Need guidance on medical for my wife

[Rayman70]

You guys were great with all the support when my Army kid was injured and in ICU earlier this year. He is great now and back on duty. I have a new host of problems. My wife was just diagnosed with Diastolic heart failure,COPD,Diabetes,PTSD. She applied for ssi/ssdi 13 months ago and lost all her insurance in Jan 2024. Lost her income due to injury last summer and her health has steadily went down from there. She is on the county indigent program and gets help from the local hospital but its limited. The Dr just put her on Oxygen about 10 days ago but we cant afford it. They want 185 a month at the medical supply in town. Thats with discounts. I am in Texas, so is there anywhere that might help on this? Seems very difficult to get any help. I have reached out to Medicaid but she was denied because you have to basically be in a gutter before they will do anything,unless you have a tassel of kids. I am retired on a fixed income at the poverty level. SS doesn't pay much,let alone when a spouse loses their ability to earn and cannot work. She is bedridden. Her health has went down quickly lately. I normally would not ask, but I need to at least see what can be done. For anyone that has ever applied for SSDI/SSI, you know how hard it is to get it. Meanwhile, while we wait, shes getting worse. Been a tough 16 months for us between our kid in the Army nearly dying and this. I am keeping the faith. Mods I am sorry if this breaks any rules. Thats not my intent. Thank you.

 

[nightrain]

Hey Rayman, sorry to see your Wife and you going through this. You may want to try finding a clinic that helps people who are underinsured or otherwise unable to pay for health care. I have provided a couple of links below. I wish you both the very best and hope you find relief.

https://nafcclinics.org/

https://texaslawhelp.org/article/health-resources-for-uninsured-texans

 

[Rayman70]

Hey Rayman, sorry to see your Wife and you going through this. You may want to try finding a clinic that helps people who are underinsured or otherwise unable to pay for health care. I have provided a couple of links below. I wish you both the very best and hope you find relief.

https://nafcclinics.org/

https://texaslawhelp.org/article/health-resources-for-uninsured-texans

hey ty man. I will look into it.

 

[CyberB0b]

Do you have PayPal or Venmo? I’ll get the first month brother. DM me.

 

[Streifenkarl]

185 would make a difference? I'm in for the 2nd.

 

[Rayman70]

185 would make a difference? I'm in for the 2nd.

Thank You

 

[sbark]

Dm me on best way to send 185.00 your way
Glad to help

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

Hope everything works out for you and your wife Sir.

 

[Rayman70]

Hope everything works out for you and your wife Sir.

Thanks Brain. What a wild ride its been. I want off this dang ride lol. Watching loved ones health suffer,then not being able to do much about it stinks.Thank you for the kindness.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

Thanks Brain. What a wild ride its been. I want off this dang ride lol. Watching loved ones health suffer,then not being able to do much about it stinks.Thank you for the kindness.

I have been through some serious stuff the last couple of years. Life altering things. So I can understand the frustration and the feeling of being helpless.

 

[Rayman70]

I have been through some serious stuff the last couple of years. Life altering things. So I can understand the frustration and the feeling of being helpless.

Well Im here if you need me man. Hard times for sure. At least we can lean on each other for support.

 

[Tabascocat]

Sorry to hear Rayman, put me down for a month if need be.

 

[Rayman70]

Sorry to hear Rayman, put me down for a month if need be.

ty Tabascocat. I THINK we can make it til November paying for the oxygen equipment now. Beyond that, I will sure let you know. Appreciate you.

 

[visionary]

How old is she?
Why is she bed ridden?

 

[Rayman70]

How old is she?
Why is she bed ridden?

shes just 52. First, was injured in a fall at her job over a year ago. Hurt her knees pretty bad. So then I have to drive her to pain management treatments because she cannot move. Those are 3 hours away in Dallas. Ok...as time has went on, they diagnosed her with Diabetes...so ok, we tried to manage that. Then she began passing out while trying to staand out of bed...then I made a heart dr appoint for her only to find out after much testing that her heart is failing. She has left sided heart failure. THEN during the chest CT scan they found another issue that has been causing the dizziness and her being winded easily. They said she has a collapsed lower left lung lobe. Then they sent her for a Lung function test about a month ago after a heart cath. The Lung function test confirmed the problem as COPD according to the Docs diagnosis, so a few days ago they put her on oxygen because we were told she has diastolic heart failure and copd. I am planning om finding a used wheelchair next because its just easier. I mean she can walk, but not far. Basically, from the front door of our home to the car which is about 25 feet, then shes panting for air. Only time I take her out is to appointments. Her health has really suffered as of late. Unreal man. So, shes bedridden largely, I help her get up stand up, then she walks to bathroom then back to bed. With oxygen, she can now do this at least. I picked it up today. Its been a Godsend. It all began with a accident at work then has snowballed from there. Shes way too young for this so its disheartening to watch for me. All I can do is help. Doing the best I can.

