Hi everyone,

I was offline for the last few days or so because I had my Independent
Medical Exam for Social Security to determine my eligibility for SSDI.
I was a little pissed off about some parts of the exam, but I think I
made it clear that I have at least 2 listed disorders that should get
me approved on my first attempt. They took X-rays of my right knee
and right hip for the osteoarthritis, and then I met the doctor doing
the physical exam. I had brought copies of all my relevant test
results and 2 letters from my doctor stating my diagnoses and why he
urged me to pursue SSDI, which this doctor absolutely refused to look
at. I told him that in order to form an accurate profile, he really
needed to review the paperwork, and he said he couldn't do that
because that isn't his job, which I refuted with what happened at the
last IME for Liberty Mutual and the multiple inaccuracies that showed
up in his report because he had the same attitude as this guy, like
not touching any of the tender points for Fibromyalgia and then
saying he couldn't make a diagnosis of Fibromyalgia.

I did make sure to tell this guy about the daily severe migraines,
supported by my prescription for Imitrex, and when he shined a light
in my eyes back and forth quickly, I said "Please don't do that, it
can trigger a migraine", which I got the aura for about 5 minutes
later and told him "If I'm going to drive home safely, I need my
Imitrex NOW". He did let me take my Imitrex immediately and offered
water to swallow it with, which is good. I also told him about the
Panic Disorder directly caused by my last employer when I was afraid
they were going to fire me for not being able to do my job duties
satisfactorily because of the profound fatigue, need for extended
breaks and time away from my workstation during migraines and
panic attacks, which I've had both at work severely enough (with
medication) that I was incapacitated for 2 hours of my work day. I
also told him about the non-restorative sleep backed up by the results
of a sleep study (and again offered the paperwork I had brought so he
could see that report, and again he refused to look at), which results
in chronic, profound fatigue, short-term memory problems, and an
inability to work on a regular schedule (I would sleep through my
alarm or have an attack of insomnia and be ready to go to sleep when
it was time to get up for work, so I was constantly in some form of
sleep deprivation that made working impossible for me. I also told
him about the severe pain I have in my feet and legs, and how I use
the cane to support part of my body weight while walking short
distances and the need for the Lidoderm patches stuck to the bottoms
of my feet.

In the notes he made, I noticed he boxed in "migraines" and "chronic
fatigue", so I hope that means he recognized those are both listed
impairments that should get me approved quickly. If I do get denied,
I can use the fact that he refused to look at the reports and 2
letters from my doctor stating #1 I am permanently, totally disabled,
and #2 exactly why I am disabled and what my diagnoses are in my
appeal. I just hope I don't have to go that route, and shouldn't,
since I have listed impairments.

Then I spent yesterday resting and medicating because of the extra
pain in my hips, knees, and feet from the IME (I know he had to do it,
and he was pretty gentle, but it still hurt!). If I can't open my
hips up for the Missionary Position, I certainly can't do splits or
Range-of-Motion tests with my hips being this bad. Oh yeah, I did get
the doctor to take note of the osteoarthritis in my fingers, and that
flares make my hands unusable (and therefore unable to type - a major
job requirement for any job I might be able to do, especially given
that my career was "light-duty" in working with computers).

Now I cross my fingers and toes and wait for the initial decision.

--
Sara Greathouse in Ohio
sfatula@...

Owner: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TPW_Health_Forum
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