Saturday, December 20, 2014
Tuesday, December 16, 2014
Insurance Issues, Why is that a problem for peolpe who need the help?
One of the biggest and unneeded stressors while fighting a chronic illness is having financial, and insurance issues. Dealing with medical debt can drive you straight into bankruptcy, and having you scrounging around for food at home, going to pantry's, seeking community help like your local church's, Salvation Army, and more. Job and Family Service's is suppose to be there to fill in the gap, but they have been too consume with catching and preventing fraudulent applicants we slip through the cracks.
I go through issues with Job and Family Service's for many reason, they no longer are providing social workers directly through their service. I'm young so people don't understand why I can not work at this current time. I think that comes from not looking at the case, they are just looking at the minimum to get through the phone call. Dealing with different services gives me the blues, and I wish I was able to work and get receive good insurance. But the fact is even though I'm getting better, I am not strong enough to work, my endurance to just get through a day is very low. Although my abilities have strengthen it takes a toll on my body. I use my strength to walk or clean my house, which I never have been able to get through cleaning my little apartment in one or two days. Then for the next few days I pay for it, I'm stuck in bed. Really wish I didn't have to deal with these different issues.
The truth is if I return to work or get regular insurance my chemotherapy or immune defeinciey drugs will not be covered. Not to mention all my medications are tier 3 and 4 drugs. Which means they are very costly or they or not covered at all.
What I found out here in Ohio they have two systems which determine Medicaid. You can do a job and family services application but if your denied, ask for an appeal or if your eligible through the OIES program. There is no information on this update and caseworker's do have to go out of they way because it's not connected to the OJFS. This program came out 2014, and still has a lot of bugs. But its worth the hassle if your medical bills exceed your yearly income. I know mines do, with all the hospitalization, infusions, and treatments.
Truth is no one is going to hand you or show you where you can get help. Each couple months I have to come up with back up plans, looking for medical assistance. I request Financial assistance forms from the hospital I'm treated commonly. I have to map out public assistance places like the pantry's, church's, local organizations as well as national foundation that give out scholarship's. As well as manufacturer discount's and assistance where they will help pay or pay for it all themselves because of my income. At this point I just need to save the information on my hard- drive cause I go through these issue's to often since I was diagnosed in 2013.
What I learn is people don't care what you are already fighting, you have to be your own advocate as much as possible or you will never get better. Your situation might get worse, which that was what happen to me until I started fighting and learning how the health system is setup and works. That is very important no matter where you live, each county and state go by different rules. I'm finding that it is more important than ever to be a register voter so we can vote for our Medicaid and Medicare issues. You have to write in to your local representatives, to get them to understand that society is still having issues with the health system. Speak for yourself, don't let no one else speak for you. In all this I'm saying you must fight in every aspect hard to receive improvement and just have a quality of life.
I go through issues with Job and Family Service's for many reason, they no longer are providing social workers directly through their service. I'm young so people don't understand why I can not work at this current time. I think that comes from not looking at the case, they are just looking at the minimum to get through the phone call. Dealing with different services gives me the blues, and I wish I was able to work and get receive good insurance. But the fact is even though I'm getting better, I am not strong enough to work, my endurance to just get through a day is very low. Although my abilities have strengthen it takes a toll on my body. I use my strength to walk or clean my house, which I never have been able to get through cleaning my little apartment in one or two days. Then for the next few days I pay for it, I'm stuck in bed. Really wish I didn't have to deal with these different issues.
The truth is if I return to work or get regular insurance my chemotherapy or immune defeinciey drugs will not be covered. Not to mention all my medications are tier 3 and 4 drugs. Which means they are very costly or they or not covered at all.
What I found out here in Ohio they have two systems which determine Medicaid. You can do a job and family services application but if your denied, ask for an appeal or if your eligible through the OIES program. There is no information on this update and caseworker's do have to go out of they way because it's not connected to the OJFS. This program came out 2014, and still has a lot of bugs. But its worth the hassle if your medical bills exceed your yearly income. I know mines do, with all the hospitalization, infusions, and treatments.
Truth is no one is going to hand you or show you where you can get help. Each couple months I have to come up with back up plans, looking for medical assistance. I request Financial assistance forms from the hospital I'm treated commonly. I have to map out public assistance places like the pantry's, church's, local organizations as well as national foundation that give out scholarship's. As well as manufacturer discount's and assistance where they will help pay or pay for it all themselves because of my income. At this point I just need to save the information on my hard- drive cause I go through these issue's to often since I was diagnosed in 2013.
