Re: Good News/Bad News
From: Deborah Goldberger (dgold74@optonline.net)
Fri Jan 11 07:00:02 2008
I can definitely relate! I also have endometriosis (in addition to
adhesions) and have had multiple surgeries. I don't know how helpful
this will be but, in regard to your questions about disability, I would
first suggest getting a lawyer who specializes in disability, as others
have mentioned. I did that and it saved me a lot of headaches! The only
down side is that about $5,300 of my retroactive payment went to him but
I thought it was well worth it! It's very helpful that you have all of
the documentation you mentioned. As another member of the board said,
it's not so much your illness but how that illness interferes with your
ability to work that matters. For example, for my application, we
stated that my medications (mainly the oxycodone) impaired my cognitive
functioning, making it impossible for me to continue doing my job. It's
important to try to give every example of why this horrible disease
prevents you from doing your job. Someone also once told me that it
helps to include something saying you need bed rest (or couch rest I
guess!) throughout the day because of the pain - only if that's true
obviously! And I think it is helpful to try to give an idea of what the
day is like for you - that you're in constant pain, cannot do basic
household tasks, etc. A good disability lawyer should know what's
important to include. If you do decide to go with an attorney, don't be
afraid to ask questions about his/her success rate, how long the entire
process usually takes, how often a hearing is required. You have every
right to ask those things. I hope this is at least a little helpful!
Having just gone through the process, I know it can be frustrating and
upsetting at times but, hopefully, in the end it will be worth it! Good
luck!
Debbie (NY)
At Mon, 24 Dec 2007, IAS Admin wrote:
>
>From: adhesions@adhesions.org [mailto:adhesions@adhesions.org] On Behalf Of
>Booboolrb@aol.com
>Sent: Monday, December 24, 2007 3:25 AM
>Subject: Re: Good News/Bad News
>
>I too have been suffering for years and getting worse. I was just released
>from U of M in Ann Arbor. The CT scans do not come back normal but the
>barium study does show my bowels are functioning, even though I have to
>drink Miralax 3 times a day and still have to use a suppository to get
>anything moving and then it is pure liquid!! I have been told that I may
>end up on disability. I am now on Oxycodon to help ease some of the
>pain.