Scott & White Physical Therapy called today to let us know Rassie was approved for physical therapy FINALLY! *sigh of relief* Thank you worker's comp insurance for finally getting your act together! He has an evaluation appointment scheduled for Monday, March 1st (along with the MRI and Oncology appt). From there they will schedule his PT visits. I am thrilled that things are finally looking up. I know that this physical therapy is going to help Rassie so much. I can just feel it.
This was just a small update but a BIG one at the same time. Just wanted to share with everyone the good news.
God Bless & Good Night
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Quick Update
Just a quick update since it's been a while. No new news in the way of Rassie's CML. The last labs came back good. Rassie's next oncology appointment is on March 1st, so a week away. We should be able to update then on anything new the doctors have to say.
We're still fighting the worker's comp insurance in the way of Rassie's injury. We're doing what we can at home to keep his legs worked out and moving. He uses his left leg quite a bit to get around. It's the right one we're still working with to get feeling back. Zurich is giving us the run around, better yet, they know how to work the system and they're doing it. We got our 3rd denial for physical therapy. It's a joke! We have a letter written out that we are sending certified to Texas Dept of Insurance to request a benefits hearing. Hopefully then we will get something accomplished. Rassie has been without physical therapy since early December and this is just not acceptable. I can't understand why they (zurich) would not want to help someone walk again when the doctors keep saying that he will. Instead they want the doctors to change their diagnoses and say this is as good as Rassie will get! What sad is that without therapy he could lose muscle tone and much more and not get as good as he could! They need to quit putting him off period! It gets old. I get impatient. I am so ready for this to be over with!
On another note, Rassie is still having his blackouts. He passes out or goes into a daze. Some days are worse than others. The doctor had ordered an EEG but because of worker's comp it took us 2 weeks to get it approved and then they had to schedule it. AND they scheduled a regular EEG instead of the 4 hour video EEG that the doctor had ordered. When we caught their mistake they had to reschedule which pushed us back even more. So finally this coming Friday, February 26th Rassie is having his 4 hour video EEG. This will serve 2 purposes. 1) To see whats going on and why he's blacking out 2) To see where the conduction of the nerves are slowing down causing the paralysis in his legs. Then on Monday, March 1st. He has 2 MRI's that will be done simultaneously of his upper back to see if there is something they missed when focusing on the lowers half of his body all this time.
Thanks for continuing to keep us in your prayers. They are much appreciated. I'll update when we know results from all the upcoming appointments
God Bless & Good Night
We're still fighting the worker's comp insurance in the way of Rassie's injury. We're doing what we can at home to keep his legs worked out and moving. He uses his left leg quite a bit to get around. It's the right one we're still working with to get feeling back. Zurich is giving us the run around, better yet, they know how to work the system and they're doing it. We got our 3rd denial for physical therapy. It's a joke! We have a letter written out that we are sending certified to Texas Dept of Insurance to request a benefits hearing. Hopefully then we will get something accomplished. Rassie has been without physical therapy since early December and this is just not acceptable. I can't understand why they (zurich) would not want to help someone walk again when the doctors keep saying that he will. Instead they want the doctors to change their diagnoses and say this is as good as Rassie will get! What sad is that without therapy he could lose muscle tone and much more and not get as good as he could! They need to quit putting him off period! It gets old. I get impatient. I am so ready for this to be over with!
On another note, Rassie is still having his blackouts. He passes out or goes into a daze. Some days are worse than others. The doctor had ordered an EEG but because of worker's comp it took us 2 weeks to get it approved and then they had to schedule it. AND they scheduled a regular EEG instead of the 4 hour video EEG that the doctor had ordered. When we caught their mistake they had to reschedule which pushed us back even more. So finally this coming Friday, February 26th Rassie is having his 4 hour video EEG. This will serve 2 purposes. 1) To see whats going on and why he's blacking out 2) To see where the conduction of the nerves are slowing down causing the paralysis in his legs. Then on Monday, March 1st. He has 2 MRI's that will be done simultaneously of his upper back to see if there is something they missed when focusing on the lowers half of his body all this time.
