Posts by Thomas Jackson9

Ashley Sullivan65 said:Thanks.
If anyone happens to have some firsthand experience regarding this topic—especially if you happen to hold dual citizenship—please feel free to reach out and share.

Well, first off, they really need to be employed here in the States to qualify for any kind of health coverage through Medicare or anything else; otherwise, there isn't much of an option... unless, of course, they happen to be sick right this very second, in which case they might get some help, but only just enough to get them back on their feet before they're on their own again... other than that, there's pretty much nothing.

Adam Allen2 said:Hi there.

I was wondering if anyone who has actually gone through a myocardial scintigraphy scan—or perhaps someone just really well-informed about the process—could take a moment to walk me through what to expect during the procedure? I’d love a brief overview of how it all works.

Thanks so much in advance! 🙂

Honestly, it’s a very straightforward little procedure; you basically just lie down on a narrow exam table for about fifteen minutes while some specialized equipment moves around you to capture the images, and that’s pretty much it—nothing too intense at all.

Sam Flores3 said:I just noticed this weird yellowish tint around my mouth, though I honestly didn't even clock it until I caught myself in some photos 😲 it’s pretty gross. Even my mom—when I asked if she saw it too—claims it's been there forever. What kind of deal am I looking at here? Like, seriously, am I dealing with jaundice or something?

I was wondering, have you maybe been eating a lot more beta-carotene lately? I mean, things like carrots or oranges and that sort of stuff—it's funny because when you have an excess of beta-carotene in your system, your body tries to flush it out through your skin, which can cause a yellowish discoloration in areas where you tend to sweat, like around the mouth or near the nose. I actually went through something very similar a few years back after a bit of a health kick, so it might just be that.

Jose Turner58 said:Hello, Thomas Jackson9,

I am doing alright, though things aren't exactly easy—especially once you realize this isn't something you can simply cure, but rather something you have to learn to live with. My pulmonary artery pressure stays around 50mmHg even while I'm on medication.
My doctor has prescribed Bosentan, but I haven't received it yet. I'm honestly not sure if I will actually get it, as we are still waiting for the FDA to approve certain aspects of it, and I suppose I don't know if that will even happen.
By the way, I am originally from the Midwest.
Do you have a cardiologist monitoring your progress? I certainly do, since I feel they might not always have all the answers regarding this specific condition.
I believe in Germany, they have specialists who focus exclusively on PH.
Talk soon,
Best,

I am seeing a cardiologist regularly, and for the moment, I'm doing okay, though I truly agree with you that it’s incredibly difficult to wrap your head around the fact that you're dealing with an incurable illness... fortunately here in the States, those medications have been approved, though patients still had to fight quite a hard battle to actually get access to them... and we do have specialists dedicated specifically to PH at the pulmonary clinics... I really hope you manage to get your medication sorted out soon... best wishes.

Jose Turner58 said:Hello, I hope there are still some people visiting this page; I just stumbled upon it today.
My name is Jose Turner58, and I am living with pulmonary hypertension. I have been on medication for a little over a year now, specifically taking Pfizer, Corvitol, and Lasix. I had an ASD and underwent surgery nearly five years ago, but my PH hasn't resolved itself, even though I'm only 21.

I would really appreciate the chance to talk with you all, as I find that conversation can be quite helpful.

Talk soon,

Hey there... Hi Eva, I actually went through an ASD surgery about a year and a half ago myself, and much like you, my PH didn't resolve after the procedure either; mine is sitting somewhere around 60mmHg right now. I haven't started any specific PH therapy yet, mostly because my doctor seems to think it might be a bit too early for that... anyway, how are you doing? How have you been managing with the PH? What does your pressure look like lately?

Laura Davis53 said:What happens if my referral was issued on December 1, 2009, and based on that, I scheduled an appointment for January 25th? Do I need to bring a brand new referral to the hospital because more than 30 days have passed, or does the one from December 1st still count since that's what I used to book the slot?

Well, as long as we're looking at the period before February 1st, those referrals stay valid for up to 12 months.

wiredharbor22 said:My mom sent me my new health insurance card today, which she just got processed, and she had already warned me that it wouldn't list an expiration date, but now that I'm actually looking at it, I realized there's hardly any information on here at all. 😁

To be specific, all I see is my social security number and then my name and birthdate right underneath. It’s missing the usual stuff, like those specific identification codes or a clear "valid from" and "valid until" range. Interestingly enough, my supplemental coverage card has all of that detail included. 😕

I also noticed that the back doesn't have that standard legal disclaimer saying the card becomes invalid after a certain date or that using it past its expiration is against the rules, which makes me think this isn't actually a mistake on their part. But still, it feels a bit strange—how can the supplemental one look perfectly fine while this one is so sparse? 😕

You should head over to the main thread dedicated to this topic; it goes into much more detail there.

feralridge3 said:I am so sorry to hear that. 😢
I really hope I don't end up following in your footsteps. 😢
I suppose it might just be a minor arrhythmia.

