Back from PA, Again

I had my latest doctor's appointment today at the Jefferson Headache Clinic in Philadelphia. Not much has changed since the last visit, still having the headaches daily, they get to about a 7 or 8 out of 10 on a pain scale every day. My doctor told me that we're pretty much getting to the end of the road as far as stuff to try to treat my headaches. There are a few more medicine changes that she can make, a couple of which she did today. She doubled my dose on one medicine, and then started me on a new drug that she's going to try for 2 weeks to see if it helps.

The next step, as I've mentioned before is the Occipital Nerve Stimulator or Botox injections. She told me to call my insurance company on Monday, just to see if by chance they would cover the stimulator, and if they won't, then she wants to know what paperwork/information they would need from her to make an argument for the procedure to be covered for me.

Another and one of the last options, provided I'm unable to get the ONS, or it doesn't work, is to be started on an opiod treatment.... which would be being on pain pills every day. So who knows, that may be the only way to alleviate my pain....

I have to go back again on July 13th, so I guess I'll have more for you then if not before.

Some Not So Good News

As many of you know, I had applied for disability with the railroad. I had to submit tons of paperwork, and all of my medical records, as well as have a physical at the beginning of this month, which I thought was the last part of the process. I figured that I should be able to get disability, as I had notes from 3 different doctors stating that I was permanently disabled and unable to perform my railroad duties. Well I got a call earlier this week from the retirement board stating that headquarters in Chicago was requesting more paperwork and also another exam because of one of my meds.... they also stated that my claim was probably going to be denied. When asked why, they said that it was because they go by social security standards for disability, and if it's not on their list, or if they don't consider my condition to be serious, or if they think I can do some other kind of restricted work (which I can't in my current railroad position) then they deny it.

This news affects a bit more than me not getting paid. Most of you know that we were in the process of buying a house, and were figuring my projected income into the loan process. Well with the news of me probably getting denied, we have to try to get a loan based on only Stephanie's income that she'd be making. Well for the house we were buying, this is a no go. So we're not going to be able to get the house that we thought we were going to be living in.... we'll be living in my parents basement a little bit longer. *sigh*

A New Adventure

I don't know if anyone even follows this thing of mine anymore.... I know some people check out my updates when I send out an e-mail, but other than that, I don't know. I've decided to start another blog, along with this one. This blog will still be used to post headache updates as they come along, as well as various photos now and then. The new blog will be a project of sorts..... I've decided to post a photo a day, for a year, of my Mia. I'm doing this for 2 reasons, first is to keep track of how much my little girl changes over 365 days, and document it with pictures..... the other is is motivate myself to pick my camera up and put it to use every day. So starting today, you can keep track of Mia along with me at www.miaraene365.blogspot.com