Anyone have an tips on disability for Lyme disease

[Guest guest]

I know there is a site for lymies just for disability , I seen it on the

masslyme group , they are extremely helpful with all questions , and

have some very knowledgeable folks over there , If I have a chance I will

look thru my lyme files and see if I can find some of others questions unless

someone beats me to it ...

In a message dated 4/4/2010 6:20:38 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,

judyb77@... writes:

Hi,

I've been part of this group for a while and mostly just read other notes.

Anyway, when I got sick, they didn't diagnose lyme for 2 years. I

applied for disability and hired a lawyer who's main business was getting

people

disability. That is key. They only get paid if you win, then take a

percent that I think is set by the government so I had no out of pocket

expenses. I applied as a CFS sufferer. The lawyer told me I would most likely

be

turned down, then I would appeal, go to court and win. Well, I filled out

all the special forms he gave me and had doctors write letters and fill out

more forms and on the one I sent in I expressed how much I loved my work,

as a singer and in a school and how I missed it terribly and just wanted to

get my health and my life back. Maybe that helped, I don't know, but I

was accepted right away. The thing is, as hard as CFS is to prove, it is

approved by the CDC. I would talk to a lawyer first and explain everything.

If the lawyer do

esn't think your son would win with a lyme diagnoses, maybe the Reynaud's

Syndrome would work. Lyme mimics so many other chronic diseases and is so

hard to diagnose that you could probably use something else if the lyme

will cause problems and as long as the doctors are willing to help.

I wish you and him luck and I pray for his recovery. Tell him not to give

up!! I was in bed for about 3 years and now (it's been a little over 4.5

years total), after 2.5 years on antibiotics and herbs and a few months on

rife, I am getting my life back. It is very slow and I have a long way to

go but I've also come light years. I tell people now that I can't do what

I want, but I can do many things that I enjoy and I am very hopeful now

that I will continue to improve.

Judy

On Apr 4, 2010, at 1:25 PM, C wrote:

> Just wondering if anyone has any tips or information on navigating the

disability maze. We are dealing with an adult child suffering with Lyme,

with no health insurance or coverage.

>

> He is a guitar player who had to quit playing and working survival

jobs(Barrista). He moved back in with us last Sept and has been working with a

Lyme MD in the bay area. He is on Doxy, Azithromycin, Tindamax, also doing

has been doing Cats Claw, Milk Thistle, Enzymes, three different probiotics,

gluten/dairy/sugar-free diet, and also did 5 weeks of Hyperbaric. He does

saunas regularly, and also epsom salt baths, massage, and meditation. He was

tested by Igenex back in July, and his MD put him at 90% certain for Lyme.

>

> He has extreme pain and weakness in his arms and wrists, also pain in

his ankles, and has pretty much experienced every symptom that shows up on

the Lyme radar screen. He also saw a Rheumatologist who diagnosed him with

Reynaud's Syndrome which is what got me on the trail of Lyme in the first

place. He saw a hand therapy specialist in SF who was clueless.

> We know he was bitten by a tick when he was 12 or 13. We pulled it off

him after a camping trip in NH, and the tick could have been on him for up

to a week. The tick was tested and supposedly cleared, but that was in the

90's in Maine, so I don't have a lot of confidence in the testing, knowing

what I know now. He also lived at an old farmhouse outside of Knoxville that

was probably crawling with critters. This was when his symptoms started to

become much worse.

>

> The expense of all this is repressive, since all of this is

out-of-pocket, and he is so frustrated and depressed by his situation that I

fear for

his life. My heart bleeds for him, and I don't know how much more we can do

to help him, except to continue to support him in any way we can.

>

> I fear that the IDSA and CDC restrictions will foreclose on any

assistance he might get, even short term, and I am afraid that one false move

under

the California Ponzi scheme will ruin his chances down the road, if he

doesn't improve.

>

> If anyone out there has had any experience with getting disability

coverage, the information could be a life-saver.

