Thanks Mary. My doctor hasn't said anything about oxygen. The only time
I had it was when I was in the hospital. Parts of the day I'm OK, but
then it seems like I just all of a sudden get mega tired and I have to
lay down. My sleep patterns are also way off so I don't think anyone
would want to share a room with me as they wouldn't get much sleep. Last
night I was up at 3am, and then at 5:15, and finally got up at 6am. So
I'd have to see how I am doing by then. Is it in June?

Hugsies,
Carole

Hi Jo,

I have also been dragging on this. I guess I didn't want to admit that
my working days were over. But after talking with the social worker
yesterday, I feel better about it all. It wasn't my fault that I got a
virus, or that for whatever reason it attacked my heart instead of just
coming out as a regular virus would. So she made me see that I shouldn't
feel bad about applying for all of this stuff.

I don't know what their doctors would do that already hasn't been done.
My cardiologist has the results of my echocardiagram and my heart
catheterization. What's there is there. It clearly shows severe heart
damage that's not going to get better.

I'm going to go call them on Monday and then fill out the forms online
to get this started. I'd LOVE a big check to help me take care of these
bills. At this point, I'm trying to cover the rent, car payment and car
insurance. I'm also applying for assistance with the electric bill and
the phone bill. Hopefully, I'll get approved for all of that.

Hugs,
Carole

Carole:
I applied for SSDI and was accepted on the first application without
ever having to go to any of their doctors and without a lawyer.
Get a notebook and write all your doctors, hospitalizations, tests, etc
and look up the addresses and phone numbers, and dates (you need this
for the long form they send).
Write down all your jobs for the past 15 years, addresses, phone
numbers, supervisors and job duties.  Be very specific on the job duties
(you will also need this info for the forms).
Now...Important stuff...jot down everything you had to do at your job,
bending over to use a bottom file drawer, for instance.  Trouble holding
a pen or a phone, trouble climbing stairs, losing your breath when
speaking.  Little insignificant things that you might not have paid too
much attention to at the time.
Then write down everything you no longer can do at home....making meals
ex: you have to microwave instead of using oven, you use paper plates so
you don't have to wash dishes,  Sit down to prepare meals, prepare
sandwiches or zap frozen dinners Can't do housework, garden, do laundry
etc. Emphasize that it just doesn't get done. Maybe you cut your hair
short because you can't hold your arms up long enough to brush/curl it
etc.
Keep copies of everything you send SSA because they often ask for the
same thing over and over and you need to remember what you told them.
The rest of it comes directly from your doctor's records.  I didn't get
any records from my doctors, but let SSA get them. They don't care about
a doctor's letter saying you are disabled- they want his actual office
notes.  Good luck with it.



Ann

Thanks, Firechief. I definitely have medical backup (echocardiagram,
heart catheterization, EKG) - all the tests say the same thing. So I'm
just going to apply online and have my cardiologist send them whatever
they need.

Carole