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Apparently, it is time again to present a vigorous stand against the pharmaceutical companies who seem determined to ruin the health, if not cause the death, of many consumers.  Disabled individuals are particularly at risk, as in many cases, their immune systems are already tenuous.  But the offending agents might surprise you—–they are not complicated or complex concoctions.

So what are these insidious medications?  It might come as a surprise to some folks, but over-the-counter acetaminophen is a major culprit which causes acute liver failure.  Acetaminophen is contained in many medications, including Tylenol, Theraflu, and Nyquil.  Those who inherently believe that over-the-counter medications are safe need to educate themselves to the real dangers which exist.

Many medical professionals say that a safe dose of acetaminophen ranges from 1 to 4 grams daily.

However, because the drug is present in so many different medications, it is an easy matter to exceed that range.  Indeed, over 1600 cases of acute liver failure occur annually because of overdose.  This happens simply because a person might be taking, say, Vicodin, (which contains up to 500 mg of acetaminophen) and then takes NyQuil or Tylenol for cold symptoms.  Bam!  You’re over the therapeutic level.

And that’s not all. According to a report in June 2006 issue of Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety, between 1990 and 1998, each year there were an estimated 56,000 emergency room visits, 26,000 hospitalizations, and 458 deaths related to acetaminophen overdoses.

Next on the list is denture creams.  That is correct—denture creams.  It’s bad enough having to secure one’s teeth in one’s head, but to have to run the risk of being poisoned in the process is simply unconscionable.

Two major companies have formulated and released products designed to make dentures secure in the mouth.

Recent news has placed these two corporate giants under intense scrutiny from the government and trial attorneys around the United States.  These companies are GlaxoSmithKline, the maker of Polident, and Procter & Gamble Co., maker of Fixodent.  Both of these products are extremely popular, but both have recently been linked to serious side effects in those who have used them.

The basic issue that users of these two products are encountering involves zinc poisoning and zinc toxicity. Because many users of these denture creams have poor fitting dentures require the denture wearer to increase the amount of cream needed to secure the dentures.  This can lead to an increase of zinc in the body.

Denture cream brands like PoliGrip and Fixodent, contain zinc, which if ingested in large amounts, can lead to neurological problems and even a nerve disorder like neuropathy.  As one stricken with idiopathic peripheral neuropathy, it is an easy matter to attest to its horrible pain, in turn causing serious mobility issues.  A lot of folks end up in a wheelchair.

Zinc can be also be an intestinal irritant, and common signs of zinc poisoning may include intestinal distress such as vomiting, stomach cramps, diarrhea, and nausea.

Other symptoms of zinc poisoning can be low blood pressure, urine retention, jaundice, seizures, joint pain, fever, coughing, and a metallic taste in the mouth.

So, again, why does our FDA allow such products to easily reach the shelves of our drugstores?  On any given day, hundreds of thousands of people use these products, believing them to be safe.  Why do the manufacturers continue to produce medicines or products which cause these horrendous effects?  Many lawsuits have sprung up nationwide—but the companies simply pay the claims, and continue on.

One must assume that the FDA is spineless, or else simply paid off by lobbying organizations.  Were this to happen with bread companies, for example, it would be another matter entirely. Consider what would occur if the consumption of Orowheat or Franz caused liver failure?  Does anyone have any doubt those breads would be immediately re-called and taken off the shelves?  Exactly.

What is needed is a grassroots effort by consumers to hold the FDA and big Pharma accountable for their actions.  And not just monetary compensation for a few people willing to stand the vicissitudes of the legal system.

Jail time is the answer.  How about 10 years in prison for the management of Procter and Gamble?  And, they should be forced to take Tylenol and use copious quantities of Fixident.  If they don’t have dentures, remove their teeth, make them some dentures, and give them a huge supply of the offending cream.

Maybe that would have some effect.

Be careful out there—-harm’s way can be assured for $3.49 available at every pharmacy and grocery outlet across the country.

Be well.

Advocate

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Hi:

Wednesday July 1 2009 at 3:00 pm est I’m holding a complimentary webinar all ABOUT How To Dig Out Debt and Maximize Your Disability Check!

Date: July 1 2009

Time: 3:00 pm  est / 12:00 pm pst
For the exact start time in your area go to http://www.time.gov

Space is limited so click here to reserve your seat now:

Direction to attend will be emailed after you register.  My goal is to empower you with the knowledge to weave through the disability maze!!  Hope you can make it,

Brian Therrien

p.s. Make sure to enter the 2 digit pin code that you see when you log on so you can ask me questions.