>

> Thanks,

> Steve Cook

>

>

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

------------------------------------

Buy Healing Lyme: Natural Healing And Prevention of Lyme Borreliosis And

Its Coinfections by Buhner at one of these locations:

http://tinyurl.com/3bgm5d

Links

[Guest guest]

The Lyme Disease Association has some information about disability benefits at

this link:

http://www.lymediseaseassociation.org/SSI.html

Good luck.

Sally A. Schreiber

________________________________

From: on behalf of C

Sent: Sun 4/4/2010 12:25 PM

Subject: [ ] Anyone have an tips on disability for Lyme disease

Just wondering if anyone has any tips or information on navigating the

disability maze. We are dealing with an adult child suffering with Lyme, with no

health insurance or coverage.

He is a guitar player who had to quit playing and working survival

jobs(Barrista). He moved back in with us last Sept and has been working with a

Lyme MD in the bay area. He is on Doxy, Azithromycin, Tindamax, also doing has

been doing Cats Claw, Milk Thistle, Enzymes, three different probiotics,

gluten/dairy/sugar-free diet, and also did 5 weeks of Hyperbaric. He does saunas

regularly, and also epsom salt baths, massage, and meditation. He was tested by

Igenex back in July, and his MD put him at 90% certain for Lyme.

He has extreme pain and weakness in his arms and wrists, also pain in his

ankles, and has pretty much experienced every symptom that shows up on the Lyme

radar screen. He also saw a Rheumatologist who diagnosed him with Reynaud's

Syndrome which is what got me on the trail of Lyme in the first place. He saw a

hand therapy specialist in SF who was clueless.

We know he was bitten by a tick when he was 12 or 13. We pulled it off him after

a camping trip in NH, and the tick could have been on him for up to a week. The

tick was tested and supposedly cleared, but that was in the 90's in Maine, so I

don't have a lot of confidence in the testing, knowing what I know now. He also

lived at an old farmhouse outside of Knoxville that was probably crawling with

critters. This was when his symptoms started to become much worse.

The expense of all this is repressive, since all of this is out-of-pocket, and

he is so frustrated and depressed by his situation that I fear for his life. My

heart bleeds for him, and I don't know how much more we can do to help him,

except to continue to support him in any way we can.

I fear that the IDSA and CDC restrictions will foreclose on any assistance he

might get, even short term, and I am afraid that one false move under the

California Ponzi scheme will ruin his chances down the road, if he doesn't

improve.

If anyone out there has had any experience with getting disability coverage, the

information could be a life-saver.

Thanks,

Steve Cook

[Guest guest]

Hi,

I've been part of this group for a while and mostly just read other notes.

Anyway, when I got sick, they didn't diagnose lyme for 2 years. I applied for

disability and hired a lawyer who's main business was getting people disability.

That is key. They only get paid if you win, then take a percent that I think is

set by the government so I had no out of pocket expenses. I applied as a CFS

sufferer. The lawyer told me I would most likely be turned down, then I would

appeal, go to court and win. Well, I filled out all the special forms he gave

me and had doctors write letters and fill out more forms and on the one I sent

in I expressed how much I loved my work, as a singer and in a school and how I

missed it terribly and just wanted to get my health and my life back. Maybe

that helped, I don't know, but I was accepted right away. The thing is, as hard

as CFS is to prove, it is approved by the CDC. I would talk to a lawyer first

and explain everything. If the lawyer doesn't think your son would win with a

lyme diagnoses, maybe the Reynaud's Syndrome would work. Lyme mimics so many

other chronic diseases and is so hard to diagnose that you could probably use

something else if the lyme will cause problems and as long as the doctors are

willing to help.

I wish you and him luck and I pray for his recovery. Tell him not to give up!!

I was in bed for about 3 years and now (it's been a little over 4.5 years

total), after 2.5 years on antibiotics and herbs and a few months on rife, I am

getting my life back. It is very slow and I have a long way to go but I've also

come light years. I tell people now that I can't do what I want, but I can do

many things that I enjoy and I am very hopeful now that I will continue to

improve.

