I don't know how well this will work, but I'm going to try to help other senior citizens out at the same time that I'm trying to help myself out!
I guess that I need to start by giving a little information on myself and what got me started on this.
It all began when I started getting a pain in my right leg. It kept getting worse until I finally decided it was time to see a doctor. The doctor didn't find anything wrong and I think that she figured that I was exaggerating the pain for quite some time but eventually, sent me in to have muscle and nerve test done. By this time, I couldn't climb steps or get in and out of the car without lifting my right leg with my hand!
The specialist said that all of the nerves going to my leg were being "Squished" and this was causing the pain and other problems with my leg. That I needed a CAT scan to find the problem.
To make a long story a little shorter, they found a 4" growth in my pelvic area. The nerves and blood vessels going to my leg were incased in it. After 18 biopsies, PET scans and numerous MRIs, they decided that it was not cancer. Maybe a tumor, but with the nerves and blood vessels being encased in it, I would lose my leg if they attempted to remove it. It's better to watch it to see if it continued to grow.
Some time before they had decided that I wasn't exagerateing the pain and inability to use my leg, I had to do something about my work as I could not do a lot in the condition that I was in. As I was 62 yrs old, I decided that the best thing would be to take early retirement and go on social security.
I had tried to talk with my doctor about getting on disability as it would have paid $300 a month more than the early retirement benefits. She was not willing to say that I was disabled at the time because she still did not think that I was having the problems that I was describing to her. (note: she has since apologized for doubting once the 4" growth was discovered)
Once I left work and went on social security, my insurance company dropped me like the proverbial "hot potato"! As you can imagine, with all the MRIs, CAT scans, etc. the savings account started disappearing. We sold our home and bought a smaller house, started cutting back on everything and tried saving money every way that we could.
The time came when I had to give in and start checking on some of these programs that we hear so much about for helping the seniors and low income. And, that is what the topics of this blog are going to be about!
I'm finding out that most of these programs are a farse! If there actually are programs out there to help, I hope to find them and let other seniors know about them. If I can't find them, I plan on letting all of you know what happens when you apply for the "well known" ones.
I know that I was turned down for the first (and only one) that I've applied for so far. I met the so-called guide lines but the gentleman in charge of the local office said that he had decided that I wasn't needy enough. Yet, some of those getting this help, have less reason to get it than myself and have been getting it for years.
Check back often. I'll be going into as much detail as I can on these programs as I find out more.
I guess that I need to start by giving a little information on myself and what got me started on this.
It all began when I started getting a pain in my right leg. It kept getting worse until I finally decided it was time to see a doctor. The doctor didn't find anything wrong and I think that she figured that I was exaggerating the pain for quite some time but eventually, sent me in to have muscle and nerve test done. By this time, I couldn't climb steps or get in and out of the car without lifting my right leg with my hand!
The specialist said that all of the nerves going to my leg were being "Squished" and this was causing the pain and other problems with my leg. That I needed a CAT scan to find the problem.
To make a long story a little shorter, they found a 4" growth in my pelvic area. The nerves and blood vessels going to my leg were incased in it. After 18 biopsies, PET scans and numerous MRIs, they decided that it was not cancer. Maybe a tumor, but with the nerves and blood vessels being encased in it, I would lose my leg if they attempted to remove it. It's better to watch it to see if it continued to grow.
Some time before they had decided that I wasn't exagerateing the pain and inability to use my leg, I had to do something about my work as I could not do a lot in the condition that I was in. As I was 62 yrs old, I decided that the best thing would be to take early retirement and go on social security.
I had tried to talk with my doctor about getting on disability as it would have paid $300 a month more than the early retirement benefits. She was not willing to say that I was disabled at the time because she still did not think that I was having the problems that I was describing to her. (note: she has since apologized for doubting once the 4" growth was discovered)
Once I left work and went on social security, my insurance company dropped me like the proverbial "hot potato"! As you can imagine, with all the MRIs, CAT scans, etc. the savings account started disappearing. We sold our home and bought a smaller house, started cutting back on everything and tried saving money every way that we could.
The time came when I had to give in and start checking on some of these programs that we hear so much about for helping the seniors and low income. And, that is what the topics of this blog are going to be about!
I'm finding out that most of these programs are a farse! If there actually are programs out there to help, I hope to find them and let other seniors know about them. If I can't find them, I plan on letting all of you know what happens when you apply for the "well known" ones.
I know that I was turned down for the first (and only one) that I've applied for so far. I met the so-called guide lines but the gentleman in charge of the local office said that he had decided that I wasn't needy enough. Yet, some of those getting this help, have less reason to get it than myself and have been getting it for years.
Check back often. I'll be going into as much detail as I can on these programs as I find out more.
Posted by deejerry
at 5:39 AM CDT
