Fibromyalgia and SS Disability

I have severe Fibromyalgia (not controlled, really rough for about 2 years now) and have applies for SS Disability.   I have been turned down twice now and have a hearing to be scheduled soon.   Have any of you gotten SS Disability because of Fibromyalgia, or have you heard of anyone getting it?  
My husband and I struggle with paying bills (for 3 years now) since I had to quit work.  We have been just praying that this final hearing will come through and help us out.  We go without heat in the winter and without air conditioning in the summer and we only pick up at the grocery store what we need for that evenings meal (he is very good about getting me stuff I can eat during the day though). 

We went out to dinner with some friends the other day and they all said that I was stupid to have even put in for disability.   That nobody ever gets SS disability for Fibromyalgia.  

While uncontrolled Fibromyalgia is my main problem right now, I also have degenerative disk disease, pins and screws in my ankle, and some signs that I may have Lupus, (positive ANA and positive lupus antibody test).  Of coarse, these "experts" we ate dinner with decided that I didn't have Lupus either.  (what a fool I was for going to all those doctors when I could have just asked them!)

Again, I'm interested in whether you have or know anyone who has been granted disability because of Fibromyalgia.

Thanks
Bonnie

I've heard of a very few people who have succeeded with SS disabilty claims. More often than not tho the claims are denied all the way thru the appeals process. If it were for the Lupus you would have a better shot at it. Just keep pushing and who knows you might get lucky. I wish all the nimrods that so eaily deny claims had to live with fibro!

I'm waiting for my hearing with SSI, I met with my attorney yesterday and he told me that most judges won't approve someone on Fibromyalgia alone.  He said it's rare for someone seeking SSI for Fybro alone to get approved. I would get an attorney if you don't have one already. Althought I have Fibro, my attorney will not use that as his main argument. He'll be using my other medical issues because he knows he's got slim chance of winning my case if he uses fibro as my need for SSI.

Thank you, yes, I do have a lawyer already.   In addition to my fibromyalgia, I have degenerative disk disease in my back and arthritis in my back.  I also broke my ankle about 4 years ago and have a plate and 7 screws.  

Good luck to you.   I am now waiting for my final appeal to be heard.   Supposed to have a hearing in the next couple of months.  It's been a long 3-year fight.   Hopefully you won't have to fight so long.

Bonnie

I've been fighting them since 2004 after an accident left me with a serious back injury and unable to work. This is my second time around, I've had over 4 denials. Mostly because I didn't have health insurance for a long time and wasn't able to see the right Drs. The first time I was scheduled to go to hearing I was advised to back out by my attorney's because the judge on my case was the WORST judge imaginable and I wouldn't stand a chance with him. SO...I reapplied in 2007, was denied twice and have waited almost two years for a hearing. Florida's system is so backed up. I finally got word last week that my hearing is scheduled for November. I have a lot of other issues besides just the back injury that help my case. I have better Drs this time as well so I'm hopeful! Scared but hopeful! 
Good luck, I know it's a hard process to go through! It's hard because there are people who abuse the system and there are people who genuinly need the help who have to fight tooth and nail to get it.

I pray that your surgery goes well !

My daughter has fibro and degnerative disk, and migrane headaches. She was turned down twice and went in for a hearing and it was granted. THEY want you to give up so DON'T.
My daughter got a lawyer thru the free lawyer project.
Good luck and even though it is stressful try to fight them, they really want you to give up.
Good luck and keep us posted.

   Thanks for your encouragement.   When I filed the first time a lady from the SS office called to get some additional information from me.  She said she wasn't really supposed to tell me this but she said the same thing.   She said if I started the process, no matter how long it takes, don't quit!   She said if you file a claim for a specific reason and then stop and go back to work, that from that time on you can't file for that specific reason again.   In essence what she said is if you file for a bad back and are able to stop and go back to work, then they figure from that time on that your back wasn't really bad enough to stop you from working.
     Believe me, if I could work, I would have LONG before now.   We are really struggling right now.  I feel so badly that I can't do something to help out.  
    Hopefully we won't have to wait too long.  

Thanks
Bonnie

Hi,

I have been on SS Disability for fibromyalgia for over 4 years.  Your friends who told you that it is "stupid" to try for disability because of fibromyalgia don't know what they are talking about!

When you go for the hearing make sure to have your lawyer (or you if you speak) stress the affects that fibro symptoms have on you and how it makes it impossible to work a job.  Express thoroughly the fatigue that comes along with it, the depression, the effects of the pain meds., how difficult it is to do anything for long periods of time like sitting (especially with your back pain), stand (especially because of your ankle) and so on and so on.  MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL, DO NOT TELL THEM THAT  OBESITY IS ONE OF YOUR "ILLNESSES"!!! Obesity is not considered an illness under the SS disability terms.  If they ask about being obese, tell them that you are obese because of the inactivity or slow down of activity caused by fibromyalgia & your other ailments.

If I think of anything else I will let you know, but for know I will keep you in prayer for a successful outcome.  And tell your friends to stop with the negativity, you have enough of that.  If they want to share anything, tell them to either share your pain (because you got plenty) or some money ('cause you haven't got enough)!!

Thank you for your response.   You have given me hope.   It is so hard for those who don't have fibromyalgia (with or without other problems) to understand how much it effects you on a daily basis.  

I'm not even going to mention my obesity.   By the time I get an actual hearing date, I won't be too bad anyway, and it actually has very little to do with why I can't work.   If they DO ask, I will certainly tell them that it makes it hard to lose weight when it hurts to move, stand, sit.....everything!    If I get any sort of pain control, then I'm zonked out and go to bed.

I'm going to start now and write down all the things that cause me problems during the day, all the pains and difficulties on a daily basis.   Somewhere I found on a website the symptoms of fibromyalgia (it's about 4 pages long) and I checked off all the things that I have bothering me.   I've saved it and will reprint it and take that with me.   It may help.   

Thanks again for the help and encouragement.    I will deep this forum informed of my progress.

Bonnie