Judy

On Apr 4, 2010, at 1:25 PM, C wrote:

> Just wondering if anyone has any tips or information on navigating the

disability maze. We are dealing with an adult child suffering with Lyme, with no

health insurance or coverage.

>

> He is a guitar player who had to quit playing and working survival

jobs(Barrista). He moved back in with us last Sept and has been working with a

Lyme MD in the bay area. He is on Doxy, Azithromycin, Tindamax, also doing has

been doing Cats Claw, Milk Thistle, Enzymes, three different probiotics,

gluten/dairy/sugar-free diet, and also did 5 weeks of Hyperbaric. He does saunas

regularly, and also epsom salt baths, massage, and meditation. He was tested by

Igenex back in July, and his MD put him at 90% certain for Lyme.

>

> He has extreme pain and weakness in his arms and wrists, also pain in his

ankles, and has pretty much experienced every symptom that shows up on the Lyme

radar screen. He also saw a Rheumatologist who diagnosed him with Reynaud's

Syndrome which is what got me on the trail of Lyme in the first place. He saw a

hand therapy specialist in SF who was clueless.

> We know he was bitten by a tick when he was 12 or 13. We pulled it off him

after a camping trip in NH, and the tick could have been on him for up to a

week. The tick was tested and supposedly cleared, but that was in the 90's in

Maine, so I don't have a lot of confidence in the testing, knowing what I know

now. He also lived at an old farmhouse outside of Knoxville that was probably

crawling with critters. This was when his symptoms started to become much worse.

>

> The expense of all this is repressive, since all of this is out-of-pocket, and

he is so frustrated and depressed by his situation that I fear for his life. My

heart bleeds for him, and I don't know how much more we can do to help him,

except to continue to support him in any way we can.

>

> I fear that the IDSA and CDC restrictions will foreclose on any assistance he

might get, even short term, and I am afraid that one false move under the

California Ponzi scheme will ruin his chances down the road, if he doesn't

improve.

>

> If anyone out there has had any experience with getting disability coverage,

the information could be a life-saver.

>

> Thanks,

> Steve Cook

>

>

[Guest guest]

I too am currently applying for disability but didn't even mention lyme since I

am not CDC positive. I am " diagnosed " with CFS, fibromyalgia, anxiety, &

chronic headaches. I have an appointment with a state mental evaluate next

week. Should be fun. One of my friends with lyme was just denied.

-Sonya

Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone with SprintSpeed

Re: [ ] Anyone have an tips on disability for Lyme

disease

Hi,

I've been part of this group for a while and mostly just read other notes.

Anyway, when I got sick, they didn't diagnose lyme for 2 years. I applied for

disability and hired a lawyer who's main business was getting people disability.

That is key. They only get paid if you win, then take a percent that I think is

set by the government so I had no out of pocket expenses. I applied as a CFS

sufferer. The lawyer told me I would most likely be turned down, then I would

appeal, go to court and win. Well, I filled out all the special forms he gave

me and had doctors write letters and fill out more forms and on the one I sent

in I expressed how much I loved my work, as a singer and in a school and how I

missed it terribly and just wanted to get my health and my life back. Maybe

that helped, I don't know, but I was accepted right away. The thing is, as hard

as CFS is to prove, it is approved by the CDC. I would talk to a lawyer first

and explain everything. If the lawyer doesn't think your son would win with a

lyme diagnoses, maybe the Reynaud's Syndrome would work. Lyme mimics so many

other chronic diseases and is so hard to diagnose that you could probably use

something else if the lyme will cause problems and as long as the doctors are

willing to help.

I wish you and him luck and I pray for his recovery. Tell him not to give up!!

I was in bed for about 3 years and now (it's been a little over 4.5 years

total), after 2.5 years on antibiotics and herbs and a few months on rife, I am

getting my life back. It is very slow and I have a long way to go but I've also

come light years. I tell people now that I can't do what I want, but I can do

many things that I enjoy and I am very hopeful now that I will continue to

improve.

Judy

On Apr 4, 2010, at 1:25 PM, C wrote:

> Just wondering if anyone has any tips or information on navigating the

disability maze. We are dealing with an adult child suffering with Lyme, with no

health insurance or coverage.