Thanks for continuing to keep us in your prayers. They are much appreciated. I'll update when we know results from all the upcoming appointments
God Bless & Good Night
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Just an update
Yesterday Rassie went and saw Dr. F the rehabilitation doctor. He was out of his pain medicine dilauded and has to be seen for a refill. We asked for a lower pain medication so he was prescribed vicodin this go round. We'll see how it controls his pain. He is still having blackouts and sometimes goes into a daze. We were supposed to hear back today on whether or not the tests were approved. The worker's comp insurance company is supposed to respond within 72 hours of the request but for some reason its been a week and we're still waiting. It's really hard to be patient. We called today but couldn't get a straight answer. Looks like we'll be making more phone calls tomorrow.
Rassie had bloodwork today for his CML. We should find out tomorrow the results from those. Fingers crossed everything is still looking good.
God Bless & Good Night
Rassie had bloodwork today for his CML. We should find out tomorrow the results from those. Fingers crossed everything is still looking good.
God Bless & Good Night
Friday, January 29, 2010
Nuerology Appt.
Yesterday Rassie had a neurology appointment. There was also supposed to be a nerve study done but for some reason it was not upset. That is being worked on and means another trip to the hospital! The medical student and Dr. L looked Rassie over thoroughly. They seemed concerned about his blackouts and that the frequency is increasing. They asked all sorts of questions and even caused a hyperventilated induced blackout. That was a little creepy. While he was out they tried talking to him. They lifted his arm and let it drop to see if he had some sort of consciousness and would catch it. Then they checked his blood pressure, heart rate and and eyes. Everything was normal there. Dr. L wanted to have an MRI and EEG done right then in the office but there were no machines available so those have to be scheduled. Like always, they have to be approved by insurance. They are filing it through workers compensation insurance. But, we are not going to wait too long to get approval there, we will file with out own insurance if need be because we really need to know whats causing these blackouts. And if it truly is related to the worker's comp injury then we will worry about having it refiled with them. Rassie will most likely have his 4 hour video EEG on February 3rd but that date is not set in stone yet. The MRI is up in the air but we should find out soon. We are actually calling today to check back on everything, get an idea on when it will be approved and also to check back about physical therapy and if its been approved or denied this time around.
Rassie is stilling doing well with the CML and Gleevec. We forgot to get all of his counts when he did labs this month but we do know everything came back normal or they would have called. So no concerns there. Will Keep you updated as we find out more.
God Bless
Rassie is stilling doing well with the CML and Gleevec. We forgot to get all of his counts when he did labs this month but we do know everything came back normal or they would have called. So no concerns there. Will Keep you updated as we find out more.
God Bless
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
2nd Opinions
Rassie had an appointment today for a 2nd opinion on his work related injury. The worker's comp insurance wanted a second opinion and the Texas Dept of Insurance set it up. The doctor who saw Rassie agreed 100% that Rassie will get better but he NEEDS physical therapy to do so. Pretty much, Zurich, the worker's comp insurance was hoping they would say this is as good as Rassie is going to get. They don't want to pay for expensive therapy treatments even if that means he will walk again. How ridiculous is that? This doctor also said he was going to suggest the same thing as Dr. F......AQUATIC THERAPY! We are hoping since this is a doctor the insurance company wanted us to get a second opinion through he will have a little more pull when it comes to Zurich approving or denying therapy.
More news. The more people we talk to, the more we are learning just how to handle this situation. We've even contacted the ombudsman at TDI (Texas Dept. of Insurance) We are accumulating very helpful information from lots of people. One being, when the worker's comp insurance denies you some type of treatment don't just call and ask why. Send a certified letter so you have proof that you contacted them and if all else fails send certified letter stating that you would like a benefits review. It has to be set up before an actual judge and it usually gets the insurance company moving. I just hate that its taking so long to get the help he needs and to learn everything we can do to get things taken care of. So if you have any information to share, please do!
