disability

[Guest guest]

as hard as it is to get a great doc be prepared for the disability walk

with lymes been over a year for me hire a lawyer let them do the work

cindy in mich [ ] disability

> Hi. I am wondering if it is hard for lyme patients to get disability.

>

> Thanks,

>

> Christy

>

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[Guest guest]

In a message dated 6/19/99 1:40:55 AM Eastern Daylight Time, sasc@...

writes:

<< Now I am wondering, would a prednisone shot have this

effect on OA also or does it only do this with RA?

>>

,

Have what effect? Did you mean that would a shot of Pred make your OA feel

better like it does the RA? I dunno, I don't have OA but it would seem to

me, not. I don't think you have the same inflamation with OA as you do with

RA and so the Pred takes down the inflamation of RA. Make sense? Like you,

I think there may be a lot of people with RA who think it's only OA.

But then again, as soon as small joints are involved it is a sign of RA

rather than the OA ,except disfigurement and pain in the 1st finger joints

is OA. Wish someone could tell me why the little critters don't affect the

1st finger joints in RA. Anyone that wise out there? LOL

Anita

RA 26 years, Fibro, AP 16 months

[Guest guest]

Anihan@... wrote:

>

> 1st finger joints in RA. Anyone that wise out there? LOL

They're male. They refuse to stop and ask directions.

--

Regards,

Geoff Crenshaw, ACC ----------------------

Managing Partner ** No Disclaimers **

Captain Cook's Cruise Center ----------------------

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geoff@...

" Behold now, Behemoth, which I made as well as you; He eats grass like

an ox. Behold now, his strength in his loins, and his power in the

muscles of his belly. He bends his tail like a cedar; The sinews of his

thighs are knit together. His bones are tubes of bronze; His limbs are

like bars of iron. He is the first of the ways of God. "

God speaking to Job...

[Guest guest]

Dr Brown did say the alot of OA had a RA component--at least I think it

was something like that. Personally I think RA is generally under

diagnosed. I think the blood test should be given routinely when

someone has misc aches and pains I would have never been diagnosed so

early if I hadn't been sent to a PT and he told me to be tested and

being diagnosed early is so important then if you get on AP fast, you

can save yourself so much pain.

Anihan@... wrote:

>

> From: Anihan@...

>

> In a message dated 6/19/99 1:40:55 AM Eastern Daylight Time, sasc@...

> writes:

>

> << Now I am wondering, would a prednisone shot have this

> effect on OA also or does it only do this with RA?

> >>

>

> ,

>

> Have what effect? Did you mean that would a shot of Pred make your OA feel

> better like it does the RA? I dunno, I don't have OA but it would seem to

> me, not. I don't think you have the same inflamation with OA as you do with

> RA and so the Pred takes down the inflamation of RA. Make sense? Like you,

> I think there may be a lot of people with RA who think it's only OA.

>

> But then again, as soon as small joints are involved it is a sign of RA

> rather than the OA ,except disfigurement and pain in the 1st finger joints

> is OA. Wish someone could tell me why the little critters don't affect the

> 1st finger joints in RA. Anyone that wise out there? LOL

>

> Anita

> RA 26 years, Fibro, AP 16 months

>

> ------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Looking for a new hobby? Want to make a new friend?

>

> Come join one of 170,000 e-mail communities at ONElist!

[Guest guest]

Hi Kaye. I've filed for disability through Social Security. (I'm vaguely

considering trying to apply for it through work, but I can't imagine any

insurance company would cover me now). Call 1-800-772-1213 and have them send

you info. on disability insurance and supplemental security income. The latter

is for people who can work part-time, but it only offers benefits if you make

less than $500/mo, I think. I listed many of the things you mention: severe

fatigue, loss of visual acuity, difficulty concentrating, plus joint pain that

makes it hard for me to walk, even if it is just around the office (I'm sure

glad I live on the first floor of my building!). I'm not sure how much weight

granted to what the patient argues is disabling and what your tests results are.