Popularity: 6% [?]

As has been widely reported, President Obama has asked Congress to phase in “concurrent receipt” for all Chapter 61 retirees - those who received a disability retirement from the Department of Defense.

This plan, if enacted, would boost pay for 103,000 veterans by a total of more than $2 billion through 2014.

Concurrent receipt means being able to receive both VA disability compensation and military retired pay earned for years served. For many decades, retired pay had been reduced by the amount of disability pay.

Most Chapter 61 retirees were forced from service by ailments or injuries before they could serve 20 years and qualify for regular retirement. Other Chapter 61 retirees served at least 20 years but still qualified for a tax-exempt DoD disability retirement for permanent medical conditions.

Effectively, the administration’s plan would expand eligibility for the Concurrent Retirement and Disability Pay (CRDP) - a way of recalculating retired pay - to all Chapter 61 regular retirees.

CRDP started in 2004 and was applied only to non-disabled military retirees who, after leaving service, qualified for disability ratings of 50 percent or higher from the Department of Veterans Affairs. CRDP allows them to receive earned retired pay and VA compensation.

Non-disabled retirees with VA ratings of 40 percent or lower still see retired pay offset by VA disability compensation.

Why has Obama targeted Chapter 61 regular retirees for concurrent receipt?  Apparently, the White House’s Office of Management and Budget developed the idea as an affordable compromise. It would cost $5.4 billion over 10 years versus $45 billion if Obama fulfilled a campaign pledge to extend concurrent receipt to all disabled military retirees.

Since not everybody could be included at this time, because of cost, the idea was to look at those who might be the most deserving.   Retirees put out  because of disabilities, whether in combat or just job-related was the targeted group.

The schedule to expand CRDP to Chapter 61 retirees would begin Jan. 1, 2010, for those having fewer than 20 years of service and VA ratings of 100 or 90 percent. Full retired pay would be restored on schedule dates, rather raised incrementally as was done after CRDP was launched.

On Jan. 1, 2011, those with fewer than 20 years of service and VA ratings of 80 or 70 percent would be eligible. On Jan. 1, 2012, those with fewer than 20 years of service and VA ratings of 60 or 50 percent would qualify. On Jan. 1, 2013, all Chapter 61 retirees with VA ratings of 40 or 30 percent would be eligible to include any Chapter 61 retirees who served longer than 20 years. On Jan. 1, 2014, a small group of Chapter 61 retirees receiving VA disability compensation and not included earlier would become eligible.

The idea behind concurrent receipt of military retirement and VA disability compensation,  is that the Department of Defense pays retirees for years of service and VA pays for disabilities incurred. But until a Dole-Shalala Commission recommendation to simplify the process in this way is fully adopted, DoD remains in the disability retirement business.

Applying the precise formula is predictable difficult.  But here are some general examples.

1) An E-4 with four years of service is rated 50 percent disabled by DoD and 90 percent by VA. On base pay of $2,200 a month, a 50-percent DoD rating provides disability retirement of $1,100. Because a 90-percent VA rating pays $1,600 a month, this E-4, under current law, would opt for the VA compensation and get nothing for his service time.

Under CRDP, however, he would receive retired pay for years served. That’s four years multiplied by a 2.5 percent for 10 percent. Apply the 10 percent to base pay of $2,200 for $220 a month in retired pay. This would be paid in addition to $1,600 in VA compensation.

2) An E-7 with 18 years of service also is rated 50 percent disabled by DoD and 90 percent by VA. On base pay of $4,000 a month, a 50-percent rating provides disability retirement of $2,000 a month. That’s better than $1,600 in VA disability compensation.

But under CRDP, retired pay would be calculated on years served (18 x 2.5) for a 45 percent multiple applied to base pay ($4,000). The result: $1,800 a month. This E-7 originally would have accepted $2,000 in disability retirement, because it paid $400 more than VA compensation. With CRDP, he would get $1,800 from DoD plus $1,600 from VA, a total of $3,400 monthly.

3) An 0-4 with 12 years of service is rated 70 percent by DoD and 90 percent by VA. On base pay of $6,000, a 70-percent rating provides military disability retirement of $4,200. This retiree now would take the $4,200 rather than $1,600 payable for a 90-percent VA rating.

Actual retired pay for 12 years of service would be 30 percent of $6,000, or $1,800 a month. Accepting this $1,800, plus $1,600 in VA compensation, would fail to match $4,200 in disability retirement. So this retiree will not receive any additional retirement under CRDP.

