I should have posted this last night but didn't think about it. I just went in today for the first of three doctors appointments for my Social Security application. This one, today, was an eye exam. They did a standard exam but also a field test. I knew full well that even as bad as it is, my visual acuity is still too good for them to consider me needing help but my field of vision is very bad and the field test should reflect that problem. Anyway, according to the guy, my optic nerves are supposedly both healthy. I don't know for sure how right he was mostly because I was told by at least a few past dr. that one optic nerve was detached and the other was under developed. I know they can't be healthy if the other doctors were right but I don't know for sure who is right so it's really confusing to me. Either way, while that is good news I guess...it doesn't help prove that there is indeed a problem and it definitely doesn't tell what the problem is. My request is simply that when the final reports are written up to be sent to SS, please pray that the doctor is not only 100% honest in his report but that he is able to see any and all problems and that he includes at least comments of them in his final report. I don't want sympathy, money, or attention from anyone about my vision...But I DO want as much help as I can get in adjusting to changes that I KNOW are real and are happening and I can't get any help from anyone as long as these doctors keep writing my vision as being better than it is! It may be true that I can guess things really well...but there are many times that guessing is NOT good enough. Guessing that the speed limit sign says 65 when it might really say 55 won't make any cop feel sorry for me if I were to be driving and get caught speeding. But the doctors don't seem to care. As long as I can play their stupid guessing games, they write up that my vision is fine. Just not so! If it was fine, I wouldn't need to use a magnifier to read and I'd be able to actually drive instead of having someone else drive me places. I NEED this doctor to be honest in his report because without that paperwork, I can't get the help I need. Please pray that God puts it on his heart to be totally honest in that report. I tried to tell him about two other problems I have. One is that I often see a gray/white round spot in the center of my vision in my right eye. I know it's not normal but don't know what it is or why it's there...but he never did answer my question about what causes it and he didn't seem too concerned either. I didn't even get to tell him about the white streaks I often see in both eyes. It's almost like tiny shooting stars along the sides of my vision in both eyes and I don't know what causes that either but didn't get to tell him about it cause he wouldn't listen to me long enough. :-(

Also, I have two more appointments. One for psychological eval (which we all know I am 100% crazy...LOL). No seriously, I am actually very healthy and stable there but my past does have a big impact on things and it wouldn't hurt to discuss with them about my past. Please pray that God will help me talk about my past with them and that the eval doctor will listen and also be honest in their final reports to SS. The last appointment is a physical exam. I also want to pray the same for that one. I really need these doctors to be 100% honest in their reports and as thorough as possible in their exams. For the physical, I believe they will be checking about my back and I also mentioned a growth impairment which I know I have. I need them to see for themselves that my scoliosis is a problem and I need them to be able to identify the cause of my growth impairment. I don't care if I never grow anymore...I'm fine and happy and healthy...but for the sake of medical help, I really need them to see it. I also hope they are able to identify the reason for my joint pain as I always say it's arthritis but don't really know what it actually is or what is causing it. All I know is that my joints have hurt since I was at least 2 years old...maybe younger but I don't remember that far back. When it's cold, damp, rainy or sometimes just whenever...they hurt really bad. It's in my ankles, knees, wrists and sometimes makes my whole legs feel like they are on fire. It keeps me from being able to stand still for long and I need them to see that and to hopefully find out why it happens. If they are able to see all these for themselves and will be honest about it in their reports, then I know SS will be more likely to approve me...which would then give me 1: some income since I can't seem to find work and 2: medical coverage from Medicaid so that I can start seeing doctors more regularly.

So, can you all please pray that they are able to see/find all of these and anything else that I may not even know about and pray that they will be honest and include it all in their final reports when they send everything to SS? I just want to be able to go in and get the medical help I need for my joints, my back, and my eyes. I know I could just ask God to make me better but I also know I am an imperfect human born into sin which separates us from God (to a point) and while Jesus took those stripes so we could be healed of disease and sickness, I do believe that we still will go through sicknesses and problems as a result of all of sin. I feel that I am healthy enough to enjoy life in general and continue my walk with God without needing any healing and ultimately, I look forward to living in Heaven when this world is gone so I don't feel I am missing anything big in life here on earth since I have God...but while I am here in the physical, I do need some help adjusting to the physical limitations that these problems cause and that's all I want...is just enough to get through until it's time for me to go and be with God (hopefully not until I'm really old...LOL). God will take care of the rest and in my imperfect health, I feel God can use that to bring people closer to him by letting them see that I'm just as human as they are and also get sick and have health problems but I am also overall, very happy and I trust God 100% and God has and is blessing me so I want them to see that they also can be forgiven of their sins and blessed. I want them to know that Christian life is not perfect but is so much better! Just because I may get sick or have health problems doesn't mean God doesn't care or isn't blessing me...it's just that the blessings are different than what most people would expect but I am happy with them. Besides, I don't need my eyes to see God. I can see Him just fine without them. I have the Holy Spirit to guide me and I like it that way. So, I know my request may not make much sense...but I fully understand it all and just asking for prayer and spiritual support. Thanks!

quote:

just asking for prayer and spiritual support

You got it!!

