[canifindagooddr]

Lit, when you did your 'delete what is in blue' I really found that most helpful. Anybodys feedback is appreciated. Thank you!

And, yes. I do have a college degree. But if I cannot sit or stand for more than 1.5 hours without needing an hour on my bed to recover and then repeat the whole process again - AND have poor cognition due to the pain - what can of job could I do? Everyday is BAD.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS: ALL THE THINGS THAT WROTE ABOVE ON THE TOPICS OF, ‘TALKING’, ‘MEMORY’, ‘COMPLETING TASKS’, ‘CONCENTRATION’ AND ‘UNDERSTANDING’ – APPLY TO THE CURRENT TOPIC OF ‘FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS’. AGAIN, IF ONE TELLS ME, I WILL FORGET WITHIN 2 MINUTES, 95% OF WHAT THEY TOLD ME. THEREFORE, I EXPLAIN TO THEM MY PROBLEMS OF COGNITION AND ASK THEM TO ALLOW ME TO WRITE THINGS DOWN – STEP, BY STEP, BY STEP. EVEN WITH THIS, I HAVE SUCCESS MAYBE HALF THE TIME BECAUSE I TRY TO WRITE THE STEPS DOWN TOO QUICKLY AS TO NOT INCONVENIENCE THE PERSON. IN MY HASTE, OFTEN TIMES I CANNOT READ OR EVEN UNDERSTAND THE DIRECTIONS I HAD JUST WRITTEN DOWN. OFTEN TIMES I WILL ASK THE PERSON ‘CAN YOU SAY THAT IN A DIFFERENT WAY? I AM NOT UNDERSTANDING?’. OR, I WILL PARAPHRASE WHAT I THINK I HEARD BACK TO THE PERSON. OFTEN TIMES I WILL SAY, ‘IT WORKS BETTER FOR ME IF I SAY IT MY WAY . . . SO WHAT YOU ARE TRYING TO TELL ME IS xxxx? IS THAT CORRECT?’ I CALL THIS SPEAKING IN ‘xxxxISM’. 90% OF THE TIME I EXPLAIN MY PROBLEM WITH COGNITION AND CONCENTRATION AND ASK THEM TO SAY THINGS TO ME AT A SLOWER RATE OF SPEED AND WITH ONE (2 STEPS MAX) AT A TIME.

USING HANDS: MUCH OF WHAT I WROTE AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS DOCUMENT ABOUT ‘LIFTING’, APPLIES TO MY HANDS. WHEN MY HANDS ARE HAVING A REALLY BAD DAY (THIS HAPPENS 2-3 TIMES PER WEEK/5-6 INSTANCES PER DAY), I DROP OBJECTS. USUALLY THIS ARE SMALL OBJECTS SUCH AS MY EYE-GLASSES OR A SET OF KEYS. HOWEVER, ABOUT ONCE A WEEK IT WILL BE A LARGER OBJECT SUCH AS A CAN OF SOUP. AFTER HAVING DROPPED AND HAD A DRINKING GLASS SHATTER ON MY FLOOR AT LEAST TWICE OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS, I HAVE THROWN AWAY ALL MY GLASS DRINKING GLASSES AND REPLACED THEM WITH PLASTIC ONES.

