Disability approved by Social Security again

Elizabeth · Post by **Elizabeth** » Thu Jul 28, 2005 7:37 pm

Hi girls,

Just got my letter from Social Security telling me that I continue to be disabled. (No Duh!!!!)

It is kind of a grueling process because they have to contact my doctors, and then I had to go to thier doctors again. This might not be that big of a deal except that because of my divorce and losing my union insurance before, I seen several different doctors, and indeed for a while after filing for divorce, when my exwife quit her job, I had no insurance at all, which means I was not being treated, a condition of an ongoing disability.

However, I got all the paperwork done, and all my doctors were totally supportive, and was approved. Also, after the initial approval they said they would re-evaluate me in one year, this time they say they will not re-evaluate me for 3 years. This is nice, because 5 years is the max.

It was particularly difficult because Social Security does not recognize Fibromyalgia as an illness or disability, so I had to show that the mental and physical aspects of my illness do indeed disable me. And even though it really worried me, because I live in such a conservative part of Califomia, I was dressed as myself (en femme) when I seen all of my doctors, and the psychiatrist from Social Security, and the Bone and joint doctor from Social Security.

This is who I am. I figured if I was to be judged, it might as well be as who I am. So now I am officially a disabled transgendered person. I intend to start college soon, and will be close to finished when my next evaluation comes up. Hopefully my last before returning to the work force in a job that will allow me to use my brain, and not my back.

Love always,
Elizabeth

Virginia · Post by **Virginia** » Thu Jul 28, 2005 8:35 pm

Elizabeth, honey that is good news, although I am sure you would rather be working and not have to deal with your disability. As for your "appearance" at the Dr's. and SS. actually we would have expected nothing less! What course of study are you going to be taking in school and where will you be going to school? You Rock, Girl!!!! We continue to be proud of you and I am happy to call you my friend!!!!
Love ya,
Virginia

Elizabeth · Post by **Elizabeth** » Thu Jul 28, 2005 9:48 pm

Hi Virginia,

I will be going to the Community College that is about 1000' from my apartment for the first two years. I am going to be studying astro-physics. I live in the area of the country that has more aerospace jobs than any other place in the world as well as a strong interest in mathmatics, physics, and astronomy.

I will then transfer to one the the UC campuses technically, but will do as much as possible online. I am waiting to see what federal grants I will get, but being disabled with dependent children, I am expecting a full ride plus living expense money. We will see about this.

Funny, but I am really looking forward to going to college as a transgendered person now that California has passed a law protecting transgendered persons from harrassment. Also being disabled it will make it really difficult for anyone to discriminate against me.

Here's to the future.

Love always,
Elizabeth

Post by **DonnaT** » Thu Jul 28, 2005 10:29 pm

That's good to hear Elizabeth.

I wonder why my brother continues to have such a hard problem. He has several degenerated disks, a rod in his back, a pump for pain meds, incontinance from nerve damage, etc. His doctors have provide all the info to support his disability claim yet the docs the SS admin send him to say there's only 5% disability. This is in WV, btw.

Anita · Post by **Anita** » Thu Jul 28, 2005 11:46 pm

That is good news, Elizabeth. I think I understand it to mean you won't be re-evaluated for three years? Meanwhile, you're getting started on college. Astro-physics was a subject some of my friends and I used to joke it--it was the furthest thing from the liberal arts that we had all studied at one time or another. That's heavy-duty math! Well, at this age, I'd actually like to take some math again. (though not anything like what you're going to do.) I might work up to calculus this time!

Beauty · Post by **Beauty** » Fri Jul 29, 2005 2:22 am

Hi Elizabeth,

That is such good news. You've taken something that a lot of people would fall apart about and turned it into a wonderful win for you. What I mean is you've taken a condition that a lot of people would be so depressed about they'd quit on life and you made it into something where you are going to change it into a winning situation by going to college.

To say I'm proud of you would be a big understatement.

You are great and with a college mind you'll be dangerous (on the side of good naturally).

Congrats to you and for living your life as you.

Beauty

Loretta Ann · Post by **Loretta Ann** » Fri Jul 29, 2005 9:27 am

Well Elizabeth you certainly have enough on your plate to keep you busy during the next three years. I wish you luck.

How do get around the fatigue issue with fibromyalga? I could not attempt to take on what you are planning. I have days when I can barely keep up with this forum let alone anything of the nature that you are planning. Certainly if you can show them that you can attend school you are showing them that you can work.

Love,
Darlene.

Elizabeth · Post by **Elizabeth** » Fri Jul 29, 2005 1:35 pm

Hi girls,

While I realize I have set my sights high, I also beleive my goals to be attainable. By entering school as a disabled student, the colleges disabled student center is there to help me so things like missing classes because of fatigue will not be a problem as long as I have the strength to make up the work or tests.

I figure the worst that can happen is that I will just try to do too much and have to take more time getting my degree than I would like. I can also take many courses online. All I know is that people with much worse disabilities than me have gotten degrees and I intend to be one of them.

As for being able to attend college proving I can work? I don't think so, there is no comparison. College is not anywhere near as physically demanding as working and no one dies or gets hurt if I make a mentel error.

The only real question for me is "can I learn all the math? do I have the mental capacity?" since my illness affects my short term memory. And the only answer I have is, I hope so. If not, I can always change my major and change directions later. I figure if Stephen Hawking could do it almost completely disabled, so can I.

Thanks for everyone's support.

Love always,
Elizabeth

Loretta Ann · Post by **Loretta Ann** » Fri Jul 29, 2005 6:14 pm

As for being able to attend college proving I can work? I don't think so, there is no comparison. College is not anywhere near as physically demanding as working.

I was not referring to physical demanding work Elizabeth. I thought you were going to retrain so that you could work in the field where the challenges demand a mental performance?

But I guess college will let you know if you can handle it? I know I could not handle it (especially) on my bad days, but again good luck.

Love,
Darlene.

Kerri · Post by **Kerri** » Mon Aug 01, 2005 2:34 pm

Hi Elizabeth,

You must have some willpower to manage your condition and contemplate taking a college course in astro-physics. I wish I had your strength too.

I admit I did not know anything about your condition, but after doing the test at this UK website http://www.ukfibromyalgia.com/frames.html I cant believe how much inner strength you must have.

I hope you succeed with your ambition; and well done in being yourself too.

All the best

Kerri

Jadeanne · Post by **Jadeanne** » Fri Aug 05, 2005 9:38 pm

Elizabeth,

I would like to add my well wishes to the others before me.

I think that aiming high is an excellent idea. You won't know if you can succeed in those advanced subjects until you try.

There is always the chance that once you start classes, one of them might interest you into fields that you didn't think of before.

After I graduated from high school in the late 1960s, I went to a nearby community college and on advice from high school and college counselors, I tried engineering and chemistry. At that time I thought my ideal job was lab technician. Among the required courses were 2 semesters computer programming and I really liked them. I switched my major from engineering to chemistry, and after 2 years transferred to a 4 year college. The 4 year college offered more computer courses and I concentrated on them, getting my degree in general studies because they didn't offer a computer science degree (this was the early 1970s).

I have worked as a programmer, mainframe systems administrator, and PC technician for almost 30 years.

Again, I wish you the best of luck,

Jadeanne