Re: [Lyme-aid] dissability

[Guest guest]

Rose,

It was long term disability insurance through my company. I don't have anything in writing about the time, just was told over the phone by the rep that I could be out on this dx for 2 years. Maybe if I am dx'd with something new, I can stay out and get the payments longer, I need to clairfy that. But they are going through a merger and I can't reach anyone except via snail mail right now. So I'll have to write a letter. Thanks Vicki, MdFrom: " J. 'Rose' Rose " <therosewriter@...>

Hi Vicki,I'm confused on the employer disability running out. Did you purchase long-term disability insurance with your health benefits policy, or do you only have the 6-month short-term policy provided by your employer?

[Guest guest]

Hi Pepi,

I sure understand how you feel.. The hardest is when we have to alter our

lifestyle because of this darn disease.. When I had to quit my job and

suddenly lived in poverty, it was very hard..Harder was the isolation

afterwards, because I have been struggling to work and attending grad school

while being sick and spending all free time staying in bed, feeling like a

zombie.. So when I finally decided.. I cannot do it any more, it was a relief

not to push myself to work while being so sick. And lost because I was a

career woman.. my identity revolved around my job.

Our minds are amazing.. given time, we will adapt.. it s the time after

quitting that is the hardest.. My roommate helped a lot by being there for

me.. I took counseling to accept the limitations of my body.. Gradually I

started to feel not too demoralized.. Admittedly, being accepted by SSA for

disability coverage helps.. Keep well written records of your disability and

fill out the SSDI application thoroughly. A lot depends on the actions of

your doctor.. How well the doctor document the form can really make a big

difference between you being accepted or not.. On the activity level sheet, I

filled out what my activity level would be like on the worst day (since I

have real bad days and never knew what they strike again).

I found what really helps me through the difficult time is hope.. hope that I

will get better.. hope that they will find meds that will cure me, etc ..

etc.. And I scaled down my lifestyle accordingly so I won't get setbacks..

I thought I will never be able to camp.. Since I got the antibiotics, I could

camp, but it s a laid back camping trip.. I just do little things at a time..

like house project.. it just takes me longer to fix things.. It can take me

one or two months to finish painting a room.. maybe fifteen mins at a time or

an hour, depending how I feel, then a long break.. It can be very slow, but

at least I am doing something I want to do and when it is done, there is a

feeling of accomplishment..

It helps if you can do things just a little at a time. like fifteen mins at a

time.. or even five minutes or even one minute.. on a very small project. So

you will feel at least there is something you can do.. that is a morale

booster..

It is a very big adjustment.. It is not easy.. but with time, we can adapt..

and thank goodness for our online friends !!! good luck..

hugs,

elizabeth

[Guest guest]

Hi Pepi,

I know exactly how you feel now about the money aspect of your marriage,

I always worked too and brought in some of our money, so I was really upset

when I was not contributing. My husband like yours said don't worry about

it, but every time we had to cash in his savings bonds for something, I felt

sick to my stomach. I finally got approved by my Long term disability

company after they sent me to their doctors for approval, then SSDI was

approved, now I am contributing again and I feel like I am finally pulling

my weight and can buy things I want.

As for the pain meds, I too put off taking them myself early in my dx, and

then when I finally asked for them, I regretted not asking for them sooner,

they really helped me to function better, now my pain has progressed and I

need stronger and stronger meds to function, you do what you think is best,

sometimes it is best to tough it out, sometimes it isn't.

Hugs,

Marta

>From: " Pepi " <rod@...>

>

>Howdy Ya'll. In 7-99 when I got my LD diagnosis my Dxing Dr put me on 3

>months short term Diss, then got my LLMD and he put me on 4 then 5 now I am

>waiting on my long term to approve me, I have gone 2 months now with no

>income of my own. I feel horrible and like a failure to be on this, I KNOW

>this is not true and hubby backs me up but (as with everyone else here I am

>sure! ) I was never one to call in sick or not have a job, been working

>since 13. And this is just from my 9-5 job, I also had training and lesson

>money coming in. I cant even conceive of the idea of not going back to

work,

>but I have been holding the idea of it in the back of my mind for a while

>now. I have pretty much resigned myself to the fact I will never Train

>Horses again. If I cant go back, I know that SSDI will most likely not

>accept me, my problem is I just tough through everything. I am only on

>antibiotics with occasional NSAIDS I will not take pain meds, dont ask me

>why not I dont really know myself! anyway enough babbling!!!! Ya'll have

>a great day! Pepi

[Guest guest]

..Yes I agree! i do not know how I would have gotten throught the

last few months if I hadnt found Ya'll!

> Pepi

...

> and thank goodness for our online friends !!! good luck..

>

> hugs,

>

> elizabeth

>