Congrats on getting the first time around. I also received first time around people told me I wouldn't but I had kept all paper work from doctors etc. I really think that helps, everybody out there reading this should if you are not keeping records of what is going on start now it will help in the long run.
Hug Kisses and Prayers to all.
Pat
What a horrible experience. I cannot believe people can be so mean. I was also in a psych hospital three times the first 18 months after having to leave my career. I simply could not handle all the loses. I hope you are able to get some form of therapy to address any lingering anger or fear from that awful experience. I went to many support groups until I felt stable and still go to one.
Good luck
Maria
Contests caseymommy for being approved the first time I'm sorry the way you were treated at work ive kept all my papers and the lawyer has then except fir the ambulance and the er but hell get them thanks fir all the advice he has everything he needs but ill have to wait 1 yr before the ALJ hearing before the judge and hes getting my prinarys opinion hes been treating me for 11 and my parents and grandparents my primary Dr will do what he can for me the rheumi has been treating me since Jan 2011 but if his opinion will help hell ask suzyq
I think that is what helped the case. I am a keeper of documents though and that stems from my accounting background I think. It sure helps though. Also my doctor told me a while back that I should do this in case of going to another doctor. He told me that it is my right every time I have any lab work or tests or anything to ask them for a copy. It is my body and my information so I have a right to it. why wait to ask for it only when I desperatly need it and forget what actually was tested or the result. Congrats on your approval.
I have issues that stem from abuse as a child too, so it does not help in the fact that I do not stick up for myself. I do not think though that I should have to have a verbal altercation in the work place every day though either just to feel confortable to work there. I have worked all my life until now and I have even been a Bank Manager so I do know stress. My daughters were in a head on car crash 5 years ago and it took off the face of my youngest daughter- she did survive, but she also has had to endure plastic surgery etc, talk about stress, and I held it together. My father died the year after my daughters accident and I had to have my disabled mom move in, which she still lives with my family- STRESS was my middle name. I did not fall apart I carried on, it was hard but I kept it together and had strength. Then this job started and the abuse was too much for me to endure every day. I left my career in medical billing that I just graduated from school- after going back to college to complete- in 2008. I only have had it for 3 years and then in 2011 to be disabled now. It seems as if it was for nothing. That is really a hard blow to me, but I will have to learn to carry on. Survival and trying to get out of pain is the only thing I focus on now. MOBILITY is a hard one for me too. I get wore out just going shopping for an hour to the store in a electric cart. I barely can raise myself up off the chair and two steps to my car right now. I am also not driving because of pain issues and also brain fog, too difficult right now.
HOW MUCH does this illness take from us? I told myself it was not going to win, but it seems to be the one in the lead so far.
Work history is key too. Like I said I sent in my FMLA paperwork and I also sent my review paperwork to the person handling my case. I also called and checked status quite a bit and was persistant about speaking to someone who was looking at my case. When I called I also gave them updates, like when I was admitted to the hospital since I had applied, etc. They can update the information and request that to be put in your file. It all helpsz your case. I guess it does anyways because mine was approved. I was told from the getgo from my attorney that I would be denied and I was also told from several others that I was looking at over a year before I would be approved. I proved them wrong, but I do have a few more things going on rather than just fibro. I currently have Diabetes, Fibro, Obese, Hypothyroid, Hyperparathyroid, depression, anxiety, Mobility issues, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, asthma, water retention. I could go on a little more but you get the point. I listed all that in my application. I tried to be as detail and list everything that I could think of.
I hope that your case gets settled soon. We do not deserve to have this illness and then also to have people deny us the benefits that we have worked for. I hate people who think this illness is all in our heads. Lets let them have it and tell us it is all in our head.
Gentle hugs,
Caseysmommy, congratulations!!!
I suffer workplace discrimination/harassment due to my disabilities although I get great performance reviews. I was on full disability for 6 months and almost had a nervous breakdown due to the trauma of loosing my career, being in severe pain etc. now I am part time.
