Here are the SS Disability statistics from 2006 -- state by state.
http://www.ultimatedisabilityguide.c...ial_rates.html

Oh man, Jana...That sounds horrible! Thank God you were approved, but it shoulda been done right away...I read that thing too...About the severe bulbar/motor weakness, and this is where I got my assurance that I wouldn't have trouble.

Mind you, I'm in Canada, and I also applied for this through my employer's insurance. I haven't applied for CPP (same thing as SSI sorta). My boss was completely behind me 100%.

Sorry you went through that! I was very stressed out while waiting for my approval too- being denied would have sent me over the edge, emotionally and MG-wise too- it's bad enough to have this, but then to have to worry about living in a cardboard box is too much (figuratively)....

Thanks, Nicky!

The BAD part -- IF I got SS, then I would get STATE disability, too -- because I was a teacher -- but, if I did NOT get SS, then NO State disability. So, I was really SQUIRMING. It was like I was going to be "comfortable" or in the "poor house". NOT a good feeling!!!

My medical records were in order -- I sent tons of stuff. I really think that the doc who got my case did NOT know anything about MG!! BUMMER!!

Thanks for the replies. As I said, the company I work for has been wonderful. I do use a headset and mic but when my voice goes...it goes. I can type, as you can see, using a thumb and a finger, but its slow and not ideal in a job that judges on productivity. I've cut my hours down to the minimum allowed by the company so I'll talk to my Dr and look in to it...eventually. Im still hoping for a change...soon!

Nicky,
I do have trouble with writing, too and my handwriting is terrible now. Writing makes my hands so tired and I get cramps and stiff fingers. I am typing more and more because it is less tiring, but sometimes even then those last three digits give up. I love writing!

Jana,
Oh how terrible to go through all that...makes me have second thoughts about applying for SSI. I don't have what it takes to handle any more stress in my life, even though in the past I have loved these kinds of challenges... I will still give it a try.


About disability,
what is considered significant? Some days I can do repetitive things and be okay and others I can't. For example, last week I was feeling pretty good and had no big problems, I even did some things I can't usually do. These last few days, after any activity (even just walking short distances or bending over to pick something up) I have to take a break because the activity sends my heart racing and I start breathing fast. Who decides what is significant? Any suggestions on how to approach my doctor to let him know what I am going to do?

Okay, even thinking about possible future stress is making my heart pound and now it won't stop, and my arms, neck and legs are getting weak (I am laughing now and also sad and mad, because it seems so silly that I can get weak by thinking stressful things!!!). I seem to have some kind of stress induced MG since stress makes my symptoms get bad faster than physical activity. I hate MG. Time to go lay in bed for a while...I hate it when this happens.

Sorry for the complaints, I am having some bad days recently.

Thank you for the topic, I need to apply as soon as possible since my savings account won't last forever.

DF, I think I'm safe in saying that STRESS is one of our BIGGEST enemies!!

"Significant".........hmmmmmm. When I went to the speech therapist, she had me read ALOUD a paragraph without taking any breaks for my voice to rest. My voice tanked after about the tenth word -- dropping into a slur. After about the fifteenth word, you couldn't understand what I was saying. After the tweentieth word -- I couldn't move my lips. I was so shocked that I started crying and couldn't stop for about ten minutes. I knew that I was having speech "difficulties" -- but, until that test, I had no idea how bad they were.

Swallowing -- I have to "think" EACH and every time BEFORE I swallow ANYTHING -- a drink of water, a pill, a bite of food...........or I could choke. Sometimes, I STILL choke. You can get a swallowing study done, if needed. I believe a speech therapist can also observe this -- mine didn't need to -- she had all the info she needed AFTER hearing me speak.

Breathing -- have you been to a pulmo? Have you worn a Holter monitor to record your rapid heartbeats (I did) during a "normal" day.

There is a Social Security Forum in Neuro Talk -- you might want to check it out. There are a couple of people who "hang out" there who work for SS.

I applied for SSI in January 2006, was denied two times and appealed both times. I finally was approved in April 2009 after I went before a judge for the hearing. The hearing took about 10 minutes and I was approved. My attorney told me that it was the one of the quickest decision that he had been involved which basically means that I should have been approved the first time I filed. It also depends on the state you are in because in Ohio it takes at least 2 years to get a hearing with a judge. So most of my time was spent on waiting for the hearing. As I said before, I really should have been approved the first time I applied because my condition and treatment plan remained the same from the day I applied until the day of my hearing.

If you do apply and are denied, don't give up. Keep appealing. You may even get approved the first time as some people I have spoken with that have MG were approved when they first applied.

I was blessed in the fact that I had continued a disability insurance policy from a previous employer and they approved my disability when I filed with them so I was receiving monthly payments from them while I waited for my SSI to be approved. I kept thinking to myself if the company that held my private disability policy approved me right away then why in the world didn't Social Security???
Different guidlines I guess and also it is different when you are dealing with the Government.

Good luck in whatever you decide to do.

Describe your worst day when applying; not your good days. Also, describe in detail with specifics.

Wow, there seems to be quite a bit of difference between cases... Is disability (through an employer) harder to get typically then SSI. My work has been great thoughout my illness, and I pray to continue to work as it is the only think keeping me sane throughout this...