GETTING ALONG WITH OTHERS: BY NATURE I AM INTROVERTED. THEREFORE, I TEND TO STAY WITHIN MYSELF. I DO NOT LIKE ‘SMALL TALK’. IT BORES ME TO TEARS. THAT BEING THE CASE, I OFTEN TRY TO DISCUSS THINGS THAT WE AS A SOCIETY ARE TOLD ‘NOT TO DISCUSS’. RELIGION, POLITICS, ETC. 95% OF THE TIME, THESE DIGRESS INTO THE OTHER PERSON GETTING MAD. I DON'T GET MAD. I WAS JUST HAVING FUN. I TRY TO EXPLAIN TO THEM, ‘IT'S NOTHING PERSONAL! IT IS JUST THE ‘ARENA OF IDEAS’”. BUT MOST DON'T SEE IT THAT WAY. I TEND TO HAVE OPINIONS THAT DO NOT FIT THE MAINSTREAM. AND IN THE PAST, I PRIDED MYSELF IN SHARING MY ALTERNATIVE POINTS OF FEW. WHEN I WAS TEACHING SCHOOL – I WOULD NOT BE AFRAID TO TELL ‘THE EMPEROR’ (IE. THE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL) THAT THEY WERE ‘WEARING NO PANTS’. ADDITIONALLY, WHEN ALL THE PE TEACHERS WOULD MEET TOGETHER FOR MEETINGS – I AGAIN, DISAGREED 95% OF THE TIME WITH WHAT I THOUGHT WERE VERY DUMB IDEAS AS THEY PERTAINED TO OUR CONTENT AREA. MY CONDUCT WITH OTHERS, WAS PROBABLY BE BIGGEST THING THAT GOT ME ON A YEAR AND A HALF ‘PROBATION’ (THIS PERIOD WAS FROM XXX 20xxx – blah 20^^). IT WAS CALLED A ‘PLAN OF ASSISTANCE (IE. POA).’ BASICALLY IT WAS A ‘PLAY NICE WITH OTHERS, OR GET FIRED’ KIND OF DEAL. BELOW WILL BE DIRECT QUOTES FROM MY POA. I TAUGHT AT TWO SCHOOLS. THE POA WAS A DOCUMENT CREATED COLLABORATIVELY BY THE TWO PRINCIPALS.
POA DIRECT QUOTES FROM THE DOCUMENT:


· Interacts inappropriately (verbal/written) with students, coworkers, and administrators.

In order to assist Mr. ** in addressing students, coworkers, parents, and administrators in appropriate, respectful, face-to-face communications, administrators will conduct formal and informal observations, document conversations, and monitor teacher/student/parent communications.

· Furthermore:

· This . . . plan . . . highlights your deficiencies as a professional educator. These are serious enough to admonish you and give notice of deficiencies. . . Failure to correct these deficiencies will result in a recommendation for your suspension, non-reemployment, or dismissal.

END OF QUOTE – AND END OF “REMARKS – SECTION D – INFORMATION ABOUT ABILITIES”

[Jomar]

I would be very careful to not post names, or certain content that may identify you personally.

[canifindagooddr]

Originally Posted by Jo*mar

I would be very careful to not post names, or certain content that may identify you personally.

Ghez!!! What a big brain cramp! I know better! Posting too late when tired! Thank so much for watching my back and fixing my stupid post!!!

[LIT LOVE]

I think it might be best to understand your strategy for qualifying for SSDI prior to completing more of this paperwork.

You are all over the place.

Is your claim that your PN is severe enough to qualify for a Listed Impairment?

When you bring up all these issues (with a potential mental or cognitive disability) related to your work, that is a completely different tangent. You were employed at the same job for 25 years. What has changed so that you can longer manage to follow the rules that would ensure your continued employment? Are you receiving treatment for these issues?

(BTW, are you planning to file for retirement and receive a pension?)

What you're describing with regards to your hands doesn't actually seem all that serious. It's annoying, but dropping things won't keep you from working. (I have the same issues, so I can relate.) Do you have issues with fine motor skills? Can you write? Handle and file paperwork? Type? At home--can you cook? Dress in the same manner as before your PN progressed? Do your own laundry? Drive? Go grocery shopping?

The narrative just needs to make sense, and it suddenly isn't really making sense. There are a few things I can guess at that would make it make sense, but you'll need to fill in the blanks.

Please don't write in caps either here or on your actual paperwork. It makes it hard for the reader.

[canifindagooddr]

Thanks Lit! Great stuff! I will fix the all caps and try to fill in the gaps Friday.

In brief, yes both mental and physical. The PN (which started 2.5 years ago) made the mental (dx - BP2, ADD, GAD,OCB - dx'd 8 years ago) worse.

As my feet continued to get worse in spite of MUCH treatment (over 10 PT sessions with TENS, compression stockings, Gabapentin started, walking, biking, Gabapentin increasd 125%, etc) - I naturally become more depressed about my new and increasing physical limitations.

This in turn feed my anxious thoughts about 'will i be able to continue working'? 'If I can't work how will i take care of myself and my daughters?'

