Question for those on Disability

[Jan4you]

I have worked over 40 years, I am 61 and just got 5 diagnoses in 1 year.

I have a rare kidney disease ..autonomic and Sicca syndrome diagnosed last year and Epilepsy and MS this Year. I am on work disabililty and not sure I could ever work again.

My complex partials involve my work mistakes and my simple partial seizures involve getting lost while driving and seeing cars merge in front of me on the freeway (I a not allow to drive now) Also time is distorted and I have missed appts for work.

As a therapist I messed what patients have said; wrote the wrong things or missed billing the right person as I aimlessly continue to look as if I am listening or writing so no one would know I am "gone" for seconds or more.

Now as a Hospice social worker I can no longer keep my job as I am on an indefinite driving restriction from my neurologist. I agree. So since I can not drive they can terminate my position.

I told my neurologist that I cannot ever work for anyone because I make mistakes doing my job and its unethical and unproductive. If I didn't have someone looking over my work, I would not even know I was making so many mistakes..thats if they catch it all. I space out while on the phone..or write randomly the wrong dates or bill the wrong person. But more importantly I miss what people are telling me. Co workers think I am just not paying attention and have called me on it.

So.. my question is: is this groundsf for SSDI? How do I get my doctors to cooperate? I will be seeing a new epileptologist as meds are a problem for me with my kidney and autonomic problems.

How will I ever know complex partial seizures are controlled?? I can tell if simple partial seizures are..but not if Complex partials as no one SEES them..including ME!!

Any idea?? I am worn out with all these diseases, esp the MS right now.

Jan

[Zoofemme]

Oh Jan, how frustrated you must be If you do a search on disability you will see a number of discussion threads on the subject. I should think with all of your illnesses you wuold qualify but the big thing would be getting your doctors onboard. SOme of them may be callously looking at your age as a factor and figuring you will be on SS in a few yrs anyway so what difference does it make. THe other thing is getting a good SS lawyer to get you thru the process.

[Jan4you]

Actually its ME that wants to be on disability.. maybe "volunteer" later..but this is just getting so hard for me after 20+ years of trying to work with all these symptoms.

My neurologist thinks I will be at work and I tried to tell him, how will I know if my complex partial seizures are controlled..and what if they start up again and I make mistakes..I could never forgive myself as a professional. Or..any job..making unknown mistakes. Its not like I wander around aimlessly and people can SEE I am "not right"..I appear ok..doing my job while I make mistake after mistake.

You cannot get a disability lawyer until they deny you the 1st time. Believe me I will get one. I need to convince these docs its the best thing to do.

AND my lumbar spinal stenosis is acting up again after 2 plus months of relief from the epidural shots. I knew they didnt' last long..but 2 months? And I have cervical stenosis that is causing me some neck pain and headaches. They wanted to watch and see with that one as my range of motion is still good. They would conservativly treat it with steroids at first too.

Thanks for your response though.

I just wanted to know how to prepare docs to continue my disability in this case esp the new ones who will eventually replace my present neurologist.
He just put down 9months now which places me in Perm disability for now with my job.
Jan

[JRuner]

Disability can be a big uphill fight but one you can win. After you are denied the first time, find a lawyer and or social security advocate. I fought for two and a half years through major depression and PTSD missing bones in my right arm while doing heavy labor that was causing more damage to my body because that was the job that fed my family. I was even a considered a disabled child due to scoliosis and deformed right arm and brain damage, but had to reprove that in court while getting epidurals for spinal cord cysts that affected my legs. I was denied twice went to court with all my own medical records a social worker a counselor plus many contradictory doctors statements.

The best thing is getting in front of the judge, if you have to go that far and being very, very honest about your feelings of emotional stress and physical limitations to working. A company named NOLO makes some good books about disability issues for general information most library's have them or can get them for you. Keep every paper you get supporting you about how your health limits your ability to work and make copies, in my case I proved much of what I submitted was thrown out because I had time stamped copies of it. The judge even said I should have never been denied on my first appeal!

Hang in there!

John Runer

John Runer

[Jan4you]

Disability can be a big uphill fight but one you can win. After you are denied the first time, find a lawyer and or social security advocate. I fought for two and a half years through major depression and PTSD missing bones in my right arm while doing heavy labor that was causing more damage to my body because that was the job that fed my family. I was even a considered a disabled child due to scoliosis and deformed right arm and brain damage, but had to reprove that in court while getting epidurals for spinal cord cysts that affected my legs. I was denied twice went to court with all my own medical records a social worker a counselor plus many contradictory doctors statements.

The best thing is getting in front of the judge, if you have to go that far and being very, very honest about your feelings of emotional stress and physical limitations to working. A company named NOLO makes some good books about disability issues for general information most library's have them or can get them for you. Keep every paper you get supporting you about how your health limits your ability to work and make copies, in my case I proved much of what I submitted was thrown out because I had time stamped copies of it. The judge even said I should have never been denied on my first appeal!

Hang in there!

John Runer

John Runer

thanks John for your response and I am so sorry for all you have to endure.

What I learned when my husband was denied 4 x and for completing the forms for my clients..the attorney told me its a formula and how the "other side" is "encouraged" to disqualify you..unless..its life threatening and you are over 50 some years I remember him saying. I am 61 and near Medicare age so I stand a better chance.

Also ANYTHING that you can take a pill for..they will deny you. NO matter how poorly you are doing. They need more than one provider to say you CAN NO LONGER CAN WORK!!

[Jan4you]

thanks John for your response and I am so sorry for all you have to endure.

What I learned when my husband was denied 4 x and for completing the forms for my clients..the attorney told me its a formula and how the "other side" is "encouraged" to disqualify you..unless..its life threatening and you are over 50 some years I remember him saying. I am 61 and near Medicare age so I stand a better chance.

Also ANYTHING that you can take a pill for..they will deny you. NO matter how poorly you are doing. They need more than one provider to say you CAN NO LONGER CAN WORK!!

I thought I added this but how do you get the doctors to listen and know that its too stressful and difficult with 5 disorders all playing off of each other that makes it difficult to work?

Jan

[Zoofemme]

Well, we've been on the subject a lot and I apologize for bringing it up again but you may need to bring in a psychologist/ therapist to bring home to the others just how stressful it is on you. There is a mental aspect to all of your illnesses as well as the physiological ones. Sometimes the specialist doctors just focus on their "specialties" and forget about all fo the rest.