Wellness

[YorkieonmyPillow]

Yes, thank you, ccassaday. That is what I was trying to say. There has to be documentation there and from what Ford says, there won't even be documentation of her having scripts for anti-depressants.

Anyway, I do hope everything straightens out for your girl and she gets some relief. You must worry about her a lot.

[LilacTree]

On 12/23/2014 YorkieonmyPillow said:

Yes, thank you, ccassaday. That is what I was trying to say. There has to be documentation there and from what Ford says, there won't even be documentation of her having scripts for anti-depressants.

Anyway, I do hope everything straightens out for your girl and she gets some relief. You must worry about her a lot.

My daughter took three antidepressants when she was still married and there's plenty of documention on that. However, it may be too long ago to count. She stopped because they made her sicker. She has refused to take them anymore. That will probably go against her and she expects that, but she is not going to take meds that will only make her sicker.

We're going to have to hope that the Lyme doc and the naturopathic doc she has been seeing can come up with a regimen that will make her better. It looks as though everyone here agrees she doesn't stand much of a chance of getting SSDI.

Thing is, this disease, if treatment is not successful, can worsen, and she can die, especially if it's in her brain, which she believes it already is. What will they say then? She died from depression?

[60sgirl]

I'm just reading through this and I am sorry she is going through this. My neighbor had this disease and he has been ill for a long time. His wife was out cutting the grass and taking care of things because he couldn't so I know it can be devastating.

As for SSDI, all I can add is that most attorneys will ask you to get all copies of medical records, which can be costly, and they will HELP you file the application the first time. So basically, their role is nil. Then if and when it gets denied, they will offer to file the appeal. I don't believe they know any better than the patient as to how to do this, yet take a good chunk of the reward if any. Please take the time to have your daughter read carefully her entire record and highlight things from doctors that state things addressing her inability to perform daily activities or chronic debilitating fatigue, things like that. There are buzzwords SSI looks for such as chronic, debilitating, unable to perform simple tasks. you get the idea. That's what attorneys do when they read through the records. As for depression, it must be diagnosed by a qualified MD who has seen and/or treated the patient. It can't just be stated in an office visit because many patients who feel ill are depressed, but not clinically depressed by medical standards. It is a long process and as others have said the denial usually comes quickly, but the appeals process can take several attempts finally going to an Administrative Judge. Keep her busy by actively taking a role in the process. It helps to keep the mind off of the daily struggles.

[IControlMyHappiness]

I did not read all the posting but I will say the "right" lawyer is key.

My BIL had a lawyer who "knew" someone who worked in the approving/processing dept and "they"were able to get his disability, his wifes, and his daughter's disability approve and in less than 3 months.

There is a lot of FRAUD and I know understand that scams do exist and some shady lawyers do have connections in the processing offices.

[LilacTree]

On 12/24/2014 sunshine3215 said:

I did not read all the posting but I will say the "right" lawyer is key.

My BIL had a lawyer who "knew" someone who worked in the approving/processing dept and "they"were able to get his disability, his wifes, and his daughter's disability approve and in less than 3 months.

There is a lot of FRAUD and I know understand that scams do exist and some shady lawyers do have connections in the processing offices.

This particular lawyer bragged that he once worked for the SSA and "knows a lot of the judges." He thought that would be impressive, but instead it was all the more a turnoff.

[chickadee]

nvm

[beauty junkie]

I used a company called Allsup,they were wonderful. I also referred my cousin and they helped her. They will talk with you over the phone and if they accept you,you pay them if not there is no fee. The don't accept people unless the feel you have a very good chance of winning. I am so sorry your daughter is going through this. I know someone who had lyme disease so bad she tried to commit suicide. It can be a very bad disease. I have lupus,RA,fibro and stenosis in my spine and neck. It takes a while to settle but I got a large lump sum of money when it was finally done.Good luck to your daughter.

[LilacTree]

On 12/26/2014 beauty junkie said:

I used a company called Allsup,they were wonderful. I also referred my cousin and they helped her. They will talk with you over the phone and if they accept you,you pay them if not there is no fee. The don't accept people unless the feel you have a very good chance of winning. I am so sorry your daughter is going through this. I know someone who had lyme disease so bad she tried to commit suicide. It can be a very bad disease. I have lupus,RA,fibro and stenosis in my spine and neck. It takes a while to settle but I got a large lump sum of money when it was finally done.Good luck to your daughter.

