Well, I left work in June, filed for SSD in Aug. and am waiting for Long Term Disability ruling. Thankfully I have about 20,000 in a 401K so that I have money to live off of for a while.
I've been so busy I haven't hardly had time to think. I've moved out of my house (mostly) and into an apartment to cut down the outflow. The credit card companies want me to re-tell them every week that I'm disabled with no income or they call me daily.
And I'm being slow to pay what bills I can. I don't think I would ever have been able to make to move if a couple of friends (both also in their 50s but in somewhat better health) hadn't helped me out. I've been very lucky there.
I have my hopes pinned on the LTD insurance. I got it when I started my last job back in 2000 so its not something that was just started when I got sick, I've always tried to be insured, but I know that just because I have insurance doesn't mean they will pay, and there's a possibility they will only pay for about 2 years (reading between the lines of what they promise and what they really say in the contract).
So anyway, I will keep you'all updated on how it goes. According to my Rheumy (who is the one who told me to go ahead and go on disability) I definitely have 1 system involvement - joint and muscles, and possibly 2 -nervous system. Plus of course the back that is begining to almost put me in a wheelchair and the depression. THAT at least (the depression) has been much better since I'm not working and being upset over how well I am (not) doing my job. My leg swelling is also much better now that I'm not sitting in an office chair all day.
I've been so busy I haven't hardly had time to think. I've moved out of my house (mostly) and into an apartment to cut down the outflow. The credit card companies want me to re-tell them every week that I'm disabled with no income or they call me daily.
And I'm being slow to pay what bills I can. I don't think I would ever have been able to make to move if a couple of friends (both also in their 50s but in somewhat better health) hadn't helped me out. I've been very lucky there.I have my hopes pinned on the LTD insurance. I got it when I started my last job back in 2000 so its not something that was just started when I got sick, I've always tried to be insured, but I know that just because I have insurance doesn't mean they will pay, and there's a possibility they will only pay for about 2 years (reading between the lines of what they promise and what they really say in the contract).
So anyway, I will keep you'all updated on how it goes. According to my Rheumy (who is the one who told me to go ahead and go on disability) I definitely have 1 system involvement - joint and muscles, and possibly 2 -nervous system. Plus of course the back that is begining to almost put me in a wheelchair and the depression. THAT at least (the depression) has been much better since I'm not working and being upset over how well I am (not) doing my job. My leg swelling is also much better now that I'm not sitting in an office chair all day.
