Fibromyalgia and SS Disability

Bonnie,

It took me 3 years, two denials and one hearing to get my SSDI.  I too was out of work and even had my house forclose because I couldnt work.  It was hard on my 2 kids 10 and 7 at the time.  I knew the hearing would be my only hope.

I had a SSDI lawyer who helped me alot.  I only had to speak breifly at my hearing because my medical records did the rest.  I had my doctor, my therapist and my med nurse all on my side and they all wrote letters stating how Fibro has destroyed my life.  My hearing took all of 7 mins.  I thought for sure I lost the case but 3 weeks later I got the good news!!  I hear that three weeks is fast.  The best thing was all that back pay I got from SSDI dating back to the first time I applied for disability!!  My kids even get a monthly check from Social Security.

I was told by my lawyer to answer what the judge asks and not to embellish.  If he says what your symptoms are for example I answered with the norm, stiffness, fatigue, etc.  and left it at that.  Your medical records will tell your story.

I too battle with weight and I am having surgery in January 2010.  Probably RNY.  I wish you all the best and I hope your hearing goes well.  I will be keeping my fingers crossed for you!

Barbara

I have severe fibromyalgia (for like since 1996) and I have been on SSD for about 3 years. I went through Binder and Binder. We listed anything we could think of that I have been treated for.

Fibromyalgia comes with some pretty severe co-morbidities. Depression, Arthritis, Chronic Fatigue, memory problems, anxiety disorders. Sleep Apnea, Irritable bowel Syndrome, GERD.

Your immune system is comprimised with fibromyalgia, so I got sick for 6 weeks at a time and lost jobs because of it.  

Then there are the side effects of pain medication. It makes you tired and stupid. I screwed up a lot of paperwork.

Of course, I also have uncontrolled diabetes, high blood pressure.
You have to list every little thing. It also depends on your age. I'm 57 and I think they decided I was too old to be rehabilitated. 

I don't know anyone who has "just" fibromyalgia.

The best part was getting on Medicare so I could get good medical care and bariatric surgery. I'm hoping to go back to work. The income from SSD sucks!

Get an attorney! you don't pay until you win your case and they know just what to say and what not to say.

Hi Bonnie,
I JUST got approved for my disability. They would not even consider the fibro though. Thank God that I had medical care for ALL of the things that was caused by the fibro.
Most of my case was built around my mental state. I am severely bi polar and have PTSD due to abuse in the past. Its kinda hard to work when you flip out at the thought of interacting with people in general.
I had to get a lawyer. I used mat berry out of atlanta and he was really good. Know just what to say and do.
Shoot I was shaking so bad in front of the judge I thought the screws on my chair would unscrew thats how bad I was shaking.....
Now does the amount that I am suppose to get even amount to something to even help pay the bills? HELL NO.....Not even close!! They are going back to 2006 so I will get a nice back pay check......I plan on just stashing the check amount away in the safe and save for a rainey day ya know.....sorta like I do with my birds......
Hope all of you are doing well. I know I have not been on much since my dad died but it just seems so hard to go on knowing I will never talk to him again! 
anywayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy
gentle hugs and well wished
Kimberly

Hi,
I was refered to this  attorney that specializes in cases like ours.  She will have you take a small info questionaire and she will review it right then via email.  She is great.  She responses right away and is very nice.  She will tell you what the disability requirements are and how they need more than a diagnosis.  I can still work with the help of pain meds, but I can tell disability is right around the corner for me.  They think if you can sit and be a ticket taker you can work, if you can work more than 2 hrs you can work, if you can type you can work.  It is very heartbreaking that people have to go without income for years, and live in poverty because they can't see that we really need it.  Go to her website and take the questionaire.  Let us know what you think.  take care.

STEPHANIE O. JOY, ESQ.
Social Security Disability Attorney.
570-234-0171
http://www.MySsiCase.com
Mail: 
45 Summit Terrace
3034 Penn Estates
East Stroudsburg, PA  18301

Thank you for the information.   I am currently working with a lawyer and they are convinced that I should win my case.   They don't get paid unless we win, so the fact that they took the case and have stuck with me for all the appeals now, may be a good sign.  

I will keep everyone informed.

Bonnie

Hello Bonnie

I am currently reciving SSI and have fibro as one of me disabilities but unpon my annual review (after WLS) it was stated that I was able to return to work.  I am worse after WLS but that is all that they saw was my weight lost.  I have just had my appeal hearing and I presented my evidence along with statement from my freinds who has seen me condition worsen and my hubby went with me and gave a statement. I had to do the same thing in the begin to recieve my benfits, he went to the hearing and family and friends provided statement in person and written.   I will pray that you get the needed result. 

Angee

hi my name is Frances i am 31 years old and have been fighting chronic pain most of my life do to fibromyalgia(SEVERE) i have  2 Cains, a walker , walker with seat and brake's, need to use the carts in the store when i cant walk, and my 4 children in between the ages of 6-13 have to do just about all the work around the house that is how bad i get oh and did i mention that I've had it since i was10 years old. well the reason i tell you all that is because i have applied 4 times and been denied every time they say that  i am to young , that i should get a job using my hands but as i sit here  typing you this i feel like my hands are on fire they hurt so much. i understand you're pain that a lot of others could never come close to understanding but i will tell you one thing i meat a young women last year who told me she was on ssi  for chronic fibromyalgia but she did not even have 1/4 of the health issues that i have so don't give up just appeal and appeal tell you get it.
 

                                                                 good luck.

So sorry you are having such a bad time with it.  I know what you mean though.   I always have to push a cart in the store or I can't shop.   That made it really hard trying to shop for Christmas last year.   My husband wanted to go to the mall and I just couldn't handle it.   I have a wheelchair now, but I don't always need that much.  I may get myself one of the walkers with the seat like you mentioned.  

Right now my main problem is that if I work for more than about 10 minutes at a time, I start getting weak in the knees and shortly thereafter I will begin to throw up.   Just can't handle anything for long.   It's just my husband and me and he works all day, so I do my housework a little at a time and rest in between.   It's a heck of a way to have to do things.

I'm not going to give up.   I'm waiting now for my "final" hearing date.  I have been through 2 appeals already.   This time I get to go see a judge.   I will keep everyone informed.

Thanks for your encouragement.
Bonnie

I am so very sorry you all are having such severe pain that working is difficult. I have been told I have a high pain threshold, and I guess I should be thankful for that.  While the fibro is painful for me and I am in a pain clinic, the meds and counciling I've been reciving has helped tremendously.

I am very blessed, as I don't have to work, my husbands job pays, but my father left my brother and I several duplexes when he passed a several years ago, and my brother passed two years ago. 

I do hope you all will be able to get the financial support you need.  Hang in there!


Lilli

I am sorry about the disability as well.  I haven't even tried for that, but have struggled to maintain the household chores and working full time myself.  My husband has Huntingtons Disease so he hasn't worked in many, many years.  It's all on me to provide for us.  I just pray that I can continue until I die because, Lord knows I won't be able to retire.  Sometimes this life is just hard.

I especially pray that I can keep working until my husband passes away.  We need the insurance and it is way too expensive not to get it through an employer.  Even with insurance the copays kill me, but it is better than the alternative.  I just let the house work go as I figure it is all I can do.  Eventually I get around to taking care of the major issues around the house.  Just keeping the head above water these days and thankful for that I guess.

Take care all my friends.