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Disability? Help please!
Hi everyone!
I am somewhat of a newbie around here, and some days feel like my head is swimming with all this new information, and what that means/and may mean for me.
The reason I am writing is to ask for advice...not medical advice, but advice from your personal experiences with filing for disability. I am writing a book so consider yourself forewarned!
First, let me tell you about my medical history so you can know what plays into all this...
When I was 11 I was in a car accident and broke my left leg. This was not able to be fixed except by surgery. For the next 1 3/4 years I was passed from dr. to dr. because I went from 80 lbs to 56 lbs, and still losing. I had no appetite, couldn't sleep and was in terrible pain and on lots of powerful pain meds. I told all of the drs. this, and they didn't believe how bad it was. (I was a hysterical child according to my records) Finally, they discovered a staph infection in my leg, removed the steel plate...After 17 days of IV antibiotics, I got to go home, and immediately got better. The problem...by this time, I had lhad only able to weight-bear on one leg, and lost much muscle mass in my other leg. I developed scoliosis and a tilted pelvis, as well as knee/ankle and hip pain from how I walked.
Fast forward to age 18, graduated h.s. with honors, went to a university, and became terribly depressedand anxious. Saw a pschiatrist for 3 years pretty consistently, and he said I had PTSD. Tried various meds, none worked well.
Age 23. Had been in constant pain from hip for a couple of years(it was fused together, but broke apart-no cartilidge) Drs said I must hold off from hip replacement until new/longer lasting one came out...because of my age...Tried all of the big stuff for pain relief, and no effect...No one could tell I was on it, I felt EXACTLY the same. Had the hip replacement, and pain was much better.
Then I started having sciatic nerve pain (aggravated by scoliosis or surgery dr. said) Depression continued.
All of this time I was working...having attendance trouble, but working. Age 25 Met the love of my life...got married. All of the past years, I was exhausted all of the time, very sickly, got every bug...Discovered I had asthma and allergies. Began taking shots. Allergies improved. Gained about 50 lbs in 2 months. Saw dr. after dr. No answers.
Age 28-Had tried to have baby for two years. All sorts of crazy symptoms. Diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. Answers most things. (exhaustion, weight gain, female problems, etc) Still having unexplained abdominal pain and nausea. Got referral, and other dr. said I had IBS. Eat more fiber! Missed a lot of work
Age 29 - Sharp abdominal pain, consistently a 6-7 sometimes 8. Off work now 10 weeks-FMLA. One week - diagnosis of hemmoraghic cyst. After cyst is gone and pain persists (exactly 2 weeks ago) Dr. reviews my symptoms and history and does a PST. Determines I have IC. Have been on the 'strict' diet since then, and have had some improvement, but it varies GREATLY from one day to the next. Since it has been better I have been charting myself, and on an OK day, I went to the bathroom 17 times in 10 hours, and had pain from 2's to mostly 5's (some 6-7) with groin, abd, and back pain. Some days have been worse, and some better. In fact 2 days, I almost felt like normal!
Really, I feel discouraged and confused, because my FMLA will be up in about two weeks. I am not sure that I will be able to go back to work, and I have NO IDEA what to do. I feel like all of my problems are rearing their ugly heads and fighting against me, and I am screwed either way.
If I go back, and I can't do it, and miss several days work...can you spell 'FIRED!' Benefits for my husband and I $1100/mo. (He is required to have it!) If I go back part-time, again lose benefits! (if I can even succeed at that...sitting is the most painful.) Or I can simply quit or let them fire me when my time is up with FMLA - Which is best? I don't know. Last option, to file for disability. I don't know what to think of this option at all. AT ALL! Can filing for disability come back to haunt you? Am I even 'disabled' enough? Does filing for disability mean that I can't try and get pregnant? (Is that even an ethical thought?) Would it simply be better to take out school loans (covering some of our expenses) If I go back to work and fail, does that affect filing for LT Disability? And if approved, can I get off of it in less than a year, if I get better soon enough? Does anyone know if ST Disability carries on until LT Disability covers? And what if I want to try alternative treatments rather than painkillers or antidepressants (They don't do anything for me, and I DO NOT want to take pain meds except as a last resort? Will that affect my eligibility?
I am just confused, and honestly feeling guilty for even considering it, but want all of the honest feedback you can give me.
Thank you for reading this long thing. And for the support. This place is a lifesaver!
