Hi:

I, too, have fibromyalgia, plus Lupus; ligament insufficiency in my ankles; severe scoliosis with a 59 to 66 degree curvature; "trashed sacro-iliac joints."  Those are the doctor's words, not mine.  He said they were the worst he had ever seen and he's an orthopedic doctor.  I also have other things which I forgot.  When you get to see the lawyer, or talk to a lawyer, be sure to mention first that you have cognitive dysfunction, which means you have trouble saying what you're thinking and then mention other things.  People may think that  you're just playing when you have the "fibro fog or Lupus lapse," which actually makes your ability to say things worse.  At least it does for me.  It took me a couple of years before I got my disability because I told Social Security that I wanted to keep working.  I worked as a Court Reporter for thirty years.  But, it came time when I had to stop.  My Lupus support group friends told me to go to a lawyer, so I went to their lawyer and within a bit of time -- I don't recall how long, but I would say not very long -- I had my disability check.  I was way over the top excited.  Social Security paid the lawyer out of my check, off the top.  So, what I get now does not include the lawyer's fee.  I've been getting that for about five or six years.  So, to make a long story short, seek out the best disability lawyer in town.  I don't know where you're located, but search around, talk to people, maybe go to a fibromyalgia support group.

Well, welcome to our little group -- actually maybe not so little -- but keep blogging and hope you find the answer you're looking for as far as disability.

Take care.

Anne

I have to agree with you on this issue. I feel alone to I do not want to leave my house at all. I f i so its because i am out getting groceries or helping my mother get hers. That is the extent of my outtings. I get asked to do many things and I have to refuse. It sucks cause i was a very athletic person and i loved to work. Now I am unaavailable for work due to to much pain. And i can't even stand longer than a halt hour nor can i sit at computer too long or I will have to suffer for days with my pain increasing when it is already at its peak. I hope that you get some relief. The one thing that i find that helps is as long as you keep yourself busy then your not thinking as much about the pain(which is always there no matter what). I also find relief in helping others that makes me smile more and less time thinking of the pain. It keeps you distracted. and yes "LAUGHTER IS THE BEST MEDICINE" or I wouldn't be here!!!!! Thats a fact.....

I also have been diagnosed w/ fibromyalgia approx. 5yrs ago.

I suffer from depression, chronic, terrible non-stop pain troughout my lower back, hips and my neck and shoulder area. My Doctor has me taking Lyrica, Prozac, Celebrex. I also take a narcotic pain killer-(methadone). I was just curious what medications others w/ Fibro are taking, or have been prescribed or refuse to take for that matter. I am so very uncomfortable. And curious if all that can be done is being done.

I also wanted to mention that last summer I began the process with the whole Social Security thing. I applied myself, was denied, then reapplied & denied again. I know that there others w/ Fibro who recieve disability assistance. I would have to assume because I myself attempted the application process without help from an attorney that is why I was denied so hastily.

Thanks in advance for any responses!

Heather aka wifeandmomma