CaMaMa, 
first of all...SSI/DIS should make you go to THEIR doctor for this! the first time i applied i recieved a letter from SSI stating i need to be examined by their doctor for approval. it was free of cost...but bloodwork i had to pay for.
i really believe they have their own doctor that everyone is screened by. like a few days after i got this letter from SSI, they sent me an appt date and time to see the doc.
well, it's GREAT news if you have lessened or little range of motion in your arms and neck and legs! 
that means you FAILED the test!!! and therefor your liklihood of recieving dis. is very good!
when they looked at me (i was 18 at the time), they basically said, "she's young, she can walk a bit...no way." DENIED. 
again, if it's SSI's doc, then i really do not think we're suppose to pay anything.
play it REAL BAD! i'm telling ya. these people are relentless and if you can go to the bathroom by yourself...most of the time they'll say you are able to care for yourself and work. what's wrong with this system is that THEY DON'T SEE US EVERYDAY. 
and that really eats at me. i really think that if i had a pretty good drug problem, 15 kids, and was schizo i would have gotten disability. i was discriminated against..and if i get denied again i will take them to court.
they denied me because of my AGE and education level! you believe that???!!! and they felt my condition will resolve within 6-12 months! and that was in 2002. 
i really hope & pray you get what you truly deserve! i hate this system, and it's hard and unfair at many times. so hang in there and don't give up, even if they deny you...go and appeal it and apply again, and again!
it's freaking me out that it's been 3 months and i have heard NOTHING from my claim...my case worker does not return my messages asking for a status of my claim. i mean, what is a sick person suppose to do when she is running out of SAVINGS to pay for bills, meds, and docs?? and cannot work?? not everyone has a rich uncle to count on, and some people are already poor. i don't think they get that.
i wish you the best...i'm right there with ya....is this giving you anxiety??? my heart races all day just thinking of it.
i hope you have a good family. are you getting by?? is this permanent dis. or temporary dis.?
write back soon,
{{{{{{{{{ hugs }}}}}}}}}}}}}}
erin
Post Edited (erin kachmar) : 8/30/2005 4:39:10 PM (GMT-6)
flopsie
Don't walk in front of me....I may not follow
Thanks for the info. I appreciate it....I can't believe they denied you Erin...that stinks...I hope you hear back from your case worker soon and with some good news! I have a feeling I"ll get denied, I guess most do first time around anyway, right? It's hard for me, I know working is just out of the question, but I sure miss making an income.
I am currently on temporary/state dis, I'm applying for permanent thru social security as the temporary is going to max out soon and doc says I'm going to be out of commission for quite a while. This afternoon suddenly couldn't swallow with a big lump in my throat <sigh> - if this mean I am coming down with something (again! ugh!) it certainly explains this last week with my fatigue, joints, memory/concentration, and over emotional issues.
Erin, have you thought of applying for welfare to help you out in the meantime or would that screw up ssdi for you? You might want to look in to it if you haven't already.
i need it...i do not see me well enough to work part time. i am appealing immediately if they deny me this time.
i mean, this is out of hand and is rightfully deserved.
I'm praying that you don't have to go to the appeals process and you get approved asap as well as get a retro check in your hand.
**
whats the word? are you getting to see the doc they provide??
ya know...i called again TODAY, and left ANOTHER message for my claims person. ya don'y get anywhere. that's 7 messages and no response! i hope you are getting better communication than i!!!!!!!
did you start enbrel yet???
when you do....register for Enliven services. they send you nifty colorful sharps containers!!! and all neat stuff. and a travel fanny pack too! for airplanes!
{{{{{{{{{ hugs }}}}}}}}}}}}}
erin
i believe my appt time was quite early...but then you WAIT sometimes.
yea, i plea for her to call me bad, it goes something like this: "hello this is so n so (my SS# and phone and all) i have not heard anything about my stautus of my claim. i am running out of savings and am getting worse physically. i need to know what to do. i cannot support myself and afford my meds and doctors, please call me back for i need asistance. it has been 3 1/2 months already...blah blah blah."
so we'll see....i'll call again tuesday.
oy!