The mind-body connection. The pain can be quite fatituging. Which again triggers all my mental conditions. Does that make some sense?

It's hard enough for a 'normal' person to deal with a CHRONIC, PAINFUL, PROGRESSIVE and DEBILITATING condition (PN - proven by
skin biospy) . . .let alone a 'head -case' like me.

Treatment for PN and mental are on-going. Today I saw my shrink. Wednesday I see my neurologst. I see both for treatment at least 4 times a year.

This doesn't include all the different foot docters and GENERAL nuerologist I have seen over the last 2.5 years.

We got time to get my report better. I have until 7/13/15 (4pm) to finish it. Thanks again. I look forward and wait with great excitement as you and the others help it all to flow better.

My pension. Their calculater said i get nothing due to mr pre-mature resisnaton (sp). If i could have taught for 6 more years i could have retired w/ full benefits.

Originally Posted by LIT LOVE

I think it might be best to understand your strategy for qualifying for SSDI prior to completing more of this paperwork.

You are all over the place.

Is your claim that your PN is severe enough to qualify for a Listed Impairment?

When you bring up all these issues (with a potential mental or cognitive disability) related to your work, that is a completely different tangent. You were employed at the same job for 25 years. What has changed so that you can longer manage to follow the rules that would ensure your continued employment? Are you receiving treatment for these issues?

(BTW, are you planning to file for retirement and receive a pension?)

What you're describing with regards to your hands doesn't actually seem all that serious. It's annoying, but dropping things won't keep you from working. (I have the same issues, so I can relate.) Do you have issues with fine motor skills? Can you write? Handle and file paperwork? Type? At home--can you cook? Dress in the same manner as before your PN progressed? Do your own laundry? Drive? Go grocery shopping?

The narrative just needs to make sense, and it suddenly isn't really making sense. There are a few things I can guess at that would make it make sense, but you'll need to fill in the blanks.

Please don't write in caps either here or on your actual paperwork. It makes it hard for the reader.

[canifindagooddr]

I did teach 25 years. 2 years in a small town to get my carrer started. One year near a very big city. And the last 22 in the same school district. Now, this district has many elementary schools. And it is normal for us from time to time to be assigned a different school (or often teach at TWO schools) from time to time.

2013 -- FMLA - eights weeks. Returned the last two weeks of school and finished the year. DX - PTSD -- I couldn't adjust to my new assignment very well. Too much stress and I fall apart.

2014 - Probation for a year and a half. Main charge - not playing nice with others. I don't agree. But I started being extra cautious with my words. Poltics.

2015 - FMLA - began late in Feb and I did not return to finsh the school year. I used up all eight weeks again. Cause? Dealing with the WORSEN of the PN and how that affective my mental condition. It made all mental functions much worse. Again, the stress of dealing with the PN . . . and the mental changes that occured with it . . . but me out of commission. Too much I do not function well. EXHAUSTED.

Both doctor notes for FMLA's were written by shrinks. I did not know my KU neurologist well enough at that time to ask him to write the note.

Thanks.

Originally Posted by LIT LOVE

I think it might be best to understand your strategy for qualifying for SSDI prior to completing more of this paperwork.

You are all over the place.

Is your claim that your PN is severe enough to qualify for a Listed Impairment?

When you bring up all these issues (with a potential mental or cognitive disability) related to your work, that is a completely different tangent. You were employed at the same job for 25 years. What has changed so that you can longer manage to follow the rules that would ensure your continued employment? Are you receiving treatment for these issues?

(BTW, are you planning to file for retirement and receive a pension?)

What you're describing with regards to your hands doesn't actually seem all that serious. It's annoying, but dropping things won't keep you from working. (I have the same issues, so I can relate.) Do you have issues with fine motor skills? Can you write? Handle and file paperwork? Type? At home--can you cook? Dress in the same manner as before your PN progressed? Do your own laundry? Drive? Go grocery shopping?

The narrative just needs to make sense, and it suddenly isn't really making sense. There are a few things I can guess at that would make it make sense, but you'll need to fill in the blanks.

Please don't write in caps either here or on your actual paperwork. It makes it hard for the reader.