Of course, as we all know, plans are plans—-and sometimes the reality and intent of policies become convoluted.  We shall have to take a wait and see attitude to judge this plan’s effectiveness.  The bottom line is that any plan to assist our disabled veterans is a worthwhile effort, and one which deserves our full support.

That’s it for now.

Advocate

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Today’s bill of fare takes a look at Obstructive Sleep Apnea, an often undiagnosed condition, and life threatening in nature.  Apparently, there is an increased proportion of apnea sufferers and those who already have another debilitating condition.  Therefore, if you snore heavily, or wake up in the middle of the night in the middle of a snoring session, you likely have OSA to either a mild or serious degree—and you need to participate in an overnight test called a polysomnography.

Having personal experience with this test, it is rather interesting, and you are hooked up to many wires while your breathing patterns are monitored by sophisticated electronic equipment.

Sleep apnea means “cessation of breath.” It is characterized by repetitive episodes of upper airway obstruction that occur during sleep, usually associated with a reduction in blood oxygen saturation. In other words, the airway becomes obstructed at several possible sites. The upper airway can be obstructed by excess tissue in the airway, large tonsils, a large tongue and usually includes the airway muscles relaxing and collapsing when asleep. Another site of obstruction can be the nasal passages. Sometimes the structure of the jaw and airway can be a factor in sleep apnea.

A person literally stops breathing until shaken into consciousness by the brain, searching desperately for oxygen.  This can happen hundreds of times in one night.

What are the symptoms?

• excessive daytime sleepiness
• frequent episodes of obstructed breathing during sleep. (The patient may be unaware of this symptom — usually the bed partner is extremely aware of this).

Associated features may include:

• loud snoring
• morning headaches
• unrefreshing sleep
• a dry mouth upon awakening
• chest retraction during sleep in young children (chest pulls in)
• high blood pressure
• overweight
• irritability
• change in personality
• depression
• difficulty concentrating
• excessive perspiring during sleep
• heartburn
• reduced libido
• insomnia
• frequent nocturnal urination
• restless sleep
• nocturnal snorting, gasping, choking (may wake self up)
• rapid weight gain
• confusion upon awakening

How serious is sleep apnea?

It is a potentially life-threatening condition that requires immediate medical attention. The risks of undiagnosed obstructive sleep apnea include heart attacks, strokes, impotence, irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure and heart disease. In addition, obstructive sleep apnea causes daytime sleepiness that can result in accidents, lost productivity and interpersonal relationship problems.  The severity of the symptoms may be mild, moderate or severe.

The good news is that by wearing of a breathing machine called a CPAP machine (continuous pressure airway) one can completely eliminate the apnea, and return to a life where the brain is no longer deprived of oxygen, and an afflicted individual will return to waking life refreshed, allowing for a best case scenario in keeping one’s immune system as strong as possible.

Medicare and Medicaid often bear the entire expense of the machine and parts.

Yes, the mask is a bit uncomfortable and obstructive (and your partner may believe an alien is now in bed with them) but when you consider the alternative, it makes sense to ‘get used to it.’  Soon, it becomes your friend.

As a six year veteran of the CPAP machine, I am living testimonial to its absolute effectiveness.  Please do yourselves and loved ones a favor and have yourselves checked out if you have any of the symptoms.

That’s it for now.

Advocate

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Rightfully so, there is a system in place, which varies somewhat state to state as far as regulation and administration, but is designed to provide needed medical care and remuneration to those workers who become injured while on the job.  Employers are required to carry insurance to meet these needs, and most do so. (although I have handled cases in which the employer had not complied with the law and had no worker’s compensation insurance—but that is another story for another day)

One might believe this system could be managed appropriately, and be set up to expedite services to the injured worker—and, indeed, this ought to be the case.  After all, the injured individual (in a preponderance of cases) was fulfilling his or her obligation or contract to work, and through accidental circumstances sustained an injury, leading in many cases to permanent conditions which represent a loss of the ability to, say, lift any more than 10 pounds, or compromise the use of one’s arms or legs.  Perhaps loss of an eye, or cut off a hand.

In other words, a negative situation.  Just imagine waking up one morning, feeling fine, going to work, and within the hour, suffer a tremendous fall,  breaking your back.  Your life has changed forever, and you might feel that you are owed, at least, immediate and professional medical care coupled with a system enjoined to ‘make things right’ with you, since you are the one who suffered the loss.