I found a site that discusses how claims for liver diseases are evaluated (like

you have to have ascites for so long, or a bilirubin level of such and such for

3 mos., etc) at www.hepplace.com/disabhcv.html so that might help you figure out

whether you test results will help your case. It can't hurt to apply, one way or

another.

I can't figure my chances. When I asked my doctor about filing, he gave me some

generalized, unhelpful blather about how most people with AIH return to work no

problem. Obviously that's not true, as many of the people on this list can

attest. He's one of those doctors primarily concerned with my levels; the rest

of the problems I'm having don't seem to concern him all that much (I have to go

in on Thursday and convince him to help me out with this knee pain, so I'm

nervous about that--forgive me for venting). Mercifully he hasn't told me to

exercise--I think I'd pop him in the nose!

I hope that helps. It sure is nerve-wracking trying to figure out how much you

can and can't do and how to pay your bills without driving yourself into the

ground. Let me know if I can help you with any more info.

Janelle AIH

Seattle

______________________________ Forward Header __________________________________

Subject: Re: [ ] a new member/dosing/work

Author: kgillis@... at Internet-USA

Date: 7/6/99 12:49 PM

From: Kaye Gillis <kgillis@...>

Hi Janelle:

I was wondering how you filed for the long term disabiilty. Did you file

through

your employer or through Social Security. Also, do you have an attorney? What

all

did you use as your disabling condition(s)?

I would appreciate your response as I am experiencing the same problems at work

that

you describe --- inability to concentrate (and I do a lot of legal research),

keep

going to sleep, and my eyes bother me terribly. I cannot afford to miss work

but I

have missed about 3 weeks out of the last 8.

My GP seemed to think I didn't have much of a chance for disability because I

can

sit in a chair and I can read, etc. The problem is I have a hard time doing it

for

a whole day at a time....and when I do make it through the day, I seem to spend

the

entire evening recovering from work!! My GP says I would have more energy if I

would exercise vigorously but how can I exercise vigorously when it takes all my

energy just to get up the steps to my apartment!

I didn't mean to ramble. I am sincerely interested in how you are going about

applying for disability. Thanks.

Kaye - AIH - Ohio

[Guest guest]

Dear Don:

Can you apply for SSDI if you've been out of work for a while? I quit

working in 1992 to be a stay at home Mom. I got sick in late 94, early 95.

I've since tried to go back to work part time and was unable to (I lasted

about 5 months). Would I still be eligible to apply?

Kathy (AIH)

Seattle area

PS: Loved the 'unconventional' joke! LOL!

[Guest guest]

Hi all,

Sorry to jump into the middle of this...I'm getting long term disability

from my previous place of employment and just won my appeal before the

administrative law judge for Social Security Disability.

Neither was easy! Both required quite a bit of effort on my part, especially

to win SSDI. Our biggest problem is that AIH is not a listed disease, so we

have to prove equivelency with other conditions.

I'd be happy to help in any way I can.

Don (AIH / Minneapolis)

donhanson@...

[Guest guest]

Kathy

I think you can apply, but as far as determining your income elegibility they

will look at that part time work too and it will bring the amount you receive

down. I have a girlfriend who was an engineer who worked part time for 7

months and it took her monthly income down almost 500.00. She now draws

about 1000.00-you do get more if you have dependents at home.

[Guest guest]

Janelle:

Thank you very much for the information. My doctor was the same as yours - if

my

liver enzymes are not elevated, then I have no problems. I wish he was right

Kaye - AIH - Ohio

Janelle Asplund wrote:

> Hi Kaye. I've filed for disability through Social Security. (I'm vaguely

> considering trying to apply for it through work, but I can't imagine any

> insurance company would cover me now). Call 1-800-772-1213 and have them send

> you info. on disability insurance and supplemental security income. The latter

> is for people who can work part-time, but it only offers benefits if you make

> less than $500/mo, I think. I listed many of the things you mention: severe

> fatigue, loss of visual acuity, difficulty concentrating, plus joint pain that

> makes it hard for me to walk, even if it is just around the office (I'm sure

> glad I live on the first floor of my building!). I'm not sure how much weight

> granted to what the patient argues is disabling and what your tests results

are.

