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Old 03-02-2009, 02:51 PM #1
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Question Would I qualify for SSDI?

Hi every one. I don't know if any of you know me... I was an active member a while back... My name is Marissa, I am 26 years old and was diagnosed with MS 11/20/07. Here is my question for everyone....

I have been off work for a whole week with no pay now due to some issues that i will list later. I can't afford (as everyone else in this world) to be off work without some sort of income.

I was just curious if my symptoms would qualify me for disability or not. I am going to see yet another new neurologist this coming thursday, and am planning on asking her about this issue, but I know you guys all give wonderful advice.... So, I thought I would check you all out before hand!

Here are my issues I am dealing with.

-Bowel and Bladder Control issues: have been incontinent of bowel 6 times now... I have a 2 min warning time and if I don't get to a restroom in that time slot I go in my pants... Bladder is more at night time, when i wake up and am trying to get to the bathroom I tend to pee a little bit in the bed trying to get up

-Cognitive issues: These issues have gotten worse and worse in the last year or so... I feel like I have become so stupid lately... it takes me so long to process stuff.. that part scares me when I am driving because I have troubles determining whether or not to change lanes... Also, along with this comes trouble figuring out what words to use when, and then my favorite: slurring and mispronouncing words.

-Fatigue: Along with these previous issues comes the fatigue. It kicks my butt.. the more I have the cog issues and try to fight through them the more tired I get.. The more tired I get the worse the cog issues are.. it's a catch 22.

I work in a call center, so therefore these issues are almost impossible to avoid. I am talking on the phone all day. The last day I worked I literally had people asking "What?" After I would say something because I was slurring so bad.. Then I had to slow down and repeat what I had just said. That just makes me say more words... I feel like I need to get out of that job.. but the economy is so bad right now I doubt I'd be able to find a job I could do efficiently.

So, as I said before, this is my question... would I possibly qualify for SSDI?

Also, my dad was on SSDI for MS as well and he passed away by suicide about 4 years ago.. My mom had mentioned something about I may possibly be able to draw off of his policy until my own was approved. Know anything about that?

Thanks in advance for all of your comments and support!
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Old 03-02-2009, 03:53 PM #2
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Hi Marissa. I'm sorry for all that you're going through. MS is a difficult condition to have to go to work with. So unpredictable.

Does your company have a Short Term or Long Term Disability (STD/LTD) benefit? I would start with that first. After you apply for your company benefits you generally have to apply for SSDI....at least it's that way here in GA.

After you apply for SSDI they will usually call you and let you know that they received your claim and are waiting on your doctors records. I applied online and I think that's a little faster than snail mail. I was approved in about a month...which is highly unusual. The claims examiner stated that my doctor had very thorough and detailed records. Guess that helped.

If you don't have disability through your employer I believe you can ask for FMLA leave which will protect your job while you're out but won't pay your salary.

As to whether or not you'll qualify for SSDI......that will depend on what your medical records state and whether or not SS feels that they need their own doctor to examine you. Some people are approved on their first try....others have to appeal and try again. I think it just depends on how convincing your medical records are.

I'm sure someone who knows more about this than I do will come along soon. I'm sorry you're having all these symptoms...it's so hard to try and work and live a normal life while dealing with the unexpected. I really hope things settle down for you soon.
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Old 03-02-2009, 05:19 PM #3
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That is a really difficult question. So many folks step up, and have minimal disability and get granted benefits without hesitation, then others who are moderately to severely disabled step up, and have to apply 5 times with a lawyer and a truck load of paper work. Your best bet is to have this same conversation with your MD. He/She will be your best advocate, and the one filling out all the papers that will help you get qualified.

I am so sorry that you are having so many troubles at work. Sometimes a break, and some much needed rest can provide a great deal of relief.

I hope you feel better.
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Old 03-02-2009, 07:39 PM #4
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hi marissa,

i'm sorry you're having all these difficulties.
i'm also glad you're seeing a new dr this wk.
a lot will depend on the dr's neuro exam. mri's etc.
when i felt i could no longer work i told my dr. it became very important that he document my medical condition in my chart.

he ordered some tests, which came back badly, and that all went towards the medical records that they want to see. even if you were to apply now the approval can take upwards of a yr or more. and i don't think they even pay for the first 5 mos you're off work.

i ended up being denied my first time, which is common, and hired a disability lawyer for my appeal. then i got approved.

if you have long or short term disability with your job take it. some of the issues you're describing may be able to be helped with medication. like cognition and bladder issues. i take meds for those and they've helped. of course you need to talk to the dr about all this.

i can't answer the Q about your dad's ssdi. it's possible your mom might be able to access ss benefits, or a portion or them, but i don't know. i'm sorry about the loss of your dad.

please let us know how your dr visit goes. best of luck to you.
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Old 03-02-2009, 07:41 PM #5
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I don't know much about the SSDI process, but just wanted to let you know, I'm thinking about you and wishing you Good Luck.....and hope you are feeling better soon..
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Old 03-02-2009, 11:29 PM #6
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Chaz --

Like Dejibo says, it really varies, who is approved quickly. From the reading that I've done on various message boards, though, it appears that most people who apply eventually get approved. Sometimes, it becomes necessary to get an attorney, especially for the appeal process.

I do not have a lot of residual symptoms that I deal with on a daily basis between flares. Some balance problems, but, they do not affect me significantly. And, mostly, though, the fatigue. I usually require 2 naps a day, and cannot imagine functioning in my previous job anymore.

However, with only fatigue as a major issues, I was concerned that I may not be approved. I emphasized, though, other issues, including 3 jobs losses, due to MS-related absences that exceeded my available sick time.

I also had absolutely SO many medical records, due to annaul ( or more) flares and hospitalizations. I believe that those, and the support of my doctors, helped me to be approved quickly.

