Originally Posted by Jo*mar

[We got time to get my report better. I have until 6/13/15 (4pm) to finish it.]

I'm guessing a typo on the date??

Originally Posted by LIT LOVE

You just need to make sure it's clear PN is the main issue and that the mental health issues have been exacerbated. Why is this important? Because you were able to work with the mental health issues prior to that.

^^^I guess my 2013 FMLA goes back to far? No. You told me two years. Anyway . . . details so I don't know.

^^^In 2013 I was on FMLA for dx'd PTSD. I was teaching at a new and different school that I had to travel to every other afternoon. School A - my main school. I started every morning there. School B - my 'step-child' school. I taught there every other afternoon. Larger classes. Longer class periods. TOTALLY different support/discipline system/management of children's behavior. A big CHANGE . . . that eventually caused me to decomposs (is that the word I want?!) to the point that I was not functioning safely to be around children. Hence my FMLA that year.

There just needs to be a connection. The mental health just seemed to come out of left field.

^^^See above. A major 'monkey wrench' was thrown into my teaching life and sechdule and I did not handle it well. My partner (the music teacher - music and PE switch classes together), who was only in her second year of teaching was also stressed by the situation . . . However, she is of better mind than me and she was able to perservere and get through it. I fell apart. Too much stress . . . and I tend to fall apart. Too much stress is a common trigger for BP.

And yes, it's not a bad idea to use the Impaired Listing as a template to make sure you cover those issues that apply. Providing a separate letter like the sample I provided is a good idea too.

^^^Yes, Lit. Thank you.

My question for you is, if you only had the PN would you still be unable to work? My guess is yes.

^^^You are correct. Yes, if I only had PN I could not work my old job (or probably any job due to my need to lay on a bed at least twice during an 'easy' 8-5 day).

^^^The way things are now -- during a normal 8am - 5pm, of me just walking around my little apartment doing errands in the apt - I must lay down at least twice a day during that time for PN relief. On visitations with my daughters - on blah, blah day - I see them for an 8 hour day - twice a month. Withhout fail . . . when I get them back to their Mom and get back to my little apartment . . . I collaspe on my bed due to PN. All I have done with them was sit and watch them play at a park and/or board/card games with me and them. I lay on the floor as we play the previously mentioned games.

^^^School B drastically improved their management of children for school year 2014 and 2015.

^^^I learned some good coping skills during my FMLA to deal with school B. I had talk and group therapy 3 times a week during FMLA 2013 - that is where i learned the above mentioned coping skills.

^^^School B morphed into a very 'doable' situation due to the factor I just mentioned above. So, mentally . . . school was not a big problem. It only became a big problem again . . . when the PN symptoms were so uncomfortable that I could not think straight . . . I could not stay caught up at school or home . . . my world was slowly (then quickly) as the syptoms got more intense . . . spiralling downward . . . out of control. Then the mental conditions all kicked in on HIGH GEAR.

^^^Please trust and believe me that I sincerely DID NOT want to go on FMLA this year. I begged the doc to give me SOMETHING med-wise so I could finish this school year. The doc said, "ABSOLUTELY NOT! If you are hitting yourself in the head with a hammer . . . and your head hurts . . . PUT DOWN THE HAMMER!" Those were the doc's exact words. Those words were very hard to hear. I wanted to finish . . . Again, I BEGGED the doc for meds (even opiaoptes (sp)) to finish . . . The doc would not budge and after 45 minutes on the phone with me, the doc finally convinced me of the immediate need for me to use FMLA again . . . much to my saddness and disappointment. But, looking back now, I can see it really was the only sane chose I had. Now, I thank the above mentioned doc for his persistence and care of/for me.


If I'm correct, treat it that seriously. Think of the PN as cake and your impairments as icing.

^^^Please define 'impairments' for me. My apologies.

DO NOT, discuss, "Maybe in a year or two I can at least work half-days" or you will encourage a denial. You're opening the door for doubt and that you might be capable of working. IF you are able to return to work, that'll be great, but neither you nor your doc can predict that.

^^^Excellent points. Thank you. At this point, my returning to work is nothing more than 'wishful' thinking on my part . . .

^^^A disabled friend (sickle cell) has told me, "Look. You need a year to get on a treatment plan that works (if that is possible), then once on that plan . . . you need a year (at least) to let your body REST and HEAL itself (if in fact that is possible)."

The only thing I don't remember seeing you respond to was if your doc had suggested you need a walker or cane. It's a bit inconsistent to claim you're falling and not using a devise to help.

Originally Posted by LIT LOVE

So the timeline isn't quite so simple. I was thinking you had coped with the mental impairments, the PN became severely disabling and that led to an exacerbation of your mental impairments.

You will need to explain your mental impairments were severe enough where you had to use FMLA, than PN became disabling, and then there was an escalation of your mental impairments.

How to map this out? I'm not really sure within the context of these forms. A letter covering the Listed Impairments and timelines might be appropriate.

The icing was supposed to be your mental impairments.

It sounds like without the PN you could very well have ended not being able to perform that job. (But you might have done better at a job with less social interaction.)

I can do a pretty good job of being able to edit out what shouldn't be there, but it's trickier to know what you should include because I just don't know your history.

Originally Posted by 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.
END OF QUOTE – AND END OF “REMARKS – SECTION D – INFORMATION ABOUT ABILITIES”

Originally Posted by Hopeless

Hi D,

I did not mean to sound disrespectful in the least. I agree that from YOUR perspective, there is no job that fits your situation. I was just trying to mention that being educated can be a hurdle. I wasn't voicing a personal view, I was only mentioning something that may be considered by SSDI.

Sorry if it did not come out on paper the way I meant it.

Let's play a game for a minute. Let's pretend YOU work for SSDI and I were to apply for benefits. You don't know me and I tell you that my feet hurt so bad that I can't function for more than a few hours at a time. You can't see my pain nor feel it. How do you know if I am being truthful or not? Before you take this wrong, I DO believe you and your suffering but I am just trying to make a point here. An ALJ can make a decision as to whether they find you credible or not. That is my point. As I have said, you need to paint a picture for them on paper and that is NOT an easy task.

The reason you have to answer so many questions, complete so many forms, have medical documentation, etc. is because anyone can apply for benefits and claim they have pain that prevents them from working. It is SSDI's job to ferret out the truthful deserving applicants from the scammers. You must be found credible by the ALJ if you go before one.

I totally believe your pain and suffering but I am not SSDI. You need to try to see how they will perceive you from the answers you provide on the forms.

I am reading the posts and the responses but Lit Love has it covered and I don't have anything worthwhile to offer at this time.

Please forgive me if I have sounded a bit like the devil's advocate. I found it helpful to try to see things from the SSDI view rather than just my own perspective. It may help you in answering all the questions that you have in front of you.

If Lit Love disagrees, remember, always take her viewpoint. I only guess.