[Pickles]

HI

Its Pickles.

Long time no talk to. I do come and read the boards sometimes but
mostly don't take time to answer.

I was wondering if anyone has been up for renewal yet. Its been 5 years since I was approved and since my illnesses were so bad SSA said it would be 5 to 7 years before I was up for review. I'm not as bad as I was but now I have more illnesses than I had. I now have Osteopenia, PAD(peripheral arterial disease),sjogrens is worse, raynauds is worse, etc.
I had to fill out a few pages and they said they may do a full medical review and let me know in 90 days.

I'm now 58 years old, there is no way I could go back to work. I still
rest most of the day, still hurt most of the time, joints are still swollen. I had a bad car wreck last October and broke my left arm and 3 ribs on right side. I'm just afraid I will have to fight with them again like I did 5 years ago(that time went by fast).

Thanks everyone,

 

[KarolH]

Hey Pickles,

My sister lives in Georgia and is on SSD.

They send her this same question sheet to be filled out and returned but she never has to go for the medical examine.

I think as long as you have been receiving treatment since you were approved for SSD you will be fine.

I feel this is geered more towards the people who once approved never see a doctor again and thus there is no written evidence of on going medical issues.

Also, your age of 58 is on your side too. I would not worry about this or even loose any sleep over it.:wink2:

 

[rwb200]

Hello Pickles
My wife had a review after five years of disability. They did do a full medical review and called her several times.
When they called her she answered the phone and spoke to them and answered all of the questions tehy ahd.

As far as her condition for most items it was worse with the exception that the scarring she has now has faded from when she was fisrt put on disability.

After the medical review the doctor they sent her to took pictures of her hands and feet to show the deformity she has.
When the decesion was made they denied her and said it was because she could take a job doing sedintary work such as answering the phone which was evident form the conversations they had with her on the phone.

The fact that I filled out her paper work for her because she had trouble concetrating and remembering it all and had trouble with using a pen to fill it all out did not seem to matter.
The fact there doctor felt she should have it ( or at least that is what he told us) and the fact her doctors felt she should did not matter.
In fact her doctors told me that she can not work no metter what they decide. They also told them she can not work at all.

Not sure how it would have turned out had she been sleeping when they called and she was having trouble trying to focus on what they were asking.
Or how it would have been had she been having a bad day where the questions did not really register at all for her.

We gave up trying to fight it when the stress started to effect her health again. Now we have just found ways to do without it. We are lucky that my job has advanced and allowed us to do that and get by.

 

[Clare.T]

Hello Pickles

I hope all goes well for you with this review. I remember your very useful posts about your application.

Wishing you the best of luck & let us know how it goes please as I am sure it will help others.

Clare

 

[KarolH]

RWB,

I am sorry that this happened to your wife and I have learned something today I did not know. This is appalling and it makes me sad to think that someone who sits behind a desk will go against what a doctor recommends and determine that a sick person can work again.

Things really need to be fixed with SSD. This just makes me sad and now worried that it can happen to anyone.

Thank God your job provide enough that you can get by. If this happened to me we would loose our house. Every penny of my SSD is needed to pay bills.

 

[SarahP]

Hi Pickles

I am sorry you are going through this and will be following this thread closely since I am also on SSDI.

My SSDI award letter said I woul be reviewed in 3-5 years. In November it will have been 4 years that I was approved by SSDI. I am 56 and also receive LTD which has been renewed every year. Every year I fill out a paper and my rheum fills out one stating I am disabled for any job.

I hope the decision from SSDI is made soon.

sarah

 

[dudley]

hi,

I got SSD on the first try...took 4 months. DX on first disability was SLE, Sjorgens and depression....I had alot more wrong with me. I was sent renewal forms after 1 year. It was very similar to inital forms...filled them out...never heard a thing. happened again 2nd year. Again never heard a thing. I did find out that they were so backed up that they were just put into a box. I have not heard a thing this year.