Here's what I did:

1. I worked really hard on my application. I'd had hospitalizations once a year or more since 2002, sometimes preceded by ER visits, so, of course, I listed all of those. In addition to my hospitalizations and ER visits, I listed all of my doctors, and as many tests as I could recall. I gave them names and addresses for all of the hospitals, doctors, etc. that I'd visited related to my MS. I know they were sent tons and tons of paperwork of my medical records from some of those places. Some of my files were apparently so thick, that the facility even decided to pick and choose which parts to send, and which to leave out.
2. I talked with all 3 of my doctors (PCP, neurologist, psychologist) prior to beginning the application process. All of them were supportive of me applying for disability. At my request, all 3 doctors also wrote letters to SSA on my behalf, in addition to submitting my medical records.
* Later, I read somewhere that SSA does not read letters from doctors, only actual "medical records". I don't know if that is accurate or not.
o One of my doctors had written his letter prior to receiving a request for medical records, and placed it in my medical file.
o Another doctor wrote the letter after she'd received SSA's request for medical records, and submitted it at the same time.
o The other doctor's letter was submitted by their medical records department at a later date.
3. I had lost 3 jobs since 2002, due to MS.
* 2002 -- Ran out of sick leave; had to use FMLA time. Ran out of that too, because I was off work for more than 12 weeks (for 8 months, actually).
* 2003/2004 -- Closed my licensed day care home, because after a long hospitalization, followed by recovery time at home, my parents had needed to find other care for their children. It did not make sense to start over, knowing the same thing would likely happen again.
* 2008 -- Requested FMLA for the 4th year in a row with this employer. Instead of sending me paperwork, the HR director sent me a letter letting me go.
o I shared all of this info on my application. I also shared additional ways that MS affected me at work during flares and recovery times -- fatigue, judgment, cognitive. Including an 8 month absence from work after closing my day care home in 2004. I also shared how the HR director (I worked for a school district) had put me through through a process in 2007 to determine whether I was "fit to work" which, at the time, I was, and had transferred me to a different school anyways, because he was concerned about stress.
4. One of the friends that I listed, when SSA requested a list of additional persons who knew about my condition, emphasized in her response to them that I had continued to try to work, even though I'd lost jobs. She told them that my preference would be to continue to be employed. I don't know if her opinion made a difference.
5. I called the SSDI two or three times to check to see when they had sent out requests to doctors for medical records, to see if they'd received all of the information they required, etc. When I found out that they'd sent out requests, SSA said they had forwarded the medical records requests to the medical records departments, and not directly to the doctors. I called doctors' offices to follow up on whether they were able to get letters written to SSA. Two of the doctors had not realized that the request had come in, because the request went straight to medical records. They were able to follow up on that, and either get the letter written in time to include it with the records, or to have it mailed later.

I would think that you could discuss your MS symptoms (bowel and bladder problems, cognitive issues and fatigue), and be sure to explain how these specifically affect you while you are at work. The example that you included about slurring your words, and not being understandable at the call center was good. Include more of these.

Be sure to talk with your doctors, too, and let them know this information. I think that SSA is more concerned with whether your doctors think that you are able to work. They want to be the ones who determine that you are disabled, not your doctors.

~ Faith
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Old 03-03-2009, 12:11 AM #7
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I am sorry for your situation. It took me about 2 years after applying for me to actually get my SSD. The good news for that was that I had passed the 2 year waiting period to be on Medicare and was immediately on it.
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Old 03-07-2009, 05:53 PM #8
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Default Thank yous and Update!

Thank you to everyone!!
All of your information was greatly appreciated and I will use it in my quest!
A special thanks to Faith for taking the time to write a list of exactly how she went about it! Thank you so much for your effort.. you have no idea how much I truly appreciate that!

Sorry I haven't been back to the boards sooner... I have been busy.. supposed to be back to work.. went yesterday, decided I couldn't do it today...

I did go and see the new doc.. she is a PA, but awesome.. and from research I guess she is very active in the study of MS. I knew I should have wrote down all my symptoms before I went but I decided to be lazy and I of course forgot half of them! I swear it would be easier to list the ones I haven't had!

I chickened out on asking about disability. I was afraid she would say "You are not disabled..." I don't want to feel like someone thinks I am lazy or just trying to work the system...

I have to go for a swallow study.. I figured out that I am unable to say AHHH when I have my mouth open... and the doc used the tongue depressor and for 3-5 seconds poked at the hangy thing in the back of my throat with no gag reaction... I didn't think it was that big of a deal.. she did... I guess I do choke on liquids quite often...

Last year was the last time I went to a neuro.. he ordered a MRI of my brain and spine... unfortunately.. after I had it done I was unable to go back to get the results due to insurance changes. The doc on Thursday had the results and all I know is I do have multiple brain lesions and lesions on my cervical and thorasic spine. That kinda creeped me out and gave me a reality check that this isn't a game... it's real... so I am starting a new MS therapy.. I was on copaxone when I was first diagnosed but my body started rejecting the medicine and I just quit taking it. I was given info on Rebif and Betaseron... I am supposed to choose by the time I go back on the 24th of this month. Any input about these meds would be appreciated...

I am sure there are other things I wanted to tell you guys... but I can't remember... imagine that!! Well have a good night.. I'll probably be on here for awhile...
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Old 03-07-2009, 06:05 PM #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Chazen18 View Post
Thank you to everyone!!
All of your information was greatly appreciated and I will use it in my quest!
A special thanks to Faith for taking the time to write a list of exactly how she went about it! Thank you so much for your effort.. you have no idea how much I truly appreciate that!

...
You're welcome. Hope that I wasn't too wordy.

~ Faith
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