Yes, friend. I'll be putting it all in, His hands, for you. May God's Will be done. Amen

Praying that you get the care you need.

Take care,

quote:

Praying that you get the care you need.

Me too...

Prays are on the way to you. God Bless.

Well, my appointments are over with and I was really surprised with them. Comparing to the way things went when Mama was going for her application back over a year ago, the doctors I was sent to were much better and way more thorough. In each one, the doctors asked many more questions than had been expected and they seemed to actually listen to my answers. They took lots of notes and two of them did eye exams plus the physical included a measurement of the curvature of my spine...which I hope will give them a good indication as to how bad my scoliosis is. I was very honest with them and made sure to answer all questions and give lots of detail. I also realized that during the eye exam with the ophthalmologist, they only did the field test on my right eye, so that should also help I think because I know my field vision is bad in that eye and they acknowledged that my left eye was of no use at all both in acuity and in field vision. I am hoping that will reflect my true limitations enough for SS to give me a positive response. Now, is the waiting phase. I should hear something within 30 days and praying that the decision is a good one, I should then have some income and soon have Medicaid. That would be great since it will give me a chance to help Mama with the bills and then I can bring home a puppy. This is one of the things that is and has been holding me back on the puppy as well as other things, including certificate programs I've found at the local college that I'd like to check into. Also, once this is all over with, I can then look for a part time job to 1: keep me busy and 2: bring in a bit more to cover other expenses or even just to put into a savings fund. My ultimate goal in this is to become as financially independent from Mama as I can. Easier said than done...but I am determined. Thanks for all your prayers.

Dana - hope all is going well. Take care - let us know how things are going with you.

Dana,
We will keep you on our Prayer list, sounds like some good news,

God Bless,

Good luck and prayers for you Dana!

Thanks for the update Dana. You've been in my prayers

Well, I've got some praise reports and more prayer requests. I'll start with the happy news.

1: We got forms and letters in the mail for Mama's Medicare coverage and according to them, her coverage should start in June...a full month sooner than we thought it would be. That's great!

2: I've been in the hospital with Mama since 5pm yesterday. The doctor admitted her after her appointment because her blood sugar has been too high and she's not been able to get it back under control with meds. Because she'd not had medical coverage for the 7 months that we were in north GA, she had not been on her diabetic meds during than time and her blood sugar was high then too. When we moved back here to FL, after 1 month, she was able to get her Medicaid back and get back on meds but after a whole month, the meds were still not lowering it enough. Her fasting blood sugar in the mornings was running over 300 and some mornings was near 400. Not a good thing. So the doctor has ordered insulin for her during her hospital stay and it looks like she will finally have to go on insulin regularly in place of the meds. This is actually not too bad for a few reasons. First, she's been able to control her blood sugar with meds up until now and it's been 11 years now since she was first diagnosed. Second, from what I understand, she will only need insulin once a day so it looks like she's just now in the beginning stages of needing regular insulin. Also, I will be learning to give her the shots so that I can help her and her current Medicaid and future Medicare coverage should take care of the costs for both the insulin and the equipment/supplies. Anyway, they are giving her IV fluids and meds and routine insulin while she's here. This morning when they checked her fasting blood sugar before breakfast, it was 166! That's much, much better than what it has been! Now, the only major concern is that her blood pressure seems to be staying low and they haven't even given her the blood pressure meds she normally takes (that would make it drop lower since she takes it to control high blood pressure). So, if you could please pray that they can get that better and then we should be going home by tomorrow afternoon if all continues to go well. Also, Mama has lost over 40 pounds since last May and still working to lose some more. That's been really good for her and is better on her back and heart.

So, that's the good news so far. I'm still waiting for the decision for my SS application. About two more weeks and the month will be over so hopefully soon after the first of March, I will hear something. Now, on to the new prayer request.