>

> He is a guitar player who had to quit playing and working survival

jobs(Barrista). He moved back in with us last Sept and has been working with a

Lyme MD in the bay area. He is on Doxy, Azithromycin, Tindamax, also doing has

been doing Cats Claw, Milk Thistle, Enzymes, three different probiotics,

gluten/dairy/sugar-free diet, and also did 5 weeks of Hyperbaric. He does saunas

regularly, and also epsom salt baths, massage, and meditation. He was tested by

Igenex back in July, and his MD put him at 90% certain for Lyme.

>

> He has extreme pain and weakness in his arms and wrists, also pain in his

ankles, and has pretty much experienced every symptom that shows up on the Lyme

radar screen. He also saw a Rheumatologist who diagnosed him with Reynaud's

Syndrome which is what got me on the trail of Lyme in the first place. He saw a

hand therapy specialist in SF who was clueless.

> We know he was bitten by a tick when he was 12 or 13. We pulled it off him

after a camping trip in NH, and the tick could have been on him for up to a

week. The tick was tested and supposedly cleared, but that was in the 90's in

Maine, so I don't have a lot of confidence in the testing, knowing what I know

now. He also lived at an old farmhouse outside of Knoxville that was probably

crawling with critters. This was when his symptoms started to become much worse.

>

> The expense of all this is repressive, since all of this is out-of-pocket, and

he is so frustrated and depressed by his situation that I fear for his life. My

heart bleeds for him, and I don't know how much more we can do to help him,

except to continue to support him in any way we can.

>

> I fear that the IDSA and CDC restrictions will foreclose on any assistance he

might get, even short term, and I am afraid that one false move under the

California Ponzi scheme will ruin his chances down the road, if he doesn't

improve.

>

> If anyone out there has had any experience with getting disability coverage,

the information could be a life-saver.

>

> Thanks,

> Steve Cook

>

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks Judy and Lizzie for the info on navigating the disability gauntlet. I was

afraid the answer would involve lawyers, but the advice is appreciated. Better

than going through the motions for naught.

The last receipt we got from our Lyme MD had a red stamp on it indicating they

were no longer able to accept medicare or medicaid as coverage, not a good sign.

We don't use either at this point, but it is still a bad sign.

What ever happened to " do no harm " ?

Steve

[Guest guest]

Hope you have good luck with your session. As you probably noticed in the other

post, you are better off with a diagnosis other than Lyme, and having a lawyer

on your side is essential.

Steve

> Just wondering if anyone has any tips or information on navigating the

disability maze. We are dealing with an adult child suffering with Lyme, with no

health insurance or coverage.

>

> He is a guitar player who had to quit playing and working survival

jobs(Barrista). He moved back in with us last Sept and has been working with a

Lyme MD in the bay area. He is on Doxy, Azithromycin, Tindamax, also doing has

been doing Cats Claw, Milk Thistle, Enzymes, three different probiotics,

gluten/dairy/sugar-free diet, and also did 5 weeks of Hyperbaric. He does saunas

regularly, and also epsom salt baths, massage, and meditation. He was tested by

Igenex back in July, and his MD put him at 90% certain for Lyme.

>

> He has extreme pain and weakness in his arms and wrists, also pain in his

ankles, and has pretty much experienced every symptom that shows up on the Lyme

radar screen. He also saw a Rheumatologist who diagnosed him with Reynaud's

Syndrome which is what got me on the trail of Lyme in the first place. He saw a

hand therapy specialist in SF who was clueless.

> We know he was bitten by a tick when he was 12 or 13. We pulled it off him

after a camping trip in NH, and the tick could have been on him for up to a

week. The tick was tested and supposedly cleared, but that was in the 90's in

Maine, so I don't have a lot of confidence in the testing, knowing what I know

now. He also lived at an old farmhouse outside of Knoxville that was probably

crawling with critters. This was when his symptoms started to become much worse.