I’m so relieved that you were approved and can focus on putting your health first.
Take care,
Sunny
Congrats!!
Congratulations …I myself am waiting for my approval letter anyday now.this is second time around. This time before the judge…so happy for you!
wishing you good news as well
Good for you. I also was approved on my first try in 2 1/2 months. I was also put through hell at a job I had been at for 25 years. I so wanted to cram my approval letter down my boss's throat for all the abuse and all the times he claimed I "wasn't trying hard enough" or I wasn't really sick. I am still so conflicted about the way I was fired while the coworker that set me up is still there doing damage. Plus I worked for the state and really thought things would be investigated. I have discovered that basically no one cares and that companies are pushing out older experienced workers because we generally have more money and benefits than the new ones coming in. Nothing can compare to the long term experienced worker. They should be honored and valued but right now they are not. All my documents detailed the abuse and disparate treatment I endured and these documents went through multiple agencies and managers without a reaction. I reported to multiple agencies without a response. I know I have Social Security and also was able to get Disability retirement but my pride and name was trampled while the abusers go unpunished and free. With our illnesses the struggle to right wrongs is so exhausting that it's easy to quit. But now I have my 21 year old daughter with multiple autoimmune disorders who had to leave college due to her conditions and I am taking care of her and trying to get her approved. It breaks my heart to see her dreams crashed while we try to get her stable. Damn genetics!!!
To all those applying for disability be sure to request your records from Social Security. I just finished reviewing some of daughters' forms and am outraged at how things were twisted in some of the SS departments workers forms. These are people deciding what you can and cannot do without ever seeing or talking to you. I feel she will get approved but at her age and work history they need to wait a while. If only they realized her joy for college and her future was so great that unless she absolutely could not go on anymore would she have never left college.
To all of you struggling to survive, keep fighting and never apologize for a nightmare that normal jerks will never understand and they are not worth using what little energy and strength you have to even talk to. How dare anyone ever tell us how we should feel or what we should be doing. Save that energy for the doctors that make us jump through hoops because we have some medical knowledge. I know it stinks that not only are we abused by our bodies but also our friends and families but keep fighting and stay away from anyone that is hateful and mean. We do not have room for the negative if we are to survive. Sorry so long. I'll get off my soap box now.
Congratulations!!! I so completely understand. Not only is about the much needed income but it is a wonderful affirmation that you are believed and accepted. Take care and I hope this makes a great difference in your quality of live!!
Great!
Hi..this is a late reply but I just found it. Although I read and appreciated all your other comments and info here...I must tell you that I copied/pasted your last paragraph to wordpad & printed it.
My intention is to give it to a ?-friend-? who spent at least 30 minutes giving me the 'gears' a few days ago saying that "I was not trying hard enough to get out walking/exercising-my 'world' was getting to small for HER comfort AND that I should by now have found a cure for my 'affliction".
On that particular day she wanted me to go for a 2 mile walk with her AND I was in a mega flare-up with pain, Fibro fog and soooo dizzy.
I am still furious with her attitude because I've tried very hard to 'educate' her regarding this affliction of ours for months.
There...got it off my chest!
Thank you for writing that paragraph so succinctly.
Blessings to you,
Geranium
Wow, that's phenomenal, Casey's mom! I'm in shock but in a really good way. I'm hoping this means that others waiting will have an easier time at being approved. And for you, CONGRATULATIONS!!!! Do you mind telling us how long of a process it was for you?
I am sooo happy for you. I am going for a psychological examination next week for mine. Did you have to do this also. I am so stressed out about it that i haven't been able to sleep and have been in more pain because of it. I don't know if this is a good or bad thing. I have been waiting since last September for an answer. My Docs are all behind me and have filled out forms for me. I am only 45, but most days I feel much older. I am so happy to hear that you are now in a better place with it all.