posted 29 July 2004 21:38            

Me tinks I took too many "stupid" pills today.

I have had several questions asked to me tonight that I don't know the answers to... and you KNOW how that can make a goofy person feel right simple.

I am not a "computer person".... so sorry. I am posting to bring this up and maybe some sweet soul who still has a brain can explain.

If you still have problems.. or no replies... post a new topic and ask folks your question. Surely someone can help?

Don't give up... and GOOD LUCK!!!

posted 21 August 2004 23:00            

I am moving it up in case other newbies need to read this.

Thanks, Tincup for putting this together!

posted 03 September 2004 13:50            

from SHELLEY,
Frequent Contributor
Posts: 1500
From: columbia,sc
Registered: Mar 2003
posted 19 October 2004 00:30
www.geocities.com/lymeart3/misdiag-links.html#disease

The above site is from NIH, Natl. Institute of Health's MEDLINE library.

I personally love their medlineplus site...shows all illnesses, meds, & a medical dictionary for THAT specific illness. Sure has helped me alot since I learned of this! I highly recommend it.
==========================================

added 10-9-04 from SHELLEY,
Here's another one. (also on the good news post) --

this is the 300 OTHER MEDICAL CONDITIONS THAT LYME MIMICS W/CITATIONS ON CERTAIN ILLNESSES WHETHER IT'S REPUTABLE OR NOT! Please read -- important!
www.geocities.com/lymeart3/misdiag-links.html#disease
=======================================
from Betty G.
EDITED 10-19-04...

IGENEX is a NON-participating in health insurance plans; so when you submit IGX's PAID reimbursement paperwork plus their findings...positive or negative to YOUR health insurance company, they will only pay a VERY SMALL amount.

I paid $180 for 2 tests, IGM & IGG....they reimbursed me only $45. They said if I used a PARTICIPATING lab, I would have only paid $21 out-of-pocket vs. the $135.00!

I'm checking into MD LABS, New Jersey, if they test ALL 16 BANDS on IGM/IGG...they do accept health insurance, BC/BS...most others! They FILE your health insurance paperwork for you; IGX does NOT!
================================

The WESTERN BLOT IGM & IGG blood test nos. 189 and 188, are the only accurate tests for LD. They should only be sent to USA’s no. 1 Lyme testing lab:

IGENEX LAB:
797 San Antonio Road
Palo Alto, CA 94303
1.800.832.3200.

(If the early test, called IGM, is negative; the later test IGG is NOT done!)

Please see their web site: www.igenex.com for their CURRENT prices and

to print their REQUIRED form, which MUST be signed by the doctor, DIAGNOSIS CODE NO. COMPLETED!; Medicare’s UPIN no., and your refrigerated blood taken EARLY in the week and received in 4 days so it doesn’t sit in post offices!

NON-Medicare patients must PREPAY by check or credit card for the tests since they do NOT handle insurance papers.

Medicare patients do NOT have to prepay!
Lyme should be diagnosed clinically using medical history in addition with the Western Blot blood tests as no currently available test is definitive in ruling-in or ruling-out infection with Ld pathogens, or whether these infections are responsible for the patient’s symptoms.

NOTE: Please send a copy of your health insurance card to YOUR insurance comany (mine is Wellmark BC/BS, Iowa) for them to submit to BLUE CARD (handles other states) them to FORWARD to California’s Blue Shield health insurance company since they will require that, DRS. Diagnosis Code No., and which date of service is correct (IGX has 3 different dates on their paid receipts....use the DATE OF ACTIVITY!).

FYI - mine was returned to me after 6 wks. After submitting; dr./blood lab failed to show DRS. DIAGNOSIS CODE NO. on their form! It went to 7 people to be returned to me! Disgusting! Betty G, Iowa
==================================

Here is a LIST of ALL the web sites I've put together in the last 2-3 weeks about
SS DISABILITY & LYME DISEASE/MARSHALL PROTOCOL SITE, FORUMS, & DISCUSSION since my July 12, 2004 late stage lyme dx; misdiagnosed 34 yrs!