What I learn is people don't care what you are already fighting, you have to be your own advocate as much as possible or you will never get better. Your situation might get worse, which that was what happen to me until I started fighting and learning how the health system is setup and works. That is very important no matter where you live, each county and state go by different rules. I'm finding that it is more important than ever to be a register voter so we can vote for our Medicaid and Medicare issues. You have to write in to your local representatives, to get them to understand that society is still having issues with the health system. Speak for yourself, don't let no one else speak for you. In all this I'm saying you must fight in every aspect hard to receive improvement and just have a quality of life.
Monday, December 15, 2014
Sunday, December 14, 2014
MS Demographics
The MS in America Study was conducted over the internet from November 2012 until January 2013. The primary goal of the study was to establish an understanding of the current state and trends of patients affected by Multiple Sclerosis.
The survey included over 100 questions on a broad range of topics. A total of 3,437 people started the survey while 2,562 people completed the survey resulting in a high completion rate of 74.5%.
Section 1: Demographics & Early Signs of MS
MS in America Participant Demographic
Age
Gender
n= 3,425 Most Participants First Experience MS Symptoms in their 20’s or 30’s…
…but aren’t diagnosed until their 30’s or 40’s
To qualify for the survey, participants had to be MS patients over 18 years old and a US resident or US citizen living abroad.
The study was solely developed and funded by Health Union, LLC which does not manufacture, sell nor market any product to diagnose, prevent or treat MS or any other disease.
http://multiplesclerosis.net/ms-in-america-2013/
Friday, December 12, 2014
Fundraising for MS Walk
How many times do you get the stairs of people, but no one ever ask you what's wrong. I believe many of us would wish we had our life's before things began to happen. No matter how crappy it may have been. It seems that what makes me feel better every time I can get my story out. I can forget many things, but I will never forget when I got diagnosed. So I tell it, for a while I felt like people thought I was having a pity party. In actuality I was just trying to get it out and warn people life is never what we expect it to be. But how we make of it when we work with what we have been given. This past week, I don't know if any one has been paying attention but the MS Walk's for 2015 are about to begin. I think it's a excellent opportunity to give back, pay it forward, or just support. I myself have began to fundraise, I'm scared because I've done so much for other's but never been a success for advocating for myself. So this is my goal to raise a thousand dollars, and if I reach that expand. Accomplishment is everything to me. Just finding the right way of doing things without being to loud, or proud. Not much has been raised yet although its only been a week. The biggest thing for me is to raise awareness about what I have, and tell others it's not something that is contagious, it's not like a std, nor like aids. But it's something that no one would predict in a total different scope of health. Help me raise awareness!
My fundraising site
Katrina Renee Hodge MS Walk 2015
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Tuesday, December 2, 2014
Natural Healing Methods
Herbs and Supplements as Multiple Sclerosis Natural Treatments
Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disorder. Like with other autoimmune disorders, you can take natural supplements that will help you better cope with the symptoms, and start regaining your health.Your goal using natural healing methods is to slow down and/or stop the overactive immune system. When you accomplish this, the body will stop destroying the myelin sheath around the nerves that is responsible for your symptoms.
Immunomodulators from Nature that Restore Immunity
To do this, use natural substances called immunomodulators. These supplements will help normalize the activities of the immune system by increasing the cytokine messenger molecules for the immune system. Immunomodulators will also decrease the number of inflammatory compounds, and by adding additional anti-inflammatory herbs, you can maximize the effects of this goal.Here’s a list of herbal immunomodulators with their normal dosages:
- Astragalus – 500 mg 3 to 4 times daily
- Eleuthero – up to 1200 mg for normal dosage but 4 grams is nontoxic
- Ganoderma – up to 5 grams daily
- Shitake mushrooms – 2 to 6 grams daily
- Panax ginseng – 900 mg up to three times daily
- Rhodiola rosea – up to 500 mg daily
- Shizandra – 1.5 to 6.0 grams daily
- Ashwagandha – 3 grams taken twice daily (you can add this in milk)
Another type of Immunomodulator to take could be probiotic supplements. For this one, generally only one capsule is taken daily, and it’s easier to work into your daily diet. Probiotics aren’t known to interfere with prescription medications. Select one that has about 12 different potent strains of bacterial flora in it, and contains a total of several billion bacteria.
Anti-Inflammatory Herb Combinations Work Well for Many People
Anti-inflammatory herb combinations have cropped up everywhere on the internet and at health food stores. These are also worth trying. Select one that contains four or more different herbs. The usual herbs used for anti-inflammation include devil’s claw, cat’s claw, turmeric, ginger and rosemary. Research studies on these show remarkable abilities to decrease inflammation in the body. And that’s what you need when you have multiple sclerosis.Similar to the immunomodulators, you’ll have to schedule these herbs in between your medications during the day. Aim for a good hour in between medications and herbs for safety. It’s not that the herbs are ‘bad’; it’s that the time in between the medications and herbs will prevent any interactions from occurring.
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