Re: Thank you for responding-dcj
David C. Jones (jones(AT)tdl.com)
Sun, 16 Feb 1997 12:57:50 -0800
Deborah Capen wrote:
>
> Dear Barbara,
>
> Thank you for responding to my email to the list. I have just been
> plugging along, and just when I get used to things the way they are,
> another "Whammy" gets thrown at us.
> The Neurologist's office that originally had scheduled me for February 11
> called to change it until later, because the Dr. was going on vacation. I
> became very upset with them, told them to give me the name of another Dr.
> if their office did not want my case. At that point, they moved my
> appointment to an earlier date.
>
> I went in for my first visit. He is very, very nice, and seems to have a
> lot of knowledge of TM. He is also the head of a Rehab center, and
> Psychiatry Center.(A lot of initials after his name). He spend about two
> hours with me answering all my questions before I even had a chance to ask
> them. I was told that TM has varying degrees of severity, which I already
> knew that. Dr. also said that 96% of all TM cases result in 100% recovery
> with no repeat attacks. As far as being related to MS, he stated that TM
> is only one symtom of the beginnings of MS, that the absence of other
> symtoms ruled out MS in my case. Also that there is absolutely no
> relationship between TM and Oral Polio Vaccines, that that is speculation
> by journalists. He said that subject had been discussed and dismissed by
> the AMA years ago.
>
> He told me that age was a definite consideration in how fast recovery time
> is, that children usually bounce back at mostly 100% recovery in a short
> time. My age at 45 is a good age, where I am still young enough, which is
> why I was able to start walking within two to three weeks. However, I
> should not expect "full" recovery for between six months and two years.
> The longer the time, the more gradual the noticeable recovery. Then at two
> years, if there is anything left, such as inability to wiggle little toes,
> then that would probably be permanent. He told me that that is the
> scenario for my age group. The older you are, the longer and more gradual
> the recovery time. The Dr. also told me that I was at a point where I did
> not need to be on physical therapy, because insurance companies usually ask
> the question,"Are they able to walk on their own?" and if the answer is
> yes, then they say "No more money for PT."
>
> The "Whammy" now is-because my onset was on December 30, and I had not met
> a $2,000 deductible for the year, I have to pay that amount, then they pay
> 80% until I have paid another $2,000. Now when January 1 rolled around, I
> have to meet another $2,000 deductible, and another $2,000 out of pocket
> expense before they pay anything. The hospital stay was $18,000. Two
> emergency rooms were $500 each, not including the Dr. bills for the
> emergency rooms, not including the tests, not including the medications.
> The ambulance bill to transport me from one emergency room to the next was
> $400.
>
> At this point, I am wishing 1997 would go away, and maybe 1998 will be
> better. I have no income, my husband has to work by himself. We have
> worked together as a team for twenty years, now he can only take jobs that
> he can handle alone, which cuts our income in half.
>
> That is the only depressing factor at this point. I can handle this
> disorder, I can not handle the treatment by the insurance company, and the
> fact that I, as a hard working american with a lot of accomplishments in my
> life, college educated, might be on the verge of losing everything I have
> accumulated, and could be destitute. I know I will never be homeless,
> because I have my family around me. But I would never want to be a burden
> to anybody, my pride will not allow that. And I will NEVER allow myself to
> be on the welfare system.
>
> Here I am, venting and rambling again, so I will end this letter.
> Thank you again for responding.
>
> Debbie
Debbie C: Hello, been reading your posts and a bell went off, when you
reported your Doc said that 98% ot tm patients have 100% recovery!
Question: to you and the thread does this sound right?? 100% equals
compleat recovery. Also in my opinon the AMA addressing a sensitive
issue of an approved [ama] preventive med causing complications [tm]. Is
like standing in the hen house and asking the fox if he likes chicken.
Take care and God bless/ DCJones {Dave}