Joy Kinhoff

Any other of you Boomers out there fed up with what is being passed off as Heath Care? I am so disillusioned with the façade that operates under the guise of what’s called Health Care. It seems that no one really cares- just everybody pays.
Two years ago I underwent Chemo for a Condition that will probable (if lucky) in 8-10 years require a Liver Transplant. The Chemo was unsuccessful and after a year of recovery I started having severe headaches and ischemia along with a few other symptoms on the right side of my head/skull- that any Med School Student could probably piece to gather as “Carotid Artery Disease”. That was in May of 2006, after Ten Weeks of extreme pain and all the fun that comes with it (drugs that don’t work, have side effects that directly affect that Liver I am trying to stretch out another few years). I am sent to a Neurologist- so I think “all right” this will solve it.
After two weeks of trying to convince this Guy (Neurologist) that I was truly in pain and a great amount of suffering- He orders another MRI (I had already had two of my Head & Sinuses) as it was thought to be Sinusitis. Well with in two hours I was in the Stroke Ward doing these silly tests for stroke. I had been suffering with a “Dissection to my Right Carotid Artery”- a condition that is 70% fatal, found more commonly during the postmortem autopsy. Needless to say- I was scared. Not by my condition, but by the reality that I had been living an the bleeding edge of Stroke & Death, and no one really seemed to be that concerned- or knowledgeable about how to “solve for X”. Indecently, two day after returning home from the Stroke Ward with all my injectable & Tablet Blood Thinners; I received my denial for Social Security Disability Benefits- to which I had been paying into for the 30 Years I had been employed in High Tech.

Of course you all remember we lost all our pensions after the stock market crash post 9/11. But I never thought that if I became unable to work any longer that I would have to die waiting for any benefits from the Moneys so easily taken from my pocket, and the table of my family- only to deal with a HEARTLESS SOULESS system like the United States Government Social Security System. But do you see a pattern here- Health Care that doesn’t care, and Social Security that isn’t either Social, or Security; but I have to admit- they have that system part down just fine.

Well my fellow Patients- Four weeks ago I had some more headaches and flu like symptoms (without any fever). Well anyway, after four days I went to Emergency- Had an MRI after my third shot of Morphine, which showed a “Dissection to my Right Carotid Artery”
This time the Left had blown- if you are keeping a tab, that’s two times, I have survived something that is 70% fatal in less then two years! Ironically two months ago I had seen a specialist for my neck and head pain and was told it was just Arthritis- now that could very well have bee the case, but it is getting real old dealing with a Medical System that just doesn’t have the time to worry weather you live or die.

I know I can’t be the only one who is disillusioned with this so called system of health care. Just look at the most recent Beef recall, I always said that if the Food and Drug Administration spent more on protecting and insuring the nutritional content of Food we wouldn’t need the stinking Drugs!

We have the best (I know that means nothing) Medical Insurance Plan with regards to coverage- but yet I just can’t seem to get anything straight out of the Medical Community except that concerned and surprised look when talking to “The Dead Man Walking”, there Father!

Well after my last Carotid episode I contacted the so called Legal Representatives to ask “when is my Disability Hearing going to take place?” Well there is no end in sight, and as a little extra- I was informed that “should you pass away before the hearing and I were to have a Positive Ruling, my spouse would still receive the lumps sum that has accumulated when the clock started ticking in May of 2006- I am overjoyed (hey I don’t have to loose my sense of humor do I?)

I had received a email that stated that there are over 750,000 people who have been denied Disability Benefits that meet ALL the criteria for immediate Benefits! Well I hope when Iraq is rebuilt those poor folks know what they are getting into.


Holding On Still

Joy Kinhoff

__________________
“Give me ambiguity, or give me something else!”

Teri B.

Oh Joy! I'm so sorry to hear about all this. MY GOD you ARE a walking miracle!

The system is totally fucked up. I've never personally done any SSI work, but have worked in offices with other paralegals who do. The number one rule I've learned is, you have to get a lawyer. Seems they always turn down the first application, and often the second, EVEN THOUGH PEOPLE QUALIFY! But if you get a lawyer, which it sounds like you have, they can negotiate the system a little better. It's a form driven system, and you have to file all the right forms, with all the "right" information and records, and then, after a hearing, and bunch more senseless BULLSHIT, you get your benefits. The only thing that makes all this crap in any way fair is that you get benefits dating back from the date you first applied, as you said. It's all so STUPID! I've never understood how people can mentally and physically hang on through this idiotic, heartless process.

Hang in there miracle man! We're pulling for you.

chambers92

Sorry to hear what a nightmare you've been through, Joy. It would seem after all you've been through that getting on Disability would be a piece of cake but unfortunately it's not.

I agree with Teri, most people get turned down when applying for Disability the first time which is why getting an attorney is so important. Specifically one who specializes in Disability.

The attorney will help you put together a packet by doing the foot work as far as getting needed medical records from various doctors. He'll also encourage your doctors to write letters of support and will give them key words to use in their letters which should help you get approved.

I got turned down the first time and found the process much easier the second time around after I got an attorney.

Good luck. Feel free to PM me if you have any questions.