Best advice is to keep copies of everything, keep all doc appointment and stay on all prescribed drugs.

When they tell you that you will be rereviewed in 3-5 years it is normal that they think you will never be able to go back to work again. It is sort of like a 1 year plan, 3 year plan and 6 year plan (might be 7). The only people that are not suppose to fill out forms is the blind and LGD.

Elaine

 

[SarahP]

Elaine, thanks for that information. My state has one of the longest waiting periods so I know they are very backed up.

I see rheum regularly--every 2 to 3 months. I am also on 8 meds so hopefully I won't have a problem if I am reviewed by SSDI.

Sarah

 

[Pickles]

Thanks everyone for your replies. I haven't heard back from them yet. New rheumy wanted me to have a sleep study but I cancelled it cause I don't need one, my hubby does, he has sleep apnea but I don't. I just keep waking up every couple of hours. been doing that all my life.

He also sent me to a physical therapist for the fibromyalgia. All he
did was give me leg exercises and told me to go to the YMCA and try water exercises but I don't think I want everyone to see my fat self in a bathing suit. I will just stick to the leg exercises. He also said that for the fibro he wanted me to "desensitize" my legs. He said take a dry washcloth and rub over my legs a few times a day and that is supposed to
desensitize them so they won't hurt as much. I'll let you know on that one.

Hubby is still driving me up a wall, some of the ones who've been here as long as I have may remember he has paranoid schizophrenia and doesn't work either so we're together 24 hours a day!!! If I lost my disability, we would lose my car and probably have to file bankruptcy or something. We rent so we don't have a house, I lost it when I was waiting on disability the first time.

RWB200, I'm so sorry to hear about your wife losing hers. Thats what I'm afraid of...them saying I can answer phone or something. I still drop everything I pick up and I still have trouble typing and all. Concentration is out and so is my memory. How old is your wife? I'm 58 so I hope my age does have something to do with it. Even if I was healthy, not many people hire people that age anymore unless you want to be a greeter at Walmart.

Thanks again everyone,
,

 

[KarolH]

Keep us posted Pickles.

I did not realize your husband was disabled too.

Best of luck moving forward.

Any idea how much longer until you will hear something?

 

[Pickles]

HEY

Happy Friday to all, It sure is a good one for me.
Hubby went to mailbox and there was a letter from SSA.. Scared to open it but it had good news, sorta. This is what it said.

"We sent you a letter telling you that we were going to review your disability case. However, we do not need to review your case at this time. Therefore we will not contact your doctor now." We will contact you later if we need to review your case. They of course, want me to tell them if I return to work, my health improves or the doc says I can go back to work.. don't think any of that is going to happen anytime soon.

When I sent the other papers back I had told them that I now had osteopenia and PAD, and Sialodenitis which is swelling of the parotid glands on my face. Also, told them new doc's name and new rheumy's name. They must have realized I was no better.

Thanks for all the replies. I went to rheumy a couple of weeks ago and he wanted me to do physical therapy for the fibromyalgia. So far, the exercises hurt my knees and as far as I can tell, it hasn't helped the fibro.

Love to all,

 

[Pink Pearl]

Hi Pickles,
I have had 2 reviews in the last 10 years. I have filled out their questions, ad nauseum, and they have replied each time telling me they would review in 3 or more years.

The first time I got a notice, I called the lady who had been my atty thru my application and appeals. She reassured me that they would approve as long as I and my doctors agreed that there was no way I could go back to work. She advised that I be as verbose and detailed as I could, and if it took me a bit longer to fill it out in detail, well....let them know that I can't do it all at one sitting. Funny thing, they approved me each time around.
So, I would suggest you follow my atty's advice and do what I have done.
I do tell them when I have improved, even a bit, but my doctor and I have discussed this and he says, no, not even if they find a cure...not happening. Be detailed, use up a LOT of pages with the details, and make sure you and your doctor are on the same page.
Good luck,
Sally