Re: SSDI Denial to Christie

October 5, 2003

> I just read a post on PSN that your application had been

denied? I can't believe it. If anyone had the documentation,

doctor's support, and obviously fit the criteria it's YOU.

So sorry you have to go through this ridiculous red tape.

Christie

Dear Christie,

Yes, it was denied. The response was very peculiar, as though

they hadn't fully read all the documentation. I listed chronic

calcifying pancreatitis with pancreatic insufficiency, malnutrion

and pseudocysts, and diabetes mellitus type 1 with diabetic

ketoacidosis, malnutrion, hypoglycemic and hyperglycemic

episodes and osteopenia. Curiously enough, when they

responded they included chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,

vision problems and depression to this list. While I mentioned

vision difficulties that affected my work patterns in my job related

questions, and stated that I was on medication for depression, I

never listed these as actual impairments. And I have no idea

WHERE they came up with " chronic obstructive pulmonary

disease " . I had an irregular heart reading in the hospital with my

DKA and was on a heart monitor for several days, plus had to do

the electrocardiograms and other heart tests, plus a stress test

a month later, but none of this was included as

impairments.....and besides, COPD is a lung problem, not heart!

The letter stated that the depression, diabetes, osteopenia,

chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and vision problems

were not causing me significant limitations in my daily activities.

I don't know how they could know this without talking to me about

it or seeing what I can, and cannot, do every day. And this

certainly is not what I described in my personal history

addendum.

The next line said that I had been treated for my pancreatic

problems by hospitalization and medications, and that this

condition may cause me " some " discomfort and may limit my

ability to lift, carry and perform some types of work. However, it

did not prevent me from performing all types of work. My

argument there is that I have NOT ever been hospitalized for my

" pancreatic problems " as they said, and while the medication

usually works to control my pain, it surely isn't a cure and it

messes with my head enough to make much of my work out of

the question.

They didn't address any of the real problems, like the

pseudocysts that keep returning, the brittle diabetes, the down

time when I'm unable to work at all, and the malnutrition, and I

had evidence that clearly showed qualifying impairment. For

example, if you have diabetes and a history of either DKA or low

weight (malnutrition) substanciated over a 3 month successive

period of time, that is a legal disablement, in their blue book. I

had the evidence and they never even mentioned it.

So anyway, although it was a great disappointment, I know it's

not uncommon to be denied the first time around. I can add

hypothyroidism now to the list, not that that it's any kind of an

impairment, but just another problem that has surfaced as a

result of the diabetes. I had also hoped that because of my age,

52, that they would be more realistic about my future work

longevity. I mean, I'm getting kind of tired of this, I've been

working since I was 15, and full time since my second year of

college, so after 33 years of toil in the work place, and now a

myriad of medical problems, I'd hoped they'd see that I'm getting

past the point of being that productive!

To keep my stress levels at a low and my frustration in check, I

called the disability firm in Washington, DC and had them

process my appeal. I worked on it so hard by myself the first

time around that I didn't have the energy to deal with it again all

on my own. So we'll see. The appeal's been made, and now it's

just time to wait. I'm also going to ask my Congressman to

follow the appeal this time and see if that helps. He's even got a

webpage devoted to diability applications for his constituents.

With hope and prayers,

Heidi

Heidi H. Griffeth

South Carolina

SC & SE Regional Rep.

PAI, Intl.

Note: All comments and advice are personal opinion only, and

should not be substituted for professional medical consultation.

October 5, 2003

> I just read a post on PSN that your application had been

denied? I can't believe it. If anyone had the documentation,

doctor's support, and obviously fit the criteria it's YOU.

So sorry you have to go through this ridiculous red tape.

Christie

Dear Christie,

Yes, it was denied. The response was very peculiar, as though

they hadn't fully read all the documentation. I listed chronic

calcifying pancreatitis with pancreatic insufficiency, malnutrion

and pseudocysts, and diabetes mellitus type 1 with diabetic

ketoacidosis, malnutrion, hypoglycemic and hyperglycemic

episodes and osteopenia. Curiously enough, when they

responded they included chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,

vision problems and depression to this list. While I mentioned

vision difficulties that affected my work patterns in my job related

questions, and stated that I was on medication for depression, I

never listed these as actual impairments. And I have no idea

WHERE they came up with " chronic obstructive pulmonary

disease " . I had an irregular heart reading in the hospital with my

DKA and was on a heart monitor for several days, plus had to do

the electrocardiograms and other heart tests, plus a stress test

a month later, but none of this was included as

impairments.....and besides, COPD is a lung problem, not heart!

