SSI Disability

I am a IIB an I am out of treatment but dealing with alot of side effects from treatment.  I had my interview and several doctors appts. still waiting on a decision from Social Security Disability.  I have been advised by many many people to appeal if denied and get a lawyer. Good luck!

Jackie:  So I would certainly start out the conversation that you have Stage 111A Grade 3 bc and then go on to tell them the many drugs you are on the many side effects from the med, the fact that you are a graphic artist (but throw in that in any job you would need your arm), that your Lymphedema is constantly having to be monitored and watched carefully so as not to get worse and that you are actively in PT.  Again, they honestly don't care that you have 2 kids (although I certainly do!) so look closly at your own health and ask yourself - do you have pain, does that pain interfer with your work, do you have side effects from the drugs you are on and does that effect you ability to do work.  Are you healthy in every other way?  No other medications for anything?  If so make sure they know every since medication you need to function and if you are like many of us you don't like taking pain meds, but if you doc has suggested them, make sure your investigator knows that you might have to go on them if the pain continues.  I think you get the picturs...  And my thoughts will be with you, please let us know how this goes!  You don't have to over-exaggerate your symptoms - just recall your worse day and report that day!!!  Good luck to you both and I hope to hear some report next week.  But remember they almost ALWAY throw out the first attempt and that DOES NOT speak to your need and right to continue on.. They are just hoping you will go away, don't you dare feel any guilt (that's there job to make you feel like you life is rosy and that you should be happy with your life)..  You've earned this money for working for years and it is an entitement no matter what they call it... (as you can see I am passionate about this issue - mostly because in the early 90s they finally stopped giving SSI to PRISONERS - PRISONERS.. no wonder the money in their accounts is low....  My blessings and warmest thought go with you - Be clever girl!!!  (I like it)

Ladies:  I have a question.  Is SSI Disability only for people who have worked and paid into the SS system?  What about those who becomed disabled or have Stage IV bc and have never worked?  Can they apply also?  I am not "at this time referring to myself" (I also have worked) but others I am thinking about.  Just curious how the system works.  I always thought it was for only Stage IV bc but from what I have read, it seems to be whatever stage one is in especially if one has other disabilities.  Is this so?  Thanks for any info you can share.

Deirdre1:  I was not thinking about myself (at this time, thank goodness!)  I just wanted to know how the system works for "what if".  The way the economy goes nowadays, any one of us could end in the "what if" group so I prefer to be prepared ahead of time.  Thanks for the education!

I worry about the wait time.  I am currently working (2 jobs), but there may come a day when I can't.  I don't know how I will make it between my last paycheck and the beginning of SS.  Don't you have to be out of work for a year first?

ANY condition can be documented as "painful" IF you have gone to the doctor and complained of "chronic" pain.  It needs to be documented and not just something you go in for WHEN you file.  Lymphedema may not have meet their criteria of "pain" but PAIN does..  Focus on the pain when dealing with your doctors and express it as chronic.. Chronic I believe is anything that goes on for more than 6 months with retraction.  It's difficult, but yes you must be out of work I believe for the year but you can apply 6 months after you leave work (well you can apply right away, but it's 6 months before they put you on the books so to speak).  So PAIN is what needs to be focused on when you ladies have lymphedema.. and that means pt and/or pain meds etc. would all need to be in your medical records..    It is depressing and a great deal of lawyers will not take the cases.. but it can and SHOULD be done so that we can take care of our bills and ourselves when it is the most important..  You must be having enough trouble to actually give up your job, then you must have enough (or the expert) write ups in your medical records.. So if you see a pot hole in the road start moving to the side now.. If you have pain don't "work throug it" start now by seeing a doctor, taking the medications that they will prescribe, see the specialists that they require..  It takes action now to be approved in the future.. but he caught 22 is that you must be bad enough now to leave your job!  And many of us can't do that even if it is "too much"...  This is difficult but again it can be done!!!!  Good luck, Best!  Deirdre

I know it's an incredibly long road and I'm truly sorry you are here!  You have documentation of pain (whether related to lymphedema or not doesn't matter), because your doc's have sent you to a PT.  But if the pain has not subsided you must follow the route that your doc has given you if you are to succeed at "proving" that you have a chronic pain syndrome now or in the near future.  I know, I hate to take meds too, but here's the thing, the nerve pain med. that you have been prescribed must first be taken for you to determine that it can help or not, if it can great then you will adjust you life accordingly to include that medication if not you go back to your primary care physician and allow him/her to look at a different angle.. but you must continue to follow your primary care's suggestions.. and if they (meds) do not work for you (which often happens) you don't go silent about he pain and nerve response you have them look at it again and perhaps use a different medication.. but if you don't do this "follow the doc's" game (and I say game not to discredit the doc's but to suggest that SSI will need to see the "tally" sheet from the docs and for this purpose the "tally" sheets are the doc's notes!)..  Chronic pain doesn't usually go away just because some doctor say's you are "fine"  - it can fall silent because you no longer advocate for yourself when it comes to pain because you feel ashamed or it feels useless but if you are ever to be approved for your paid for benefits you must play "follow the doc's" at least until it is amply documented that you do have a problem.  Doctor's have an ethical responsibility to treat pain the same way they do a broken bone.  Now because of our social feelings about "being weak" or "it's in their head" (by the way these are usually descriptions by someone who has NEVER experienced pain IMO) we go silient and that is not in our own best interest!   Not an easy road, but honestly, it's the only road to go when it comes to SSI!  Good luck and I hope you DO get relief from the pain and from the nerve damage.. Good luck and if I can be of more specific help please IM me!!  Best, Deirdre