will do, for sure!.........not a regular poster here but read this group
often
God bless you both
Hugs
(((((((((((((Linda, Merle)))))))))))))))))
LOA
"Linda Bloom" <compumom@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:Gq8Vc.25724$3I1.21811@bignews5.bellsouth.net...
> Well, this wasn't the best doctor visit we've ever had.
>
> To cut to the chase, they basically said that the cancer is so widespread
> throughout his skeleton that there's very little chance they can do
anything
> to help with the pain. They did order blood work and an MRI of the entire
> spine, which is scheduled for all day Monday the 23rd. They also
recommended
> that he see a medical oncologist as soon as possible, so I'll need to fax
> our PCP and request a referral.
>
> Merle asked questions and learned that his bones are being disintegrated
by
> the cancer and will eventually start to fracture with movement. Of course,
> the doctor would not even make a guess at how long he has to be mobile,
let
> alone live. All in all, it was a very somber, downbeat experience, and
Merle
> took it very hard. Please pray for him!
>
> We're having problems with the HMO. They won't pay for Merle's ADD meds at
> all, so the doctor is trying to get them to approve a generic substitute
> that won't be as effective but will hopefully keep him functioning. They
> will only pay for half the quantity that the doctor prescribed every 30
days
> on his pain meds. There's no way we can afford to make up any differences,
> so we REALLY need prayer on this one.
>
> To top it off, we've received a letter from DCF saying that we now have
too
> much income (the disability of $1,612) - our food stamps are cancelled,
and
> that our income is $1,651 over the "Medicaid Medically Needy Level" (which
> means that we have to have $0 income and be spending $39 a month to have
> Medicaid??? That makes NO sense!) which requires monthly proof of "share
of
> cost of $1,651" effective 09/01/2004. We have NO idea what that means, but
> are staying on the phone until we find out - in the meantime, please keep
> praying that we can get the testing and the referral and the consultation
> with an oncologist all accomplished before the 31st, just in case!
>
> I wish I had the luxury of sitting all alone somewhere for a good long
cry,
> but that's not in the schedule, so please pray for me, too. God bless you
> all for your concern and support.
>
> Linda
>
>
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