LKL
I am somewhat of a newbie around here, and some days feel like my head is swimming with all this new information, and what that means/and may mean for me.
The reason I am writing is to ask for advice...not medical advice, but advice from your personal experiences with filing for disability. I am writing a book so consider yourself forewarned!
First, let me tell you about my medical history so you can know what plays into all this...
When I was 11 I was in a car accident and broke my left leg. This was not able to be fixed except by surgery. For the next 1 3/4 years I was passed from dr. to dr. because I went from 80 lbs to 56 lbs, and still losing. I had no appetite, couldn't sleep and was in terrible pain and on lots of powerful pain meds. I told all of the drs. this, and they didn't believe how bad it was. (I was a hysterical child according to my records) Finally, they discovered a staph infection in my leg, removed the steel plate...After 17 days of IV antibiotics, I got to go home, and immediately got better. The problem...by this time, I had lhad only able to weight-bear on one leg, and lost much muscle mass in my other leg. I developed scoliosis and a tilted pelvis, as well as knee/ankle and hip pain from how I walked.
Fast forward to age 18, graduated h.s. with honors, went to a university, and became terribly depressedand anxious. Saw a pschiatrist for 3 years pretty consistently, and he said I had PTSD. Tried various meds, none worked well.
Age 23. Had been in constant pain from hip for a couple of years(it was fused together, but broke apart-no cartilidge) Drs said I must hold off from hip replacement until new/longer lasting one came out...because of my age...Tried all of the big stuff for pain relief, and no effect...No one could tell I was on it, I felt EXACTLY the same. Had the hip replacement, and pain was much better.
Then I started having sciatic nerve pain (aggravated by scoliosis or surgery dr. said) Depression continued.
All of this time I was working...having attendance trouble, but working. Age 25 Met the love of my life...got married. All of the past years, I was exhausted all of the time, very sickly, got every bug...Discovered I had asthma and allergies. Began taking shots. Allergies improved. Gained about 50 lbs in 2 months. Saw dr. after dr. No answers.
Age 28-Had tried to have baby for two years. All sorts of crazy symptoms. Diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. Answers most things. (exhaustion, weight gain, female problems, etc) Still having unexplained abdominal pain and nausea. Got referral, and other dr. said I had IBS. Eat more fiber! Missed a lot of work
Age 29 - Sharp abdominal pain, consistently a 6-7 sometimes 8. Off work now 10 weeks-FMLA. One week - diagnosis of hemmoraghic cyst. After cyst is gone and pain persists (exactly 2 weeks ago) Dr. reviews my symptoms and history and does a PST. Determines I have IC. Have been on the 'strict' diet since then, and have had some improvement, but it varies GREATLY from one day to the next. Since it has been better I have been charting myself, and on an OK day, I went to the bathroom 17 times in 10 hours, and had pain from 2's to mostly 5's (some 6-7) with groin, abd, and back pain. Some days have been worse, and some better. In fact 2 days, I almost felt like normal!
Really, I feel discouraged and confused, because my FMLA will be up in about two weeks. I am not sure that I will be able to go back to work, and I have NO IDEA what to do. I feel like all of my problems are rearing their ugly heads and fighting against me, and I am screwed either way.
If I go back, and I can't do it, and miss several days work...can you spell 'FIRED!' Benefits for my husband and I $1100/mo. (He is required to have it!) If I go back part-time, again lose benefits! (if I can even succeed at that...sitting is the most painful.) Or I can simply quit or let them fire me when my time is up with FMLA - Which is best? I don't know. Last option, to file for disability. I don't know what to think of this option at all. AT ALL! Can filing for disability come back to haunt you? Am I even 'disabled' enough? Does filing for disability mean that I can't try and get pregnant? (Is that even an ethical thought?) Would it simply be better to take out school loans (covering some of our expenses) If I go back to work and fail, does that affect filing for LT Disability? And if approved, can I get off of it in less than a year, if I get better soon enough? Does anyone know if ST Disability carries on until LT Disability covers? And what if I want to try alternative treatments rather than painkillers or antidepressants (They don't do anything for me, and I DO NOT want to take pain meds except as a last resort? Will that affect my eligibility?
I am just confused, and honestly feeling guilty for even considering it, but want all of the honest feedback you can give me.
Thank you for reading this long thing. And for the support. This place is a lifesaver!
LKL
On the Beach with IC
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