Need some Board Magic

8cats

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I sure could use some board magic. I had surgery last year on my knee. During the surgery I contracted a staph infection that spread though the knee joint and the surrounding tissues. I had to have three more operations to clean out the infection. Had to spend a week in the hospital after the last surgery, then I spent the next 6 weeks on IV's at home. I have been left with very limited use of my leg. I can barely walk, can not bend the knee, I even have problems sitting in a chair, can't drive a car or anything. The pain level is so bad I am living on vicodin's, I take 60 a week.

I am unable to work at this time. I have applied for SSI, but I understand I will probably be turned down the first time. I have tons of medical bills. I have hired a lawyer to try to sue the hospital and doctor. The state that I live in makes it extremely hard to sue for medical malpractice, so there is not much hope in getting money to at least pay the medical bills.

I could use some board magic/prayers so maybe I will be able to draw SSI. If I am unable to draw SSI I do not know what I will do. I am fast approaching the end of my savings, after that I have no idea what I will do. If anyone has any suggestions on any type of work that I could do I would very much appreciate the advice. If anyone knows of any programs that would be of help I would also appreciate the information. Any advice of any kind would be helpful.
 

turtlecat

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you could be a telephone greeter or something.. there are some stay at home job ops always around if you go to monster.com I'm so sorry to hear about all your troubles and hope you get the support you need.
 

stingy

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That is bad!
I pray for you.
I hope knee get better.
How did staph come?
SSI is the money? I hope you get it!
 

jcat

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Good vibes heading your way! I can really appreciate your situation, as a very good friend and colleague almost died of a staph infection two years ago. He lost his leg, and has been forced into retirement. I hope the SSI comes through for you.
 

sweets

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Have your lawyer contact SSI. Also, have your doctor write a letter explaining that you cannot work. Contest the ruling. When you are approved (and I am almost certain you will be), ask for retroactive to when the staph infection set in.

I know several people who went on SSI disability. 2 of the 3 had to contest it in order to get the funds. All 3 got retroactive pay to when the problem first existed. The people at SSI are actually pretty helpfull!

Sandy
 

jugen

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I have no advice to offer, only my hope everything goes the way you want it to go vibes to send to you. I'm sorry you have to go through this, hopefully you'll get the doctors to pay you the money you deserve to at LEAST pay for the medical bills.
 

kiwideus

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You are definitely in my thoughts, I hope you get it - that is such an awful thing to happen to you


Please do let us know how you do.
 
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8cats

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If I understand it correctly staph bacteria is present everywhere, we all have it on our skin. It only becomes a problem when it gets into the body or blood stream. I could have gotten it from someone who carried it on their uniform, or not properly sterilized instruments, the room or even the surgery table. They also could have given it to me from my own skin not being properly sterilzed before the surgery. It is very fast acting I was very ill within 10 hours after surgery.

I know I am lucky I did not lose the leg or my life. It is a terrible illness. When I was at my worst I just wanted them to let me pass on because the pain was so bad. They had me on morphine every 15 minutes and it did not get rid of the pain just took the edge off of it.

What really made me mad about it all was the surgeon tried to blame me getting the infection on the fact that I have cats as pets. Maybe I am being really dumb, but I have never heard of someone getting infections just because they own cats. My knee was completely covered by a surgical dressing and cloth support, I feel it is just plain silly to assume because a person owns pets that they have germs and bacteria in their homes. Most people I know that have pets are just the oppisite and do more cleaning and disinfecting because they do own pets.

I do hope I get the SSI, but my lawyer said that because of my age they will turn me down the first time. I can appeal but that will take an additional 8 to 10 months. I
can't last that long with "zero" money coming in. As for the medical malpractice I did a quick internet search and the average time for a case to be settled is 36 to 40 months. Not a hopeful average either.

One thing that helps me is my cats. If I get to depressed I just get one of my babies to curl up in my lap and purr. Is it just me or does a loving feline with purr added just make a day seem so much better?

Thank you all for your thoughts I hope the board magic will work.
 

blondiecat

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Originally Posted by 8cats

If I understand it correctly staph bacteria is present everywhere, we all have it on our skin. It only becomes a problem when it gets into the body or blood stream. I could have gotten it from someone who carried it on their uniform, or not properly sterilized instruments, the room or even the surgery table. They also could have given it to me from my own skin not being properly sterilzed before the surgery. It is very fast acting I was very ill within 10 hours after surgery.