In addition to the pain, fear, and horror of your situation, you must now rely entirely on this ’system’ to ensure you receive medical care, your monetary benefits, and some form of vocational rehabilitation, should your injuries preclude your working in the same or similar job.  Those who have been through this experience will doubtless relate the fear and frustration, even when the ’system’ is working as it is supposed to.  That is, with an eye toward taking care of the injured individual, providing positive steps forward to allow for return to gainful employment, or in worse case scenario, become classified as permanently disabled, requiring application to the Social Security Administration to obtain disability benefits.

Bearing in mind that the quicker this process plays out in each case, the more effective it is in totality—where the individual is able to get to the best level of recovery (and future employment) as possible, and where the system incurs the least cost.  However, the majority of these cases simply do not work this way.

One might think that the insurance industry believed that needless delays, complicated rules and regulations, mis-communications, and outright misanthropy should drive the engine of the worker’s comp system, and many companies bear the guilt of this philosophy and its actions.

These are not specious charges— rather they are based on personal observations and encounters with well over 500 vocational rehab cases, where many individuals had been subjected to a variety of the above referenced insurance company actions, and had suffered permanent emotional damage as a result, in addition to having to deal with whatever malady was responsible for the disabling condition.

To put it bluntly, the worker’s comp insurance carriers have designed and implemented a system of care which, in many cases, requires the services of an attorney to force compliance, and even then, continue to cause lengthy delays, utilizing mystifying rules which prevent a situation of best practices.

To what end, one might ask?  Why do they act the way they do?  Simple financial analysis show that it is more costly for the insurance companies when they behave in such a problematic manner.  One can only surmise that an underlying tenet of these companies promulgates the notion that if they can devise some way  to not have to pay for medical care, or pay monetary benefits, then they will be more profitable.  This is the height of absurdity, and represents the depth of lack of genuine concern for humanity.

Our free online magazine, The Disability Digest,  is no stranger to encountering situations like this.   Much like Social Security Disability, the worker’s comp system continues to behave in ways which not only further harm the individual, but simultaneously create conditions which account for the necessity for paying additional expenses.  This is a lose-lose for everyone.

A recent member of our organization, Ron Markowicz, has been embroiled with a worker’s compensation case for approximately two years, and is far worse off now medically (and emotionally) than he was at the onset of his injury.  There were surgical mistakes, communication errors, bad professional practices, and outright lying, all creating a horrific situation for Mr. Markowicz.  At 38 years old, he has diligently and responsibly worked in his profession for 20 years.  Today, he cannot even pick up his 2 year old daughter to give her a hug.

As this missive has become rather lengthy, I am enclosing a URL which further explains the details of his situation.  We are attempting to assist Ron with his case, but I would kindly ask any disability solutions or worker’s comp advocates for any input which could help.  This is about as bad as it gets.

Email me directly: john at thedisabilitydigest.com

Ron’s case information:

http://affiliate.kickapps.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=7955544&as=12966&b=

Best to all,

Advocate

Get a FREE membership to The Disability Digest and learn absolutely every thing (you) need to know about disability

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Money Saving Tip For Disabled Assistance Technology In New England States From lady Luck

Assistance technology can be expensive and sometime hard to find.  A Internet service addresses this problem.  GetATStuff.com lists used equipment sold to you directly by the owner at low cost or sometimes for free.  Items include wheelchair ramps, optical magnification devices and Dragon Naturally Speaking.  Equipment for almost every type of disability is listed.

It costs nothing to belong to GetATStuff, and it is also a good place to list equipment that you no longer need and want to get rid of.  You can tell them what you want and they will email you when it comes in.  I have found that it pays to check the site regularly to see if there is anything I or anyone I know can use.   I have done business with them and have been entirely satisfied.

Get a FREE membership to The Disability Digest and learn absolutely every thing (you) need to know about disability.

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This is a great Disability approval success contributed Judy Fairfield Spring, Texas.   I’m in hopes this real life experience will encourage you to use The Disability Digest to win your Social Security Disability benefits.  Congratulations to Judy from The Disability Digest Team.

>>>>> Judy’s story starts here <<<<

Hi Brian -

I wanted to thank you for a wonderful webinar. I had sent you a very brief email about 2 months ago telling you that I had received SS Disability within 6 WEEKS of filing.  However, I did not go into detail about how that was accomplished.  I would like to share a little of that with you today.

I had been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and IBS in 1992.  At that time, it was unheard of for SS to pay disability on that…….so I didn’t file.  I continued to work with great difficulty and finally quit my  job where I was employed at a bank in their legal dept. handling fraud and embezzlement in 1993.

