I AM A 24 YEAR OLD WITH MENIERE'S DISEASE(WHICH HAS LEFT ME DEATH IN ONE EAR), IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME, CHRONIC BRONCHITIS, AND BACK PROBLEMS. I APPLIED FOR SSD AND GOT TURNED DOWN. I THINK ON MY GOOD DAYS I COULD GO TO WORK NO PROBLEM, BUT DO YOU KNOW HOW OFTEN I HAVE GOOD DAYS, RARELY. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. PLEASE HELP AND RESPOND. THANK YOU.

To add to everything else, I went to the doctor the other day for a check up on my bronchitis, I thought. My blood pressure has dropped from my normal 98/80 to 88/62, and my ekg came out abnormal. She thinks that I have something wrong with my heart. I go for my stress test tomorrow. I am so mad and scared at the same time. She said my t wave was inverted. Possible heart attack now or later. My grandmother died with congestive heart failure at the age of 53, and my aunt is awaiting stent surgery. She has congestive heart failure at 42.

[This message has been edited by kmnorris (edited 06-11-2003).]

Kmnorris~

Keep appealing for benefits. Read some of the other posts here, you'll find some good information about the importance of appealing. You will be denied a couple of times....that's just the nature of the game. Don't give up! Keep appealing!

Check out www.ssa.gov (http://www.ssa.gov) , they'll have a lot of useful info there.

Good Luck!

~Teri

kmnorris,

As Teri said, keep at it! It is typical for almost everyone to be turned down at least twice and then having to go through the hearing process before getting approved for benefits. At your young age, it may be that you have not worked enough (earned enough credits) and paid into the social security system to qualify for SSD (social security disability) benefits. It may be that you should be allpying for SSI (supplimental security income) benffits. You should be able to find the info about both on the site that Teri gave you.

You might also want to contact an attorney. For disability, the attorneys work on a contingency basis so you don;'t have any up front out of pocket legal fees; and then they only get paid if they do in fact win benefits for you.

Do as much research as you can regarding the ins and outs of SSD adn SSI.......and keep fighting!

love and prayers,

aj in Oregon


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~ 48 year old female; currently self-employed as an artist/designer/woodcrafter.
~ Previously worked in the restaurant biz for 27 years (not so good for someone with a bad back!)
~ Hereditary and congenital scoliosis, but it never caused any problems until I was 40+ years old.
~ 76 degree curvature had increased 2 degrees in two years 1999-2001; indicating surgery was necessary.
~ Surgery in March of 2001.
~ Fusion and insturmentation of C7 - T9.
~ Fourth rib removed; 5th and 6th rib cut back halfway; removed ribs were morselized and used for the grafting, plus additional bone harvested from hip.
~ After tthe hardware was attached, spine was straigntened 20+ degrees.
~ 2 weeks in the hospital.
~ Brace worn for five months. Bone growth stimulator device also worn several hours per day.
~ PT 5 mos. after surgery caused increased pain.
~ Follow-up surgery to remove hardware scheduled for Feb. 2002.
~ Round 2 of PT 2 mos. after hardware removal.
~ Medically released to return to full activity in July 2002.
~ Increased pain upon returning to regular work schedule.
~ Round 3 of PT in April/May 2003; continually increasing pain.