Going for my Hearing *NERVOUS*

[Lori D]

I applied for SS in Nov of 2001, have been denied twice and now will be having my hearing with the Administrative Law Judge soon. I don't have a date yet, but my case has been assigned to a judge. My attny tells me that after this happens it is normally 6-8weeks untill the hearing. It has already been about 4 weeks. I have just started keeping a journal (I know I should have been doing this all along, I just kept putting it off.. one of those things that when I see it on paper how bad I am actually doing, it is more depressing) and have been going thru all the documents that have been sent to SS. I have heard that they will try and get you to contradict yourself with things you have written. Not that I am lying about any of it, but sheesh! alot of things have changed in the past year and a half. Like I was diagnosed with IC, finally. My first application was for chronic pelvic pain, restless leg syndrome and depression. So even though the symptoms haven't changed much, except to be worse, some things have.

One of my dr's is being a total butt.. told me he supports the disability but then writes in my chart that he does not. Says that IC is totally curable and he is going to cure me! Ha! Ha! What a laugh .. this is a pain management dr, who only treats me with Pain medications. I don't know exactly how narcotics are going to cure me?? I am in the process of finding a new PM dr but it looks like it is going to be at least August before I can get in and the hearing should be before this. My attny is not using this dr's reports, which I really need, but they (the records) are not supportive of any of this. My urologist on the other hand is very supportive and is writing the report for the hearing. I have an appt with my gyn next week and will talk to him about also doing one. He treats me for some adhesion problems with one of my fallopian tubes.

I am sorry I know this is very long winded. I guess what I am asking is, what else can I do? Anyone have any other suggestions? Also, what can I expect in this hearing? Someone told me that the judge will have dr's present that will question me about things.. have any of you had this? And if so what can I expect from them? Should I call my urologist and talk to him before he writes the report about what he will put in it and go over things with him that I think need to be in there as well? How long will the hearing last? Will I be able to go to the bathroom when I need to? My frequency is becoming pretty bad and then it takes so long for the urine stream to start.. I am so nervous about all of this, as you can tell by this post, I am sure. If any of you have any words of wisdom, have been thru a admin hearing, or know of anything I should be doing.. please let me know.... I just hate going in to something and not knowing what will be going on.

Thanks so much,
Lori

[plucky]

had my hearing in june of this year they had a judge , and person who specials in job placement she told the judge that there would be know job 4 me they will ask you how this affect your day and how often u go my lawyer told me the more weight u can lift the less likely u will win if u can lift 0 2 5 pounds tell them that u dont want 2 tell that u can lift more than u would lose im in mi so it may be different laws down where u r at good lucky

[vm]

I don't know anything about SS, but want to wish you lots of luck!!! I know some others here know a lot about the process and hopefully they will see this topic soon.

[tigger_gal]

hi there, I wanted to wish you the best of luck on your ssd hearing. I also am in michigan and was approved first try. I really don't think that a judge will take a pain management dr seriously about curing you as IC is for life and your uro will make that clear. pain management is exactly that helps you "try" to manage your pain, thats why you go not to treat your IC, Please let us know what happens
take care of you
Brat

[Lori D]

Thank you all for your responses! hi

It is just very nervewracking to do this. As I said my hearing date is not finalized yet but should be within the next month.. I hope so at least. I want to get this over with. My attny said 6-8 weeks ago and it has been about 4wks.

I am not too worried about my PM dr and my attny is not even using his records as they are so damaging. My main concern with this is he writes most of my medications. Which as you all know have side effects of their own, and is one of the reasons I don't drive much and when I do it is not far.

I filled out a questionaire a few weeks ago for the judge and on it she asked how much I could lift and how often. My attny said if I could lift a gallon of milk that is 5 lbs. That is what I wrote down, but also wrote that even that sometimes causes pain in my abdomin. He told me that would be one of the questions and said that if I said occasionally they took that too mean many times a day.

I am in a severe flare right now and am very worried about having access to the bathroom during the hearing. How long did your hearing last? Also, as I mentioned in my earlier post, I am keeping a dairy with frequency, pain, sleep, etc. Should I take this with me and give it to the judge? I am keeping it to track symptoms fro my urologist as well.

Again thanks for all your help.
Lori

[Teri]

After my first application, when I was turned down, I started keeping a pain diary. It was a pain in the fanny but I put it right next to the computer so it was in plain view all the time. I would rate my pain and write down what I managed to accomplish on that day....ESPECIALLY the days I couldn't even get in the shower.

