My Letter To Senator Sanders

Dear Senator Sanders, I have contacted your office about this problem and I believe the nice woman who helped me was Diane Ireland. I am literally the shining example of what's wrong with profit-based health care. After 2 ulcers landed me in FAHC's ER, they found what they called Tumors. I got 4 opinions and all said that without tumor excision surgery, I would die. I had the surgery. Not only were the Tumors not cancerous, but they effectively ruined my GI Tract. Now there Is so much scar tissue in my GI Tract that eating is painful and difficult. 2 years ago (The surgery was in 2003), a Dr. Willis GI MD here at FAHC did a barium study and an upper and lower GI series and said he saw "Some minor irritation but it looks fine to me!" Things worsened. Pain, weight loss, you name it. Finally I decided to go to Cleveland Clinic to get another hospitals opinion. When they saw the pictures taken from the barium study 2 years earlier, they were shocked. I had a nearly completely blocked pyloric valve which a simple upper GI with an inflated balloon fixed. Dr. Shay at Cleveland Clinic, showing me the pictures FAHC took two years earlier not only showed the blocked valve, but very clearly missed it! Impossible because that is what the test measures. What Dr. Shay also did not understand was how an upper GI could be done here at FAHC without them literally running into the blocked valve. Seems all was not fine. For two years I begged FAHC to help, their response was " What do you want me to do?" Cleveland said that there was no way the valve blockage could've been missed on the two tests at FAHC, yet they were. After my original surgery. I was left fending for myself. Couldn't eat, intractable nausea, vomiting, a bacterial overgrowth, pelvic floor dysynergia, Visceral Hypersensitivity, recurrent pancreatitis. Was at 99 lbs 3 months post op (2003 FAHC surgery), puking blood and was basically told I would die and was literally thrown at Dartmouth. Had to wait 39 days but got there. When I arrived, a Dr. Lacy GI MD informed me that " I've read your chart Paul, took me all weekend! You are just a series of horrifying medical mistakes!" He then asked if I had ever smoked pot. I said yes on occasion as years earlier my PCP had said it might help. Now I am a Biochemist, one who worked for Wyeth. I had never even heard of Marinol (aka Dronabinol). Well, Dr. Lacy put me on this Marinol (basically THC pills). It was a miracle. Within one day my nausea was gone, within a week, I was eating again, and within a month I was back to my optimum weight. Seems I wasn't going to die. The only hitch was that I would have to take it for life. For 7 years, approved my Medicare no problem. Suddenly, this past March, Medicare began suddenly denying to pay simply because my condition wasn't "listed" on the Compendia they use to determine coverage. In fact, it was. I went to the Med Library myself. Found "Post Operative Treatment and Prophylaxis" with no time limits or other restrictions. Well, at the Medicare hearing, where interestingly the judge AND Medicare reps were only there by phone. Obviously they couldn't face me. Well my appeal was denied. How? They said there was a disclaimer but I could never find any. They were using the judge's ignorance against me. Now 4 months had passed. Once again, I was about 99 lbs, All the same as before. My Dr.'s got me on the VT Medical Marijuana Registry but finding a caregiver was impossible. Also, under the tight laws of smoked pot for Rx, I couldn't get enough to match what I was on. By August, after the surgery in Cleveland, I was so bad I did nearly die. I contacted your office and worked with Diane, the Health Care Ombudsman, anyone who would listen. Medicaid at first simply parroted what Medicare said. Then, after your office, Legal Aid/HCO and finally a Dr. Farber (the states Medical Director) was contacted, The HCO called 4 months ago to say Medicaid WOULD pay. I thought my problems were finally over and began recuperating nicely. That approval was for 4 months but with all that had happened, it was assumed they would keep covering it. This past week that approval expired and I found out today that come Monday, I will no longer be covered. It was a shock. Right before Christmas they are going to try to kill me again out of simple greed? No. I contacted your office today, the HCO is on the case but it could take weeks to resolve. In those weeks I will be violently Ill. You see, the ONLY alternative nausea medicines that exist (called 5HT3 Antagonists), gave me seizures! One of which has now broken my spine in 5 places. Obviously, I cannot take them. I write to you as someone who knows you (Your Neighbour, Stephen Goldberg, uses me in many of his plays. Many you have come to see!); but also just so that, if something should happen as a result of this action to me, I thought you should know. And when we thought we had resolved the issue M. Ireland told me to inform her if anything further occurred. I offer my medical records, my own voice, whatever may help here. People, when they hear this say "THEY CAN'T DO THAT" Well, obviously they can and Do and are. If you can help, I am literally begging for my life here, please help me. I don't want to die of Greed. But if I do; use my story. I think it shows what you want people to see. Also, how does FAHC come to monopolise Burlington? Under your proposed Public Option that wouldn't bother me, but everyone tells me to Sue (even some at FAHC), but where would I receive care if I did? Sorry this was so long but I had to tell it. If only it helps in the future for you to have a real case and all the required documentation. Again my medical records are already open to your office. Use them. Thank you so much. I admire you a great deal (I voted for you when you were first elected here!) and I know you can use this to help explain that the insurance companies have already taken over and profit-based health care is a crime! Any help you could offer would be heartfelt appreciated. Thanks again. Sincerely, Paul J Soychak http://paulsoychak.com/ Paul@paulsoychak.com 8024974109 8884705852 174 Maple Street #8 Burlington, VT 05401-4633