[nagdu] Tired, depressed and discouraged

Sat Jun 19 22:08:46 UTC 2010

Gail,

Here's what I'd do, your mileage may vary.

I'd pick which guide dog school I was most interested in.  I'd give them a 
call and have a honest discussion about my situation.  I'd lay it all 
out...what the tests say, what the doctor thinks, what additional limiting 
factors I have, what I need from the program and anything else that is 
relevant to the situation.  If the program was willing to work with me, I'd 
stick with them and follow through with whatever they felt necessary to 
continue.

If they weren't willing to work with me, I'd politely thank them for their 
time and hang up.  I'd call the program that I was next most interested in. 
Rinse and repeat as necessary.

That's just me.  I'm not a hoop jumper.  I'll cooperate and do what I need 
to do, but  I need  some good faith effort on the part of the program too.
JMHO
Julie

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Gail" <deerskin at oct.net>
To: <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Saturday, June 19, 2010 4:29 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Tired, depressed and discouraged

> >From what I've seen on all the schools' sites, they ask for an applicant 
> >to
> be 'legally blind'. I thought that had to be determined by a doctor, as in
> the doc tests you, and says 'you are legally blind', and will fill out
> paperwork to that effect. This current doctor doesnt seem that he will do
> that-he keeps coming up with different things he wants me to do, and
> changing his mind on the DX.
>
> We are going to investigate next week if we can get a different doctor, 
> but
> Kansas medicaid limits me severely in all directions-doctors, medications,
> treatments, etc. Thats why so far we've been going back to him. We 
> actually
> thought yesterday would be the end of the situation, that he would make 
> his
> determination, and that would be that. We had no idea he would continue to
> string this out.
>
> Actually, its been two Humphries with him, and another at another doctor, 
> so
> its been 3, with the same results. So what would happen if I were to ask 
> him
> to send his 'report', with the Humphries test results and I'm sure he 
> would
> give his comments that he doesnt think I'm blind....what would a school
> think of that? The tests saying one thing, but the doctor's report being
> inconclusive? Thats the *only* reason we've continued with this malarky...
> because i thought schools had to have the doctor sign off on me. That isnt
> necessary?
>
> Gail
>
>
>
> -------Original Message------- 
>
> From: Julie J
> Date: 6/19/2010 3:53:12 PM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Tired, depressed and discouraged
>
> Gail,
>
> I'm confused. It is up to you what test and medical procedures you
> Participate in. The doctor can offer his opinions and his recommendations,
> But it is up to you as to what to do about them. If you aren't comfortable
> With something, ask for more info or just say no.
>
> I guess I don't understand why you are going through all these tests and
> Doctors appointments. If it's just to get a guide dog, I'd stop. You have
> Taken 3 visual fields tests, which should be enough for any of the guide 
> dog
>
> Programs to review and consider.
>
> If the doctor thinks something neurological is causing your vision loss,
> Then that would be an entirely different situation. I do know that in many
> States there is transportation to medical appointments available through
> Medicaid.
>
> Hope you can get it sorted out,
> Julie
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Gail" <deerskin at oct.net>
> To: <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Friday, June 18, 2010 5:58 PM
> Subject: [nagdu] Tired, depressed and discouraged
>
>
>>
>> Well, we got back a little while ago, and I dont know what to think or 
>> do.
>
>> The doc ran the Humphries *again* (third time now), and got the same kind
>> of
>>
>> Results. He just cant figure why-or accept- I see the dots around that
>> Central light, and miss the others. It doesnt matter that I tell him 
>> 1)its
>
>> Hard to sit there staring at that tiny yellow dot *and* catch all the
>> white
>> Dots. 2) its hard to keep my concentration from wandering now and then, 
>> so
>
>> That makes me lose some of them. 3) I see them, but I always click fast
>> Enough to catch one before another pops up.4) some I miss just because I
>> Have things floating in my eyes becaue of being tired or headache, so
>> those
>> Can distract or cover dots.
>>
>> So, now he seems to have backed out of the Dxs he had given me before, 
>> and
>
>> Now wants me to have an MRI and go to Kansas City- a drive of over 100
>> miles
>>
>> One way- to see a neuro there. I'm so tired and depressed that I cant
>> Remember any more of what he said. But that trip will be expensive for
>> us-we
>> have been married 20 years, and have never been able to afford to go to 
>> KC
>
>> for anything other than to the airport to pick up someone-exhausting for
>> me,
>> and I'm supposed to go there and be in one piece for more testing?! This
>> is
>> getting weirder every time we go to this guy, but he keeps saying he has
>> to
>> have this done. Yeah, like he said today's Humphries would be the 
>> definite
>
>> test....
>>
>>
>> But when three tests have the same results, of the visual field being the
>> Same, why cant he accept that I have problems/legally blind, and we take
>> Care of the KC trip some other time? This guy is driving me nuts, with 
>> his
>
>> Inability to stick with one dx or accept what tests show him.... And with
>> not even the dx he gave me 2 weeks ago, I'm toast.
>>
>> Gail
>>
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>
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