Hey all.

Thought I would update you on what is going on with WC and the never ending line of hoops that I have been now stuck with (ugggg).  My doc has made an appointment for me with a Psychologist over in Wichita.  Another 1 1/2 drive which I will NOT get reimbursed for because WC is not paying for this one.....I AM!  Hubby's ins is paying part of it but still I will have to dish out a portion of the appt.

If I have to see this guy more then just the one time...I am looking at 50% of the fees which is going to put one heck of a dent in the extra funds that hubby makes.  Another Ugggg from me.  I sent off a email to my senetor to see what they can do for me...but I do not expect much since they are not allowed to see the conversation that the psychologist and I are about to have.

I am still not happy with the whole situation and have a feeling that WC will figure out a way to deny the SCS even after I go through this.  Depression is setting in once again.....oh well....life goes on and I will once again get through this with my sanity intact LOL.

Hugss to all of you.

Scarred

Scarred, It just doesn't seem right that something that should be a simple cut and dry approval. It should not have to involve all of this hoop jumping and 1 1/2 hr. drives to another appt. I don't understand any of this. If there are treatments and implants and such that will help with all of this agony, then why does everything have to be so long and drawn out to be approved or denied? It seems to be way overwhelming and exhausting. I am so sorry you are having to go through all of this. I know it is the way it is. And I shouldn't be voicing all of this.You know all of this yourself. You are dealing with this.I wish there was an easier way for you and all the others who are trying to get approved for a SCS. And the depression you are going through is absolutely understandable. But you have to believe in your cause. You deserve to get the SCS. Be strong. You have to hang in there. I know all of this is more than just "hard" on you. Please take care of yourself. We all care about you. Feel free to come here and vent as many times as you want to. There are plenty of available ears, shoulders to lean on,and caring hearts here.
Anice

Hang in ther Scared, you are one strong Lady! Everyday being as selfish as I am, I wish I could be half as brave as you and a whole lot of others here in our forum. My pain & problems are nothing compred to what you and some of my other dear friends have to live through daily! I give all of you so much credit for the way you just keep on fighting the good fight! I'd have given up long ago had I been in your shoes!! I am truely humbled by people like you and Skeye and PA and Anice and FatherJohn and Whitebeard and so many others!!!! Just knowing people like you gives me the stength to hang in there and make the tough dicissions which normally would beat me down and leave my wimpering like a scared child. You inspire me!!!
Thank you for all you have done for me!
Your brother,
Pete
PS> Hang tough Girl, just like you did w/ your husband! You Can Do It!!!!

Scarred, sweetie, hang in there.
I'm wondering why you say that your senator can't see the records from your new psych. Couldn't you grant him access to them? Of course, I would want to be absolutely positive that there wasn't anything in them that could be remotely construed as not being 100% in favor of you getting the SCS implant. Also, if you plan to do that, I would drop the complaints about how depressing the process to get approval is because you know they will just turn around & try to use that against you somehow. :(

I don't know whether or not you've finally got an attorney. My guess is you haven't since it sounds like you still haven't got a definite determination. Maybe it is time to push that issue. Perhaps that is something that your senator could help with -- setting a time line for a determination one way or the other. At least that would give you something to appeal.

I don't have WC, but when I lost my job & went on COBRA, my former employer stopped paying for my prescriptions. I was still making my monthly premium payments, but wasn't getting services. Then they stopped paying for my medical visits as well. They kept putting off making a determination or taking any action & it was driving me crazy. I finally sent them a letter stating that if I did not hear back from them by "X" date, then I would take that as a determination to deny benefits & would proceed with my state's appeal process. I'm not sure whether or not you might be able to do something similar with WC to try to force the decision, but I thought I would share with you what worked for me because I just feel so bad for you that you have to keep running in circles trying to even just get them to decide one way or another.

Like the others, I am amazed by your perseverance. Keep up the great work & hang tough.

peace,
frances

Sorry all....I am in such a horrible mood today. My back hurts so bad! I'm so sick of these hoops and rock walls in my way. Ohhh well I am so sick of worrying about this that its just no use.

Maybe you are right PA......maybe this just isn't meant to be. Maybe these are signs telling me that "you're doomed to stay on your meds so get over it." I just cannot do this anymore. I am so tired of fighting and I'm losing my last nerve. It's time maybe to let this SCS idea go and just keep trudgin on from here with my life.

Anyway.....hugssssssssssssss. Have a great night all.

Scarred

Scarred,
I just feel so bad for you.

If I could offer another interpretation of PALady's comments (without assuming that my interpretation is necessarily what she actually meant:

When I got into my car accident, I couldn't sleep for 3 days. Every time I would close my eyes, I would see the smoke & steam from the radiator again. It was horrifying. I was so angry. More than anything, I was mad at God b/c I prayed & prayed for a bit of relief to be able to sleep. I even tried sleeping pills to no avail. Well, it forced me to go a different route b/c I was beside myself between the sleep, the anxiety & not being able to walk. As it turned out, it was a blessing in disguise. The ER had missed that I had a pretty bad concussion. The neurologist said he wasn't sure how they missed it, but that if I would have gone to sleep it was quite likely that I would never have woken up. So, sometimes what we are most angry about (& rightly so) and wishing more than anything would change, turns out to be for our benefit. I won't say that if I had it all to do over again that I wouldn't still be wishing for sleep & shaking my fists at God in rage, but looking back I realize that not sleeping for a few days was far preferable to the alternative.

Who knows what the reason is for you not getting your benefits? But one possibility is that there is some undiagnosed problem that only God knows about that would become dangerous or more painful or something if you were to get the SCS. Sure, there are other possibilities (maybe WC is just evil) but I think perhaps you are right to say that at some point you need, for your own mental health benefit, to accept what is & try to make the most of it. Who knows whether having to wait another year, or two years, or five years, might end up getting you a much safer, stronger, better SCS unit that is 1000x better than the ones we can get today. I know that the technology is evolving at lightening speed so maybe that is the silver lining.

As another option, I am wondering whether it would be possible for you to get into a trial group for one of the newer models. I'm not sure what's out there right now, but I know that there have been SCS trials done in Missouri in the past, so maybe it wouldn't be out of the question. Of course, WC would have to agree to still keep paying for your meds & doctor's visits, but maybe that is one way that you could get the implant without having to jump through so many hoops. Just a thought. I know trials sometimes get a bad wrap, but the SCS technology would not be completely new, it would just be an improvement on what already exists. It is not without risks, but there are definitely benefits to be had as well.

Anyways, I will keep praying for you to find treatment & relief through one way or another.

blessings,
frances