Challenges with Insurance

The challenges with insurance have been ongoing. It's so frustrating that there are tools and expertise in helping with managing this disease, but I have to go through this maze of an insurance company to get any of it. I am starting to regret my decision to vote for the Affordable Care Act, and Obama just because all of these things including a home nurse, durable medical equipment, increase in copays on disease-modifying drugs are either non-existent, my insurance won't cover, or it's too damn expensive.

As most of you know I have been having some major cognitive issues, and I am in need of some serious help when it comes to daily activities. Having this home nurse would be more than beneficial for me. Although, according to our insurance, private home nurses are not covered, and as a "favor" they would give me 4 hours of home care a day. Are you KIDDING ME? A favor!??! You think I asked for this disease, and now you think you are doing me a favor??? All i'm asking for is 12 hour care 9 days a month. That's it. It's actually LESS than what they were going to give me, but because I only need it on days that Eric is working, but  I need it for more than 4 hours in a day they deny me? Please tell me if you have a rational reason for this and maybe just maybe I might not get as pissed about it, but from where I am standing it doesn't make a whole lot of sense.

Next denial on the list. They denied me another MRI, because my cognitive issues do not explain another exasperation or a stroke so there is no need for an MRI. I would like to know who made them a doctor and put a M.D. after their name. It's a freaking MRI! I have Multiple Sclerosis that effects the nerves which are in my brain and down my spinal cord, you can't just look at me and say, "oh well, she doesn't look like she has had another exasperation."  You need an MRI to confirm diagnosis, because oh yeah insurance won't do a damn thing without a confirmed diagnosis. No medication, no further testing, no nothing. It's like a catch-22. I bet somewhere in some office they are just saying well if she doesn't get an MRI, we can't confirm, and if we can't confirm then we won't approve any other treatment options.

So these are my woes for the days? What are yours? Do you guys have any suggestions for me? Ways to navigate the insurance maze.

Thanks for reading!

Memory Loss and Multiple Sclerosis

So as most of us MS'ers know each every one of our disease processes are different, and why it's more often that not coined the "snowflake disease" because each and every presence of MS is different. Well my "different" is my memory loss.

 According to my neurologist the reason for my memory loss is there is a part of my nerve that is affected in the gray matter in my brain, causing memory lapses, or in my case just downright crazy Kierston. I literally forget where I am, most people that I will come in contact with, I will have no idea who they are.
If I ever wanted to forget a situation, this would be the most ideal situation, but right now I don't have too many things I wish to forget.

Let's throw out a few examples:

We went water walking, and I went to go get changed and came out, everything was fine. Although neither me or my significant other was prepared for what came next.

                                                          I lost my memory

Now, for most MS'ers it's usually just a fog. Maybe like you might forget simple details, but for me it's like that event never happened. Questions I am sure I asked Eric:

1.Why am I here?
2. Why am in a pool?
3. Why am I wet?
4. Who are these people around us?

Yep, this was the least of his worries. I put my stuff in a locker, and I didn't know where my locker would be with all of my belongings in it. I am in a room with a few hundred lockers and I put my stuff in one, with no identifier. Great. Well, apparently there was a nice lady that helped me find my stuff. All I can remember is I told her I had a white fluffy jacket. Thank GOD she was smart enough and nice enough, hell patient enough to help me in finding my things. Here I am, this distraught 24 year old woman, crying in the bathroom in a wet bathing suit. I bet most people would just walk away, but I wish I knew who she was so I could thank her. Now, you would think this would be the end of my memory loss escapades. Nope, nada. niet. I still needed to take a shower. This part will be short, because I don't remember anything about this occurrence. Basically I must've fell because now my hip hurts, and if I go to the doctor he is going to ask how it happened, and I am going to be like, yeah don't ask me that because I have no idea. Can you fix me? That should go over well.

Well, this is one of the many things going on with me. Fellow MS'ers what about you? Any strange and telling symptoms you have and you feel like your alone? Place in the comments section and tell me all about it.