HELP FOR LOW INCOME AMERICANS

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ModeratorPermalink Reply by Renie on March 26, 2012 at 3:21am

Thank you again Sheila for doing all the legwork on this --- it's going to help a lot of people tremendously, and not just Fibro, but all diseases--would you mind if we shared it with all chronic illness groups here?  *Unless someone already approached you about it--just a thought! 

Hugs! Renie


List Developed and Provided by Sheila W. at LivingwithFibro.org *

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Permalink Reply by Sheila Wall on March 26, 2012 at 10:55am

Renie, Yes Ben already approached me about that and he shared it in all of Ben's Friends groups. It's in the livingwithfibro.org and lifewithlupus.org groups etc. and all the groups you see listed on the home page. Feel free to share this wherever you want. I don't even live in the states, but it was easier to find info about getting help in the states than in Canada. Canada has more help but doesn't advertise it as well.

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ModeratorPermalink Reply by Renie on March 26, 2012 at 2:23pm

That's great Sheila - I'm glad Ben got to you. It's just SO MUCH helpful information, I wanted to make sure everyone got a chance to see your hard work!  Way back in the old days, when I could still work at the doctor's office, the drug companies would bring in forms to give the patients to fill out for financial help.  But, once the drug was no longer the "newest, brightest thing" on the market, they wouldn't push as hard, even though the benefits are still there.  But so many patients don't even know that the help is there.  
As Americans, we look at Canada thinking how much better things are there... I guess it's tough all over !

Here in NY, my health insurance is still on a "group" plan--which makes it 1/3 cheaper than if I bought the plan privately. (even though that will change soon).   So for me and my husband, we pay $1200us per month -- then each prescription costs either $10/50/70.  We both have A LOT of prescriptions, so any money we make, goes directly to healthcare. Sometimes it feels like all I do is beg/borrow/steal to cover these things !  At least my husband works what he can, in this economy; what about the rest of the country that is either disabled or unemployed?  It's terrible here in the US.

I hope you're recovering quickly & you're always in my prayers!

Hugs !!

Renie ♥

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Permalink Reply by Sheila Wall on March 26, 2012 at 2:39pm

Sorry to hear about your situation Renie! I hope the list helps.

Sheila

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Permalink Reply by McBeth607 on March 27, 2012 at 6:26am

Do you have any connections in NC? Thank you,Beth

regs76 said:

Hello everyone...I also am vast in resources, at least in Missouri.  I am an Income Maintenance Caseworker for Family Support Division.  If anyone has questions regarding Medicaid, Food Stamps, etc., feel free to ask.  I am not sure how much help I can be for those outside of Missouri, but can at least offer advice or point you in the right direction.  I do know that there is far more help out there than people realize, most of which does come from non-profit organizations as opposed to our federal and state governments!

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Permalink Reply by Sheila Wall on March 27, 2012 at 10:34am

Oh McBeth I am SO sorry to hear this! I had those feelings and depression for about 20 years, especially after my ex left me and I lost my house, children, country, health, and was only a burden on my elderly parents. I wish I had the strength to discuss all the reasons why you shouldn't, but I'm sure the world has already done that to you. I spent many years doing that for people, but dang it, now I have so little strength, and I'm on oxygen. I did have a couple of near death experiences where I saw life after death, and there is definitely a price to pay for taking your own life. Kids (even adult ones) do not get over suicide. They barely don't even get over natural death. They just learn to put one foot in front of the other through their grief, but if you add guilt and shame and confusion and anger to their hearts by taking your own life, plus you end your life before you learn the lessons that you can learn from any trial, you'll suffer in the life to come. I'm not talking about Heaven and Hell, I'm talking about the grief you will feel for what you didn't finish and the pain you caused others. Just keep telling yourself to hang on one more day or one more hour. Who knows what's gonna happen on Dec. 21? It would horrid if there is also a punishment for killing yourself, and you did it just  few months before you were "finished life", when you could have endured to the end without consequence.  I even remember a lady who Dr. Kevorkian helped die who had fibro, mostly because her family wanted her to die, it was awful. But there are days when I have thought "Where is Dr. Kevorkian when you need him?" Just take 1 hour at a time.  Here in Canada the care is dangerously negligent. I have even been denied a pacemaker or internal defibrillator and my heart just keeps stopping, and I keep getting sent back to life. That's another point. If you were to attempt suicide, and it didn't work, you'd be stuck with whatever damage you did to your body, which would be worse than what you have now, PLUS all the anger and confusion and hurt from your family. ((gentle hugs))

 
McBeth607 said:

God bless you Katherine. I,too, am frustrated by the lack of care that  Disabled Americans are UNABLE to obtain. I am, again, at the place where I am considering suicide. I feel my 2 kids will be sad for awhile but it would make their lives easier. They are 36 & 41 yrs.old with families of their own.

