Are there any MS'ers on Disability?

Hi all. I was diagnosed in the fall of 2008 with MS and immediately started copaxone. about 6 months ago I changed to Avonex because I was reading that it does a better job of slowing the disease down. Prior to that change I noticed that I was steadily becoming more and mo fatigued. Just getting up and getting myself and 3 kids ready for school seems to wear me out. And within the last year I have had 4 episodes where I have past out with no warning, just dropped. The last one happened at my job, which happens to be a doctors office. I fear every time I get behind the wheel that it will happen while I am driving and someone will be seriously injured or even worse, killed. My husband and I have been talking with our family alot about this and we are considering applying for disability. I just wondered if anyone else has had to do the same and if they can tell me what the process would be like? Any helpful info would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!!

Amie

Hi Amie,

My best advice for you is to make sure that your doctor is aware of why you cannot work and is behind you apply for disability. It will make things a whole lot easier for you. My husband applied right after diagnosis and it only took a few months to get ( this is uncommon unfortunately). He has pain and mobility issues that made work impossible. Prior to diagnosis he was on short then long term diability until the ssdi kicked in, which helped a lot financially. I'm not sure if those options are available to you at your present job but they are worth looking at.
Make sure to fill out all the paperwork and make copies of everything and expect to answer the same questions over and over and in different ways. You might also expect to have an appointment with one of "thier" doctors. My husband had to see a psyciatrist and took tests for memory and such lasting around 4 hours.
Here is a website that might help answer more questions you might have. http://www.ssa.gov/d&s1.htm

can't say that i envy you! this can be a long and frustrating road, but once you're approved, it's okay.

went on ssi before i was dx w/ms. was recommended tyhat i apply by psych i was seeing. had to see gov't. doctor and was assigned a case worker or something like that. more like an invisible  unfeeling individual who was of no help to me at the time. had a friend living nearby who worked at a private psych hospital who helped me w/paperwork. also had other friends who made phone calls for me. this was all about 8 years ago.

do keep copies of everything. the beauracracy is good at misplacing or ignoring written communications. also kept written notes of phone conversations.

took a year and 1/2 to finally get approved. by then i was on welfare, foodstamps and medicaid. still used up all my savings and was bailed out for rent by friends and church. you get all the benefits due you once you're approved, but then foodstamps, etc. end.

while going through it all, just wanted to give up. government can make you forget that it is your money you're asking for. wish it was easy for me now to say "keep after them" but it is a most demeaning experience. i was approved without appeals, so was easier for me. hear that many individuals have to reapply, etc.  if i had had to wait longer and face more beauracrats, don't know where i'd be. all i can tell you is that once it's over, it's over for a few years. good advice to contact ms group.  best wishes and luck in your road ahead.    linda