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A Plea for help [1]

['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.']

Date: 2024-12-13  

Hi, my name is John Mckusick.

I’ve been mostly a lurker, sometimes poster here for almost 8 years. I never thought I’d have to write one of these posts.

I've had 4 lumbar back surgeries since October of 2021 with no success so I filed for Social Security disability in August of 23.

My first appointment with them is set for January 7th after 17 months wait. Yes I used an attorney from the start.

I started having chest pains a couple of months ago and today I had a nuclear stress test done with the bad news that the left side of my heart has "moderate to severe blood flow blockage.

Living in rural Illinois means a medical desert so I can't get a heart catheterization til January 27th even though the left side is the bad one. (Update, cancellation got me to December 17th, thank God)

This will only delay my case further as I can't even schedule a Functional Ability Assessment until my cardiac issues are resolved. (Chest pain from simple walks etc).

My finances were never good to begin with and this is making things so much worse. I'm seriously afraid that the stress of trying to find a way to pay my modest bills will kill me alone.

My monthly expenses run about $1200 a month if I make only the minimum payment on my Credit cards that I used to get by for the first several months after filing for SSDI. That debt totals about $5500.00

I'm trying to survive into the summer as that seems like what would be a reasonable time frame for a decision knowing my first appointment with a SS Dr is January 7th.

I can't begin to describe the despondent feelings that are now overwhelming with this new news and I know I won't survive the agony of trying to get something paid each month when I have no idea where the money will come from.

Does anyone have any suggestions or tips that I can learn just to alleviate the near panic and anxiety that I experience more and more every month?

I get food stamps and have Medicaid but I also live in Illinois, one of the states that have trigger laws for the ACA expansion should the funding for that end.

I will be so grateful for any help you can give and please keep me in your thoughts, prayers, meditations etc through this difficult time.

Thank you so much for your help.

Too tired. Adding link.

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