My husband died in 1995.  I needed an income that paid well and at the same time….. met my current husband.  We decided to become team truck drivers, which allowed me to stay confined in a cab and not have to stand or walk much.  My doctors told me it would be impossible to do that job…..but, I had no choice because I needed the income and had all these limitations. Somehow I made it through 11 yrs of that until my body just decided it couldn’t do it anymore.  I approached my doctor with the thought of filing for SS Disability.  He told me that someone would take a look at me and not see the limitations because I hid them so well.  But it was impossible to hide the IBS.

With much encouragement from friends and family I decided to give filing a try.  HOWEVER, I very smartly decided to take your mini course FIRST.  WHAT A BLESSING!!!!!  I filed the end of July 2008 electronically (knowing exactly what to put in the form because of your mini course).   However, I was unable to complete the entire form at one sitting, so I left it to finish later.  I received a phone call from our local SS office about 30 mins. after my 1st break.  And they completed it on the phone for me……whereby, I now had a case worker.  Approx. 4 weeks later they sent me to their SS Disability doctor, who then sent me for x-rays and an MRI.  I received a letter from them about a week later saying that I had been approved medically, however they had other forms to obtain.

I knew I would be turned down because I had gone to sooooo many doctors since 1992 that there was no way I could possibly get my hands on all those medical files (and a few of the doctors had retired).  One week later I got a call from the case worker at the local SS office saying that I had been approved and she was making an electronically deposit to my account that day.   I was shocked!!  I had been waiting for my denial letter.

There is absolutely no way that this could have been accomplished in that amount of time with no attorney without your help. I did everything just as your mini course instructed.  I cannot thank you enough, Brian, for the service you provide.  I have friends that filed over a year ago, and they are no further ahead today than they were a year ago.  BUT, they did not take advantage of your service.

Once again, THANK YOU BRIAN!!!  This was only possible because of you.

Judy Fairfield

Spring, Texas

>>>>> Judy’s story starts here <<<<

Get a FREE membership to The Disability Digest and learn absolutely every thing (you) need to know about disability.

Popularity: 16% [?]

On a daily basis, we are treated to one new treatment or drug after another, coming at us so fast, we have no chance of getting real and solid information about how these are really effecting us.  It’s terrifying to think that we are functioning as test subjects, guinea pigs, if you will, for the pharmaceutical companies to fatten their wallets.  They are losing market share against supplements and more natural methods of healing that they will resort to nothing in order to gain needed sales.  Recently, Gardisil was introduced into the market, aimed at the young female, a vaccine touted to prevent cervical cancer.  Here’s their web site, designed by a top notch marketing firm, costing them thousands.  A pittance when you consider that nearly eight million girls have taken Gardisil.

Now, please go and watch this two minute video, and consider yourself to be in a better position to inform your families about Gardisil, and that, invariably,  these new drugs always result in numerous harmful side effects.  It boggles the mind to believe that all things which are purported to help with human medical maladies must, by default, have such horrible ramifications.  This writer refuses to believe it.  It is preposterous, on its face, and nefarious at its worst.  Be aware, and inform others.  I continue to rail against the immorality of the pharmaceutical industry with their willingness to accept even one death as necessary to evaluate a particular medicine’s efficacy.  This madness has to stop and these mysteries solved.

medical mysteries

Be well,

Advocate

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Popularity: 16% [?]

If you are not a veteran, you can help this cause by forwarding this email to any disabled military veterans you know so they can get critical disabled veterans information absolutely free.

If you are a disabled military veteran, I would like your help… I’ve almost completed a comprehensive book project called “Veterans Disability Digest” and want to make certain I have not left anything out.

Any veteran that is willing to take 3 minutes to complete my survey on the web site below will get a FREE copy of my book “Veterans Disability Digest” … no strings attached!

To learn more about the book project and take the survey click here:

My goal is provide you with a cutting resource that will help you maximize all your Veterans Benefits so you can have peace of mind that you are getting all your entitled to and enjoy a peace-filled retired life. Thanks for putting your trust in me I will not let your down.

Thanks for putting your trust in me. I will not let your down.

Regards - Brian
Brian Therrien
The Disability Digest

Popularity: 21% [?]

“Listen to the June conference with Vocational Counselor John Woodworth and learn how you can get approved for disability FAST!  I’m confident this will answer your most pressing questions about:

- how to find out if you qualifying for disability,
- how to get approved for disability,
- how to speed up the approval process,
- how to survive the wait until you get approved.
-  we also covered Long Term Disability and US Veterans Benefits,

Go To:
http://thedisabilitydigest.com/ConferenceJune.3.2009.html

Regards - Brian

Popularity: 24% [?]