HELP !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! please.... anybody with info ...

I need help with any info anybody can give me please. I have filed for SSD and the IL public aid medical card*medicaid*. I have been denied on both of them . Fileing for appeals for both of them Again. If someone can please help me find away to get aid or grant or something to pay/help pay for the GBS gastric bypass surgery/Bariatic surgery. I have called the studies groups at Washington Univ. and SLU nobody can help me or give me info. They are not doing anything on studies at this point and time and not any time soon from what they have told me. I do not have insurance. Ive never posted here before , Sorry for that. I have been reading peoples posts. I have been looking in to getting the surgery for awhile now. Im unable to work due to many medical problems i have. My weight as of now is 520lbs i'm 5'10 .I'm 31 years old. I also broke my left knee in "96 and having troubles with that as well, along with Major female problems. The weight bothers my back so that causes pain. I have very bad swelling in my feet and legs due to it all as well. Theres so much more. I do not have a regular doctor i go to, I cant afford one and as i said the state will not help!!!!. please email me back with any info at all if anything... email add is [email protected]..... thank you so much ........ Katie

Katherine... First thing that I would do is to find a reputable atty. that specializes in handling SSI/SSD cases .... they do it on a contingency basis where they take their money out of the back pay that SS owes you if you win your case.... that way you are not out of pocket on funds... Also they will be able to look at everything to see if you have a strong case (one that they can WIN!).... Don't waste your time on representing yourself.... it is not easy and you waste valuable time.... I would think that with your weight and other commorbids that they could get a favorable ruling for you! Wishing you nothing but the best my dear... I know how hard it is to want something so badly and not be able to achieve it! ((hugs)) Elizabeth~

Katie, I'm sorry that you didn't get approved, I don't know why they didn't. Look at my profile, you and I may as well be the same person except for the broken knee. I do have knee broblems but I have never broken mine. When I applied for SSI, I weighed about 550 but I am now at about 503. I told them I had back pain and knee problems. They x-rayed my knees but I don't know exactly WHY they approved me. I didn't have to appeal at all, the approval DID take 3 months but I was never denied. Good Luck, Lia

Did you know that DePaul Hospital and Dr. de la Torre is a center of Excellence in St. Louis? I plan on going there. Good luck.

Have you contacted them? Because the last time I contacted SSM DePaul, they told me that they did NOT accept Medicare. Lia

I'm sorry Lia, I didn't know that. Fortunately, I have private insurance that says they pay. This has to be terribly frustrating for you. Good luck, hopefully one will be available soon.

After I replied, I read your profile and saw that you didn't have Medicare. I found out that Dr. Hodges in Springfield is going through the process of getting his COE approvaland they accept Medicare, hopefully they'll be approved within the next few months. Lia