>

> The expense of all this is repressive, since all of this is out-of-pocket, and

he is so frustrated and depressed by his situation that I fear for his life. My

heart bleeds for him, and I don't know how much more we can do to help him,

except to continue to support him in any way we can.

>

> I fear that the IDSA and CDC restrictions will foreclose on any assistance he

might get, even short term, and I am afraid that one false move under the

California Ponzi scheme will ruin his chances down the road, if he doesn't

improve.

>

> If anyone out there has had any experience with getting disability coverage,

the information could be a life-saver.

>

> Thanks,

> Steve Cook

>

>

[Guest guest]

On my free lyme resource CD look in the folder

\1 - Lyme_Resources\Disablity and see if anything there helps you. (See

website below for a totally free copy)

There is also a lot of information on the CD on how folks have been able to

get their health back with limited MD assistance. My wife for instance and

many others.

www.lyme-resource.com

You can lead a person to a fact, but you can't make them think! -

[ ] Anyone have an tips on disability for Lyme

disease

Just wondering if anyone has any tips or information on navigating the

disability maze. We are dealing with an adult child suffering with Lyme,

with no health insurance or coverage.

He is a guitar player who had to quit playing and working survival

jobs(Barrista). He moved back in with us last Sept and has been working with

a Lyme MD in the bay area. He is on Doxy, Azithromycin, Tindamax, also doing

has been doing Cats Claw, Milk Thistle, Enzymes, three different probiotics,

gluten/dairy/sugar-free diet, and also did 5 weeks of Hyperbaric. He does

saunas regularly, and also epsom salt baths, massage, and meditation. He was

tested by Igenex back in July, and his MD put him at 90% certain for Lyme.

He has extreme pain and weakness in his arms and wrists, also pain in his

ankles, and has pretty much experienced every symptom that shows up on the

Lyme radar screen. He also saw a Rheumatologist who diagnosed him with

Reynaud's Syndrome which is what got me on the trail of Lyme in the first

place. He saw a hand therapy specialist in SF who was clueless.

We know he was bitten by a tick when he was 12 or 13. We pulled it off him

after a camping trip in NH, and the tick could have been on him for up to a

week. The tick was tested and supposedly cleared, but that was in the 90's

in Maine, so I don't have a lot of confidence in the testing, knowing what I

know now. He also lived at an old farmhouse outside of Knoxville that was

probably crawling with critters. This was when his symptoms started to

become much worse.

The expense of all this is repressive, since all of this is out-of-pocket,

and he is so frustrated and depressed by his situation that I fear for his

life. My heart bleeds for him, and I don't know how much more we can do to

help him, except to continue to support him in any way we can.

I fear that the IDSA and CDC restrictions will foreclose on any assistance

he might get, even short term, and I am afraid that one false move under the

California Ponzi scheme will ruin his chances down the road, if he doesn't

improve.

If anyone out there has had any experience with getting disability coverage,

the information could be a life-saver.

Thanks,

Steve Cook

------------------------------------

Buy Healing Lyme: Natural Healing And Prevention of Lyme Borreliosis And Its

Coinfections by Buhner at one of these locations:

http://tinyurl.com/3bgm5d

[Guest guest]

I just can't imagine what this mental evaluation will be like. I had a friend

with lyme sent to a mental eval & he said it was brutal.

-Sonya

Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone with SprintSpeed

Re: [ ] Anyone have an tips on disability for Lyme

disease

Hope you have good luck with your session. As you probably noticed in the other

post, you are better off with a diagnosis other than Lyme, and having a lawyer

on your side is essential.

Steve

> Just wondering if anyone has any tips or information on navigating the

disability maze. We are dealing with an adult child suffering with Lyme, with no

health insurance or coverage.

>

> He is a guitar player who had to quit playing and working survival

jobs(Barrista). He moved back in with us last Sept and has been working with a

Lyme MD in the bay area. He is on Doxy, Azithromycin, Tindamax, also doing has

been doing Cats Claw, Milk Thistle, Enzymes, three different probiotics,

gluten/dairy/sugar-free diet, and also did 5 weeks of Hyperbaric. He does saunas

regularly, and also epsom salt baths, massage, and meditation. He was tested by

Igenex back in July, and his MD put him at 90% certain for Lyme.

