I've filed Social Security Disability, and I've been through the initial phone interview. Last Month my husband and I received detailed questionnaires to fill out, and today I received an appointment they made for me for a Mental Evaluation.
I expected to be sent to a doctor, but a rheumatologist or an internist, not a shrink?! I'm sick, I'm not crazy... Ok, I have some depression, but I manage to function. Ok, sometimes I think I'm never going to be able to walk 100% again. Ok, If I work, things at the house will get neglected or we'll have to get some help. Ok, I feel subconscious when I have to wear a hat out in the public, or have an umbrella when its not raining. Ok, I feel humiliation when I HAVE to find a bathroom and right NOW or I'm going to have an accident.
So, my disability for a rare chronic disease is resting on my mental capacity? That makes me more depressed....
I’ve come across others that had a hard time getting approved for SSDI it was a very long process for them but after a long battle of being denied, appeals & a lawyers help they have gotten approved. Don’t be discourage keep trying. I’m not sure if its the case worker that makes it a problem for many but I have applied for SSDI Oct. 2011 & I received a approval letter in Dec.2011. I had a 5 month waiting period before I received my 1st check. I was blessed I had no problems getting SSDI. I believe that my doctors excellent documentation with my progress notes & my chart notes played a big key into getting approved right away with no issues.
I was approved for disability in four months without any denials. Make sure and follow through with all paperwork. I obtained medical records from all of my doctors and submitted. Don’t wait for others, do your own homework. I also was evaluated by a psychologist at disabilities request. They want to evaluate how lupus is affecting your everyday function. Because of the disease and fatigue I had while working I requested testing (5 hrs long) by a neuropsychologist. I felt I was losing my mind. Couldn’t focus, concentrate, find words when speaking and made many bookkeeping errors. However that is much improved since not working and being able to get more work. It is a maddening roller coaster of emotions with many ups and downs. But you will prevail. We are survivors! Hang in there. Deb
Hello, Its a shame hoe is Lupus warriors are always brought into same catagory as those who have some type of mental illness. I was told to go see a physch dr, was told, I am suffering from psychosis, psychotic & had no sense in reality. So I agreed with my brother in law, tp go ser a tgerapist.at that time I was on 160 mgs of prednisone, I happend to ve out on medical leave for lupus then weeks later got bullous pemphigoid, then months later my other brotger in law died suddenly at 48. I wasnt crazy, none of us are. Then came restraining orderz because my dr & therapist said I was not crazy. K even was sent to a mental hospital for 7 days. Whatever you do, when u r at dr. Do jot show any frustrations or show that you are a little mad etc. Otherwise you might get diagnosed with things that do not protain to lupus. So I guess I will end up doing the same when I go get my SSDI, once my SDI runs out. Just because Luous is or can be difficult to diaginosed yres we get frustrated because we feel the pain we know somethings wrong but it can take years before knowing whats wrong, so there we go back to Dr to let them know we are in pain. They really need to put us in the Cancer spot since Lupus is a form of cancer. Rather than sending us to a shrink. Good luck and please keep me posted. Hang in there
I have been on SSDI since 2004 for back pain, depression, I had back surgery in 2001, I had relief for a year, so I struggled with the pain, which wasn't really new to me because I had been diagnosed with fibromyalgia since early 90's, probably was lupus, but to the point, they sent me for an eval, it helped me get the disability quicker, it's a standard procedure for all. I didn't need to get a lawyer. hang in there it will happen.
Trisha, like others have said, it is normal to have to have that eval. done. Nothing to do with lupus just standard operating procedure. Best of luck to you thru the process. It took me a long time to get mine back in 98 and it was based only on fibro and I had to get an approved lawyer but it worked. Hang in there.
Hello and thanks to everyone for your comments : )
It helps to know this is a common request from them. I will be 51 this month, and I've heard age makes a difference as well. My sister has bad knees, and was approved in a matter of a few months. Her first check showed up in her account before she was notified by mail.
I don't know how much help my rheumatologist is, he wouldn't even fill out some paperwork I had from my employer : P I have an appointment with my GP for this paperwork, he's much easier to talk to anyway. I have been on short term disability from work, which will be running out soon, and then I hope my employer just lays me off and then I can go on unemployment for awhile.
Thanks for the advice, fortunately or unfortunately I now have both fibro and lupus. If I get denied, a friend suggested Allsup, and that's what I'll do next. thanks my fellow Hoosier : )
reet said:
Trisha, like others have said, it is normal to have to have that eval. done. Nothing to do with lupus just standard operating procedure. Best of luck to you thru the process. It took me a long time to get mine back in 98 and it was based only on fibro and I had to get an approved lawyer but it worked. Hang in there.
Going through same process but already had mental evaluation. Met with Clinical Psychologist . Asked really just random questions such as, family history, current relationship status, history of mental illness. Really nothing related to current situation and or disability. Appointment was no longer than 15 minutes. You do need to list all your current medications.
I unfortunately was still denied. SSA said that though I state that I have severe joint pain, fatigue, stiffness and severe migraines from SLE, Sjogrens, and Fibromyalgia, I am not considered disabled. They are considering my age and educational training as playing a part in their decision. I am 34 with a graduate degree in educational counseling. One thing they failed to mention in their decision is that I am also a full time parent to my 11 yr old daughter and 4 year old autistic son. Who need me the most. Sometimes i don’t even have the energy or ability to take care of them. I thank God everyday for giving me a family that is very loving and supportive. They are the reason why I haven’t cracked or gone insane.
Dealing with SSA is in itself stressful. I have a company similar to Allsup (Genex) that is assisting with SSA. They have a 95% approval rate. They were contracted through my LTD company. They handle everything. As soon as I got denied, they replied with an appeal the very next day.
I heard good things about Allsup, I would look into it if I wasn’t already using Genex.
It’s a long and rough journey that we are heading but if you feel it’s the best thing for you, don’t give up.
Hon, Ben's Friends has sponsored a survey of patients referred to mental health. Several people from the Lupus group participated. It may be worth reading, printing out, and taking with you to the psychiatrist you've been referred to.