While Mama needs this treatment they are giving her in the hospital (although this hospital really sucks and is not a very good one over all), this does come at a rough time for us. I'm staying at the hospital with Mama but my brother is staying at the house by himself...which kind of worries me because he's been really depressed for a long while and has been suicidal. He posted a blog the other night after something upset him in the middle of the night and was talking about ending things. Mama and I don't like him being left alone but we can't both stay here at the hospital and I couldn't leave Mama to stay here by herself either as this is not a really good hospital but the doctor couldn't send her anywhere else so I felt like I had to choose between keeping an eye on my brother and making sure that Mama is well cared for. I've got my cell phone with me and we've been calling the house from time to time and Jon (my brother) has also called my phone last night to talk. Julie has also been calling the house to check on him and Mama made him promise to call someone (anyone) and talk to them if he started feeling down again. I still worry about him being alone though and I will be here for at least another night with Mama before we can go home. So if you will, please pray for my brother because I don't want him to do anything to take his life. I know he is having trouble and it's been rough on all of us. I've had a rough time myself but I'm not having suicidal thoughts like he is...so I know how he feels but I don't want him to do anything permanent about it and I know he is pretty vulnerable right now. So, please be praying with me that God will be with my brother while he is staying by himself. He turned 21 just this month, so he and I are very close in age and as siblings because we also grew up together in the same house our whole lives. (Our youngest brother was raised in a separate home than Jon and me.) Thanks for all your prayers. Things are getting better in alot of ways and I am very thankful for the support I've found here and even for the growth I've gained from also sharing support and prayers with each of you that have also needed prayer. I look forward to bringing more good news and fewer prayer requests (as a sign that those prayers are being answered). Again, thanks!

praying for peace and wellness for you and your family, dana.

Sending prayers for healing for all in your family, Dana.

Oh Dana.... you have A LOT going on. Wow!

I'm glad you are asking for prayers and staying close to the Lord.

Extra prayers for you and your family ((hugs))

Mama and I are home now! I'm very glad. The doctor wasn't 100% satisfied with her blood sugar because the dosage is still not completely set but we've been given lots of instructions on everything and he let her come home anyway. She is on a special insulin that she only has to take once a day and for now, until the correct dosage is figured out on that one, she also has regular insulin as a back up. She'll be taking the once-a-day kind every afternoon and then she has to check her blood sugar 4 times a day and if, at those times, her blood sugar is over 150 then she has to take the regular insulin too. They've given us a chart that shows how much insulin she will need based on what her blood sugar tests show. After several days or so of that, they will get a better idea on how much of the first insulin that she needs and eventually we'll be able to just use the one and not need the other because the amount will be enough.

We've got enough supply to get through until Monday and then we have to pick up some more at the drug store. The nurse showed us how to draw up the insulin and also gave us instructions on how to give the shots correctly. We got home a little before lunch and Mama's blood sugar was somewhat high when she checked it for lunch so we've already got through her first shot and she's happy that she was able to do it herself. It's a real learning process but I know we can do it. It's just amazing she was able to get this far since she's been diabetic for 11 years and just now going on insulin for the first time.

Anyway, my brother was ok when we got home although I'm still praying for him. It's good to be home now and I really like the doctor that is taking care of this stuff. Seems like all the other doctors weren't taking anything seriously. Thanks for all of your prayers. I am more than happy to send prayers back to those who also have requests of their own. I've read them and am praying for them too. Also send hugs back to everyone. This whole group is more of a blessing to each other than we all realize. I'm very glad to be a part of it.

quote:

Originally posted by Canine Kelley:
Thanks for all of your prayers. I am more than happy to send prayers back to those who also have requests of their own. I've read them and am praying for them too. Also send hugs back to everyone. This whole group is more of a blessing to each other than we all realize. I'm very glad to be a part of it.

Amen Dana

Glad to hear your mom is home and doing well. I'll add my prayers to the others that she continues to do well!

Dana, I am so glad to hear you and your Mom are home, and that your brother is ok. My parents had to learn all about glucose levels, needles, monitors and insulin over the last year. The first few times they were very nervous, but they have grown in their confidence, as I am sure your Mom will. I will keep praying for your family and for continued good news. Your family has a real blessing in the form of a loving daughter and caring sister. God Bless You.

Glad you and your Mom are home

Just a quick update on my situation. Social Security denied my application this first time around. That is not unusual although frustrating. I'm waiting for the appeal forms to come in the mail and then I'll be going through the appeal process. I understand that this can take anywhere from 30 days to 3 months, but am hoping that I don't have to wait much longer and also hoping that this time will have better outcome. Once all this goes through, then I can move on to the next things. I am just waiting for this to be approved so I can afford to pay some bills and get my puppy.

I would like to ask that everyone pray for us to find/get a new car. It doesn't have to be "new" exactly, just new for us...because our current one is now 11 years old and needs more work than we can afford to do on it. The transmission has been slipping off and on for a while now so we really need to replace it soon. It can be any car, long as it gets decent mileage, will last a good while, and can carry 3 adults (plus a dog). We're hoping to be able to use our current car as a trade in...even if we can't get much out of it.

Anyway, other than that, not much else going on right now. I'm in waiting mode for the time being.