Re: MIA . . . Me! [LONG} LYNN & PAUL

[Guest guest]

Dear Lynn and :

Hi, sorry you are both having so much trouble getting ss. I know it can be

difficult to get. I was lucky I guess (that's really weird) I was able to

get ss twice. Both times I did the paper work myself. I never went to a

lawyer. I am not trying to brag or show off about this. I am hoping that my

story can help both of you. The first time I got it I was in my early 20's

and the reason was because I had started hemodialysis. (End stage renal

disease.)

I had an illness called Nephritis which started when I was 16 and caused

destruction of my kidneys by the time I was 21. So dialysis was necessary 3

times a week for 5 hr. a time to live.

I couldn't hold down a full time job. There were times I was very sick and

there times I was better. However in filling out the papers for ss I did not

emphasize about the times I felt better. I wasn't lying, there just wasn't

as many times I felt better, there were more times I felt worse. Tired,

weak, high BP, nauseated, very sleepy and in pain at times. Also, I was a

nervous wreck and I put that down too. It wasn't easy going through dialysis

plus my Mom and myself had to learn this complicated machine because we had

to have my dialysis treatments at home. We did it too for many years. It

was very nerve wracking for me and my Mom. We worried that something might

happen that we couldn't handle. We did okay though, but it was very

stressful.

OK I know dialysis is a situation where usually all get accepted but compare

it to your illnesses. Like I said I had good times and feeling better times.

That isn't something that you want to dwell on thought when writing your

papers. You have to make ss staff try to understand what it is like living

in your body when you have a diagnosis that limits what you can do. If 90%

of the time you are lousy and 10% you are fine for heavens sake don't expand

on that 10% when you do your papers. You are not being fair to yourself.

Even if it is 50%/50% talk more about your limitations. It is pretty hard to

find a job with any amount of limitations. They will tell you, " it is not

fair to my healthy employees if I hire you with your limitations. "

Anyway I hope this helps you both a little. I was able to go to school while

on ss and I became an RN. I worked for a while and had a kidney transplant.

I have that for 16 years now. However, about 6 years ago I got all this

Arthritis stuff and knew I couldn't work anymore. Most people say you know

when you are ready, and I knew it was time. Filling out papers the second

time I did myself again. I have swollen distorted fingers from the RA. I

didn't emphasize that sometimes my fingers don't hurt. I just said my

fingers are swollen and distorted. I have great difficulty writing and

typing and they are very painful. I have trouble doing any kind of fine work

where I have to pick up small things too. Don't offer more than you have to,

too. I also have Asthma. I didn't say sometimes I have Asthma. I have it,

it is usually a permanent thing, like RA, and other permanent diseases. I

have shortness of breath. I can't walk too far at all. I get distressed

very badly going up or down stairs. I am on medications, which help only a

little. If I get a good day I don't make like I am cured because this is a

permanent illness and you have to explain it that way to these ss people.

When they hear you are having a good day they think you are cured. They

don't know how it feels to be inside your body. If one day is good the next

could be the worst.

If you don't remember the symptoms of your illnesses then look them up in a

Medical Book and maybe it will refresh your memory. We tend to forget things

when we are feeling better.

Well, that's about all I have to say. I hope it will help you both.

I have one question for Lynn. Have you had your carpal tunnel operated on?

I did and my hand is okay today. For the most part I thought the surgery can

cure this all the time. If I am wrong, please let me know.

Okay everyone, Good Nite

Sincerely, Colletti

Anjillah@...

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

How are you feeling? My carpal tunnel is coming from my neck and

therefore it would do no good to operate on it. A pinched nerve is

pressing down on my neck and causing the carpal tunnel. I can deal with

the ct, it can be bad but not as bad as the RA or all this stomach stuff.

When I filled out my papers I did them myself. After reading you note I

don't think I was strong enough in my wording. Now I know if I have to do

it again. I have an attorney but he had me do the papers. I would have

liked his help but he just said to do it myself.

Hope you have a good day and thanks for your help,

Lynn

----------

> From: ANJILLAH@...

>

> Subject: Re: [ ] MIA . . . Me! [LONG} LYNN & PAUL

> Date: Tuesday, January 15, 2002 12:16 AM

>

> Dear Lynn and :

> Hi, sorry you are both having so much trouble getting ss. I know it can

be

> difficult to get. I was lucky I guess (that's really weird) I was able

to

> get ss twice. Both times I did the paper work myself. I never went to a

> lawyer. I am not trying to brag or show off about this. I am hoping

that my

> story can help both of you. The first time I got it I was in my early

20's

> and the reason was because I had started hemodialysis. (End stage renal

> disease.)