Rassie is still having fainting spells. Two nights ago he was feeding Lane at the highchair and ended up face down on the tray. AH! I try not to leave the room or turn my back but geez. Tonight he fell off the couch. I knew he was having his episodes and made him get on the couch to lay back in the first place. But then I had to run Scarlett to the bathroom and Lane cried so he leaned forward to check on him. Bad idea, he blacked out and ended up falling onto the floor. No worries, he wasn't hurt and it was a short fall but this has got to stop. He has been off the med supposedly causing the episodes for over a week now. It is only supposed to take a week to get out of his system so I'm thinking its something else or a different med.
Rassie has another neurology appointment tomorrow. He is having yet another nerve study done. We are also going to ask more questions about the blackouts and hopefully get to the bottom of them. Something is going on and we need answers. I have to be with Rassie at all times. If he has a blackout and falls the wrong way he can end up cutting off his air supply and suffocating himself. Very scary thought!
Thanks for all your well wishes, thoughts and prayers. They are greatly appreciated.
God Bless & Good Night
More news. The more people we talk to, the more we are learning just how to handle this situation. We've even contacted the ombudsman at TDI (Texas Dept. of Insurance) We are accumulating very helpful information from lots of people. One being, when the worker's comp insurance denies you some type of treatment don't just call and ask why. Send a certified letter so you have proof that you contacted them and if all else fails send certified letter stating that you would like a benefits review. It has to be set up before an actual judge and it usually gets the insurance company moving. I just hate that its taking so long to get the help he needs and to learn everything we can do to get things taken care of. So if you have any information to share, please do!
Rassie is still having fainting spells. Two nights ago he was feeding Lane at the highchair and ended up face down on the tray. AH! I try not to leave the room or turn my back but geez. Tonight he fell off the couch. I knew he was having his episodes and made him get on the couch to lay back in the first place. But then I had to run Scarlett to the bathroom and Lane cried so he leaned forward to check on him. Bad idea, he blacked out and ended up falling onto the floor. No worries, he wasn't hurt and it was a short fall but this has got to stop. He has been off the med supposedly causing the episodes for over a week now. It is only supposed to take a week to get out of his system so I'm thinking its something else or a different med.
Rassie has another neurology appointment tomorrow. He is having yet another nerve study done. We are also going to ask more questions about the blackouts and hopefully get to the bottom of them. Something is going on and we need answers. I have to be with Rassie at all times. If he has a blackout and falls the wrong way he can end up cutting off his air supply and suffocating himself. Very scary thought!
Thanks for all your well wishes, thoughts and prayers. They are greatly appreciated.
God Bless & Good Night
Monday, January 25, 2010
More & More Blackouts
Or fainting spells. Whichever you prefer to call them. Rassie has been off 2 of his meds for over a week now. Soma and neurontin. They were blaming the blackouts on the neurontin. Maybe its just me but I think if you're coming off something the symptoms would get fewer until they were gone. Not the other way around. Rassie has been having more and more episodes. He has them on a daily basis now and has several instead of just one. Last night his episode lasted a while. After passing out and having to hold him in his wheel chair while I wheeled him to the living room, my brother and I helped him into the lounge chair where we let him sleep. He slept until about 9:15 off and on. And he could not remember how he got into the chair. It has never been that severe. Usually its a blackout and once we wake him up everything is fine. I am tired of not having answers! Thursday Rassie goes for another neurology appointment. I am going to push for further testing. I found out they didn't do an MRI at the emergency room. Only labs, EKG, and CT scan. All those came back normal. Something is going on and its getting worse! If it is the meds then it's not the one they were suspecting.
Please Pray that we get some answers and these fainting episodes STOP.
God Bless & Good Night
Please Pray that we get some answers and these fainting episodes STOP.
