kam
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 3410
posted
I received a letter stating that my workmen's comp claim will be closed on the 10th.
As some of you know, I filed for a workmen's comp in 2001.
I have hired attorney's but they have not been much help.
It seems the panel goes by what the doctor's they send me to say.
The last doc they sent me to saw me for a few minutes..asked one question and told me it was not work related.
My lyme doc has written to workmen's comp stating that this is most likely work related.
My focus most of the time is just getting through the day. I need to pick my battles. And battling lyme is my first choice.
yes I know that if this is approved, I just might have the funds to battle this condition and return to work.
I also know the next step is to file some forms requesting a hearing and with documentation that will support my claim.
I also know that I just might not be able to do this and will have to let things go.
But, for now, I am functioning well enough to at least think about it.
Ok...loosing my train of thought.
Break time..
I can't recall if the workmen's comp panel have seen my list of why I feel this is work related.
I don't know if that will even have any validity.
Ok..break time again..
In order for workmen's comp to be approved, I think I need to have a doctor (s) confirm this.
I have not had the funds to see another lyme doc in order to have them send another report in to confirm.
I don't know if it would help either.
I have not had what it takes to read the web site on workmens' comp to figure out what I need to do.
I just know the forms the attorney's filed and then they waited for the doctor's reports from the docs they sent me to.
Which did not help.
Just trying to clairfy my thoughts on what I need to do or if I need to just let this go or if I will even be able to try one last time on my own.
I am going to request that they do the hearing without me as I am not able to attend due to health.
So, I am hoping that this will be approved and that they will read what I write and consider that this is work related.
Posts: 15927 | From Became too sick to work or do household chores in 2001. | Registered: Dec 2002
| IP: Logged |
map1131
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 2022
posted
Kam, are they closing the case due to inactivity on the claim? Maybe you can easily enough get some activity going that will keep it open?
How do you believe you became ill from work? I don't remember your story. How old is the LLMD stating he thinks it's work related?
Exactly how insurance companies like us...too sick to complete and follow through with all the paper work and stress to win our cases.
Pam
-------------------- "Never, never, never, never, never give up" Winston Churchill Posts: 6478 | From Louisville, Ky | Registered: Jan 2002
| IP: Logged |
kam
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 3410
posted
Yes, they will be closing it due to inactivity. Not sure what kind of activity I need to do to keep it open.
Several of us came down sick at work in Sept/Oct 2001.
One was dx with valley fever and then CFS...we were in contact and I would get the same symptoms she had about 2 weeks later.
I even had a lesion on my stomach that changed colors as she did and bubbled up. Hers was biopsied and determined to be valley fever.
mine was ignored as my valley fever tests were negative...but others at work were treated for valley fever with negative tests.
I had a bit with a ring around it on my arm a few days after one of my students had a bit with a ring around it on his leg during this time too.
I ignored mine. He asked if he could go to medical and was given abx.
When my symptoms became too bad to ignore I went to doctor's and it took a year and a half to be dx.
WE had two yards at work closed down due to fevers and rashes. They thought it was from the wild cats at work...cat scratch fever
I first noticed the bite with a ring around it and thought my symptoms were due to setting up about 9 class rooms in a 8 month period.
Thought I was just tired and need to stay put in my next classroom.
I was going from working am's to pm's over night so hours keep changing too.
But, then went to set up a new classroom and that is when I could no longer stand or write on the chalkboard or hear what the students were saying or walk or sit or read or do simple math.
Several people from work called and suggested I file workmens' comp as many were coming down sick on that yard.
We all had trouble breathing so they tested the air quality.
I do know the toilets keep having trouble and the inside of the walls had sewage running down it.
I had a big book case on that wall and would see the water running out from under the book case into the classroom.
WE would close class. Now, wondering if I had removed the book case if I would have seen mold on that wall. Most likely as this went on for a long time and was a frequent occurance.
I later was told by two nurses who worked there that they treat for lyme all the time.
And I know that valley fever has left some in wheel chairs.
My thought is I was bitten one month and then transferred to the other yard and contacted valley fever as they were doing new construction at work and I was passing the site twice a day.
I did not know it was not good to breath in the air while passing that site and that the spoors were in the air.
Another teacher was dx with fibromalgia brought on by stress at work during the same time I came down sick.
WE had the same symptoms too.
Others went out on workmen's comp and have not returned. I don't know what they were dx with.