>

> He has extreme pain and weakness in his arms and wrists, also pain in his

ankles, and has pretty much experienced every symptom that shows up on the Lyme

radar screen. He also saw a Rheumatologist who diagnosed him with Reynaud's

Syndrome which is what got me on the trail of Lyme in the first place. He saw a

hand therapy specialist in SF who was clueless.

> We know he was bitten by a tick when he was 12 or 13. We pulled it off him

after a camping trip in NH, and the tick could have been on him for up to a

week. The tick was tested and supposedly cleared, but that was in the 90's in

Maine, so I don't have a lot of confidence in the testing, knowing what I know

now. He also lived at an old farmhouse outside of Knoxville that was probably

crawling with critters. This was when his symptoms started to become much worse.

>

> The expense of all this is repressive, since all of this is out-of-pocket, and

he is so frustrated and depressed by his situation that I fear for his life. My

heart bleeds for him, and I don't know how much more we can do to help him,

except to continue to support him in any way we can.

>

> I fear that the IDSA and CDC restrictions will foreclose on any assistance he

might get, even short term, and I am afraid that one false move under the

California Ponzi scheme will ruin his chances down the road, if he doesn't

improve.

>

> If anyone out there has had any experience with getting disability coverage,

the information could be a life-saver.

>

> Thanks,

> Steve Cook

>

>

[Guest guest]

I proved disability with a multiple chemical sensitivity diagnosis in

1993. Took 6 months, didn't have an attorney. These days, you need an

attorney, and some have even proven under depression when they had the

" official " dx of CFS. Since Lyme manifests as CFS, and FMS, I think it

is easier to prove under those conditions. The way to " convince them " is

to go off all your meds.

Most of the time you are denied the first time, but refile.

Perch

>

> I too am currently applying for disability but didn't even mention

lyme since I am not CDC positive. I am " diagnosed " with CFS,

fibromyalgia, anxiety, & chronic headaches. I have an appointment with

a state mental evaluate next week. Should be fun. One of my friends with

lyme was just denied.

>

[Guest guest]

Seems to be the common issue: automatic denial, get lawyer, wait two years, then

get approved. Two years of hell. The big question is, what are the things you

should never do when it comes to dealing with bureaucrats whose job it is to

deny help? I guess this is where the lawyers come in, to avoid making the

mistakes others have in the past. Unfortunately, lawyers = $$$$, which is the

main problem in the first place when dealing with Lyme on your own, out of

pocket.

My son cannot even drive a car or take notes in a class he is taking because of

the pain in his arms and wrists. He has also developed lower leg and ankle pain.

We used to take a long walk every day, when he first moved back in with us, but

no more.

We're a sinking ship, bailing with a teaspoon while being filled by a bucket.

Thanks for the information.

Steve C.

From: fleabitten_percheron <infonewsbabe@...>

Subject: [ ] Re: Anyone have an tips on disability for Lyme

disease

Date: Saturday, April 10, 2010, 5:26 AM

 

I proved disability with a multiple chemical sensitivity diagnosis in

1993. Took 6 months, didn't have an attorney. These days, you need an

attorney, and some have even proven under depression when they had the

" official " dx of CFS. Since Lyme manifests as CFS, and FMS, I think it

is easier to prove under those conditions. The way to " convince them " is

to go off all your meds.

Most of the time you are denied the first time, but refile.

Perch

>

> I too am currently applying for disability but didn't even mention

lyme since I am not CDC positive. I am " diagnosed " with CFS,

fibromyalgia, anxiety, & chronic headaches. I have an appointment with

a state mental evaluate next week. Should be fun. One of my friends with

lyme was just denied.

>

[Guest guest]

Don't the disability lawyers not collect unless they win your case? And then

they take a percentage? I haven't looked into it too much. But I screwed up my

mental eval with disability. So I'm pretty sure I will be denied.