> I found a site that discusses how claims for liver diseases are evaluated

(like

> you have to have ascites for so long, or a bilirubin level of such and such

for

> 3 mos., etc) at www.hepplace.com/disabhcv.html so that might help you figure

out

> whether you test results will help your case. It can't hurt to apply, one way

or

> another.

>

> I can't figure my chances. When I asked my doctor about filing, he gave me

some

> generalized, unhelpful blather about how most people with AIH return to work

no

> problem. Obviously that's not true, as many of the people on this list can

> attest. He's one of those doctors primarily concerned with my levels; the rest

> of the problems I'm having don't seem to concern him all that much (I have to

go

> in on Thursday and convince him to help me out with this knee pain, so I'm

> nervous about that--forgive me for venting). Mercifully he hasn't told me to

> exercise--I think I'd pop him in the nose!

>

> I hope that helps. It sure is nerve-wracking trying to figure out how much you

> can and can't do and how to pay your bills without driving yourself into the

> ground. Let me know if I can help you with any more info.

>

> Janelle AIH

> Seattle

>

> ______________________________ Forward Header

__________________________________

> Subject: Re: [ ] a new member/dosing/work

> Author: kgillis@... at Internet-USA

> Date: 7/6/99 12:49 PM

>

> From: Kaye Gillis <kgillis@...>

>

> Hi Janelle:

>

> I was wondering how you filed for the long term disabiilty. Did you file

> through

> your employer or through Social Security. Also, do you have an attorney?

What

> all

> did you use as your disabling condition(s)?

>

> I would appreciate your response as I am experiencing the same problems at

work

> that

> you describe --- inability to concentrate (and I do a lot of legal research),

> keep

> going to sleep, and my eyes bother me terribly. I cannot afford to miss work

> but I

> have missed about 3 weeks out of the last 8.

>

> My GP seemed to think I didn't have much of a chance for disability because I

> can

> sit in a chair and I can read, etc. The problem is I have a hard time doing

it

> for

> a whole day at a time....and when I do make it through the day, I seem to

spend

> the

> entire evening recovering from work!! My GP says I would have more energy if

I

> would exercise vigorously but how can I exercise vigorously when it takes all

my

> energy just to get up the steps to my apartment!

>

> I didn't mean to ramble. I am sincerely interested in how you are going about

> applying for disability. Thanks.

>

> Kaye - AIH - Ohio

>

>

>

> ------------------------------------------------------------------------

>

> Name: RFC-822.TXT

> RFC-822.TXT Type: Plain Text (text/plain)

> Encoding: Base64

> Description: RFC-822.TXT

[Guest guest]

Don:

Thank you so much for your offer to help. I will count on you! And

congratulations for your much deserved victory over the system!!

By the way, what was your former employment? How did you prove equivalence?

Did you use your physical limitations? Depression? Fatigue? Brain fog?

Were you represented by an attorney?

KAye AIH Ohio

Don Hanson wrote:

> From: " Don Hanson " <donhanson@...>

>

> Hi all,

>

> Sorry to jump into the middle of this...I'm getting long term disability

> from my previous place of employment and just won my appeal before the

> administrative law judge for Social Security Disability.

>

> Neither was easy! Both required quite a bit of effort on my part, especially

> to win SSDI. Our biggest problem is that AIH is not a listed disease, so we

> have to prove equivelency with other conditions.

>

> I'd be happy to help in any way I can.

>

> Don (AIH / Minneapolis)

> donhanson@...

>

> ---------------------------

[Guest guest]

Dear Susie:

Thanks for the advice. I appreciate it!

Kathy (AIH)

Seattle area

[Guest guest]

Dear Don:

Thanks. I'm going to give them a call today!

Kathy (AIH)

Seattle area

[Guest guest]

> Can you apply for SSDI if you've been out of work for a while? I quit

> working in 1992 to be a stay at home Mom. I got sick in late 94, early

95.

> I've since tried to go back to work part time and was unable to (I lasted

> about 5 months). Would I still be eligible to apply?