Well, whether it’s an arrhythmia or something else, at the end of the day, my health is what matters most to me. Honestly, it was probably better that things ended this way rather than having them force me to show up to work while I was feeling sick. You just can't afford to play games when it comes to your heart.

Noah Thompson said:So, if I'm following you correctly, once you finished all those medical evaluations, they actually approved it since
your condition hadn't changed? If I've got that right,

Thanks

Yes, that's exactly how it went about; after I went through the surgery and completed my rehabilitation, the doctors determined that I was no longer capable of performing my job duties, so they approved my disability benefits.

feralridge3 said:My primary care physician actually sent me over to IBM after I’d been on medical leave for six months, mostly because federal regulations require it at that stage. It wasn't really my choice to start looking into disability retirement or anything like that.
Actually, all my requests have been approved, 😉 and they haven't declared me unfit for work just yet; I’m still technically on medical leave while undergoing treatment, and I’m keeping my fingers crossed that I can eventually make it back to my old job. 🙂

My experience followed a very similar path, though in my case, it ultimately resulted in me transitioning into retirement. I would truly love nothing more than to get back into the workforce, but unfortunately, my health just isn't cooperating right now—even though I'm still quite young, which feels a bit unfair, I suppose. For now, I'm just trying to find my footing and adjust to this new reality.

Noah Thompson said:I have one more question for you both—were your requests actually approved?

Thanks!

As for my own experience, it all happened this past June, though that was actually my third time going through the evaluation process. It’s funny how those things go, isn't it? The first two times around, they actually turned me down, claiming that my treatment plan was still ongoing and therefore wasn't finalized enough for a decision. I just had to be patient and wait for everything to settle, but once I finally completed every single requirement and finished up my medical assessments, they approved my disability benefits without any further delay.

feralridge3 said:That’s exactly how it went. 😉
I actually had an appointment back in June, and the doctor there was just lovely—so incredibly kind. She took her time going through all my medical records, asked me a couple of questions, and then I had a few things I wanted to run by her too, 😁 and we just finished up on such a positive note, really just a pleasant interaction all around. 😁
As for the results, they sent everything right to my house quite quickly; mine arrived in about two weeks flat.

I had a similar experience myself, where the doctor was also wonderful—very easy to talk to and someone who truly listens to what the patient is actually saying... and regarding those comments above, I honestly feel like someone needs to look into that, starting with the site administrator and perhaps even some of the official institutions.

Noah Thompson said:Goodness,

I’m not entirely sure if this is quite the right corner of the forum to start a thread, but here goes nothing...
I’m actually asking this on behalf of a close friend of mine who just received an official notice
for a medical review board hearing... he’s already filed his application for Social Security disability benefits
and now he’s been summoned to show up and present all his paperwork.
Now, he’s got all his files and documentation perfectly organized and ready to go, but what he’s really curious about—
is what he should actually expect from the board itself? How many people usually sit on this committee?
What kind of standard questions do they tend to ask, and what’s the general vibe during the process?
Has anyone else here perhaps gone through a similar hearing recently?

Thanks so much! 👍

From my own personal experience, there’s typically just a single doctor presiding over that kind of hearing. They’ll mostly focus their questions on the progression of the illness—how it started, how it's developed, and how things are feeling for him lately. Generally speaking, they lean heavily on those medical records and the documentation provided rather than performing a hands-on physical examination of the person themselves. Once everything is wrapped up, he should receive the official decision at his home address within about three weeks following the evaluation.

boldwolf21 said:So, essentially, following my own logic here, I was wondering if there’s actually some corner of the internet where you can just "ask" a doctor—you know, like sending off an email regarding a specific health concern—and get a real response back? I’d love to avoid all those endless trips to the local clinic or being shuffled through various imaging appointments if it isn't absolutely necessary... sort of like a service where you just ask a physician and they get back to you.

