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Today marks 4 weeks since I had my Botox injections. I'm sorry to report that not only have things not gotten better but they have been especially bad. I've really only had a few days that were not really bad or horrible.
URG! I'm SO SICK of this!! I'm sick of medications, doctors, pain, fatigue, limiting my activity and not being able to live the way I want to live.
I think it may be time to start the application process for disability. After all for more than 5 years now I've been trying to get on top of the pain with absolutely no progress. Nothing has worked and it is very possible that this is just how things are going to be. If that's the case then I need to work on plan B too. If I get better and can return to work - great. If not then at least I'm not in this perpetual limbo.
I don't even know where to start. Any advice? Any thoughts?
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When you fill out the application, you can do it online too, I would list each thing separate. For example, Migraines, memory problems, concentration problems, Fibromyalgia, extreme fatigue, etc, to whatever you have going on. I did this and I was approved within 7 months. Now they will tell you that they will have an answer within 4 months, for me, I didn't have a caseworker until 4 months and then it took 3 months for the answer. To qualify for disability you have to have worked 5 years in the last 10 years. If don't know what happens if you haven't worked 5 years in the last 10, but this is on their list. I did not have a lawyer, I did it on my own. I think it also helped that at the time I was taking 13 different medications and I had been hospitalized 3 times with 12 visits to the ER over a period of 3 years. There are good lawyers out there that help with this type thing. When I talked to my caseworker (she was so helpful and nice) she told me that it was tough for them to decide what to approve me for because there were several things I qualified for. If you want to talk further, my email is: hpaxton@aol.com. Also there is an ad on face book that talks about getting qualified for disability. I will look at it and see what it says. It gives hints on how to do all this.
ReplyDeleteGood luck!
Heather
HI! the website is: www.thefibromyalgiadigest.com. I know this is geared toward fibro, but I thought it may have good info that will help and you could then gear it with the migraines. I am going to read it now. It is supposed to be free info.
ReplyDeleteHeather
Go online to SSA.gov and click the disability link.
ReplyDeleteKeep a daily pain and problems journal and document Document DOCUment. Everything that is adverse, painful, debilitating. Mental health, physical health, what meds you have tried and what has worked or not.
Learning to meditate helped me to center myself even when I feel rotten. Light yoga will increase circulation which will help the pain as well.
You will probably need a lawyer to help you win against the SSA; my understanding is that they turn everyone down the first time. I have been denied myself and have struggled to make a living.
I didn't get turned down the first time, but many people do. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteHeather
Best wishes to you as you explore your plan B.
ReplyDeleteI'm at year six. I have managed to work for some of the time, have had two six-month sick leaves and have started to come to the conclusion that this might be it for me - I may not "get better" and have the life I had six years ago.
Tough stuff. I'll be thinking of you....
Botox did not work for me either - the main difference I noticed was that I could not raise one eyebrow at all, and the other only partly. And they are not even. Pretty funny (you have to find humor wherever you can get it.)
ReplyDeleteMy heart goes out to you as I, too, have had to come to the point of applying for disability. I waited for some months after I left my job in December 2009, and it was a difficult decision. One feels as though one is giving up.
Please know that you are not alone.
Carol
Sorry Botox didn't work for you; that's got to be frustrating. :(
ReplyDelete