Wellness

[LilacTree]

My second oldest daughter has been plagued with Lyme for half her life. It would come and go, she would get treated with doxycycline and be okay for a while, then the Lyme would resurface. The last two years, nothing has worked. She has "chronic Lyme Disease," a disease the CDC, the AMA, and most doctors deny exists. She is very ill, has not been able to work since early this past year, and is at the point of giving up on life. I will not go into what she has been put through by the medical profession and the insurance company, except to say they have completely demoralized her.

She finally went to an attorney to enlist his help in getting SS Disability, since she is unable to work. Once she said she had Lyme, he lectured and belittled her for two hours on "going to quacks," and insisted she was suffering from depression, that there is no such thing as chronic Lyme, something she has heard time and time again. She said she cried during the whole "interview" (which surprises me, as she never cries). However, she did leave him her file and signed a contract with him just to get out of the place. Also not like her.

I suggested she call and get her file back and try to find another, more empathetic attorney. She called his office the next day and told them she would be coming by for her file and not planning to work with this attorney. He then got on the phone and literally kissed her butt for 30 minutes, saying she "took him wrong, he was just trying to help," etc. She told him she doesn't need an attorney who doesn't believe she is ill, that she's had enough of that for two years. However, she decided to try him out after all after he made a lot of promises, including that he doesn't get paid unless she is successful in getting SSD. I don't trust him, but she's a grown woman and that is her decision for now.

She still plans to see a Lyme specialist in January and is hoping for a treatment that will help her. My daughter has aged ten years in the last two, and it breaks my heart all that she is going through.

Has anyone been through this SSD experience or know someone who has been successful in getting SSD? We know that Social Security will do everything they can to deny these benefits. My daughter worked for over 30 years, she is not a slacker by any means, she just has an illness that is not recognized by the medical community. By the way, she was diagnosed with Lyme, but by doctors who are not recognized and could actually lose their licenses as MDs if they are discovered treating "chronic" Lyme Disease. It's pretty unbelievable.

[shwarma]

Good luck.

[RedTop]

Ford, I no longer believe Social Security does everything they can to deny benefits, but have seen thru 4 members of my family that the process is much easier when there is an extensive medical history, prior to filing. It took my Dad five years to get his SSD with an attorney. Dad had surgery for colon cancer, which turned very complex, and caused another condition he was not being treated for, to worsen. Therefore, he had to build a medical record on that condition, which took years of doctor visits and testing. My Dads condition was quite visible, and every doctor he was sent to thought it was ridiculous he had not been approved for benefits yet, but with their help, Dad built a strong medical record of his physical condition, and received full benefits. My husband has been receiving his medical care thru the VA system for 14 years, and has an extensive record of his health issues. We applied for his SSD online, and had a letter of approval before 30 days, since all the documentation they needed was in the VA files. My brother sustained a major farm injury several years ago that nearly killed him, but during testing, doctors found a cancerous tumor that would never have been found without the extensive testing from the accident. The tumor was removed in an early stage, and the prognosis is good. My brother applied for SSD 18 months into this ordeal, and was approved for benefits within 30 days as well. I strongly feel that a clear medical history is the key, and if that exists, I do not see the need for an attorney. My best wishes to your daughter with her health issue, and this application for benefits.

[LilacTree]

On 12/20/2014 RedTop said: Ford, I no longer believe Social Security does everything they can to deny benefits, but have seen thru 4 members of my family that the process is much easier when there is an extensive medical history, prior to filing. It took my Dad five years to get his SSD with an attorney. Dad had surgery for colon cancer, which turned very complex, and caused another condition he was not being treated for, to worsen. Therefore, he had to build a medical record on that condition, which took years of doctor visits and testing. My Dads condition was quite visible, and every doctor he was sent to thought it was ridiculous he had not been approved for benefits yet, but with their help, Dad built a strong medical record of his physical condition, and received full benefits. My husband has been receiving his medical care thru the VA system for 14 years, and has an extensive record of his health issues. We applied for his SSD online, and had a letter of approval before 30 days, since all the documentation they needed was in the VA files. My brother sustained a major farm injury several years ago that nearly killed him, but during testing, doctors found a cancerous tumor that would never have been found without the extensive testing from the accident. The tumor was removed in an early stage, and the prognosis is good. My brother applied for SSD 18 months into this ordeal, and was approved for benefits within 30 days as well. I strongly feel that a clear medical history is the key, and if that exists, I do not see the need for an attorney. My best wishes to your daughter with her health issue, and this application for benefits.