> I had an illness called Nephritis which started when I was 16 and caused

> destruction of my kidneys by the time I was 21. So dialysis was

necessary 3

> times a week for 5 hr. a time to live.

> I couldn't hold down a full time job. There were times I was very sick

and

> there times I was better. However in filling out the papers for ss I did

not

> emphasize about the times I felt better. I wasn't lying, there just

wasn't

> as many times I felt better, there were more times I felt worse. Tired,

> weak, high BP, nauseated, very sleepy and in pain at times. Also, I was

a

> nervous wreck and I put that down too. It wasn't easy going through

dialysis

> plus my Mom and myself had to learn this complicated machine because we

had

> to have my dialysis treatments at home. We did it too for many years.

It

> was very nerve wracking for me and my Mom. We worried that something

might

> happen that we couldn't handle. We did okay though, but it was very

> stressful.

> OK I know dialysis is a situation where usually all get accepted but

compare

> it to your illnesses. Like I said I had good times and feeling better

times.

> That isn't something that you want to dwell on thought when writing your

> papers. You have to make ss staff try to understand what it is like

living

> in your body when you have a diagnosis that limits what you can do. If

90%

> of the time you are lousy and 10% you are fine for heavens sake don't

expand

> on that 10% when you do your papers. You are not being fair to yourself.

> Even if it is 50%/50% talk more about your limitations. It is pretty

hard to

> find a job with any amount of limitations. They will tell you, " it is

not

> fair to my healthy employees if I hire you with your limitations. "

> Anyway I hope this helps you both a little. I was able to go to school

while

> on ss and I became an RN. I worked for a while and had a kidney

transplant.

> I have that for 16 years now. However, about 6 years ago I got all this

> Arthritis stuff and knew I couldn't work anymore. Most people say you

know

> when you are ready, and I knew it was time. Filling out papers the

second

> time I did myself again. I have swollen distorted fingers from the RA.

I

> didn't emphasize that sometimes my fingers don't hurt. I just said my

> fingers are swollen and distorted. I have great difficulty writing and

> typing and they are very painful. I have trouble doing any kind of fine

work

> where I have to pick up small things too. Don't offer more than you have

to,

> too. I also have Asthma. I didn't say sometimes I have Asthma. I have

it,

> it is usually a permanent thing, like RA, and other permanent diseases.

I

> have shortness of breath. I can't walk too far at all. I get distressed

> very badly going up or down stairs. I am on medications, which help only

a

> little. If I get a good day I don't make like I am cured because this is

a

> permanent illness and you have to explain it that way to these ss people.

> When they hear you are having a good day they think you are cured. They

> don't know how it feels to be inside your body. If one day is good the

next

> could be the worst.

> If you don't remember the symptoms of your illnesses then look them up in

a

> Medical Book and maybe it will refresh your memory. We tend to forget

things

> when we are feeling better.

> Well, that's about all I have to say. I hope it will help you both.

> I have one question for Lynn. Have you had your carpal tunnel operated

on?

> I did and my hand is okay today. For the most part I thought the surgery

can

> cure this all the time. If I am wrong, please let me know.

> Okay everyone, Good Nite

> Sincerely, Colletti

> Anjillah@...

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

SS....I was diagnoised with RA in 1998, but it wasn't until 99 that I had a

serious flare which reduced me to using a wheelchair..My Dr. suggested

disability which I did sign up for in about June and I received my first

check in Jan.2000. I just prayed as i filled out the papers and left it in

God's care. I was very surprised that it was proccessed so quickly (only 6

mos) as I'd heard how long it usually took. And my sister-in-law did have to

wait 2 years. I can't explain it; just know what happened.

Be Blessed

Becky

[Guest guest]

Hi Becky,

How are you feeling? Thanks for your information on the ss. I think

every case is so different. I have heard of people getting it over the

phone the first time and than others like me who have to wait. I guess I

will get it in God's time, I just have to be patient. It was nice hearing

from you.

Lynn

----------

> From: MaBeck742@...

>

> Subject: Re: [ ] MIA . . . Me! [LONG} LYNN & PAUL

> Date: Wednesday, January 16, 2002 3:26 AM

>

> SS....I was diagnoised with RA in 1998, but it wasn't until 99 that I had

a

> serious flare which reduced me to using a wheelchair..My Dr. suggested

> disability which I did sign up for in about June and I received my first

> check in Jan.2000. I just prayed as i filled out the papers and left it

in

> God's care. I was very surprised that it was proccessed so quickly (only

6

> mos) as I'd heard how long it usually took. And my sister-in-law did have

to

> wait 2 years. I can't explain it; just know what happened.

> Be Blessed

> Becky

>

>

>