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Carole - 24 Apr 2005 01:25 GMT

I just got a letter from SS that I have a telephone interview on May
2nd. They sent me a list of things I needed to have available when I
talked to them. Is there anything else I need to know to be prepared
for this? I would really rather have had an in person interview...is
this something new that they do?

Thanks,
Carole

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Jo Firey - 24 Apr 2005 01:35 GMT

>I just got a letter from SS that I have a telephone interview on May 2nd.
>They sent me a list of things I needed to have available when I talked to
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> Thanks,
> Carole

I never had an interview at all. I believe they did talk to Charlie on the
phone once. Just don't be overly optimistic about what you could do or
might be able to do etc.

If it now takes you three hours to finish something you once could have done
in twenty minutes, say so. If you find it difficult to start or to complete
tasks they need to know that too.

If you are uncomfortable going out alone or being out alone now they need to
know that too.
Jo

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Carole - 24 Apr 2005 07:25 GMT

>>I just got a letter from SS that I have a telephone interview on May 2nd.
>>They sent me a list of things I needed to have available when I talked to
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
> know that too.
> Jo

Thanks Jo. It definitely takes me longer to do things now. I have to
make meals in sections as I can't stand for more than a few minutes to
cook something. I also now have a stool in the kitchen and a chair in my
bathroom as once I take a shower I have to sit for five minutes to catch
my breath before I can think about brushing my teeth or drying my hair.
I also have a problem completing projects, and have to divide them into
a lot of smaller projects. I guess that's the kind of things they want
to know.

Hugs,
Carole

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d'huit - 24 Apr 2005 03:44 GMT

they did the phone interview thing with butch, too, about 3 or 4 years ago,
sweetie, so it's nothing new. when nervous on the phone, pause and breathe
in, breathe out. these are generally very simple and relatively short
interviews on the phone.

if you don't know the answer to something or the particulars, refer them to
your cardiologist, don't guess at or assume anything for an answer.
(sometimes, our memories under the stressfulness of illness and the
traumatization of adjusting to it, is not up to its usual standards of
acuracy and that's normal for these situations.) also remember that some of
the answers your doctors have given you in the past are apt to change and
are very dependent upon a host of things, so let the doctors do the
answering of medical questions. as jo suggested, you just tell them the
very specific particulars about how you, your life (mental, physical and
emotional) and lifestyle has been affected.

good luck, sweetie. i'll be pulling for you, lighting a candle and saying
prayers of support for you.

kate

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Carole - 24 Apr 2005 07:29 GMT

>>I just got a letter from SS that I have a telephone interview on May 2nd.
>>They sent me a list of things I needed to have available when I talked to
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> in, breathe out. these are generally very simple and relatively short
> interviews on the phone.

Thanks, Kate. I do have to do that anyway because of the shortness of
breath I have now.

> if you don't know the answer to something or the particulars, refer them to
> your cardiologist, don't guess at or assume anything for an answer.
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> very specific particulars about how you, your life (mental, physical and
> emotional) and lifestyle has been affected.

I'll definitely leave the medical stuff to my cardiologist as I have a
hard time pronouncing some of the things I have! And I'm sure they'll
want copies of my tests so they'll have to get those from him. On my
last set of papers for my job, he wrote "no physical activity, no
employment". Then there was another question that asked if I could do
any other job (other than my own job) and he answered "No, definitely
not". So I'm in good hands :)

> good luck, sweetie. i'll be pulling for you, lighting a candle and saying
> prayers of support for you.
>
> kate

Thanks Kate. I hope someday we can get together for lunch or coffee (I
have to have decaf now, but I'm learning to like it :)

Hugs,
Carole

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d'huit - 24 Apr 2005 16:05 GMT

>>>I just got a letter from SS that I have a telephone interview on May 2nd.
>>>They sent me a list of things I needed to have available when I talked to
[quoted text clipped - 42 lines]
> Hugs,
> Carole

you'll do fine, sweetie. i have my annual physical tomorrow. but for
after that's out of my way, let's make plans to meet, ok? i've finally got
wheels that i don't have to keep close to home now.LOL as for decaf, my
body hasn't tolerated caffeinated coffee well for decades. that's why i
drink "why bothers".<smile>

kate

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Carole - 24 Apr 2005 18:38 GMT

> you'll do fine, sweetie. i have my annual physical tomorrow. but for
> after that's out of my way, let's make plans to meet, ok? i've finally got
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>
> kate

Sounds good :) And yes, I have to do the "why bothers" also because I
can't have any stimulants. But it's OK, I'm getting used to it :-)

Hugsies,
Carole

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firechief - 24 Apr 2005 05:27 GMT

> I just got a letter from SS that I have a telephone interview
> on May 2nd. They sent me a list of things I needed to have
> available when I talked to them. Is there anything else I
> need to know to be prepared for this? I would really rather
> have had an in person interview...is this something new
> that they do?

Do not bring up things you can do that are not on your work
record. Do not over-emphasis anything you've done in the
past. Forget that you were president of the ladies' garden
club (shows leadership abilities), and similar activities.

Bring out the negative issues in your life - physical, mental
and emotional. You can't be on your feet more than x number
of minutes. A doctor in 1979 limited me to 25% of the time
standing and gave me a 20 pound lifting/carrying restriction
(later reduced to 10 pounds).

... Chaos (n): Confusion; disorder. See also American Government

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Carole - 24 Apr 2005 07:32 GMT

>>I just got a letter from SS that I have a telephone interview
>>on May 2nd. They sent me a list of things I needed to have
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> past. Forget that you were president of the ladies' garden
> club (shows leadership abilities), and similar activities.

I wish I could do the things I used to be able to do. The other day I
got an email from a school where I had applied for a job last year. They
wanted me to apply again for this year as they had an opening, but there
is no way I could handle a group of high school kids now. My energy
levels are way too low.

> Bring out the negative issues in your life - physical, mental
> and emotional. You can't be on your feet more than x number
> of minutes. A doctor in 1979 limited me to 25% of the time
> standing and gave me a 20 pound lifting/carrying restriction
> (later reduced to 10 pounds).

Thanks, Firechief. I think I'll start making a list with all of the
suggestions you guys are giving me so I can remember all of this when
I'm on the phone.

Hugs,
Carole :)

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