Trauma – PTSD

Question:

I have PTSD as the result of a Semi/Auto accident. I was the truck driver and it was the driver of the cars fault. The workmans comp insurance company has been fighting paying me any benifits even though I have been off work for over 6 months. Now they want an IME. What do I need to know, how should I act and what should I expect from this process? Any help and information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Pete

Response:

Hi Pete, Take a trusted friend and a tape recorder.  Ask the doc if you can tape the exam.  Have the friend take notes.  Keep a journal before and after the exam.  Remember the doc is not working for you and is trying to find out if you are a ‘malingerer’.  Also realize that the biggest amount of fraud in the insurance business is by insurance companies denying benefits, not from people claiming them that shouldn’t. Be honest about your worst.  Sometimes people accidentally downplay their worst. Keeping a journal about your sleeping, eating, moods, etc., will be helpful.  Do you have someone who lives with you? Have them keep a journal as well, about you and how you are doing. Best of luck, Margaret, popping in for a mo’ Pete <p…@execs.com> wrote in message

news:Ri_I6.7$H52.229@news6.giganews.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I have PTSD as the result of a Semi/Auto accident. I was the truck driver > and it was the driver of the cars fault. The workmans comp insurance company > has been fighting paying me any benifits even though I have been off work > for over 6 months. Now they want an IME. What do I need to know, how should > I act and what should I expect from this process? Any help and information > would be greatly appreciated. > Thanks, > Pete

Response:

The Independent Medical Exam is usually done by someone that does not intend to find you having any problems.  Remember that slant as you go in.  Don’t primp or preen for the appointment, go looking like you do when you hole up at home for days (at least that’s what I do and did for my IME).  If its a psychological exam, be prepared to answer very personal questions.  If its a medical exam, well, there’s nothing you can do in presenting yourself that will change the doctor’s opinion.  If it is a psych evaluation then do the best you can.  Don’t feel pressured to do perfectly on the little tests of memory that they may give you. I had mine and was genuinely stumped and had forgotten part of the sequence he asked me about. He "helped" me and later wrote in his report that my memory was fine.  What a crock.  Biggest thing to remember is that the IME doc is NOT your friend, he’s the insurance company’s paid doc, paid to find nothing wrong with you. I say this from personal experience and quite a few years as a legal secretary doing plaintiff personal injury work on both sides (defense and plaintiff). Good luck and be yourself, Kristine The unexamined life is not worth living – Socrates

Response:

Thanks to all of you who responded to my question. I will attempt to get through the exam some how. In response to one question I believe it is a psychological exam. I was lucky and was not injured physically in the accident. I wish I had been I might have been able to figure out some way to have gotten better by now. Pete

Response:

Don’t be too hard on yourself Pete.  The mind is a delicate thing, and traumas CAN and DO cause damage.  You’ll get there. kath "Pete" <p…@execs.com> wrote in message

news:AK4J6.382$oa2.21056@news6.giganews.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Thanks to all of you who responded to my question. I will attempt to get > through the exam some how. In response to one question I believe it is a > psychological exam. I was lucky and was not injured physically in the > accident. I wish I had been I might have been able to figure out some way to > have gotten better by now. > Pete

Response:

That’s another good point – if you’re rejected the first time – Appeal it!! Government is strange that way. They reject first applications at a very high rate.  While the government may think this discourages bogus claims, it often hurts the person with a real claim who may not have the energy to go through the process again. So don’t be disheartened if you get a rejection – it’s the system. Appeal the decision – acceptance at the second attempt is much higher – that’s my social workers opinion as she too encourages appeals and said virtually all of her clients that were rejected the first time, were accepted on the second application.  .. View the AST-PTSD FAQ @ http://astpfaq.tripod.com/astpfaq/ "kajira hill" <odalis…@peoplepc.com> wrote in message

news:nasafto610grtnv600a84nbfao1p368c9o@4ax.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> On 05 May 2001 23:35:32 GMT, it was written by BaliKris: > =The Independent Medical Exam is usually done by someone that does not intend to > Ah.  I had two of these.  This was while I was applying for Social > Security Disability. They were nervous-making, but surprisingly brief. > I went before two different docs for my two (first on applying for > SSDI, second on appeal of the first denial).  Mine were both > psychological. > =find you having any problems.  Remember that slant as you go in.  Don’t primp > =or preen for the appointment, go looking like you do when you hole up at home > =for days (at least that’s what I do and did for my IME).  If its a > =psychological exam, be prepared to answer very personal questions.  If its a > =medical exam, well, there’s nothing you can do in presenting yourself that will > =change the doctor’s opinion.  If it is a psych evaluation then do the best you > =can.  Don’t feel pressured to do perfectly on the little tests of memory that > =they may give you. I had mine and was genuinely stumped and had forgotten part > =of the sequence he asked me about. He "helped" me and later wrote in his report > =that my memory was fine.  What a crock. > That’s funny.  The memory test is the only thing I remember of both my > exams.  Hm.  Memory… remember.  Odd… > =Biggest thing to remember is that the > =IME doc is NOT your friend, he’s the insurance company’s paid doc, paid to find > =nothing wrong with you. > Yep, that’s for sure. > =I say this from personal experience and quite a few years as a legal secretary > =doing plaintiff personal injury work on both sides (defense and plaintiff). > =Good luck and be yourself, > Good advice, Kristine! > — > Opinions of kajira hill, May 06, 2001 http://www.magenta.com/~kajira > ————————————————————————–

————————– > kajira’s thought for the moment: > ————————————————————————–

————————– – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Earth is full. Go home.

Response:

cloud dreamer wrote: > That’s another good point – if you’re rejected the first time – Appeal it!! > Government is strange that way. They reject first applications at a very > high rate.  While the government may think this discourages bogus claims, it > often hurts the person with a real claim who may not have the energy to go > through the process again.

I would agree not to give up and appeal if possible. I’d also point out that there is a significant difference in claims to private insurance companies, and government insurance programs. At any rate, Pete, you’ll find ways to cope with ptsd, and having to rely on others to support yourself. You made it this far. As long as you aren’t willing to give up on yourself, I believe you can take care of yourself.

Response:

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