God Bless & Good Night
Thursday, January 21, 2010
PM&R Appt. Today
No update on the CML. Rassie has labs tomorrow and we should know the results by the afternoon or Monday. As far as we know this far his numbers are all in the normal range.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rassie had a PM&R* appointment today. The nurse case manager "D" for the worker's compensation insurance attended this appointment. So far, we are still waiting for physical therapy to be approved. Dr. F made it known that he had tried several times to return contact with the insurance doctors whom he never got through to and that there was no way any of the numbness/tingling or paralysis was due to his CML. He also said he could not believe that the worker's compensation insurance doctors would let Rassie go this long without physical therapy. "D" asked if Dr. F could give a different or new diagnosis for Rassie's condition and he said "No" that he was sticking to his original diagnosis of paraparesis and that the nuerapraxia the worker's comp. insurance keeps referring to is only a partial diagnosis and they need to get that fixed. So now we are going for Round 3 of getting approval for physical therapy.
The nurse case manager also told Rassie she thinks its going to be a long while before he gets better and he should consider finding another job. Not likely. He's on worker's comp for a work related insurance. She also said he should consider going to school during his down time just in case he can't get back to where he was before. We're going to check into that and see if we can't possibly get it paid for.
Rassie's been having blackouts. We took him to the ER on Monday night I believe (my days are all messed up). Everything is leading back to it being a medication called nuerontin that is used for nerve pain. All tests are coming back normal for everything else. Rassie's primary care doctor had written a RX to switch him over to Cymbalta but Dr. F and Rassie are just going to work on weening him off of it completely. Rassie actually hasn't taken any yesterday or today and we've had no episodes. Dr. F did tell Rassie he is a health risk right now because of the blackouts and not to be holding the babies until the episodes stop and we're completely sure its the meds that were causing it.
Rassie also has another neurology appointment coming up on the 28th. His last nerve study came back "normal with delays". This is what is giving Dr. F the impression that Rassie will fully recover, it will just take time. They are also going to do a more extensive nerve study on the 28th. I am not sure of the name, it's 6 words long! I will get back to you with the name of it.
Okay! I think I covered everything. It's hard to remember it all. But if you have any questions feel free to ask and I'll try to answer them when I can. Thanks for the continued support.
God Bless & Good Night
*PM&R = Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rassie had a PM&R* appointment today. The nurse case manager "D" for the worker's compensation insurance attended this appointment. So far, we are still waiting for physical therapy to be approved. Dr. F made it known that he had tried several times to return contact with the insurance doctors whom he never got through to and that there was no way any of the numbness/tingling or paralysis was due to his CML. He also said he could not believe that the worker's compensation insurance doctors would let Rassie go this long without physical therapy. "D" asked if Dr. F could give a different or new diagnosis for Rassie's condition and he said "No" that he was sticking to his original diagnosis of paraparesis and that the nuerapraxia the worker's comp. insurance keeps referring to is only a partial diagnosis and they need to get that fixed. So now we are going for Round 3 of getting approval for physical therapy.
The nurse case manager also told Rassie she thinks its going to be a long while before he gets better and he should consider finding another job. Not likely. He's on worker's comp for a work related insurance. She also said he should consider going to school during his down time just in case he can't get back to where he was before. We're going to check into that and see if we can't possibly get it paid for.
Rassie's been having blackouts. We took him to the ER on Monday night I believe (my days are all messed up). Everything is leading back to it being a medication called nuerontin that is used for nerve pain. All tests are coming back normal for everything else. Rassie's primary care doctor had written a RX to switch him over to Cymbalta but Dr. F and Rassie are just going to work on weening him off of it completely. Rassie actually hasn't taken any yesterday or today and we've had no episodes. Dr. F did tell Rassie he is a health risk right now because of the blackouts and not to be holding the babies until the episodes stop and we're completely sure its the meds that were causing it.
Rassie also has another neurology appointment coming up on the 28th. His last nerve study came back "normal with delays". This is what is giving Dr. F the impression that Rassie will fully recover, it will just take time. They are also going to do a more extensive nerve study on the 28th. I am not sure of the name, it's 6 words long! I will get back to you with the name of it.
Okay! I think I covered everything. It's hard to remember it all. But if you have any questions feel free to ask and I'll try to answer them when I can. Thanks for the continued support.
God Bless & Good Night
*PM&R = Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
An Oldie but A Goodie
I love happy memories
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