Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

I was told to list every symptom I had and thats just what I did. They dont care what the disease is called they just want to know what symptoms you have that make it impossible for you to work. The more you have the better

I listed every physical problem including plantar faciatias. I also had a very difficult time mentally and told them I had to turn over my personal finances because I was not able to put my bills and check book together for 4 months.

When they asked me if I went out on a regular basis I said yes, to the mailbox. It seems funny now but back then it was the truth. That was my only regular outing.

I told them I ate almond better and rice cakes for day on end cuz it was so hard to get to the grocery store and when I did I didnt have it in me to cook. I would stare at the food and not know what to do with it.

The whole form looked like it was written my a messy kid but I suspect that just played in my favor.

When they sent me to a shrink for cognitive testing and their gp I said I would be happy to see any doc they sent me to cuz, just maybe they might have an answer.

I talked to the claim person who handles my case several times and we got along real well. Remember this person is the one who makes the yes or no decision so you do not want them not to like you. Be yourself and friendly

After she made the yes decision it still had to go to the regional office to be ok'd. They dont send them all but they did send mine.

I got it first time, no lawyer but I was not a high wage earner and was in my late 50's. Those things make an impact Im sure. They figure if your highly educated you can do Something even if your comatose and cant write.

When completing all the redundant paperwork, do NOT have it error free! When you make a mistake, just leave it. If you are able to do 100% free of error work, then you have shown you can still do substantial work!!

They used that against me on my 1st claim. It took me 5 FULL YEARS to finally be approved 7-1-05; they went back 3 yrs. & paid me for 2.5 years back pay.

Read it good, read the female MDs & bookmark it as you will use this a lot.

MINOUCAT has great disability info, you could access it using TREEPATROL's newbie links, and go down several pages until you see "insurance" I believe ... SS disability by Minoucat & click on it ok.

Welcome to this 24/7 educational & support group board, www.lymenet.org !
Here's TREEPATROL's and TINCUP'S combination newbie links.
http://flash.lymenet.org/ubb/Forum1/HTML/029917.html

Print off the links then check them off as you read as you could spend several months reading all of this. Treepatrol constantly adds new links as they become available from the members here.

print & read Dr. B's (a lyme literate MD) info first; you will come back to this often.

Also, see Cheryl's extensive web sites on: LD DIAGNOSIS, SYMPTOMS, & TREATMENT ... wonderful!
http://www.lymeinfo.net/lymediseasetreatment.html

Some guidelines from Betty/others on using this message board:

* Do NOT use all caps when posting; it's hard on our eyes. But I know one of our members has macular degeneration, and all caps is what she can see & read so exceptions like this are acceptable for good reasons.

* We chronic, late-stage lymies can NOT read long paragraphs. So please limit your paragraphs to 6-8 lines max of text and double space between paragraphs.

* You can EDIT your text comments anytime. You can NOT edit your subject line so please make it as specific as possible instead of ``help, question'' etc. in order to have more readers/replies in trying to assist you. There are between 30-40 NEW/replies to post daily so we can't read all the posts on our limited time here...thanks for understanding.

* If you use the ``quote'' icon, please DELETE [B] bold at the beginning & ending of the quote. This makes it easier on our chronic, late-stage lyme eyes.

* To just reply without quoting, go to the top or bottom of screen in the black & white area to reply or post a new topic. Many of us couldn't see it when we 1st started posting. Thank you for helping us all out!
*
* LYME SYMPTOMS - http://www.lyme.org/otherdis/ld_symptoms.html
Bettyg, Iowa

IF YOU ARE TRYING TO GET SS DISABILITY INSURANCE or LONG TERM DISABILITY BENEFITS
=============================================

This message is sent upon subscription, and again monthly.
Please let the moderators know if any of the links have changed.
There are several links found by clicking on 'Links' on the website or by going directly to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Disinissues/links

There are many more links, as well as advice, in the "useful" messages
in the Files area of the website. Go to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Disinissues
and click on Files.

BETTY NOTE: Look at the female MD's DETAILED BACKGROUND right below this paragraph. Print off her detailed responses as to why she could NOT do her job, and then apply that to YOUR own job as to why you no longer can do any type of sustainable work now nor in the foreseeable future!
http://www.cfids-me.org/socsec.html

Betty's note: Here is EVERYTHING about the complete SSDI process; their rules/regulations! BOOKMARK IT PLEASE as you will come back often to read up on the next steps! http://www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/cfr20/404/404-0000.htm

These links are a compilation of several areas of interest which are
commonly requested and mentioned. They reflect the collected wisdom
of this group. Check them out - you just might find the information
you were looking for! Take a look at Files that are not specific to
your situation, because they might be helpful anyway - what works for
Social Security may work for LTD claims, what applies to CFS may apply
to your medical condition.

The Welcome Message and Group Guidelines are also in Files, if you
need a refresher on how this group works.