WESTERN BLOT INFO FROM IGENEX's web site: http://igenex.com/lymeset2.htm

Dr. Trevor Marshall's NEW DISCUSSION site & he visits these 3 boards daily trying to answer questions:
http://www.marshallprotocal.com http://sarcinfo.com/phorum/list.php?f=1
============================================
NOTE: for the BEST, most COMPREHENSIVE INFO I'VE EVER COME ACROSS:

go to DISINISSUES....disability insurance issues in yahoo group!
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Disinissues/selprof?yguid=12748079&done=%2Fgroup%2FDisinissues%2F

I'm pretty sure the areas I found on my own below ARE found in the above link! So just look over the below I'm mentioned....it's maybe 5% of what they have put together! You don't know where to begin!

Read down thru their LINKS pages & decide what is most important. I found 3/4 down on 1st page helpful to me -- "really comprehensive site that helps explains the process of SS DETERMINATION" ....many SS rulings there!
==========================================

Social Security's ADULT IMPAIRMENT LIST - LYME disease shown on their APPROVED list of impairments, go to number 6....found after Sjogren's syndrome, etc. PLUS go to 14.09 also: www.ssa.gov/disabilty/professionals/bluebook/14.00-Immune-Adult.htm

This is mainly for those GOING THRU/WILL BE applying for SSDisabilty/SSI benefits! Otherwise, don't read.
**********************

Check out this SS site, laws & regulations, and their 10 questions/answers..you learn a lot!
[URL=http://ssa-custhelp.ssa.gov/cgi-bin/ssa.cfg/php/enduser/std_alp.php?sub_category_menus=&p_cat_lvl2=&p_lva=&p_li=&required=qcat&p_page=1&p_new_search=1&_dflt_sub_category=%7Ean y%7E&]http://ssa-custhelp.ssa.gov/cgi-bin/ssa.cfg/php/enduser/std_alp.php?sub_category_menus=&p_cat_lvl2=&p_lva=&p_li=&required=qcat&p_page=1&p_new_search=1&_dflt_sub_category=%7Ea ny%7E&[/URL] p_cat_lvl1=10&go=Go

HALLEX RULE I, 5, 3-17...this is the rule where 1st claim in Virginia's Appeals Council where the 2ND CLAIM they
will NOT work up or have the 2nd ALJudge hearing! I came across this when I was looking for something else!
http://www.socialsecurity.gov/OP_Home/hallex/I-05/I-5-3-17.html

Here's ALL of HALLEX Rules....read the headings as there are other areas that apply to us.....
http://www.socialsecurity.gov/OP_Home/hallex/hallex-I.html

Now here is the INFORMATIVE user friendly site I was referring to yesterday on APPEALS COUNCIL laws that EACH of the initial, reconsideration, ALJ, & AC have to use!

CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS on SSI, old-age, disability:
http://www.socialsecurity.gov/OP_Home/cfr20/416/416-0000.htm
--------------------------------------
Edited & added 10-8-04:

Still going thru it 4 yrs., 2 months later...2nd time around like you.

1. Make sure your SSD specialized lawyer can represent you in FEDERAL COURT!

My lawyer of almost 4 yrs. in Nov. quit/withdrew from my case after my 1st lyme dr. appt. At this time, he finally told me he could NOT represent me in federal court; another lawyer would have to do this!

It was mutually agreed for him to quit me; I was not happy with him, and I was doing all the work!

He waived his attorney fee, plus his travel fees for my 1st case, & the overnight postage/copying his office did! So it was very mutual and amicable.

2. Since he quit me, I read ALL the info in both my cases that he returned to me.

I painstakingly noted EACH exhibit page numbers w/important info only:

date, drs. name, & what was important ... rashes that no one acknowledged as lyme; memory problems/concentration, when various things were diagnosed, etc.

Then I wrote the chief ALjudge in Des Moines who had sent me a letter 2 wks. prior to my lyme dx.

IMPORTANT NOTE TO THOSE REFILING 2ND CLAIMS:
============================================
(He stated they were sitting on my 2nd case NOT working it up and NO 2nd ALJ hearing UNTIL Virginia's Appeals Council decides on 1st case there 2 yrs. then. They were using Hallex rule that I showed on page 10 of tincup's posting.)