I do know one lady had a swollen knee and low patsium (sp?) during this time.
I also was teaching the teachers how to use a new program for records and we had a whole bunch of us out sick after we finished with the program including me. Wondering if that was the start of things.
I know the lady who created the program went out sick and received workmens' comp and disability. CALPERS
So, how to present this to workmen's comp panel I am not sure.
Wondering if I just write the above if it will be enough to keep it open.
Lyme doc wrote report in 2005. I kept telling the attorney to contact this doc and he never did.
So, when I went to the hearing I found this out and cancelled attorney. My records from the lyme doc were finally released to workmens' comp.
I could ask lyme doc to write another report.
From the attorney's perspective, it looks like they just go by what the doctor's they send me to say.
Posts: 15927 | From Became too sick to work or do household chores in 2001. | Registered: Dec 2002
| IP: Logged |
map1131
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 2022
posted
Wow, Kam you do have a story. My goodness all this needed was a lawyer worthy to go after the story as a large group.
I believe you should file an appeal with them. Your own appeal letter, stating that about your lawyer and the fact you were so ill at the time...you were not able to follow through on things in your best interest.
In an appeal you could tell them you are actively looking for a lawyer to fight this case. Tell them (even if it's not true) that you have the ability today to address your case and you have no intention of allowing this case to expire.
There are a few people on this site that could help you draft this letter. I'm not an activists, they are.
Anyone else have any thoughts for Kam? Kam do you have it in you to try one more time?
Pam
-------------------- "Never, never, never, never, never give up" Winston Churchill Posts: 6478 | From Louisville, Ky | Registered: Jan 2002
| IP: Logged |
kam
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 3410
posted
My claim has been denied 3 times now. So, appeals have been filed.
I think legally the next step is to get the paper work in to request a hearing along with documentation that will support the reason for this hearing.
I have given up on attorney's. I have knocked on many doors and they all say at this stage they are not able to help me.
There are some like the last one that will take the case just because if something is settled he or she will get some income.
But, will not do any fighting for me on this.
I have two attorney's now that will get paid if this is settled although they did not do anything but help to keep the claim open.
You have helped Pam. I am going to just try writing and see how that goes.
Hoping my health will hold out so I can do the work needed.
I need to send a copy to each person on the workmen's comp panel.
I have written to politicians asking for help too..they in turn have forwarded my letter to workmen's comp which resulted in state comp just telling me where my claim stands and what i need to do next..
which is file for the hearing along with supportive documentation to prove this is work related.
That stopped me in my tracks as getting to the CA and getting my power chair there just seems impossible at this time.
Along with having the health to fight for myself once I am there.
Posts: 15927 | From Became too sick to work or do household chores in 2001. | Registered: Dec 2002
| IP: Logged |
kam
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 3410
posted
Well, able to get a my words off to two of the state comp people.
Prayers needed. It would be great if they approved me and I was able to get help from a LLMD.
But, I also need to be OK if they do not approve me and the claim is closed.
Basically wrote why I thought it was work related. What my story was with trying to get help and how it took over 35 doctor's and 18 months.
and a log of what activities I am able to do now.
The only thing I have going for me is my LLMD's report and that is based on the others at work who came down sick at the same time with the same symptoms..only they are doing much better than I am.
Posts: 15927 | From Became too sick to work or do household chores in 2001. | Registered: Dec 2002
| IP: Logged |
kreynolds
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 15117
posted
Kam,
I am sorry to hear you have to deal with comp and being sick. Its not fair.
If you want, PM me, my hubby is on comp and we've been dealing with them for almost 3 years.
I would like to try and help you.I have alot of info.
Katie
-------------------- Diagnosed CDC + 6/2007
Quest: + IGG Bands 18,23,39,41,58,66 and 93.
Quest: + IGM Bands 23,39
Quest: + Bartonella (B.Henselea & B. Quintana),+ Babesia, and + Mycoplasma and Lyme-Induced Addisons Disease
+ Biofilm blood test 12/2010 Posts: 1185 | From New York | Registered: Apr 2008
| IP: Logged |
The Lyme Disease Network is a non-profit organization funded by individual donations. If you would like to support the Network and the LymeNet system of Web services, please send your donations to:
The
Lyme Disease Network of New Jersey 907 Pebble Creek Court,
Pennington,
NJ08534USA http://www.lymenet.org/
UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!
![[rant]](graemlins/rant.gif)
Printer-friendly view of this topic