-Sonya

Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone with SprintSpeed

[ ] Re: Anyone have an tips on disability for Lyme

disease

Date: Saturday, April 10, 2010, 5:26 AM

 

I proved disability with a multiple chemical sensitivity diagnosis in

1993. Took 6 months, didn't have an attorney. These days, you need an

attorney, and some have even proven under depression when they had the

" official " dx of CFS. Since Lyme manifests as CFS, and FMS, I think it

is easier to prove under those conditions. The way to " convince them " is

to go off all your meds.

Most of the time you are denied the first time, but refile.

Perch

>

> I too am currently applying for disability but didn't even mention

lyme since I am not CDC positive. I am " diagnosed " with CFS,

fibromyalgia, anxiety, & chronic headaches. I have an appointment with

a state mental evaluate next week. Should be fun. One of my friends with

lyme was just denied.

>

[Guest guest]

I'm not sure how the lawyers do the fee structure. I'm sure it depends on the

lawyer you are working with. How do you mean you screwed up the mental exam? Do

you know what specifically went wrong?

Steve

From: fleabitten_perchero n <infonewsbabe>

Subject: [ ] Re: Anyone have an tips on disability for Lyme

disease

Date: Saturday, April 10, 2010, 5:26 AM

 

I proved disability with a multiple chemical sensitivity diagnosis in

1993. Took 6 months, didn't have an attorney. These days, you need an

attorney, and some have even proven under depression when they had the

" official " dx of CFS. Since Lyme manifests as CFS, and FMS, I think it

is easier to prove under those conditions. The way to " convince them " is

to go off all your meds.

Most of the time you are denied the first time, but refile.

Perch

>

> I too am currently applying for disability but didn't even mention

lyme since I am not CDC positive. I am " diagnosed " with CFS,

fibromyalgia, anxiety, & chronic headaches. I have an appointment with

a state mental evaluate next week. Should be fun. One of my friends with

lyme was just denied.

>

[Guest guest]

Well the mental exam was because of my anxiety that comes with the lyme. Since I

didn't mention lyme on my application, just CFS, Fibro, chronic headaches, etc.

I figured they were probably going to base my claim on the anxiety. I was with

the lady for about 10 minutes. Explained that I don't go anywhere alone, etc.

But in the end she asked me a question that I misunderstood and answered

incorrectly. She asked me if it wasn't for my illness would I be able to work?

I said yes. But now I realize she meant- aside from the physical symptoms, WITH

just anxiety would I be able to work. I thought she meant everything because

anxiety is included in my illness. So I blew it and didn't realize it until I

was out of there.

-Sonya

Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone with SprintSpeed

[ ] Re: Anyone have an tips on disability for Lyme

disease

Date: Saturday, April 10, 2010, 5:26 AM

 

I proved disability with a multiple chemical sensitivity diagnosis in

1993. Took 6 months, didn't have an attorney. These days, you need an

attorney, and some have even proven under depression when they had the

" official " dx of CFS. Since Lyme manifests as CFS, and FMS, I think it

is easier to prove under those conditions. The way to " convince them " is

to go off all your meds.

Most of the time you are denied the first time, but refile.

Perch

>

> I too am currently applying for disability but didn't even mention

lyme since I am not CDC positive. I am " diagnosed " with CFS,

fibromyalgia, anxiety, & chronic headaches. I have an appointment with

a state mental evaluate next week. Should be fun. One of my friends with

lyme was just denied.

>

[Guest guest]

Well, it may not be as bad as you think. It's hard to second guess what someone

is after in a question like that. It doesn't sound to me like a bad answer, and

you were being honest. What difference does it make if the anxiety is caused by

the illnesses, if you need the disability help to conquer the illness? Still,

that's the kind of thing I am afraid of, trick interview questions that need to

be answered a certain way. I think that is where the lawyer part comes in, like

preparing someone to be cross-examined. the good ones know ahead of time what is

going on and they train you to answer correctly.

Thanks for sharing.