[LIT LOVE]

I have a feeling I understand why your attorney was willing to accept your case now. My guess is s/he is betting you won't be approved at the first stage and that you'll end up before an ALJ and will rack up significant backpay and win at that point.

You need to keep the focus on the PN, and the PN exacerbating your pre-existing mental disabilities.

Just so you're aware, SS will usually consider medical records beginning 12 months prior to your Alleged Onset Date (AOD) and for mental health records, they'll look back 24 months prior to your AOD.

BP is also a Listed Impairment.

"12.04 Affective disorders: Characterized by a disturbance of mood, accompanied by a full or partial manic or depressive syndrome. Mood refers to a prolonged emotion that colors the whole psychic life; it generally involves either depression or elation.

The required level of severity for these disorders is met when the requirements in both A and B are satisfied, or when the requirements in C are satisfied.

A. Medically documented persistence, either continuous or intermittent, of one of the following:

1. Depressive syndrome characterized by at least four of the following:

a. Anhedonia or pervasive loss of interest in almost all activities; or

b. Appetite disturbance with change in weight; or

c. Sleep disturbance; or

d. Psychomotor agitation or retardation; or

e. Decreased energy; or

f. Feelings of guilt or worthlessness; or

g. Difficulty concentrating or thinking; or

h. Thoughts of suicide; or

i. Hallucinations, delusions, or paranoid thinking; or

2. Manic syndrome characterized by at least three of the following:

a. Hyperactivity; or

b. Pressure of speech; or

c. Flight of ideas; or

d. Inflated self-esteem; or

e. Decreased need for sleep; or

f. Easy distractibility; or

g. Involvement in activities that have a high probability of painful consequences which are not recognized; or

h. Hallucinations, delusions or paranoid thinking; or

3. Bipolar syndrome with a history of episodic periods manifested by the full symptomatic picture of both manic and depressive syndromes (and currently characterized by either or both syndromes);

AND

B. Resulting in at least two of the following:

1. Marked restriction of activities of daily living; or

2. Marked difficulties in maintaining social functioning; or

3. Marked difficulties in maintaining concentration, persistence, or pace; or

4. Repeated episodes of decompensation, each of extended duration;

OR

C. Medically documented history of a chronic affective disorder of at least 2 years' duration that has caused more than a minimal limitation of ability to do basic work activities, with symptoms or signs currently attenuated by medication or psychosocial support, and one of the following:

1. Repeated episodes of decompensation, each of extended duration; or

2. A residual disease process that has resulted in such marginal adjustment that even a minimal increase in mental demands or change in the environment would be predicted to cause the individual to decompensate; or

3. Current history of 1 or more years' inability to function outside a highly supportive living arrangement, with an indication of continued need for such an arrangement."

[canifindagooddr]

Originally Posted by LIT LOVE

I have a feeling I understand why your attorney was willing to accept your case now. My guess is s/he is betting you won't be approved at the first stage and that you'll end up before an ALJ and will rack up significant backpay and win at that point.

^^^You really think for those reasons? He told me that they turn down 75% of the people who call. I asked him if he thought I had a strong case. He said, "Yes". I asked, "On what basis?"

^^^"You have an excellent work history. You are over 50. You have excellent medical records with DXs and TXs. You have multiple health isses that are going on."

You need to keep the focus on the PN, and the PN exacerbating your pre-existing mental disabilities.

^^^OK. That is what I told my shrink yesterday. I kept saying something like this, "As you know . . . I was doing OK with divorce. . . was working my way thorgh (no auto spell check?)my 'plan', but the PN . . . it just became so painful and fatiguing that it screwed up all of my coginitive functions." He shook his head in affirmation.

Just so you're aware, SS will usually consider medical records beginning 12 months prior to your Alleged Onset Date (AOD) and for mental health records, they'll look back 24 months prior to your AOD.

^^^ Are you saying that they will not consider medical records over the last 6 months? And/or the last 3 months? And/or the last three days? When I called them last week (via the phone number and ext provided on the Function Report Cover Sheet) I asked, "I have skin biospy results that I just got last week from KU. They prove with scientific data (I am outside the ranges on 2 of the 3 sites tested on me), that I have 'small fiber periperal neuropathy'. She with out hesitation, and with enthusiasm said, 'Yes! Attach and send those. Write your name and case # on them."

