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hurtinghalo	Jun-23-03, 08:16 AM (CMT)
"Update disability and social security..who's watching you??"
Hello all, sorry it's been so long since I popped in to see whats going on, but I found myself becoming too consumed with the frustration of my illness and reading about the difficulties with others illnesses as well, and I needed a "time out" of sorts. I finally received my reconcideration determination for social security, and of course it was denied, so now i need to find an attorney in my area to fight that, I also received word from my disability carrier, and as expected, because of the neuro psyc ime they did they are trying to say my illness is primarily mental nervous because of depression, rather then the depression being caused by and co-morbid with the illness. We knew with 98% certainty they would try this as success on their part limits them liability wise to 24 months rather then until i am 65, so now we have to fight that as well. Richard, the letter you helped me with was hugely helpful, my Dr. was extremely happy to see it and agreed it was exactly what i might need, and we sent it in as part of the appeal for the ltd. So thank you ever so much again and again! I have to wonder if there will ever be a time when I can just concintrate on trying to feel okay and not be fighting with these entities which zap every ounce of strength and energy i have to spare, it seems completely unthinkable to me to force those who are ill and in failing states to waste all of the time they have battleing what seems to be unwinnable wars with such entities as social security and long term disability companies. Additionally it seems completely rediculas to expect Dr.'s to spend hours and hours writting letters and doing paper work, rather then treating patients as they are trained to, yet that seems to be what it all boils down to, who can word things the exact way so that the battles end. I also wanted to warn those of you on LTD, I know you have probably all heard about this but I'v discovered it is happening more times then you would think, your LTD carrier will probably at some point have you under survelliance on tape. I had no idea I was being followed, and taped in November until just three weeks ago when I received a letter that referred to it. Because I have alot of difficulties almost all of the time, they were unable to find me doing anything contrary to my illness and thus it was a waste of their time and money, but the realization that someone invaded my privacy and followed my husband and i to my dr's appointments more then 70 miles from our home, to the store so i could buy my 10 year old a birthday gift, and to the dmv so my husband could go in and get an application for a disabled parking permit, gives me a horribly paranoid sense of having to keep everything locked and watching who is driving in the car s behind us. It isn't that your doing anything wrong, it's just that with insurance companies, as some of you know, they will turn and twist nothing into something it absolutely isn't, just to reach their objectives, so be aware if you are in the process of getting or on long term disability, keep your blinds shut and your doors locked. Even if you never do anything out of the house except go to the dr, it's better if you know they are there watching then to find out afterward and feel this icky invaded feeling. In the end, everything will work out just as it is meant to, I know that, but I did want to share the experience with you all so that you can and will be aware of what could be lurking without you knowing it. As for my health unfortunately some rather unsettleing things have begun to happen in addition to the regular ones before, like loss of consciousness, unresponsivness, during that time, and constantly dropping things, i went to yet ANOTHER neurologist, who along with my other physicians agree's there is nothing further they can do except to keep treating the symptoms. Keep your chin up and keep on fighting, i think some times it's Gods way of letting us know we're still alive! May God and the ANGELS hold you close, and ease your pain in the times when nothing else works. Jen
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RE: Update disability and social se..., lesherb, Jun-23-03, (1) RE: Update disability and social se..., Richard, Jun-23-03, (2) RE: Update disability and social se..., hurtinghalo, Jun-23-03, (3) RE: Update disability and social se..., hpilgrim, Jun-23-03, (4) RE: Update disability and social se..., cherieo, Jun-23-03, (5) RE: Update disability and social se..., Timber2, Jun-23-03, (6) RE: Update disability and social se..., hurtinghalo, Jun-24-03, (7) RE: Update disability and social se..., genxgirl, Jun-24-03, (8)

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lesherb	Jun-23-03, 11:48 AM (CMT)
1. "RE: Update disability and social security..who's watching you??"
I have seen (on tv) some video's of people on disabilty for back problems and lifting heavy items, playing golf, etc. It is those people who want to dupe the system who make it terrible for the rest. I think the doctors who sign papers and write letters on behalf of people who are duping the system, should lose their licenses. It must be an awful creepy feeling to know you have been under surveillance but it's "those" people who are to blame. Łeslie
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	Richard	Jun-23-03, 02:01 PM (CMT)
	2. "RE: Update disability and social security..who's watching you??"
	My doctor warned me to be rigorously honest. He told of patients who limped into his office but who walked OK to thier cars ... he saw them on the video in the parking garage. He had a suspicion so he went and looked. You never know, so it's best to be honest. I followed his advice. Hang In There! Tieni Duro! Non Mollare! Tiens Bon! Ne Laches Pas! Richard
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	hurtinghalo	Jun-23-03, 02:48 PM (CMT)
	3. "RE: Update disability and social security..who's watching you??"
