I'm so glad you got an MRI scheduled. Please keep us updated on what is happening! And if you want backup on Dateline, i am SOOOO there! :-)
~~ dgg
Thank you all for your support and feedback! Well, my mom is selling things now to pay for my medical treatment, lol. I scheduled the MRI for Monday, it was cheaper than I thought, less than $1000, and a follow up neurologist appointment, $300, right afterward (mind you he did not require a referral to see me, so I am unsure if he is even a legal doctor or a quack or not-I called every neurologist in town and he was the only one who would take me).
In the past 2 days I was labeled as a drug addict by both urgent care and the ER, even though I was asking for non-narcotic pain medications like topical lidocaine!! My probono chiropractor did an xray of my low back, which showed I will basically need spinal surgery the injury is so severe.
And now, Medi-Cal, one by one, is denying each prescription they have been covering for years (I think they're seeing how expensive I am, lol). I'm starting to think this whole thing would be cheaper and easier if I just pain the monthly >$1,000 payment for an HMO as Medi-Cal is doing everything it can to prevent me from living a normal life.
I swear you guys, one day, when I get better, I will finish getting my Masters in Nurse Practitioning and will fight against these kind of things happening. Unfortuneately, it seems you have to have a title or a large amount of money behind your name to get anywhere these days. And who knows, if this gets bad enough, maybe I'll take it to Dateline, lol
Much love, Sara
You hit the nail on the head deadgamegrrl about the people "in charge"!!! And it's not just with healthcare!!
SLadylani - Hang in there - I know it's frustrating when you're dealing with ANY government, and especially so when you're in pain and need to be seen by a doctor or have tests done. It's amazing to me how these insurance companies can override what our doctors, who know us and our bodies much better than the insurance gurus, think we need or should have. What makes them think they have the right to play God with our lives? Frustrates the heck out of me!!
Please keep us posted on how you're doing and what you're able to find out.
Hi!
I don't really have any suggestions other than the good ones already offered, I just wanted to offer my support. I am self'-employed and pay a ton of money for a policy w/a 5K deductible. So most times I end up having to skip the expensive tests as they would be out of pocket anyway with that ridiculous deductible. I do have decent prescription coverage in theory, but they usually deny anything prescribed that might actually work!
I hate our health care too. You can bet that the people in charge of 'health reform' have great policies, pay a small portion if any of the premium, and wouldn't last a week in the real world with the rest of us .
So hang in there - you will be in my thoughts!
I just wanted you to know I'm standing right beside you and I'm keeping you in my prayers.
hang in there k?
thanks for the very good suggestions! it's just so hard working with medi-cal as they make you jump through all these hoops and i'm so tired of it all and don't think i can fight much longer. i'm just praying for a miracle at this point, lol. i'm looking into probono options and contacted the nms society for suggestions.
thank you so much, again, for the support, you don't know how much i appreciate your feedback
sara
I'm sorry to hear you've been having such a rough time. While I don't think ER visits is the way to control chronic pain, I can understand why you've had to go - and I'm sorry that you've run into some not so nice doctors and nurses there. I do understand, however, why they only prescribe you a very small amount of medication when you do have to go, even though it's not enough to hold you until your appointment time. They are for "emergency" or "urgent" control of the problem and not for "continued" control or care - therefore their hands are tied as far as being able to prescribe more long term pain control meds.
I have a couple of suggestions of things you may want to try and of course, i don't know if you have already tried any of them, so if you have, I apologize for suggesting something you have already done.
Have you or your doctor talked to your insurance company to ask for an appeal of the denied test request? Sometimes if you talk with the insurance company, and can show them proof of all the other tests/treatments that have been tried, and your doctor will provide them with written documentationi showing that this next test is THE diagnosing test that will show whether your not you have the condition that he thinks you do, they will approve it, based on what has already been done and your doctor's notes saying this is the only way he can diagnose you properly. I'm not saying that this WOULD work, but it may - it would at least be worth a phone call and perhaps a follow-up letter.
Another thing you may want to consider - again, I'm not sure if you have already done so or if it's available where you live - check wtih your local social services department about state medical coverage. If you're unable to work and therefore, have no income or limited income, they may be able to help you with medical coverage. Be sure to tell them that you have applied for disability and SSI, but without the diagnosis, you've been denied. And without the test, you can't get the diagnosis. They may be able to give you some sort of medical coverage, at least temporarily.
I wish you the best of luck and please keep us posted on how you're doing.