^^^Thank you very much for providing the listing below. I will put a few comments amongst them:

BP is also a Listed Impairment.

"12.04 Affective disorders: Characterized by a disturbance of mood, accompanied by a full or partial manic or depressive syndrome. Mood refers to a prolonged emotion that colors the whole psychic life; it generally involves either depression or elation.

^^^YES to all the above.

The required level of severity for these disorders is met when the requirements in both A and B are satisfied, or when the requirements in C are satisfied.

^^^OK. Let's take a look. I just need ONE from group A? Understanding that I still need to look at and satisfy B additionally.

A. Medically documented persistence, either continuous or intermittent, of one of the following:

1. Depressive syndrome characterized by at least four of the following:

a. Anhedonia or pervasive loss of interest in almost all activities; or

^^^YES. Told doc.

b. Appetite disturbance with change in weight; or

^^^YES. Told doc. Wt went from a healthy 165, down to an unhealthy 140. I'm 6 foot tall.

c. Sleep disturbance; or

^^^Yes. Told neurologist. I do not think I talked with my shrink about this.

d. Psychomotor agitation or retardation; or

^^^Yes. Talked with my shrink about this.

e. Decreased energy; or

Yes. Talked with my shrink about this.


f. Feelings of guilt or worthlessness; or

^^^Yes, not sure if we discussed it or not.

g. Difficulty concentrating or thinking; or

^^^Yes, I talked with my shrink about this.

h. Thoughts of suicide; or

^^^Yes. Talked to my shrink about this.

i. Hallucinations, delusions, or paranoid thinking; or

^^^Did not talk to my shrink about this but he probably picked up on some 'delusions' and/or 'paranoid thinking'.

2. Manic syndrome characterized by at least three of the following:

a. Hyperactivity; or

^^^I can't remember if the shrink and I talked about this but I imagine he saw it as we talked with each other. I mentioned, "I took 1 mg of Klonopin an hour ago . . . to slow me down enough to have a decent conversation with you." I am allowed 2mgs of Klonopin a day. That was 1 of my 2 mgs for that day.

b. Pressure of speech; or

^^^I don't know what this means.

c. Flight of ideas; or

^^^We have talked in the past and we talked yesterday about, 'how Klonopin slows down all my racing thoughts . . . and makes me settle down and think about them more sanely . . . but I still need help on learning how to cope with the CHRONIC disease of PN.' He shook his head in the affirmative.

d. Inflated self-esteem; or

^^^Have not discussed. The mountain, cannot see the mountain (IE. I am the 'mountain'). Therefore, he might have noted this unbeknownist to me.

e. Decreased need for sleep; or

^^^The same comments as 'd.'

f. Easy distractibility; or

^^^Yes, I have talked to my shrink several times about this. It is a common symptom of ADD. Yes, I know - the topic at hand is BP . . . but there are some overlaps between the two.

g. Involvement in activities that have a high probability of painful consequences which are not recognized; or

^^^Possibly my not showing/having 'proper respect' to my bosses?

h. Hallucinations, delusions or paranoid thinking; or

^^^Have not discussed. Lets go with the mountain theory again. What is 'paranoid thinking'? Is worrying about running out of money 'paranoid thinking'? I do not have hallucinations. I do not think others are out to 'get me' (except for my X-wife).

3. Bipolar syndrome with a history of episodic periods manifested by the full symptomatic picture of both manic and depressive syndromes (and currently characterized by either or both syndromes);

AND

B. Resulting in at least two of the following:

1. Marked restriction of activities of daily living; or

2. Marked difficulties in maintaining social functioning; or

3. Marked difficulties in maintaining concentration, persistence, or pace; or

4. Repeated episodes of decompensation, each of extended duration;

OR

C. Medically documented history of a chronic affective disorder of at least 2 years' duration that has caused more than a minimal limitation of ability to do basic work activities, with symptoms or signs currently attenuated by medication or psychosocial support, and one of the following:

^^^I do not qualify for section C. Thanks again for all your efforts Lit. They are very much appreciated and not done in vain. I may be an $ss at times, but it is NEVER my intent, it is one of my mental illnesses . . . made worse when my feet are being particullary (sp) 'naughty'. END.