Hang in there, Erin! You are constantly in my thoughts and prayers. I pray the day comes soon you finally get some good news and stress relief from all this - it just isn't good for you to have that on top of the illnesses.
**
thanks Camama,
honestly, what i write makes what really is happening look good! it is a terrible ordeal. but what is keeping me grounded and thankful is that i am able to get my Humira @ no cost, i have a roof over my head, some food to eat, great support from you guys, doctors that truly try to do everything in their capability for me, a wonderful wonderful boyfriend, and 4 absolutley hysterical cats!
regarding money...my meds are my main concern. i have no car, do not own a house...so nothing i have is worth anything, so nothing can be repossessed. if i have to file bankruptcy...so be it. my credit is already ruined!! and i know i cannot be put in jail for unpaid ER visits and hospitalization.
so i hang on to the notion that I WILL GET BETTER one day & will be able to work a normal nursing shift...even if i have to wait till i'm 40...i don't care. i've lots to do in this life.
getting SSD would be a life saver and i desperatley need it. i know that when i run out of funds, Joe will jump in for me....but i don't want him to do that, but i know he would. he is very very stable and successful.
i bet ya can tell i'm constantly drilling this stuff in my head right?? it's the only way i am staying sane.
hoping for a good outcome from all of this.
it's just really hard having no "plan" or workers disabilty or anything to draw on.
even this little laptop is not mine! it's my honey's he gave me for school. turned out to serve a lot of purposes too!
have a good night
erin
Don't know so much about 60 not quite there yet!
Don't walk in front of me....I may not follow
So sorry to hear they have pulled off that eight o'clock in the morning appointment non sense. It just amazes me when they do that to arthritis patients.
The neurologist who is checking me for MS always books for eight in the morning and so did the rheumatologist for my first appointment.
When I tried to rebook they told me new patients are always seen first thing in the morning.
Anyway it was a two hour drive for me as well. So it meant waking up at 5. I think I just did not bother going to bed.
After seeing my rheumy for several visits and being told I would be part of a clinical study and get put on Humira, after the fourth visit she told me the methotrexate seemed to be making my TOES better, so I no longer qualified for the Humira.
Well the next time I saw her, I made sure I said ouch when she examined my TOES.
GOOD LUCK!! Will keep you in my prayers.
Judy/Effie
Thanks for all the tips and info. I'm sure I'll be writing my questions and updates! I will not cause a stir and take the 8 am appt - I guess maybe that would work IN my favor, right? Mornings are tough, right? Maybe so early is a GOOD thing to be tested.
I'll keep you posted.
Now, we just need to gang up on Erin's case worker and give him/her a couple of boots in the pants! **
THat what I was thinking CaMama! Go in the morning, without much preparation and show them what mornings are really like! And have someone take you there so nothing gets a chance to loosen up.
I have thought about applying for SDI too so I am glad you are having this discussion. I have been wondering what the application process is like (in person?, on the phone?), how you ordered medical records, how much paperwork your doc(s) submits, how much doc charges for that paperwork (mine would) and what other documentation you have to provide. I know I could call the SDI office but I'm nervous about that for some reason.
Erin and LKE, I was a nurse too before RA and fibro took me out. OB is my specialty and I miss it.
I will continue to knit no matter what! A
all of these nurses!!! yippeeee for me....i'll be needing you all when it is BSN time!!! i am just an associates graduate right now; but was approved for an excelerated AS to BSN to MSN/PhD program. all of which will be on hold now till next september. i CANNOT do the clinical work. i would never be able to forgive myself if i dropped someone or did something because of my poor grip with my hands and bad joints. i was very surprised how understanding my dean was. she was very supportive of me going after my goals even though i may not be able to work a regular nursing job.