Beth, that is how it all began for me. I was having flare ups so bad I could not walk (let alone sleep at night) and going into the office was so exhausting that even by the time I arrived I was completely wiped out. I was working from home a lot as well but my cognitive ability and memory was and even now is so much worse I was having difficulty doing my job at all.
For a time things got better but not anywhere close to 100%. I was struggling every day and coming home completely wiped out and exhausted. Wondering how I was going to make it the next day. I had no life outside of work because of this and when my Doctor suggested that I go on disability she also told me that my quality of life would improve some what hopefully because I would at least be able to spend my energy on things that mattered like my family.
I don't know if you have ever heard the spoon theory but it really hits home for me.
/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spoon_theoryI hope that you are feeling better but if things don't improve then make sure that you speak with your Doctor and tell them what kind of difficulty this is causing for you in your profession and life outside work. Also, make sure that when you see them you are taking your time and writing everything down you can to help with the process should it come to that.
SSDI is going to rely greatly on your Doctors records if and when you have to file for disability so making sure they are well documented as well as supportive of your claim is a high priority. It is a lot of paperwork and a lot of info to gather up and submit. I see 5 doctors on a semi regular basis so you can imagine how getting copies of those records was. It is helpful though if they are all in the same network like a Franciscan provider etc.
It can be done though. My wife helped me and together we were able to apply online and go through the process with no outside assistance. The lady at the SS office nearby was very helpful in answering any questions we had as well. I was approved with no difficulties. I expected that I would need to appeal my claim (because of all the stories I have heard) but I did not. When I received my mountain of medical records I became very depressed looking them over as well as felt depression over having to go through this process at all. It was an eye
opener seeing all that.
I am very grateful that we have a support system in place for people such as us. It is also a good reason when one finds they have been diagnosed with RA to if they are able to purchase any disability insurance available through our employers. I paid for this for 20 years and when I needed to use it, it was well worth the money I paid for it all those years.
I hope that you are feeling better Beth. Take care, -Don