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Lyndsey

Active member
Joined
Dec 18, 2014
Messages
89
Reason
DX FIBRO
Diagnosis
04/2014
Country
CA
State
British Columbia
Disability "independant Medical review" - Has anyone been through this really anxious

Hi everyone,

I have been on disability for about 7 months now. I currently have a neurologist, rheumatologist, GP and a pain specialist that are working with me. I was diagnosed last may, but have been dealing with these illness's and symptoms for several years now. All of my doctors are great advocates for me and really put me at ease when it came to dealing with the insurance company. Anyone who is on disability knows that there are many stresses that come along with it. They are constantly calling and I even had a lady visit my house about 4 weeks ago to interview me. After that interview she stated that she agreed with my doctors and said that I was not fit to return to work as I am on heavy pain medication day to day and still searching for a solution as most of us are.

I am struggling more than ever with my fibro, lupus/brain lesions, chronic migraines among other things. I find that the insurance company makes things so much more stressful and anxiety producing, which on top of dealing with symptoms is just too much to bare at times.

I received a call today from the insurance company telling me that they want to put me through an "Independent Medical review". I don't quite understand what this is or why they are doing this. Is it to cause stress, because that sure is what it feels like. It is so difficult already dealing with these symptoms on a daily basis. My doctors have all said that stress is a aggravating and contributing factor with these illness's, as I am sure everyone on this site understands and can relate to what I am talking about.

Has anyone been through this "Independent Medical review" that I am talking about? I am having extreme anxiety surrounding this and am scared they are trying to discredit my doctors diagnosis. I am not sure if I am worrying needlessly and need to calm down about the whole situation. I just really felt the need to talk about this and I am hoping that someone out there can relate or give me any advice on how to deal with this situation.

My symptoms are at the worst they have been....Which brings me to another question.... Does anyone currently dealing with fibro or lupus find that there symptoms are continuing to worsen and deteriorate?

Any advice would help. Just looking for a friend to talk me down today. My thoughts and prayers go out to everyone today or tonight wherever you are. xo

Lynds
 
Re: Disability "independant Medical review" - Has anyone been through this really anx

Hi Lyndsey, first of all let me answer your last question first. Yes I feel as if I am deteriorating as time goes on. Everything gets to be harder and harder for me. I am a constant bundle of nerves. Most days I don't make it through the day without a good cry. I am scheduled to meet with a counselor tomorrow to she if she can help me sort through my feelings and hopefully have some suggestions as to what to do to ease the nerves. Now as to your first question. I had not been called for a independent medical review but I was called by a RN from my insurance company signing me up for case management services. She usually calls me once or twice a week and asks me how I am feeling, what has changed from day to day, what has stayed the same, am I suicidal or a danger to anyone else. She said I was chosen because the insurance company noticed I have been turning in a lot more claims than I used to and she was wondering what is going on. I told her I went to see a rheumy who gave me all these referrals to different doctors to see if we can get to the bottom of what's going on. Therefore, the increase in claims. I don't know if what you mentioned and what I talked about are the same thing but when you find out what it is let me know. Talk to you soon, keep your chin up.
 
Re: Disability "independant Medical review" - Has anyone been through this really anx

Thanks for the message Krista,

I will definitely let you know when I find out. Today I received a call from them again and they said that they are going to expedite my next neurologist referral and maybe pay to do a private assessment. I am being sent to a new one that specializes in brain lesions and chronic migraines. So hopefully this is not as stressful as I anticipate, but I will let you know for sure. I am sorry that you are struggling I totally feel your pain, and have a lot of tears over it all too. I have been seeing a counsellor for quite some time now to help me cope, and it does help. At least it is an outside party, so you don't have to worry or feel bad venting. I find that I start to really feel guilty if I am complaining too much to my husband about how bad my pain is day to day. I really hear you about things deteriorating and I understand how hard It is. I thank god for this forum, as it makes me feel a little less crazy some days :)

I wish you luck with that and pray that better days lie ahead of us all. Thanks again for your reply.

Lynds xo hugs
 
Re: Disability "independant Medical review" - Has anyone been through this really anx

hello Krista and Lyndsey.

i went through the same thing with my insurance company. they wanted to do an assessment and sent my records to a place called best doctors.
they receive your records and 5 doctors review them. then they all get together and decide on a treatment. It was a very enlightening report.
We wanted to know about my metal reaction. they gave a one line statement that said, we have never seen anything like that.
they went on to confirm all my other diagnosis and they found that i also had small fiber neuropathy (SFN). on top of everything else.

Once they did this report, the insurance has stopped calling me and seams to approve everything related to any of these issues.

they did call my doctor to tell her im not on enough morphine for the subsys meds i was on. ive been trying to get my PM doctor to
increase it for over a year. insurance makes a call and bam increased!

Be aware that the insurance is watching and on your side. work with them. when they call and you think your med are not helping anymore
ask them what they think and can they help you get them changed.

hang in there! we can all do this together.
 
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