She is not suing anyone, she is applying for Social Security Disability.

How does one sue for the diseases and conditions you mentioned? (I have all of them except lupus). They are diseases that people get. I'm not sure I follow you.

[goodstuff]

This whole thread makes me sad, frustrated, and a little angry. I know a 70-year old veteran who is unable to walk due to nerve injury resulting from a botched surgery by a V.A. surgeon. He has been denied for disability, and his malpractice lawsuit is still pending. He is in a wheelchair but continues to conduct his business because he is determined to support himself. His van is adapted for handicapped operation, and he works and gets around on his own. Meanwhile, thousands of Americans apply for disability -- and some get it -- for much lesser ailments and injuries. Having worked for years in a medical specialist's office, I have seen the huge percentage of patients who take antidepressants, anti-anxiety meds, sleep aids, etc. The idea that many of these people might consider themselves eligible for public support is mind-boggling. People even want to get disability payments for problems that are fixable. There's another thread on the boards from a woman hoping to get disability because she has arthritic knees -- and she says she has excellent insurance! How about knee replacement surgery?! Millions of people are working productively wiith arthritis, or have joint surgery to make them more functional!

Yes, there are people who are truly disabled and need our help and support. God bless them. However, the number of people who who want to be pronounced "disabled" with vague ailments when they are simply looking to be supported by the rest of us -- or need mental health treatment to get past their disabling anxieties or imagined illnesses -- is tragic. For them and for us.

[Suziepeach]

On 12/27/2014 GoodStuff said:

This whole thread makes me sad, frustrated, and a little angry. I know a 70-year old veteran who is unable to walk due to nerve injury resulting from a botched surgery by a V.A. surgeon. He has been denied for disability, and his malpractice lawsuit is still pending. He is in a wheelchair but continues to conduct his business because he is determined to support himself. His van is adapted for handicapped operation, and he works and gets around on his own. Meanwhile, thousands of Americans apply for disability -- and some get it -- for much lesser ailments and injuries. Having worked for years in a medical specialist's office, I have seen the huge percentage of patients who take antidepressants, anti-anxiety meds, sleep aids, etc. The idea that many of these people might consider themselves eligible for public support is mind-boggling. People even want to get disability payments for problems that are fixable. There's another thread on the boards from a woman hoping to get disability because she has arthritic knees -- and she says she has excellent insurance! How about knee replacement surgery?! Millions of people are working productively wiith arthritis, or have joint surgery to make them more functional!

Yes, there are people who are truly disabled and need our help and support. God bless them. However, the number of people who who want to be pronounced "disabled" with vague ailments when they are simply looking to be supported by the rest of us -- or need mental health treatment to get past their disabling anxieties or imagined illnesses -- is tragic. For them and for us.

Great post, GoodStuff, and thank you. I just had to speak up- I have/had an old friend that got full disability and she isn't disabled! The State of Tennessee is extremely lenient on this. Oh sure she had major surgery twice but her jobs- well she stocked cards for , sat on a stool to sell tickets at football games and worked concessions for concerts- she was told she couldn't lift- I can see that but how in the hail they did it I'll never know because I told her you are going to heal and be better but oh NO.. See, she started talking about trading their camper in and getting a new one and paying cash- hmmmm I thought.. sounded not right.. so then she dropped the bomb in my lap she was trying to get SS disability and already had her handicap tag.. HUHHHHH? Then she said she was getting 3yrs worth of pay back since her first surgery.. another HUHHHHHH? Oh I kept the email- she said, "Oh I can basically do anything I want, just what my Doctor says." I got so mad I couldn't see straight... so there ya go... oh yeah her hubby retired early, worked for VA... It wasn't like she was going back to work anyway .. he said she didn't have to work.. so she informs me she deserved it... and you see poor people that can't get any help, like our own veterans... what a darn shame and so, so unfair... How I feel has nothing to do with people with real disabilities but things have gotten too lenient.... in my opinion.. oh yeah she said she was told, "There is no job you can do." I had an answer for that $S, you didn't have to work anyway...