It has been a while but I am still around. I just popped in to say hello. I am thinking about trying for a disability retirement this month. The paperwork has been started and I have consulted a few people. My doctor is on board. I have been working a labor intensive job for 15 years with stage 4 PCa. My knees are shot. My shoulders are shot. Every day gets harder and harder to get out of bed and come down to this $&!? Hole. Wish me luck. I have talked to a financial advisor. He thinks I will be okay as long as I get SSDI. If not I am screwed. Talked to a Lawer who seems to think I will get Disability so that is good I suppose. We sold our house in a lake community October last and bought a home on 6 acres with a creek. I will not have a shortage of things to keep me occupied. Anyway. Hope all is well. Todd
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Todd1963
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Hello! So nice to see your update here! I was thinking about you recently and looked at your most recent blog post. Ever since my husband was diagnosed you've been a source of comfort and inspiration for me. I know that's true for many, many people. I could never express just how much following your story has helped me. I'm truly grateful. I hope your retirement and disability application. You deserve a break! My very best to you. <3
I too have those special men on here, that keepme sane. Course every man in here is a hero as far as I’m concerned . I’ve often wondered how you can have such deep feelings for people you’ve never met and wish only the best for them. But that’s me I come on here to check on the special ones and make sure they’re fine. I know most of them have spouses and family
But I can never thank them for what they did for a wife they never met and the encouragement they gave me. My husband is doing well on his medicine and For that I’m grateful. ❤️
My pain Doctor decided I was unfit for work and had Hospital Lawyer sit in and then arrange everything with Social services, I used to work for a Bank so I also took early retirement on medical grounds. I own a company with my Wife and changed status to be non paid board member and she still runs the business, I'm 57, it's not huge amount of money but plenty enough for my needs.
It's been 8 months now, taking it easy and enjoying my time with my Sons, eldest was 12 today, they and my Wife keep me going, last couple of months I'm starting to find everyday has become even more of a struggle with pain, I'm not moving around as much and not eating much these days.
Wow, I've been following your story and am shocked to learn you've been working until rather recently. I was out of work for 9 months initially, returned for 6, and now I've been out another full year and don't expect to make it back (though it would be nice, because that would imply a spectacular remission). I was lucky and signed up for disability insurance when I started my current job 20 years ago. I'm only applying for SSDI now, and the pandemic seems to be making that difficult. So hard to get a hold of people on the phone.
I suspect we are the same age ( born 1963). I took early retirement when I was diagnosed in July 2018 and I don't regret it at all. I qualified for a disability pension and, even though my income dropped, I am getting enough to live on. I have enjoyed the last 2.5 years puttering on my acreage. I no longer have stress from work. I have time to spend with family and friends. I have time to focus on healthy eating, getting exercise, relaxing etc. I hope your retirement works out as well as mine has.
I am working on the same application. I retired on December 31. My oncologist is on board so I hope it goes well. I do not have a SS lawyer and hope to complete the paperwork myself.
I was wondering if your handle had something to do with Pinot noir. I am a huge fan of anything will laminate but have found a new favorite Vinyard. If you are into wine check out knocking point winery with an N not with a K they are in Walla Walla Washington and I highly recommend the origins Pinot noir. I also recommend reasons for read $&@“ cancer. It is mighty tasty and it has a very smooth finish
Noirhole was a play on words when I set up an email I knew I would be getting a lot of spam so Black Hole sounded appropriate. As for the skull and cross bone avatar. I am an over 40 year old pirate who is 200 years to late.😇. I do like a good glass of wine and a fine bourbon occasionally.
Todd, I don’t know if you can find a post on here that I wrote, but it was about the day we learned of my husbands diagnosis. For the next two weeks I hardly slept or ate, crying every night. I spent hours trying to find anything that would give me hope after the Doctor said he would most likely only survive 5 years. Somehow, I found your story. You had a similar PSA of my husband, 3200. Your story gave me so much hope. I was hoping I would somehow have the chance to thank you, and let you know how much you meant to us. I hope you see this to let you know how you have touched our lives. Wishing you the best!
I am humbled. It’s not easy to share a story like mine but I just feel that maybe it will help one person or two people down the road and so my life is an open book. Thank you For sharing this with me you will never know how much it means to me. Much love and prayers to you and your husband Todd
In my experience SSA doesn't consider Prostate Cancer a disability unless there's metastasis to "visceral" organs such as Lung, Liver etc. I was diagnosed in 2019 with advanced PCA with Bone, Bone Marrow, AND Lung Mets , as well as lymph node involvement, I continued working for another year or so, but like you was in constant pain, ( spine , hip, knee, wrist and two NUMB FEET). I applied, got a lawyer and provided all medical history. After months of back and forth ssa wants to send me to "THEIR" Doctors for evaluation. I explained to my adjudicator that until I have been Vaxed for the Covid, I'd rather not travel into the city where covid is rampant. According to their "Blue Book", If cancer is Metastatic (viscerally) at time of diagnosis , approvals are automatic. Not the case with me as my latest scans show that I'm responding to the ADT Therapy and mets is diminishing. Which is great news. However, even though mets doesn't present in scans, the pain and shortness of breath haven't changed. In the end, I told the Ajuticator to roll with what we have, as they didn't offer an EMG evaluation for the Nerve Damage and Cord Compression. So I keep my fingers crossed. Good luck with your claim. GET A LAWYER.
Good luck with all of it. You will surely qualify for your disability though may not get much respite from days of work on your new home and acreage. Dial down a bit and enjoy every day.
Hope you guys have better luck than me with the SSDI. I too retired so I m ok but not quite living he way I am accustomed. My initial claim was rejected in March and then so was my appeal. My attorney says not to expect to go before administrative judge before December 2021. Apparently I am not dead enough yet.😀
We are loving it here. There is a ton of work needed to clean up the property but we just walked down to the creek. I think when the rain stops long enough for the trail to dry it will be amazing
Let's hope the "social security gods" are getting drunk on that "origins Pinot noir" you recommended. If not then invite them for a quick dunk in your creek. Just remember what a wife says when her husband retires "Honey I married you for better or worse, but not for lunch"....Good Luck with the SSA group, they think and speak governmentese....
I haven't read the $&@“ cancer book but am writing my own, it's title will be "May cancer get cancer"......................
Love your book title. Someday I hope to write one as well. It will be titled “stage 4 a story of hope” As far as the not for lunch thing your gonna have to spell that out to me because it went right over my head
Todd, I too have read your inspiring story but don't remember the details. This linked piece might be of some help. I've been told by others who are usually well informed that a metastatic prostate cancer diagnosis may qualify you for benefits immediately.
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Something people wont say.
Hello, I'm new to this site
Oncologists know but never say
Hello from down under 
Just an update on my insufficiency fracture of the head of the right femur