I know I am lucky I did not lose the leg or my life. It is a terrible illness. When I was at my worst I just wanted them to let me pass on because the pain was so bad. They had me on morphine every 15 minutes and it did not get rid of the pain just took the edge off of it.

What really made me mad about it all was the surgeon tried to blame me getting the infection on the fact that I have cats as pets. Maybe I am being really dumb, but I have never heard of someone getting infections just because they own cats. My knee was completely covered by a surgical dressing and cloth support, I feel it is just plain silly to assume because a person owns pets that they have germs and bacteria in their homes. Most people I know that have pets are just the oppisite and do more cleaning and disinfecting because they do own pets.

I do hope I get the SSI, but my lawyer said that because of my age they will turn me down the first time. I can appeal but that will take an additional 8 to 10 months. I
can't last that long with "zero" money coming in. As for the medical malpractice I did a quick internet search and the average time for a case to be settled is 36 to 40 months. Not a hopeful average either.

One thing that helps me is my cats. If I get to depressed I just get one of my babies to curl up in my lap and purr. Is it just me or does a loving feline with purr added just make a day seem so much better?

Thank you all for your thoughts I hope the board magic will work.
I am sending you all the board magic I can. I truly hope you get SSI. As for Staph infection getting in your incision due to cats, that's bullsh@t! My Dad had the same problem, he got a staph infection in his knee and he wasn't around any cats and didn't own a cat at all. So don't let them try to pull that cr@p with you. Sending major board magic for you
 

cassandra_starr

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My boyfriend had a very minor knee surgery in March, and he's still on the road to recovery. God Bless You. I'm definitely adding you to my prayer list and will pray for you very often and very hard.

I can't imagine what you're going through right now.

If worse comes to worse, is there any family that you could live with until you get through with all the court battling? Also, since you're unable to work you can check into low income housing and possibly food stamps or anything that will help reduce what bills you have.

I know this may sound silly, but when a family member of mine got laid off and no matter how hard he tried he couldn't find work, he actually licked stamps and stuffed envelopes. Also, maybe you can hold a garage sale and get rid of little odds and ends that you don't want or need to keep. If that may be too tedious because of the limited use of your leg then ebay is always an option.

If there is anything I can do, please let me know. I will definitely be praying for you. Don't give up, fight this until the end. That hospital was negligent.

God Bless You.
 

debby

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My prayers are going up for you!!!!!!
I hope you will not be in any more pain and that you will get the SSI...as far as them blaming it on the cats...I had a tumor removed last October (which was thankfully benign) and the surgeon tired to blame that on my cats too..he said maybe one of them had scratched me and this could have possibly given me cat scratch fever which may have led to the tumer....I think I would know if I had been scratched by one of my cats. I was rather irritated that he would even suggest that this might be the cause of my problem. You are in my prayers.
 
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8cats

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I wish I could have a garage sale, but before the surgery the company I worked for closed their doors. So because I suddenly had time to do a complete house cleaning I gathered all our things that we did not use or need and they went to either the Salvation Army, Humane Society, local Library or a local Cat Shelter.


I am lucky enough to be married to a wonderful man. He had also lost his job do to a different plant closing. He took the only job he could find at the time. He makes min. wage plus tips. In this economy there are not very many tips. I donâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]t know how I could go on without him. He took care of me when I was so ill. It really was something for him to do because he is one of those people who turn green at the site of blood and things like that. He had to learn how to give me IVâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s and do all the medical stuff I needed. He also learned how to clean litter boxes and take care of the cats. (It was so funny the first couple of times he cleaned the litter boxes)

I donâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]t have any relatives we could stay with and my husbandâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s relatives are embarrassed by our lack of money (they are very well off). The only relative that I have is my younger brother who I take care of. He was brain damaged at birth and in a way he is a blessing. He is like Peter Pan. He will never grow up to be an adult. He is so sweet.

We are blessed in so many ways, just not the ones that pay the bills and put food on the table.

I have put an ad in the local paper to do babysitting. Hopefully I will hear something soon. I also have been trying to find information about finding employment at some answering services. Our local economy was hit hard the past couple of years and is not recovering yet. There are so many people out of work in our area.

I will pass along some hard learned advice for any young people on the board. Save your money it only takes one major medical problem to wipe out a personâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s life savings even if you have fairly good medical insurance.
 
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