1. Repeated episodes of decompensation, each of extended duration; or

2. A residual disease process that has resulted in such marginal adjustment that even a minimal increase in mental demands or change in the environment would be predicted to cause the individual to decompensate; or

3. Current history of 1 or more years' inability to function outside a highly supportive living arrangement, with an indication of continued need for such an arrangement."

^^^Tried to post. It stated that my message was too short . . . Strange considering all the words I wrote above. So, I am adding this to the bottom hoping to correct said problem.

[LIT LOVE]

Any current medical records will of course be considered. They just don't usually care about records farther back than 1 year for medical and 2 years for mental health.

So, if you attempt to provide the adjudicator with the type of letter I pm'd you, quote from medical documentation as close to your AOD as possible, and not farther back then the 1 year med, and 2 year mental health limits.

I think the attorney feels you will win, but not quickly. If you do, he won't receive a dime. This is just a guess on my part.

I think you can be approved at the first stage by meeting the requirements of 1 or more Listed Impairments, but your application will need to be very focused.

[canifindagooddr]

Lit, as always . . . THANK YOU for your assistance.

Understood on paragraph one and two below.

How do I make my application very 'focused'? By doing similar to what you sent me in the PM?

Thanks for the PM! Good stuff. So, on my Function Report as many places as I can put info that is honest about me as it applies to my mental health - do so?

Is the picture now coming together better for you as to why I am not able to work at this time?

Maybe in a year or two I can at least work half-days . . . but the neurologist has GOT to get my feet to make it through a day - or even a half day - which is currently NOT happening - the PN is progressing and becoming MORE disabiling . . . and then my feet have to get through a couple of months . . . . so I can develop some convidence in them that they can handle a daily load consistiently. Now, every day is a 'bad' day with me having to go to my bed to get relief at least twice a day.

Before the PN forced me to stop teaching, via FMLA . . .when at work, by 1130am . . . my feet were pretty well shot. I would drag a mat into my office, close my door, lay on my back . . . .and put my bare feet up on my chair for at least 20 minutes before I would be able to eat my lunch.

Then I would teach 2.5 hours in the afternoon. "Mr. XXX what is that funny smell?" The kids would ask . . . some fellow staff members would do the same.

"Oh . . . just some stuff that Mr. XXX has to put on his feet and muscles at times..." It was daily. Sometimes I would say, "What smell?! I do not smell anything?!"

After teaching, I would leave school at 400pm. Drive the five minutes home with feet that each felt like they weighed fifty pounds (in addition to the usual, burning, numbness, tingling, PAIN, cramps, etc) . . . stumble to my bed... lay there and moan and groan . . . for an hour or two . . . then get up . . . try to do some house work . . . school work . . . and fall back into bed exhausted . . . most nights by 8pm . . . with this cycle occuring for several months . . . I fell further and further behind at school and at home . . . and of course this feuled all of my mental conditions . . . until finally, with great persuasion (sp) from a family doctor . . . I was forced to use FMLA. I did NOT want to use FMLA . . . I wanted to finish the school year - the doc said, "IMPOSSIBLE. You need to stop NOW before you do permenant nerve damage . . . which you have probably already done . . ." and then ultimately resigned my position 3 months later.

Back to 'real time.' Now I have to lay on my brother's bed. I'm staying at his house. Sitting here for an hour and a half typing has made my feet feel quite naughty . . . I can't take the laptop with me to bed . . . because he does not have wireless . . .

Thanks!

Originally Posted by LIT LOVE

Any current medical records will of course be considered. They just don't usually care about records farther back than 1 year for medical and 2 years for mental health.

So, if you attempt to provide the adjudicator with the type of letter I pm'd you, quote from medical documentation as close to your AOD as possible, and not farther back then the 1 year med, and 2 year mental health limits.

I think the attorney feels you will win, but not quickly. If you do, he won't receive a dime. This is just a guess on my part.

I think you can be approved at the first stage by meeting the requirements of 1 or more Listed Impairments, but your application will need to be very focused.