Question:
I have had FMS for several years, but the last couple of years, I am having
much more difficulty handling my very stressful job which requires long
hours, much pressure. As my pressures at home have increased (husband
alcoholic and early alzheimer's), my own health has taken a real nosedive.
I have gained weight and am now barely able to do anything. This isn't
much of a life. I am 54 years old and wonder if I should try to qualify
for disability payments. I would love to hear from anyone who has had to
quit work because of FMS. Did you get better after quitting work? I hate
to give up my well paying job but I really don't think I have any choice.
I am suffering from total exhaustion and chronic pain.
Answer:
I am so sorry to hear how many burdens you are carrying. I have a
husband with some disabilities too, not so severe as yours but still i
have some concept of your problem.
One thing to consider is that your job is keeping you mind off of your
problems and takes you away from your unhappy home and gives you another
life. The other, of course, is how long can you keep this up. You could
be in for a battle, but we can help with our own stories. Most have had
to fight for as long as 2 yrs, some of us got in on first try. The most
important thing is detail, incredible detail on the smallest things and
any slip of paper that documents that you are losing it at work or
losing time at work, that you are taking medications, just anything.
you will get it, only attention to detail in your original application
and some luck will dictate how long it will take. You certainly deserve
it. It wouldn't even hurt to talk about your husband's problems
somewhere in the application, for SS anyway, i don't know about LTD.
Did you get the list Joan just posted.
This is more info than i ever dreamt existed you are lucky to have this
avail to you. I had nothing, but instinct but that worked, also being
over 55 helps. I hope you can do the thing that is best for you.
Work Disability Evaluation and the Fibromyalgia Syndrome
http://www.alternatives.com/bcfms/workdisab.htm
Measuring the functional impact of fibromyalgia
http://www.vrainn.com/Stuff/Fibro/FMimpact.html
Fibromyalgia and the Disability Dilemma
http://www.alternatives.com/bcfms/disabdilemma.htm
Obtaining Social Security Benefits With
Fibromyalgia
http://www.sunflower.org/~cfsdays/ss-disab.htm
FMS/MPS Handout # 2 - Social Security Disability
http://prairie.lakes.com/~roseleaf/fibro/handout2.html
NSSA -- Fibromyalgia Syndrome
http://www.sjogrens.org/fib.htm
FMS- Social Security Disability Insurance
aol://4344:1643.FIB_033.12326744.546399462
FM Myofascial Pain Social Security
http://nova.vrainn.com/Stuff/Fibro/fmssdiab.txt
Helping Fibromyalgia Patients Obtain Social Security
Disability
http://www2.rpa.net/~lrandall/ssdi_fms.html
Fibromyalgia/Myofascial Pain Syndrome: Social Security
Disability
http://www.clark.net/pub/tbear/fms/star-2.htm
Vancouver Consensus Report on Fibromyalgia and Disability
http://www.alternatives.com/bcfms/consensus.htm
FIBROMYALGIA, SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY
http://nova.vrainn.com/Stuff/Fibro/ssdisab.txt
Disabling Fibromyalgia: Appearance vs. Reality
http://www.alternatives.com/bcfms/bennett.htm
Social Security information (CFIDS Association)
http://www.cfids.org/info/ssa.html
Fatigue
http://www.ssa.gov/odhome/cfsfacts.htm
SSD Benefits Information for CFS Patients
http://www.sunflower.org/~cfsdays/soc_sec.htm
CFS- Social Security Disability Insurance
aol://4344:1643.FIB_032.12326743.546399447
CFS - Evidence for the SSA
aol://4344:1643.FIB_039.12329373.566690930
Residual Functional Capacity Questionnaire
http://members.aol.com/pbcers/rfcq.htm
The Disability Benefits Information Page
http://www.cfids-me.org/disinissues/
Social Security Disability
http://www.ssa.gov/odhome/odhome.htm
SSD
http://www2.rpa.net/~lrandall/disabled.html
Social Security Online
http://www.ssa.gov/SSA_Home.html
Top 10 Services of Social Security Online http://www.ssa.gov/top10.html
Social Security Advisory Service
http://www.ssas.com/
NOSSCR Online - What's New?
http://www.nosscr.org/new.html
NOSSCR Online - Questions about Social Security Disability
http://www.nosscr.org/hallfaq.html
SSDI Impairments
http://www.geocities.com/HotSprings/6028/shortimpair.htm
Steps to Obtaining SSDI
http://www.jcn1.com/pedersen/FMS/ssdi.htm
Filing For Disability Benefits
http://www2.rpa.net/~lrandall/filing.html
SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY INSURANCE
http://www.pic.org/resx/bsfssi06.htm
How We Decide If You Are Still Disabled
http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/10053.html
How to Reach Social Security
http://www.ssa.gov/reach.htm
SSDI Application Assistance
http://www.cfids-me.org/adl/ssdi.html
What You Need To Know When You Get Disability Benefits
http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/10153.html
Social Security Disability Programs Can Help
http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/10057.html
SSA Memo on Fibro and CFS
http://www.cfids-me.org/disinissues/ssamemo.html
Frequently Asked Questions
http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/faq.html
PEBES Frequently Asked Questions
http://www.ssa.gov/pebefaq.html