Steve

From: fleabitten_perchero n <infonewsbabe>

Subject: [ ] Re: Anyone have an tips on disability for Lyme

disease

Date: Saturday, April 10, 2010, 5:26 AM

 

I proved disability with a multiple chemical sensitivity diagnosis in

1993. Took 6 months, didn't have an attorney. These days, you need an

attorney, and some have even proven under depression when they had the

" official " dx of CFS. Since Lyme manifests as CFS, and FMS, I think it

is easier to prove under those conditions. The way to " convince them " is

to go off all your meds.

Most of the time you are denied the first time, but refile.

Perch

>

> I too am currently applying for disability but didn't even mention

lyme since I am not CDC positive. I am " diagnosed " with CFS,

fibromyalgia, anxiety, & chronic headaches. I have an appointment with

a state mental evaluate next week. Should be fun. One of my friends with

lyme was just denied.

>

[Guest guest]

The attorney only gets paid if you WIN the case and gets about 25% of what you

are owed. If you don't win, it's FREE.

[Guest guest]

The way it used to be is that the lawyer is limited by law to taking a certain

percentage of your first payout. If it is still the same, which particular

lawyer wouldn't make any difference as they all would take the same amount. Of

course, getting a good lawyer is important though in my area there was one who

did such work so not a lot of choice I don't think. Its been years since I did

mine so it may be different now. Find a lawyer who does it and ask. You should

be able to get the information you need. Or if there is an organization in your

area who helps people with disabilities, ask them. It CAN be done. Often takes

persistence and patience (and then more persistence! lol!) jo

>

>

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> >

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>

> > I too am currently applying for disability but didn't even mention

>

>

>

>

>

> lyme since I am not CDC positive. I am " diagnosed " with CFS,

>

>

>

>

>

> fibromyalgia, anxiety, & chronic headaches. I have an appointment with

>

>

>

>

>

> a state mental evaluate next week. Should be fun. One of my friends with

>

>

>

>

>

> lyme was just denied.

>

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> >

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>

[Guest guest]

Sonya, I hope you don't blame yourself if you get denied. Social Security is

notorious for disallowing applicants no matter how serious their conditions.

Don't give up. You have a 'reconsideration' option, as well as the 3rd try

before a judge. The fact that you think slowly is part of why we are disabled!

jo

>

> Well the mental exam was because of my anxiety that comes with the lyme. Since

I didn't mention lyme on my application, just CFS, Fibro, chronic headaches,

etc. I figured they were probably going to base my claim on the anxiety. I was

with the lady for about 10 minutes. Explained that I don't go anywhere alone,

etc. But in the end she asked me a question that I misunderstood and answered

incorrectly. She asked me if it wasn't for my illness would I be able to work?

I said yes. But now I realize she meant- aside from the physical symptoms, WITH

just anxiety would I be able to work. I thought she meant everything because

anxiety is included in my illness. So I blew it and didn't realize it until I

was out of there.

> -Sonya

> Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone with SprintSpeed

>

[Guest guest]

Thank you Jo! Maybe I should hire an attorney now & not wait until I get

denied??

Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone with SprintSpeed

[ ] Re: Anyone have an tips on disability for Lyme

disease

Sonya, I hope you don't blame yourself if you get denied. Social Security is

notorious for disallowing applicants no matter how serious their conditions.

Don't give up. You have a 'reconsideration' option, as well as the 3rd try

before a judge. The fact that you think slowly is part of why we are disabled!

jo

>

> Well the mental exam was because of my anxiety that comes with the lyme. Since

I didn't mention lyme on my application, just CFS, Fibro, chronic headaches,

etc. I figured they were probably going to base my claim on the anxiety. I was

with the lady for about 10 minutes. Explained that I don't go anywhere alone,

etc. But in the end she asked me a question that I misunderstood and answered

incorrectly. She asked me if it wasn't for my illness would I be able to work?

I said yes. But now I realize she meant- aside from the physical symptoms, WITH

just anxiety would I be able to work. I thought she meant everything because

anxiety is included in my illness. So I blew it and didn't realize it until I

was out of there.

> -Sonya

> Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone with SprintSpeed

>