Hi Kathy,

Generally, you need 20 credits earned in the last 10 years. You earn up to a

maximum of 4 credits per year, depending on your income. You may need more

or fewer credits if you are younger than 31 or older than 42. SS can tell

you if you qualify.

Don

[Guest guest]

> By the way, what was your former employment? How did you prove

equivalence?

> Did you use your physical limitations? Depression? Fatigue? Brain fog?

>

> Were you represented by an attorney?

Hi Kaye,

Yes.

<grin>

I was a salesman. The ALJ and his medical expert found that my labs

indicated that I have AIH, and Sleep Apnea. Although these were found to be

severe impairments within the meaning of the regs, they were not found to

equal any of the listed impairments. He also found that my claims of fatigue

and pain limiting my ability to work for only 2 to 4 hours to be credible.

The medical expert testified that fatigue is a primary symptom of AIH, even

if the labs have returned to normal.

I had an attorney represent me for the ALJ appeal. It is essential to find

one who only does SS claims. They know the regs inside and out. Their fee is

usually $4,000 or 10% of your back benefits, whichever is less.

HTH,

Don

[Guest guest]

Don:

I have a question about the disability from work. Do you work at all? Do you

still get the disability from your employee after you left if you did? I

working on getting long term disability at work. and I was wondering about if

I was not able to work at all. The policy says it pays up to age 65 but not

clear about working or not.

Sue AIH

Wisconsin

[Guest guest]

Hi Sue,

I applied for LTD about 6 months after I left the company. My initial

coverage was for own occupation, meaning I could no longer perform my

previous occupation. Now that SS has declared me disabled, my LTD will

convert to permanent disability, meaning that I am unable to work full time

at any job. I started my own company right after I left my previous job. I

make just enough to cover expenses, but not much more. That keeps my mind

occupied, allows me to work a few hours a day, and I can't fire me! <g>

Don

[Guest guest]

Don:

Thanks for the answer. I was told today that I probably would know in a

couple of days if I can have long term disability. I also was told that I

probably will be on long term disability full time. This is what the boss I

have said but he won't be my boss much longer. He was replaced and he has no

idea what he will be doing.

Question: HOW MANY OF OUR GROUP WORK?

Sue AIH

Wisconsin

[Guest guest]

Dixie:

I think I will probably never get off the prednisone and Imuran. We have

tried three times now and relapsed three times. I do work four hours a day

at night but when I get home now I hurt really bad in the liver area and

could cry. Don't sleep when I am in pain. Last night I was still wandering

around the house.

Sue AIH

Wisconsin

[Guest guest]

I do not work Sue, I help my husband at his business sometimes a half day.

I have gotten SSI disability also. I had to go throught 2 years of fighting.

and

finally the judge granted me disability. But like an idot I thought I could

hold down a job last year and worked a few months full time but had to drop back

to part time. Then finally had to leave the work force. Even though I am a

graphic artist/ Illustrator.

January this year I reapplied with SSI and found out that I had to retain a

Lawyer again to fight for me to have the case reopened. What a drag... So

here I sit waiting on SSI again. My husband tried to tell me... But I did

not

listen... Once you get SSI do not get in your head that you want to go back to

work full time... For me it did not work..

Love and Light

Dixie AIH

Roselle50@... wrote:

> From: Roselle50@...

>

> Don:

>

> Thanks for the answer. I was told today that I probably would know in a

> couple of days if I can have long term disability. I also was told that I

> probably will be on long term disability full time. This is what the boss I

> have said but he won't be my boss much longer. He was replaced and he has no

> idea what he will be doing.

>

> Question: HOW MANY OF OUR GROUP WORK?

>

> Sue AIH

> Wisconsin

>

> ---------------------------

[Guest guest]

Sue,

As I sit here I'm clutching my mid-section because of the pain I continue

to have. It really is uncomfortable enough to make it unpleasant to sit

upright for long and in bed I can only sleep on one side. Like you, I'm

going to be a pred and Imuran lifer, and I'll just deal with the side

effects if and when they happen. Are you taking anything at all for the

pain? Surely someone can give you something that will make it easier to

tolerate? Put your foot down!