	Yes Richard, I absolutely could not agree more, in all things honesty is the best policy of that there is no doubt, and Leslie, I also agree in part that it is indeed those people who bring things like this about, however, more and more insurance companies are making some length of survellience the rule rather then the exception, and if as Richard commented you have been honest and cooperative chances are nothing of great significance will be the result. Please let me clarify that I in no way begrudge entities the option of doing it, I think some times it is quite justified as in the cases we've all seen on T.V. that were mentioned earlier. However, my reason for telling you all was simply to make you aware that it does happen even in cases such as mine where people have been completely honest and are truley disabled. Given the nature of disabilities like clusters, migraines, FM, and CFS, ( invisable illnesses)and the like, we all have moments that are better then others, and it's only natural to want to take advantage of those better moments and do as much as we can in them not knowing when they might happen again, if in one of those better moments your seen **mowing the lawn** for example, you could be opening yourself up for alot of problems down the road, so just be aware of the possibilities. May God and the ANGELS hold you close, and ease your pain in the times when nothing else works. Jen
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	hpilgrim	Jun-23-03, 04:28 PM (CMT)
	4. "RE: Update disability and social security..who's watching you??"
	Hi Jen- You have brought up a very important subject... As you say, M's don't show on the surface, (we don't limp, etc.)and I for one certainly do hurry to shop, etc. on "good days", since they are so few, and unexpected. So what can we do to protect ourselves??? If we are viewed in these rare good moments, we will be instantly misconstrued... Holly
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	cherieo	Jun-23-03, 08:48 PM (CMT)
	5. "RE: Update disability and social security..who's watching you??"
	My husbands been video taped a couple of times. They really are boring tapes but the one that they tried unsuccessfully, so far, to use was when he received a postcard for a recall on his tires on his truck. He called and tried to change the date to have them exchanged and was told if he didn't keep his time it would be another month until they could get him in (Firestone recall). No one else could take them in and it was the afternoon of a day he came home from work with a migraine. The doctor said you can see on the tape that he has a migraine or is in pain by his eyes. And the way he shaded them from the sun but fact is he was not inside, at home, on a work day. It only took an hour but still it isn't in his favor or one of his brightest moves. The other tape however showed our son taking him to a doctors appointment because he was in to much pain to drive. I certainly understand feeling you are being invaded, I posted a sign on my car and house saying beware we are under survelliance-childess I guess but made me feel better. Cherie
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	Timber2	Jun-23-03, 09:46 PM (CMT)
	6. "RE: Update disability and social security..who's watching you??"
	Jen, I've often wondered if I was ever being videotaped by my private LTD company. I've been especially wondering that now because a new company is administering LTD and it seems that they'reis evaluating many people on long-term disability. That really adds to my feeling of uneasiness. What do they consider "disabled?" With migraines, as you well know, it's hard for others to tell if you're experiencing pain. I do drive my car several times a week and usually attend my children's school and sporting events, frequently when I'm migraining. Hope that doesn't cause any problems. Jeez. I guess all you can do is tell the truth, have your doctors back you up and be able to document anything you're questioned about. -- Debbie P.
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	hurtinghalo	Jun-24-03, 01:24 AM (CMT)
	7. "RE: Update disability and social security..who's watching you??"
	Holly, it is my understanding that those "rare moments" are exactly what they are waiting and looking for so that they can disprove your inability to function and / or work. if you put away personnal feelings you can see that from a business standpoint, if even one of 100 claims is shot down because of a "rare moment" they stand to save potentially several hundred thousand dollars over the course of ones lifetime, and that is a very powerful motivator!! Add to this things we've all heard mentioned here and other places such as bonuses for claims people who can get rid of the most claims, free trips here or there for those same people, and other motivators. As for protection?? to be honest i really do not have a clue other then as earlier mentioned, be honest, informed, and as aware as it's possible for you to be, in addition to doing what you can to assure yours and your families right to privacy by locking doors, closing blinds or curtains, and keeping EVERYONE in your family informed as well, since this occurred i have spoken to lawyers who have told me these people will stop at nothing to obtain information including your family neighbors and friends, even your children. personnaly i have never thought in those terms before it's an entirely new concept for me, one i hate! to think of the world in terms of how devious or unscrupulas people can be rather then in terms of how good was always something that was in my mind unthinkable. yet because we are very ill and unable to really fight back with everything we once were able to, we are forced to, along with everything else, deal with these issues as well. May God and the ANGELS hold you close, and ease your pain in the times when nothing else works. Jen
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genxgirl	Jun-24-03, 04:37 AM (CMT)
8. "RE: Update disability and social security..who's watching you??"
I used to date a lawyer who worked for an insurance company, and I have actually seen some of htese surveillance tapes. I try to keep this in mind when I am out, but since when I am out, I usually have a pinched-pained look on my face and constantly rubbing my forehead even when I am not thinking about it (my finace told me this) I decided that if they are following me, then so be it. I only get worried when I am doing things like mowing my lawn. It takes a huge amount of effort to do it, but I can't sit on my butt all the time even when I know I will pay for the extra physical activity later on. If they tape me mowing my lawn, I will just tell them the truth. I force myself to do some physical work, because exercise is so important to migraineurs. And then I will ask them if the tapes can detect how dizzy I am when I work outside, or if the tapes can predict how miserable i felt after the yard work. In any case, if you are telling the truth, which we all are, then we have nothing to fear. joelle
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