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ModeratorPermalink Reply by Renie on March 27, 2012 at 12:20pm

 McBeth607,

Just know that you are not alone in your thoughts.  Many of us have felt the same way at one time or another.  But if you hang in there, things WILL get better.  I have been diagnosed with "Treatment Resistant Major Depressive Disorder" - no meds help, so I am just stuck in a very deep depression, which I have been for most of my life.  BUT THINGS ALWAYS GET BETTER.  After a particularly bad day, the next day something wonderful will happen.  What if I wasn't here to experience it?  As for your children; do not EVER think that their lives would be easier without you.  My mother died of breast cancer when I was 23, my father of lung cancer when I was 19.  I still miss them DESPERATELY every day, and I'm now 45.  I would give ANYTHING to have them here.  So regardless of the reason, children never ever get over it.  Also know that anytime you need to talk about ANYTHING, there is always someone around here.  Most of us don't sleep normally, and every person here cares about you.   But listen to Sheila, she is an extremely wise woman:  hold on for an hour, a day........THINGS WILL GET BETTER.

You are in my prayers, and huge hugs for you,

Renie ♥♥♥♥

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Permalink Reply by Katha (Katherine Shade) on March 27, 2012 at 2:31pm

Dear McBeth,

I'm so sorry you''ve been feeling so awful.  I apologize if my own bitterness about my disability case made you feel any worse.  

I need to learn forgiveness don't I?   Apparently that's one of the main lessons for those who suffer on a daily basis.  

I agree that taking your own life doesn't make our family's life any easier.  Their grief would be harder for them to work through than anything they're dealing with now.  I know it's tough to ask family for help, especially our children, and I'm afraid of having to ask my grown boys for help one day.  But I will deal with that, if it even becomes necessary.  

Things can turn around if you take it one day at a time, and keep asking for help, and things will look up.

You're in my thoughts and prayers.  Take care, and remember how you're loved!  Katha          

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Permalink Reply by dozer on March 27, 2012 at 9:46pm

   Dear MBeth,      

     I am 44 years old and my mother is 75. I know with each passing day she could be gone tommorow. But I wonder even as an adult how I would be when that day comes. She is about to move out of her house and she says she does not feel wanted so she is going to move out west and she is convinced we will not miss her. I wish she would take a moment and realize that we do want her around, we do enjoy her company. She has many ailments and needs to go to the doctor on a regular basis.  I suffered through a bad post partum depression after I had my son and I went through moments like this and I thought "well, he is young he will not remember me anyways" . It is not that simple. I got help. I joined groups where I could listen to other mothers going through the same thing as me and it felt like forever but just hearing them made me think about things just a tad more objectively. PLEASE give it a try.     
 Sheila Wall said:

Oh McBeth I am SO sorry to hear this! I had those feelings and depression for about 20 years, especially after my ex left me and I lost my house, children, country, health, and was only a burden on my elderly parents. I wish I had the strength to discuss all the reasons why you shouldn't, but I'm sure the world has already done that to you. I spent many years doing that for people, but dang it, now I have so little strength, and I'm on oxygen. I did have a couple of near death experiences where I saw life after death, and there is definitely a price to pay for taking your own life. Kids (even adult ones) do not get over suicide. They barely don't even get over natural death. They just learn to put one foot in front of the other through their grief, but if you add guilt and shame and confusion and anger to their hearts by taking your own life, plus you end your life before you learn the lessons that you can learn from any trial, you'll suffer in the life to come. I'm not talking about Heaven and Hell, I'm talking about the grief you will feel for what you didn't finish and the pain you caused others. Just keep telling yourself to hang on one more day or one more hour. Who knows what's gonna happen on Dec. 21? It would horrid if there is also a punishment for killing yourself, and you did it just  few months before you were "finished life", when you could have endured to the end without consequence.  I even remember a lady who Dr. Kevorkian helped die who had fibro, mostly because her family wanted her to die, it was awful. But there are days when I have thought "Where is Dr. Kevorkian when you need him?" Just take 1 hour at a time.  Here in Canada the care is dangerously negligent. I have even been denied a pacemaker or internal defibrillator and my heart just keeps stopping, and I keep getting sent back to life. That's another point. If you were to attempt suicide, and it didn't work, you'd be stuck with whatever damage you did to your body, which would be worse than what you have now, PLUS all the anger and confusion and hurt from your family. ((gentle hugs))

 
McBeth607 said:

God bless you Katherine. I,too, am frustrated by the lack of care that  Disabled Americans are UNABLE to obtain. I am, again, at the place where I am considering suicide. I feel my 2 kids will be sad for awhile but it would make their lives easier. They are 36 & 41 yrs.old with families of their own.

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