Take care,

Geri

[Guest guest]

Sue,

I haven't worked since a month before I was diagnosed with AIH. I must

have been every employer's nightmare but I didn't know what was going on

with me and I think I had the unpleasant side of brain fog at the time. In

other words, I had no tolerance for the usual corporate game. I had a

great job here in LV with a branch of a San Francisco company I'd worked

for several years ago. The job had the potential to do considerable travel

all over the world, organizing and coordinating international trade shows

and conventions. The owners (father and son) were jerks and instead of

accepting that as we all have to if we want to hold a job, I felt I had to

tell them that I couldn't handle their management style and I walked off in

a huff. That is NOT a rational way to deal with a job that pays well. Of

course, while I was working there I was battling major fatigue and failed

to recognize it and my feet and belly were beginning to swell like a sponge

left out in the rain, which I chose to ignore.

I truly yearn to go back to work. I absolutely love my profession. I love

working with people, making things happen, connecting with people all over

the world. But I also know that I couldn't handle it either mentally or

physically. It's really tough to give up a good income and have to live

on considerably less than we've earned in many years, but I guess you find

different ways to enjoy life.

Take care,

Geri

[Guest guest]

Sue,

My husband is getting long term disability because he's permanently

disabled from his back injury. Because he was already collecting early SS

benefits, they weren't able to offset. In other words, ordinarily they

would have reduced his disability pay by the amount he gets from SS, but

since he was already collecting it at the time of his disability, they

couldn't do it.

His policy pays the disability premiums, incidentally. If he were to go to

work, they'd actually pay him more but I don't recall the formula they use.

I do know that if he worked part-time we'd have a higher income. His

insurance company uses a formula for how long they will pay benefits. For

someone 100% permanently disabled at age 50, for example, they pay for xx

number of years. The older the person is when they are 100% disabled, the

fewer years they pay. However, they do NOT cut off at age 65. These days

they can hardly use age 65 as a magic cut-off age, since the government is

in the process of raising retirement age (for the purpose of awarding 100%

SS retirement benefits) from age 65 to 70 and they've even discussed

raising it to age 75, if you can imagine.

Hope this helps, but I'm sure every policy is different. We have two

policies, actually. We also have one we got when we bought our minivan.

They simply will continue to pay as long as Bob's disabled and age has

nothing to do with it, so in effect, they are going to pay off the minivan.

Take care,

Geri

[Guest guest]

Susie,

Because I worked in Europe for three years it reduced my potential SSDI

benefits considerably and for that matter, it also reduced the amount of

regular SS I'm eligible for. Kind of a dirty trick, since when you live

and work overseas, you have to pay taxes there and you also have to file

and pay taxes in the US. On the plus side, for those 3 years I worked

overseas, I'll be able to draw Swiss SS in addition to US SS. And, here's

the " gotcha " part of it. The Swiss government will NOT report payments to

the US government. Someone told me, " it;s none of their business " .

Someone with US SS told me the same thing.

Geri

[Guest guest]

Hey, Does anyone in the group clinch thier teeth. I have picked up that habit

since

I have had to live with pain and misery. I catch myself doing that when I am

hurting

somewhere.

Weird ?

Dixie

Geri Spang wrote:

> From: Geri Spang <spangs@...>

>

> Sue,

> As I sit here I'm clutching my mid-section because of the pain I continue

> to have. It really is uncomfortable enough to make it unpleasant to sit

> upright for long and in bed I can only sleep on one side. Like you, I'm

> going to be a pred and Imuran lifer, and I'll just deal with the side

> effects if and when they happen. Are you taking anything at all for the

> pain? Surely someone can give you something that will make it easier to

> tolerate? Put your foot down!

> Take care,

> Geri

>

> ---------------------------

[Guest guest]

Dixie,

A couple of other people have mentioned clenching their teeth and even

developing TMS (I think it's called) because of it. I don't but right now

I could use a bullet to bite. This left sided pain is really getting hard

to take.

Geri