Jumped into the fire finally

[panpt]

and filed for SSDI 35 days ago based on systemic (cerebral, mesenteric and renal) vasculitis, hypertension, multiple aneurysms, fibro, headaches, abdominal pain and fatigue. Sure hope this goes through the first time but due to my chronic bad luck, it probably won't. Too bad I couldn't use bad luck as a dx. Anyway, I did the whole thing online, interview and all. The only thing I had to fill out by paper was the functional form and my attorney helped me out with that. Now the wait. I just could not seem to get it together to work anymore, even though I worked at home as a medical transcriptionist. In the last 15 years, I have gone from being a CNA to a desk job and I couldn't even do that anymore. My salary went way down too. Seemed I always had to lie down and rest or take a pill for a migraine. My back was killing me from the sitting and every time I got up to move around, it put me further and further behind in my work. Then I started making errors and the company would call me on it. So one day, my husband said why don't to you just quit and see if you can get disability. So, now I'm here looking for some support. I've been reading posts daily to see if I did everything right and it seems I did. My lawyer was a huge help with those tricky questions.

[Executor]

Welcome to Healthboards! Many here have a lot of experience thus, can offer lots of support and guidance.

The best initial support / advice I can give is to prepare yourself for the possibility of the long haul. It's nothing against you or your case, but that's just the way SS is set up, unfortunately.

I've posted this in a couple of other threads, so you may have seen it....The single biggest mistake applicants make is thinking / applying from a perspective of their specific condition rather the "effects" of their condition. For example, if one just listed "Migraine" and the typical issues, your application might not fair to well....Especially since it's not one of the conditions they try to match your application to.

However, if your migraines are so debilitating that you have to take regular pain meds, lay down frequently, vomit, and etc., then those are the kind of "effects" you stress that keep you from being gainfully employed.

I'd be glad to help as much as possible. Please let me know where I can help.

Regards,

Ex

[mscat40]

Hi Panpt,
wow, you got a lawyer right away. That is terrific. Most people wait ntil they been denied a couple times, than seek one out, at least that is what I know to be the case. Everone is different though. Perhaps with professional assistance this will help your claim go through faster the first time.
I am not familiar with your disabling condtions , but, I like to wish you the very best of luck winning your claim.

[panpt]

Yes, got a lawyer right away. My doctor advised it. He said I would probably need one as I have nothing "visible" from the vasculitis flares, meaning a stroke due to the cerebral vasculitis or a colostomy from the mesenteric vasculitis. My lawyer told me I would problably have a fight on my hands but I guess that is just the way it goes, although the fact that I have already tried different forms of easier work over the last 15 years is a plus. I really, really took my time with the online application and addressed all the side effects each medication causes, from nausea all the way to sleepiness and on my functional sheet, I made sure to address that I can't sit still any longer, need to be up and down due to leg pain, need to sleep an hour or two during the day, etc, etc, etc. Took a looooong time to fill out those papers but hope it all works out well.