Found out later, has to be out east 2.5 YRS. BEFORE they even look at it...if then!

YESTERDAY'S UPDATE: My Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin's office Des Moines asst. contacted Virginia's AC legislative liasion rep.

I had received a letter last wk. from AC stating they had received my REQUEST FOR REVIEW and the date RECEIVED would be put in line for review .. another 18 - 30 MONTHS! Another 1.5 - 3 YEARS! Disgusted!
=======================

AC left phone message for him. My 2 cases are being COMBINED INTO ONE CASE!

So he has a call into them again to make sure my date is first date of June 02 they recd. it....not Sept. 04 when I wrote Des Moines ALJudge to REOPEN & REVIEW my 2nd claim. ----------------------
====== -- NOW IT IS ONE CASE -- NOT TWO!
Yippee...that's progress for me!

EDITED 10-8-04:
Just reread my DENIAL letter on my 2nd claim reconsideration....the one I didn't receive until 6 months after the fact, which states:

"If the appeals council decides to REMAND your client's prior app for a NEW hearing, your prior and current app may be CONSOLIDATED FOR THE NEW HEARING. We will send you a NOTICE OF HEARING at least 20 days BEFORE the date of hearing to tell you its time and place".

BOTTOM LINE: I had thought when I heard they were combined; that they had ruled "favorable" to win. NO...looks like they are planning a NEW HEARING for the 2 combined cases! Darn..not over yet! Betty

PS - an online never-met friend went all the way to FEDERAL COURT; took her 9 YEARS! Judge had told her lawyer he was going to deny this prior to hearing. But they had an independent dr. present. When the judge asked this dr. if she could do sustainable work, he read the treating drs. written medical reports, and said NO...she was approved because this dr. was there & stated in his medical expertise of other drs. reports!

DO NOT GIVE UP FIGHTING; you have to go to hell and back to be approved.

Yes, chronic fatigue was approved 3-5 yrs. ago, but even that on mine w/12-15 other things didn't budge them.

Did you have RFC, RESIDUAL FUNCTION CAPACITY, test done by your treating dr. & rheumatologist ... needed!

plus MFC, MENTAL FUNCTION CAPCITY, tests done by your psychiatrist & psychologist ... NEEDED!

Each of above goes thru SSD's process of 8 things you can/NOT do: sitting, standing, walking, bending, crawling, & 3 others I can't remember! This is your best chance for medical documentation.

Although I had a rep from SSD in Des Moines come & talk to our fibro/fatigue support group. He said they DO NOT USE THESE ..

they are done by SSD/DDS's ON STAFF MDS who never see you but use the submitted drs. skimpy medical reports on all of us! wrong!!

My case will be an example later when I find out if they used them or not! Betty, Iowa
=========================================

Added 10-9-04 from CONNIE MC...
-------------------------------
"I was approved first time around using this resource, and I had lots of education and professional work history as an obstacle to approval. It's a great resource. You can buy it for around $20 plus shipping at smazon.com.

NOLO'S GUIDE TO SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY
536 Pages
Getting & Keeping Your Benefits
David A. Morton, III, M.D.
Nolo Press - 2nd Edition, 2003

This book is essential for anyone dealing with a long-term or permanent disability. It is especially useful for professionals who deal with clients/patients who may be seeking SSI or SSDI benefits.

While it deals with the technicalities of a bureaucratic system, the materials are presented in an easily understandable, and non-technical format.

Samples of all the major forms used by the system are presented with guidance on how to complete them.

Excellent glossaries are placed throughout the book.

There is an explanation of what Social Security Disability is, proving a disability, appealing a denial of benefits, as well as a complete listing and descriptions of illnesses covered by Social Security.

Upon completion of the course you will be able to identify:

What benefits are available to disabled children
How age, education and work experience affect benefits
How to prepare a Continuing Disability Review
SSI Benefits and SSDI Benefits and more"

[This message has been edited by bettyg (edited 09 October 2004).]

[This message has been edited by bettyg (edited 19 October 2004).]