Everyone seems to tell me that you need a letter of support from your docs.
How the heck do you get them without paying them?
Are there any lyme friendly practitioners that will write a narrative about lyme that can be presented with a case?
I'm open to anything. . even paying them.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Your LLMD won't do it??
Posted by Carol in PA (Member # 5338) on :
I think you should pay your physician to write a letter. You are hiring him for his knowledge and experience.
It takes a while to compose a good letter, and then there's the office expense of getting it typed up properly.
You can help by listing your problems, and all the things that you are no longer capable of doing. From what I've read, disability is not awarded based on a diagnosis, but on what you can do and can no longer do.
If you hire a lawyer to file papers for you, you pay him, don't you? A doctor's time is booked up to the gills, and for him to review your medical file and compose a good letter may take an hour.
There is info available about writing a good letter, I think it may be in the newbie's help links. Look in the thread, "Quick links" at the top of the list.
Connie's Guidelines for physicians writing letters for disability claims:
Guidelines for Use in Writing Letters/Reports in Support of Social Security Benefits for Patients With Tick-borne Diseases
[ 05-04-2011, 04:15 AM: Message edited by: Carol in PA ]
Posted by Rene (Member # 4870) on :
I got disability without a letter from any Dr. I'm sure it helps to have one, just letting you know that you can get disability without a letter.
Posted by peacemama (Member # 17666) on :
I've been denied at the hearing level. . and the letter my LLMD was willing to write was terrible. The biggest issue was that most of my medical records weren't there. . I never saw the disk that had all the records on it, although my attorney said she would give it to me.
My attorney represented me terrible. And now I have another one.
I'm not saying I don't want to pay a doc to do it. . I just can't find one that will.
Isn't there a doc that might write one that knows lyme but not necessarily me?
I didn't mean to sound like I didn't want to pay them. . but so far, even offering to pay their hourly rate, I can't get one to do it. I think they hesitate because they know I am low income, have two sick kids and a sick partner.
Posted by chiquita incognita (Member # 30381) on :
I would ask for an alternative diagnosis just so the payment is approved, Fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, whatever is true and not lying, but does not use the word "lyme".....as long as this is legal to do. Check into that first of course....
Posted by ConnieMc (Member # 191) on :
There is a need to demonstrate the presence of a "medically determinable impairment" which is reasonably expected to cause the specific symptoms/impairment alleged by the SS claimant.
For example, a CDC positive Lyme test (objective evidence) can reasonably be expected to lead to arthritis, pain, fatigue, etc.
But what if someone has impairments which are entirely "subjective" in the absence of objective evidence? Lyme can be a perfect example. If an individual has a "clinical" diagnosis of Lyme due to a negative test result, it is important that the treating physician who made the diagnosis justify the diagnosis. Most symptoms are subjective ... pain, fatigue, brain fog, etc. And we all know that there are other labels used to describe these symptoms.
It is very important to obtain as much "objective" evidence as possible.
For example - Document cognitive impairment with a neuropsychological eval
Document fibromyalgia with a trigger point exam by a qualified physician
Document arthritis with x-rays showing inflammation of the joints pics of swollen joints labs showing increased inflammation
When preparing your claim, also focus on longitudinal evidence ... that is, medical evidence generated over a long period of time showing the presence of a specific set of symptoms. Make sure your physician is descriptive in his/her notes. When possible, if you lose a job due to your symptoms, try o get a statement from your employer to help document issues which led to your inability to work.