The letter stated that the depression, diabetes, osteopenia,

chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and vision problems

were not causing me significant limitations in my daily activities.

I don't know how they could know this without talking to me about

it or seeing what I can, and cannot, do every day. And this

certainly is not what I described in my personal history

addendum.

The next line said that I had been treated for my pancreatic

problems by hospitalization and medications, and that this

condition may cause me " some " discomfort and may limit my

ability to lift, carry and perform some types of work. However, it

did not prevent me from performing all types of work. My

argument there is that I have NOT ever been hospitalized for my

" pancreatic problems " as they said, and while the medication

usually works to control my pain, it surely isn't a cure and it

messes with my head enough to make much of my work out of

the question.

They didn't address any of the real problems, like the

pseudocysts that keep returning, the brittle diabetes, the down

time when I'm unable to work at all, and the malnutrition, and I

had evidence that clearly showed qualifying impairment. For

example, if you have diabetes and a history of either DKA or low

weight (malnutrition) substanciated over a 3 month successive

period of time, that is a legal disablement, in their blue book. I

had the evidence and they never even mentioned it.

So anyway, although it was a great disappointment, I know it's

not uncommon to be denied the first time around. I can add

hypothyroidism now to the list, not that that it's any kind of an

impairment, but just another problem that has surfaced as a

result of the diabetes. I had also hoped that because of my age,

52, that they would be more realistic about my future work

longevity. I mean, I'm getting kind of tired of this, I've been

working since I was 15, and full time since my second year of

college, so after 33 years of toil in the work place, and now a

myriad of medical problems, I'd hoped they'd see that I'm getting

past the point of being that productive!

To keep my stress levels at a low and my frustration in check, I

called the disability firm in Washington, DC and had them

process my appeal. I worked on it so hard by myself the first

time around that I didn't have the energy to deal with it again all

on my own. So we'll see. The appeal's been made, and now it's

just time to wait. I'm also going to ask my Congressman to

follow the appeal this time and see if that helps. He's even got a

webpage devoted to diability applications for his constituents.

With hope and prayers,

Heidi

Heidi H. Griffeth

South Carolina

SC & SE Regional Rep.

PAI, Intl.

Note: All comments and advice are personal opinion only, and

should not be substituted for professional medical consultation.

October 5, 2003

> Dear Heidi,

I just happened to see your last post and I was wondering..... How can they

expect you to work if you have the " classic " symptoms of almost constant

diareah, and vomitting? I don't know of any employer that would want an

employee on the payroll that is in the bathroom all of the time, and on pain

meds. In my case when I tried to work on the pain meds I made very big mistakes

in ordering products and cost my employer tons of money. I also could never get

out of the bathroom. When I applied for SSDI I stressed that fact that I needed

to be in the bathroom all of the time and I stressed the effects of the pain

meds. I also made sure that my doctor knew what I had said and asked them to

follow up with notations in my records of the bathroom time and effects of pain

meds. I was very lucky got approved on my first try, so I feel for you. I

know how hard it is to hurry up and wait. I don't know what I would have done if

they had denied me. My GI told me that it depends alot on what the doctors

replay to SSDI is. I geuss they take into considersation what your doctors

feels you can do. It won't hurt to make sure your doctor has tons of notes in

your chart about the malnutrition, malise, diareah, vomiting, nausea, and so on.

Just trelling them doesn't mean they are writing it down. SSDI will want to see

it documented. My gosh, good luck and I hope you feel weel enought to deal with

this.

SImi Valley, CA

>

> Date: 2003/10/05 Sun PM 12:09:59 PDT

> To: pancreatitis

> Subject: Re: SSDI Denial to Christie

>

October 5, 2003