 

[Rayman70]

the lung condition is technically called Atelectasis @ visionary. I forgot to say that. Its a fancy way in medical terms of saying a collapsed lung or obstructed/restricted. She used to smoke off on and for about 5 years. I had to watch my Father pass away and dwindle with COPD, heart failure cancer even. Due to smoking mostly. I hate this.

 

[Rayman70]

the heart condition has caused her to swell up, retain fluid, so they put her on water pills and potassium for the heart and some kinda other stuff. Shes so swelled up with fluid. Thanks for asking Visionary. I think I just about covered most of it. That and shes on about 20 different kinds of meds, not counting injections of ozempic for the diabetes. Shes in pain too.

 

[visionary]

shes just 52. First, was injured in a fall at her job over a year ago. Hurt her knees pretty bad. So then I have to drive her to pain management treatments because she cannot move. Those are 3 hours away in Dallas. Ok...as time has went on, they diagnosed her with Diabetes...so ok, we tried to manage that. Then she began passing out while trying to staand out of bed...then I made a heart dr appoint for her only to find out after much testing that her heart is failing. She has left sided heart failure. THEN during the chest CT scan they found another issue that has been causing the dizziness and her being winded easily. They said she has a collapsed lower left lung lobe. Then they sent her for a Lung function test about a month ago after a heart cath. The Lung function test confirmed the problem as COPD according to the Docs diagnosis, so a few days ago they put her on oxygen because we were told she has diastolic heart failure and copd. I am planning om finding a used wheelchair next because its just easier. I mean she can walk, but not far. Basically, from the front door of our home to the car which is about 25 feet, then shes panting for air. Only time I take her out is to appointments. Her health has really suffered as of late. Unreal man. So, shes bedridden largely, I help her get up stand up, then she walks to bathroom then back to bed. With oxygen, she can now do this at least. I picked it up today. Its been a Godsend. It all began with a accident at work then has snowballed from there. Shes way too young for this so its disheartening to watch for me. All I can do is help. Doing the best I can.

I dont know the situation so take my suggestions with a tablespoon of salt:

Diastolic HF is about fluid excess, salt, BP, obesity.

COPD is about smoking

My suggestions (if possible)

She and you have to decide to turn your life around. Not TRY but WILL

Main objectives:
1. Lose weight
2. Increase functional capacity

Understand that there is no shortcut. This WILL take time and effort and consistency and will be frustrating

Stop smoking (if she is)
Eat 80% of her food not 100%
Absolutely No soda, no juices: drink only water
Absolutely no snacking
Eat only baked or grilled food. Nothing fried
Minimize salt

Use oxygen for now. It will help her be more active
Use her inhalers as prescribed
Control BP

Start walking daily this way:
Day 1: see what she can do at her own pace, lets say it is 5 min (use walker if needed)
Week 1: daily walk 5 min
Week 2: daily walk 10 min
Week 4: daily walk 15 min and so on

Once you get to 30 min: increase the distance walked in 30 min

Follow this every single day with no days off

Things can be a lot different in 3 months

Good luck

 

[visionary]

the lung condition is technically called Atelectasis @ visionary. I forgot to say that. Its a fancy way in medical terms of saying a collapsed lung or obstructed/restricted. She used to smoke off on and for about 5 years. I had to watch my Father pass away and dwindle with COPD, heart failure cancer even. Due to smoking mostly. I hate this.

Don’t worry about atelectasis. That is tied to her weight. Once she loses weight it will get better

 

[nightrain]

shes just 52. First, was injured in a fall at her job over a year ago. Hurt her knees pretty bad. So then I have to drive her to pain management treatments because she cannot move. Those are 3 hours away in Dallas. Ok...as time has went on, they diagnosed her with Diabetes...so ok, we tried to manage that. Then she began passing out while trying to staand out of bed...then I made a heart dr appoint for her only to find out after much testing that her heart is failing. She has left sided heart failure. THEN during the chest CT scan they found another issue that has been causing the dizziness and her being winded easily. They said she has a collapsed lower left lung lobe. Then they sent her for a Lung function test about a month ago after a heart cath. The Lung function test confirmed the problem as COPD according to the Docs diagnosis, so a few days ago they put her on oxygen because we were told she has diastolic heart failure and copd. I am planning om finding a used wheelchair next because its just easier. I mean she can walk, but not far. Basically, from the front door of our home to the car which is about 25 feet, then shes panting for air. Only time I take her out is to appointments. Her health has really suffered as of late. Unreal man. So, shes bedridden largely, I help her get up stand up, then she walks to bathroom then back to bed. With oxygen, she can now do this at least. I picked it up today. Its been a Godsend. It all began with a accident at work then has snowballed from there. Shes way too young for this so its disheartening to watch for me. All I can do is help. Doing the best I can.

Rayman, have you consulted with an Attorney about the fall at work your Wife experienced?