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An online friend of mine from disinissues web site posted this info today, so I have copied it over here.

Subject: fibro/CFS disability info [Disinissues] what does an Functional Capacity Exam entail?

Lyme, fibro, & CFS support group members who are/will be filing for SS Disability insurance benefits, please go to the web page shown below.

There were 9 pages of info I printed below area where you can order from fibro network a 70 page packet. I too plan on including this info when I send my FINAL packet of info to chief alj before my June 16, 05 hearing...my last chance!
=======================================

Please read the site mentioned on: WHY DISABILITY TESTING FOR FMS IS OFTEN MISLEADING ADVICE FOR FM/CFS PATIENTS AND THEIR DISABILITY TEAM.....

Also after this article are the following articles:

WHAT COULD BE CAUSING DELAYED-PHASE FLARES?

BENNETT'S METHOD FOR ASSESSING FUNCTION IN FMS..

TECTONIC CHANGES IN DISABILITY LAW by lawyer Joshua Potter, CALIF.

MEDICALLY DETERMINABLE IMPAIRMENT REQUIREMENTS FOR CFS & FMS

DOCUMENTIONATION...VIEW IT AS AN INSURANCE POLICY

I printed this out in larger print for my eyes....9 pages! Will read it thoroughly and mark up 2nd copy to go to ALJudge for my 2nd hearing as medical evidence also....

http://www.ilads.org/brochures.html
The following is an announcement from ILADS:
What you need to Know about ILADS and Lyme Disease and What Psychiatrists Should Know about Lyme Disease are now available in a PDF file on the ILADS web site

(www.ILADS.org). They are in a printable version so that if you have a color printer, you can print them up yourself

My very best advice...get a good attorney...one that someone you know has used and gotten good results, preferbly.

An attorney who specializes in SS will not charge you until you win and only then. So, you do NOT have to have money up front.

I had two, a really bad one that did nothing, and then I found another that without his help I would've never gotten approved.

Good luck and I hope you go to the sites you've been given...they are worth the time.

http://www.anapsid.org/cnd/disability/

SS does not give a rat's rear end what you have or whether your are better or whatever. The only thing that they care about is whether you can work or not. Can work work 8/5 every week. If not can you work in such and such conditons for so many hours straight.

May I strongly suggest that you get your self a SS rep or attorney who has been around the block with these people and been around the block dozens of times. You might want to find out his/her success rate.

I note that you say you are feeling better on therapy or some such foolishness. Do you want to get on SS or not? There is such a thing as saying too much or saying it the wrong way. Foot in mouth disease can be a expensive affliction.

Do you need the money? Can you work? If you cannot work then you need to establish that fact in terms that fit the rules and regulations of the SS people and you need to find somebody who knows and understands what those rules are. They are not what you think. So the first rule is do not open your big mouth and shoot yourself in the foot. I do not wish to be unkind, but an over zealous honesty does not pay the doctor's bills and does not SSDi get.

I went to two highly reputable attorney's and both turned me down. I then went to a retired SS administrator who knows the system backwards. He understood how things works. He got me what nobody else did. So instead of turning here for advice, however helpful or encouraging that may be, may I suggest that you get yourself a professional who will have an ecomonic interest in getting you your disability.

Good Luck. You are going to need it. You are also going to have to become incredibly patient, determined, persistent, unyielding and not be willing to give in to anger, frustration, despair and all the rest of it. Do not give out, do not give up and do not give in. Believe me these people are going to probably put you through the wringer.

quote:

---

Originally posted by ArtistDi:
Thank you so much for all this help. I am
so tired of everything lately, and my husband
lost his job (he is the bread-winner and
insurance carrier), so I am in a funk right
now.
Di

---

Di, you mentioned your husband lost his job. Are you able to get COBRA for 18 months?

Was your hubby on a GOOD health plan where you could pay the premiums & stay on it?

Best wishes to you Di; hope you can get some answers soon.

I listed all the various docs I had gone to over the past year and who knows what they said but I do know the sleep doc was on my side. I fell asleep in his office every time I saw him and the 2 day sleep test proved I couldnt stay awake.

an ssi lawyer is also a very very good thing, especially if you are exhausted. You can't get one till you're denied. They deny most people on the first try especially if you're younger than 50.

quote:

---

Originally posted by caat:
Thomas is right.

an ssi lawyer is also a very very good thing, especially if you are exhausted. You can't get one till you're denied. They deny most people on the first try especially if you're younger than 50.

---

HUH? Sorry to disagree, but, you CAN, and IMO, SHOULD get an attorney at any step in the process, especially at step One (1), beginning with the application. Having an attorney at the beginning will save you much aggrevation, and they know what to say on the initial app with the SS. Having an attorney at the beginning is important.

Just my opinion, but the getting an attorney before you are denied is a fact.