I received a list of jobs in the national market that I can do. ranging from tanning salon attendant to alarm investigator.
However, my chronic fatigue along with my fibro...I cant do any work. If i last one day I will pay for it with severe fatigue.
Do you ever feel like telling the doctor all your issues is pointless since they cannot help? I am now having anxiety over my situation. I have 6 months of benefits left and no chance of my SS being done by then. Our country has such a huge problem with this process.
I do feel it is pointless at times to tell the docs. everything that is wrong! they look at me like i'm crazy most times exp. since i'm 26! i'm a supervisor in retail and it is tough work for sure! some days i don't know if i'll make it through but i always do, my fatigue sucks to say the least but i MAKE myself get up, get dressed and put my makeup on. it actually helps overall i think because it makes you feel better about your self at times :).....i also have anxiety too but with three small kids to take care of i have no choice but to push through no matter the pain i'm in and how tired i feel!
I was one of the lucky ones. I had watched the attorney closely when I went through the process with my son. Didn't have any idea I'd be going through the process a few short years later.
I knew I was going to apply, but it was way too big for me. I decided to start taking my own notes and logging them in to my word program. I talked about silly things, like when you go to the grocery store with a list, you study an item for minutes, you take it home and it's not what you wanted at all! I talked about all of the commonly knows symptoms of fibromyalgia. If you can't think of all of them, look them up and list the ones that effect you. If you have a secondary illness do the same for it. I have anxiety quite bad. I had just done a very long test at my psychologist office which shows me to have ptsd and anxiety, both pretty significantly. So I added notes in my log about how anxiety effects me.
To make a long story short, I qualified the first try. I had never heard of that happening before, so I was very pleased. I really think it was because I took time (when my mind allowed me to) to just scribble things down in my log. Talk to your doctors, make sure that they are doing thorough chart notes. Ask for a copy of your chart notes, not just your "after vist summary", but the actual chart note. You may have to wait for it to be mailed to you. If you think your doc left something out let him/her know. Communicate. If you have a doc that is a rotten communicator, add that to your little log. You might even remember an odd thing that happened a few years ago...add that to your log. Then when you're ready to send the paper work in send copies of all your personal logs along with chart notes. My stuff was such a mess I couldn't believe my application went so well. BTW, I did my app over the phone and it was painless. I still had to send paperwork in and supplied names and address' of all of my providers. After all the agony and worry, I couldn't believe how relieved I was when the application process was over. I was sure I'd have to go through it again. But, I didn't.
Best wishes to you, Lyra. I hope it works out well for you. I know it seems impossible and hopeless at times, but don't let it get the best of you. It's hard, but stay proactive! You are your best advocate. Since our brains are like sieves it's important to write stuff down when you think of it.
The other best choice is to get an attorney. In Oregon they don't charge you anything unless you win your case and then it's just a portion. It was well worth it for my son. I would have used one for myself had I not been successful.
Hi Heather3. Do tell your doc's everything. I'm sorry you are going through this at your young age. I admire you for maintaining your career. I agree with you about getting up and getting ready for your day. Make up is important to me. Not because I look as beautiful anymore (55 y.o.) but because it feels like I'm presenting the best me.
The notes your doctor takes now will help you in the future if you ever decide that you need to apply for SS. That's why I might suggest telling all. It's up to you, of course. If it hadn't been for my blabber mouth and making my doctors listen to it all my notes may not have been thorough enough to get the good results that I did.
Kudos to you Heather. You are doing the most important job on earth raising those beautiful kids. Don't lose heart. You hang in there and do your best.
L- kitty , thank you for this info, it’s all great advice !! Am I understanding you right, that you got approved without an attorney & the first try ??? WOW !!
What a great idea to include your own personal notes, & when you requested dr’s notes was that at the time of the visit or when you applied ? How far back do you have to go for notes, ex… I was having treatment on my neck back in 2010… But not so much now? Do I get those records ?
Thank you for this encouragement, it’s so nice to know it can work out.
Hugs & blessings
dee
HI Lyra - I am kind of going through the same thing. Every year, in February, I have to reapply for my benefits. Because I was so sick at the time I needed to reapply - I did it online and so far, I have had NO response. The deadline was February 15th. I am a nervous wreck about this too. If it didn't go through - then I will have to reapply and start all over again. It could take several months. My SSI is fine - but this is my food account and medical insurance.
Have you already applied for SS and just waiting for it to go through? Do you have a Disability Advocate? They will help you get through all the red tape and not have to wait long for the benefits to come through. Yes, obviously, you can't work, it's too much for you. I had to retire about 7 years ago - just couldn't do it anymore. the fatigue was overwhelming. Laurie
Yes Dee, first try. Personally, I got notes from every doctor I could think of, and for as far back as could. It was a huge job for someone with fms and cf. But, I believe the length of time that medical professionals are required to keep your records is 10 years. That is why it's important to keep your own chart notes at home. You may not always have access to something you need for some unknown reason down the line.
Yes, include everything. Neck treatments, all of it. I have trouble with meds. I'm super sensative to many. I wrote down every drug, what doc prescribed it, when it was prescribed, how long I tried to use it, and why it did or did not work. It wasn't easy, btw. Didn't seem to pertain, but I sent it in.
I was told that if anxiety is a secondary condition you are more likely to qualify for anxiety than fibromyalgia or cfs or ddd.