Not a good week

Monday my beloved pet of 12 years died of kidney problems. In the mail later that day I got my letter from social security that my claim for disability had been turned down. Its says I am un-able to work in my prevous field cause of my obesity with all the other health conditions that go along with it , but should be able to find other work.They don't take into acount that the minute anyone looks at you they dont want to hire you. I have to appeal now and have contacted a lawyer.Then on Tuesday my brother called me from jail and after two months he finally got to call me and he had a stroke in jail and they never called me and let me know.My wifes mother when into the hospital on wed. And my wife is a nervous wreak with worring then she released on sun and all it was she was not taking her medicine as she should.Her live was never in danger, urge to kill! Can anyone tell me if a group(s) out there that perhaps helps people who are overweight to find a job or any programs can go thru in the state of maryland or from federal goverment. I wrote to my 2 state senators and wayne g. Office called me and told me to go and apply for medicare and get the medical help and to contact them if any fruther help is needed. Senator barbara m. Office send me a letter that they only deal with federal issues and my needs were a state issue. I though the people from this state elect these senators? I so tired of feeling like I did something wrong and now being punished for it. I have fought my weight for 30 years now and I must truly confese its starting to wear me down both in health and in mind and the way society treats you. I am truly wearing down!

Gary, hang in there buddy! I have no suggestions reference the disability being denied. Sounds as if you took the best step in dealing with that - a lawyer. How is your brother doing? Did he come thru the stroke okay? Reference the MIL - some people are such "bullheads". Sounds as if she's in that group, or maybe she's been feeling so good that she just felt she no longer needed the meds. It's so hard to keep up on the meds once your feeling better. Best of luck with this, but I think your wife needs to have a good talking with her, to let her know how frightened she was and how it affected her life while your mom was in the hospital. It sounds like an added stress that neither you or your wife need. Please keep us updated. Here's a "hug" for you!! TraciL

Forgot to mention - sorry about the pet too! I hate to think of our family pets dying. We have two dogs/two cats/one guinea pig. Their all getting up in age, except the pig. And as mouthy (verbal) as she gets, sometimes it would be nice not having her around (just teasing). She has no problems letting us know when she's displeased or wanting something. TraciL

Gary, I am so sorry you have had a bad week. I really think it was the phase of the moon. My week was not great either. I had a cat that was my companion and nemisis for 13 years. He became ill, and I had no choice but to put him down. I sobbed and wailed. Sometimes, I can still feel him lying stretched out next to me in bed. He was huge and could span my back. I loved feeling him back there. I would reach over and give him a scratch and then go back to sleep. Now, I have nothing to reach over and touch. I think it is the policy of Social Security to deny all applications for disability these days. Definitely fight the decision. If you truly deserve the disability, then you need to go for it. I would write Barbara M's office again and remind her the SS is a federal agency. Remind her that morbid obesity is a national health concern. I think I recently read where morbid obesity has surpased stroke as a cause of death. That should be noteworthy enough for a senator to become concerned. As hard as it is, don't feed into your MIL's cry for attention. I had one that made every thing about her all the time. She made choices and then would bemoan that she had sacrificed for her kids. BS! Even my kids have begun to see where she is just attention seeking. I am so sorry about your brother. Human rights need to be respected even when a person is incarcerated. I don't know if it would help, but you may want to contact the Quakers near you. They have a ministry in prisons. Many times they can assist with increasing the human rights of a prisoner. My mother was a member of the group that would visit prisoners regularly. As her health declined, she had to stop going and is saddened every day as a result that she can no longer provide some ease and comfort to prisoners. By the way, she is not a Quaker. You have done nothing wrong. Society is wrong and we know that. I wish you the best of luck. Aime