It only takes a couple of minutes but I think it's very important since so many of us have a problem remembering things as our days just seem to blend together and we are sick on Monday and by Thurs we know we are still sick but we can't remember how bad it actually was on Monday (sure hope you understood that mess)

Which meds are you going to NOT beable to show before the judge. Has your uro declared you disabled? Has your primary declared you disabled. If you are as well as your pain dr thinks you are.....why is he seeing you Something doesn't sound right to me......

[Teri]

Re-read your post Lori
One of my dr's is being a total butt.. told me he supports the disability but then writes in my chart that he does not. Says that IC is totally curable and he is going to cure me! Ha! Ha! What a laugh ..

I wouldn't even worry about the jerk. You have all kinds of info that says it is NOT a curable disease.

[Lori D]

Terri~

Thanks so much for your help. Something is definately not right with this dr... so much so that cussing I am reporting him to the state medical board. I have an appt for a new PM dr, but it isn't untill August. I CAN still show the meds he is prescribing.. time release morphine, pain patch,anti-depressant, sleep med, etc. But just not his records. That is one of my worries.. the judge can still request the records because she has his name. I had to fill out that questionaire a few weeks ago and it asked about all the meds I was on and who was the prescribing Dr... of course he is on there. My attny says the judge CAN request but he has never seen it happen.

Yes, the dairy is a pain in the rump as well, but I actually think it may prove helpful in tracking my symptoms for my urologist as well as the hearing. I understood you perfectly and this flare I am in right now.. I can barely remember what I did yesterday and how the pain was.. banghead

My uro and all my other dr's support me. Do you think it would be worth the $$ to have my urologist be there in person at the hearing? Also, did you win your appeal? I think this stress is NOT a very good thing for my poor bleeding bladder.

Thanks so much for your response,
Lori

[Dixiefireball]

I was truned down for ssd twise. my uro at first didnt support it because he said that IC can get better and I could go into remission well so far that hasnt happen so after trying for a year he finally supported me. when i went to see the judge they was four people in the room. sometimes they will call a witness to help you but your lawyer will do this not the judge. your lawyer is there to help you win not lose because if you lose he dosent get any money so he wants to win this for you. the people in the room was the judge his reporter my lawyer and me. it took about 20 min and i was able to run to the restroom when needed all you have to do is tell them you need a restroom break the judge understood and didn't get upset. before i left that day He (the judge) ask my lawyer why has it went this far why wasn't I already drawing needless to say i went in nov it took until april to get my check because of the hoildays and i had to push the judge in getting it then. it was approved but he hadnt sent in the paper work to ssd because of a family member had passed away and then the hoildays i had to prove to them my house was in forcloser then he sent it to ssd i got my check with ten days. which did save my home. Thank the dear Lord. i'm glad it is over now. but don't get upset your lawyer will only do what is best for you. he will take care of you. the judge ask me how did this effect my life what has changed how was my day what did i do during the day what level of pain was I in. how many times did i have to go to the restroom how many uti did i have. how long did they last when i do have one. who helped me. what meds was i on how did i take my meds. and a few other question i don't remember
This is what happen to me. I don't know what they will ask you. but rest assure your lawyer is for you not for them.
best of luck to you and don't worry to much about it. I would hate for you to get in a flare over this. grouphug I hope i helped some.
please let us know what happens
best wishes.

[Lori D]

Dixie~

Thank so much for your response. I do have alot of faith in my attorney. I just hate going into situations that I am totally unprepared for. Also, as I mentioned I applied in Nov of 2001.. so it has been a long journey and I am getting very tired of fighting... people with far less health problems have no trouble getting SS but have a real health problem and all you get is denial letter's. Yes, I think I have managed to get myself into a pretty bad flare over worry about all of this. Thank you for the reassuraces.. they really helped me feel more at ease.
Thanks again, I hope you are well,
Lori

[tiggersorensen]

I have my hearing next month and I'm so nervous. I've been waiting since Feb 2005. I think that the not knowing what to expect is the most stressful for me. I don't meet with my attorney again until 4 days before the hearing, so all I can do is sit and wonder (and panic). Unfortunately the reason I'm disabled is more of a combination of multiple factors than any one thing. It's difficult to explain how everything is so interdependent. And to top it off my IC is doing really well (which is good) but then it looks like I'm well when in reality if I worked ten hours one week I would totally flare.

Random question: has anyone else noticed that they flare from air conditioning? I can't use it in my car and even have difficulties in buildings.