Thank you Red Top. My daughter's file is almost two inches thick of tests, CT scans, MRIs, bloodwork from at least four different labs, including the one that finally diagnosed her with chronic Lyme Disease. Plus how she looks, which is dreadful. If that isn't enough, then she goes without and we, as a family, will help support her (as I have already been doing to the best of my ability). I don't have much faith in this attorney, as I said, but perhaps he's good in court and will try hard to get paid.

I have often said that unless one has one of the top five diseases, their chances of getting good medical treatment is low. If a doctor does not know how to treat a disease (as in the case of chronic Lyme) it's much easier for them to say it doesn't exist, particularly when the CDC does not recognize it.

Thanks again.

[betteb]

This is what the CDC now says about Post Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome.

http://www.cdc.gov/lyme/postLDS/

This pretty clearly says it is a recognized illness. Maybe referring to it by it's clinical name would help when dealing with doctors, lawyers and SS.

[Jova]

Yes, I have been through it from start to finish with a family member and 2 friends are on it. There must be a history of a chronic mental or physical condition that will not allow you to work ever again, and it has to be documented very carefully. Physicians opinions will way very strongly in your case, and it has to be shown that your daughter has tried repeatedly to hold a job and cannot due to her illness. You also need to show the secondary effects the illness has caused. I.E. If someone is on very heavy medication and cannot function well on a daily basis, it needs to be documented.

Keep in mind, the income from SSDI or SSI is not usually enough to live on by yourself.

She needs a tough lawyer who believes she is really ill, and someone like you to advocate for her with her doctors and through the paperwork. Make sure she sees well-respected physicians that are experts in their field or at least have a very strong knowledge of how the disease limits your daughters ability to work.

This may be a very tough case, but hopefully your daughter can win.

[LilacTree]

On 12/20/2014 Jova said:

Yes, I have been through it from start to finish with a family member and 2 friends are on it. There must be a history of a chronic mental or physical condition that will not allow you to work ever again, and it has to be documented very carefully. Physicians opinions will way very strongly in your case, and it has to be shown that your daughter has tried repeatedly to hold a job and cannot due to her illness. You also need to show the secondary effects the illness has caused. I.E. If someone is on very heavy medication and cannot function well on a daily basis, it needs to be documented.

Keep in mind, the income from SSDI or SSI is not usually enough to live on by yourself, and your daughter won't be able to work even part time ever again.

She needs a tough lawyer who believes she is really ill, and someone like you to advocate for her with her doctors and through the paperwork. Make sure she sees well-respected physicians that are experts in their field or at least have a very strong knowledge of how the disease limits your daughters ability to work.

This may be a very tough case, but hopefully your daughter can win.

Thank you Jova. I truly appreciate your pragmatic response. I know this will be a tough case and so does she. We may end up pooling our resources and buying a "commune" type house where we can all live together. We are family and she will not become a statistic . . . not as long as I am alive, and her sisters feel the same way. She doesn't deserve it, she is a sweet, loving person without a mean bone in her body.

[Kcubed]

If she has worked over 30 years, could she possibly retire? What profession was she in before her illness? Will she draw a pension when she retires? If so, that may be more money than she will get from SS.

[LilacTree]

On 12/20/2014 betteb said:

This is what the CDC now says about Post Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome.

http://www.cdc.gov/lyme/postLDS/

This pretty clearly says it is a recognized illness. Maybe referring to it by it's clinical name would help when dealing with doctors, lawyers and SS.

Thank you, betteb. I believe she is aware of this article, and the name that the CDC is now calling it. However, I think they are still researching a "vaccine" rather than a "cure," and obviously a vaccine is too late for her. I did forward this to her today though. Thank you again. Everything helps.

[Jova]

Your daughter may get a decent amount of money from SSDI monthly since she did work 30 years. The fact that she has worked so many years may be viewed very favorably. Even if you do get denied the first time, fight it. That is how I helped a family member win SSDI, we didn't give up because we knew they could absolutely could never work again.

This is a draining process, so be prepared. Be prepared to be denied and have to appeal.

Make sure all your daughter's documentation is filled out accurately.