Disability help / neurology from today

So I had my appointment with neurology today. I’m working on my case following my appeal for disability.

My main obstacle is finding a way to document what’s causing the symptoms I’m experiencing. Basically a statement from I practitioner saying I have “xyz” which prevents me from working in whatever capacity.

Neurologist was surprisingly curious of my experience and knowledge of working extensively on this for 3-4 years now and took time to see the perspective I’ve developed. With that said, she spoke rather plainly with me that she’s having trouble seeing how to diagnose me from her background. I pushed for PTLDS and she said she doesn’t have a way to say if that’s why I’m having these symptoms, to which I responded well neither does the CDC but that’s the rationale for why not to treat this as a chronic infection - so why can’t I use that same logic for when it benefits me?

I guess she didn’t feel comfortable signing off on that. She wants me to go to infectious disease (who recently refused to see me) and to have them review my labs for a PTLDS diagnosis. Also ordered me an MRI to try to validate some of my neuro symptoms.

Anyone been through this process before with disability? Suggestions?

Well I have the same question. Unfortunately, I was denied the 1st time. I was diagnosed lyme, bart, c-ptsd. Anxiety, depression, depersonalization AND BPD (borderline personality disorder) which is hell BTW. After all these diagnosis and the guy who did my exam said my joints weren't swollen so they didn't really care home effects me not knowing it screws up blood pressure, migraines, emotional liability which is my biggest obstacle. I'm appealing currently and they did ask me if it's more physical or psychological smfh, which I felt was totally offensive. These ppl have no fkn idea what goes on with us. They're now requesting I get a neurophycological exam to move forward with my appeal. I dissociate often from my BPD and c-ptsd and they straight up tell me those are some limitations bt I can still work? So my mental state, and just up and leaving work and getting fired for that is totally stable and fine to them!! It's not though. I know ppl that have simple anxiety or adha and get SSI. Withal my diagnosis history, you'd think it'd be easier to get ssi. Well nope. I'm going to keep fighting for it. Hopefully something good happens, amd by God's miracle you and I will get it. Just pray and keep praying and keep appealing and fighting for it.

Post Edited (MedicalNerd) : 7/23/2023 7:24:58 AM (GMT-8)

saraeli said...
MedicalNerd, a family member with BPD has been on disability for many years, and the disability process has been easy for her, from start to finish. She just describes how her symptoms interfere with her ability to hold down a job and function, and emphasizes depression and anxiety. She has no physical issues. Maybe people have better luck if they just emphasize the psych aspect? Or maybe it's just tougher to get approved where you live. Either way, I wish you the best of luck!

That's nice to know I'm not alone. I've never actually met anyone else with bpd that's been approved for ssi even, makes me feel like a Martian lol. Sometimes I think the bpd is worse than lyme sadly. They said since I'm working part time, I don't qualify bt the thing is , if I just stop working how can I pay rent, bills etc. ? Thank God where I live my rent is subsidized and goes by my income so it would be possible for me to stop working for a while. Although I do work to save money for the llmd. I live in CT and my sister got denied 3 times before getting approved for SSI. And she just has adhd and and a learning disability. My middle son was autistic and born with neurodevelopmental issues, speech and walking , crawling delay etc. His bones in the back of his head were fused to early and he was born with something that I forgot is a super long word when the bones of the skull are fused too soon and causes intracranial pressure and the brain not to develope properly. Well my son was denied the first time around and they tried to tell me he was fine and not autistic . We took him to great places like Yale and Hartford Children's in CT but that still wasn't enough smdh. Hopefully something gotta give soon!

Lynnwood said...
The neuropsych exam & it's results are what made my road to full disability happen. Don't take offense, it's not a judgement, it's just a measurement of how your brain works and you already know it's not working 100%, so why not prove it to them and get the disability? I am very grateful my disability attorney mentioned it to me and my Dr concurred and ordered the testing.

That's what I mean, I can't wait to go amd eager to see what the phsyc testing will show. On the other hand, I feel those people are dummies, telling me I'm fine to work due to my lyme because my joints aren't swollen? They have no idea how lyme makes you feel inside rather than the outside. And also, my history of holding jobs in the past, therapy,medication, hospitalizations, they considered none of this . History is a big part of what they should look at . I used to be offended when they mentioned neurophsyc exam bt now I'm actually excited to figure out what it can tell. My thing is , disability isn't always a physical thing, it can be more mental or emotional/psychological

loski01: Did you see the links in my previous post?