Well, it actually does exist! There is a site called WebMD, and they have a whole section specifically dedicated to asking doctors questions.

stormymaker24 said:I really ought to schedule an appointment with a cardiologist because my recent EKG results weren't quite what I was hoping for.
My doctor mentioned that there are several private clinics around here that actually accept insurance referrals, though she didn't give me any specific names—just noted they’d be easy to find—but honestly, I’ve been having such a hard time tracking them down.
I wouldn't mind just paying out of pocket to speed things up, but it seems impossible to find a single clinic or specialist's office that maintains a decent website with clear pricing listed upfront.🙄

So, does anyone happen to know of a clinic that accepts referrals? And if they don't, could you give me a rough idea of what a standard consultation or exam usually costs these days?

Thanks so much!

If you happen to be in the Chicago area, I’d highly recommend checking out the heart specialty clinic over on 13 Drašković Street or perhaps looking into Siget... you can usually get an appointment through your insurance pretty quickly, and the doctors there are truly top-notch. They’ll typically get your EKG done the same day, and you can usually see the cardiologist within a week.

darkpuma5 said:How does the disability rating process actually work?

I’m asking for my mom. She’s already retired, but her doctor took one look at her recent test results and mentioned that if she were still working, she could potentially qualify for disability benefits. Of course, since she’s already receiving her retirement, it doesn't change much right now.

Even so, I'm curious—where do these assessments take place and what kind of benefits can someone actually get? To be honest, we’ve been so focused on managing her health lately that we haven't given any thought to the legal or financial side of things...

You would deal with the Social Security Administration, though I have to agree with what the doctor said—it’s a bit of a long shot for her to gain anything new since she’s already retired. Typically, those specific disability payouts are tied to things like workers' comp, meaning the disability would have to be directly linked to a workplace injury or an illness caused by her job duties...

Thomas Davis55 said:I finally managed to get my referral from my primary care doctor for a checkup, and now I’m supposed to go ahead and Order an appointment at Mayo Clinic... I only recently heard about this new centralized scheduling system they have going on, and honestly, I’m feeling a little lost with how it all works. I was thinking about trying to schedule everything via email, but I’m not entirely sure what the protocol is—should I just write something simple like "I'd like to schedule an appointment," or is there more to it? Also, I have no clue which specific specialist I should be booking with at Mayo Clinic; do they just assign me to someone automatically? Has anyone here actually used the email option before? If you could walk me through it, I’d really appreciate it... thanks!

Everything is laid out quite clearly on the hospital's website; you just need to scan your referral and mention in your message that this is your initial consultation.

Frank Lee15 said:I’ve been dealing with certain issues for quite a while now—about seven years, actually. My blood pressure meds aren't doing much to help, and honestly, I’m starting to lose my mind because I just can't figure out what's going on. It’s possible that a severe deviated septum is playing a huge role in all of this. I’m planning to get it fixed as soon as possible since I've been struggling for way too long...
Thanks so much for getting back to me.... how have you been holding up? How are you managing with everything?
I've been reading up on this condition online, and it looks like a real nightmare. But then again, they seem to be discovering something new all the time, so I suppose you just have to stay optimistic...

I’m doing alright, all things considered. These seasonal shifts in the weather tend to throw me a bit of a curveball, but I'm doing my best to just live life as normally as I can. You're right, though, the condition is quite difficult, and if it weren't for the complications it causes, I wouldn't have been placed on disability retirement, as I really have to steer clear of any heavy lifting or intense physical exertion. But honestly, when you maintain a positive outlook, everything just feels a little easier to bear.

Hey Fran, I’ve been dealing with pulmonary hypertension for almost two years now, and if I had to guess, I don't think you're actually showing the typical symptoms for it. Usually, if you had it, they’d see a significantly enlarged pulmonary artery on a chest X-ray, which would be a pretty clear giveaway. Have you had an echocardiogram done yet? Honestly, I think getting an ultrasound of your heart would clear everything up and give the doctors some real peace of mind. From what I understand, people struggling with pulmonary hypertension typically deal with lower blood pressure and a heavy sort of pressure in their chest, plus they tend to hit a wall really quickly whenever they try any kind of physical exertion. Given the specific symptoms you described, it seems much more likely that you're facing some other kind of cardiac issue rather than pulmonary hypertension itself.

redranger82 said:Hey there! So, I ended up picking up a hearing aid today because I have to wear one for a little while due to an ear injury, and I'm actually heading out on vacation to the coast soon. Now I'm sitting here looking at this little wire thingy and wondering what its actual purpose is.

Do I need to trim it, or is it supposed to go somewhere specific?🤣 If anyone could give me a few pointers, I’d really appreciate it...

From what I understand, that part is meant to wrap around your neck...