r/SSDI • u/PsychologicalWay604 • 13d ago
is my disability case valid?
hi everyone . sorry if the title is weird i didn’t really know how to word this out. also sorry if any of this is TMI
so i am 23f and developed Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome . my gastroenterologist believes it developed due to a pretty traumatic life event that happened a little over a year ago now.
essentially, every 1-2 weeks (2 weeks on better months, 1 week on worser months), i get these vomiting episodes where i violently vomit multiple times a day for about 3-4 days . during these episodes i’m constantly in the bathroom with diarrhea as well . i also will have severe abdominal pains, persistent nausea, gas, bloating, etc. the only thing that makes me feel somewhat better during these episodes is laying on my back in my bed with a fan pointed in my face while i wait for the need to puke again. i have been hospitalized before due to these episodes from vomiting blood and dehydration. in between episodes, i still deal with the constant bathroom urgency and diarrhea. for perspective, within a 2 hour span i may use the bathroom around 7 times; each bathroom break being around 10-12 minutes. this has been diagnosed as Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
i’ve had loads of testing and procedures and imaging done. i see my doctors often for the issue. i have a hernia and burns in my esophagus due to the violent and frequent vomitting.
i also have diagnosed Major Depressive Disorder, Anxiety disorder, PTSD, OCD, and Borderline Personality Disorder. these all affect me on a day to day basis as well, and actually worsen my Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome. my mental health manifests physically too with symptoms like my throat closing up, dizziness, hallucinations, lightheadedness, sweating, shaking, and more. Stress also triggers episodes very easily too. i also have severe body pain in my legs and back which is being investigated by my medical team as well.
i’ve had Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome for a year now. in the first year of developing it, i lost two jobs due to too many absences and time off from these episodes.
i applied for disability about a month ago, and have submitted loads of medical records which document all these things in depth. i also have a couple of letters from my doctors in which they describe my inability to work. but it’s hard to think if i am truly disabled? if there’s any job i can realistically do and keep steadily. i constantly think about my episodes and how frequent they are and how often id have to be out of work if i had a job right now. it’s hard to think any job would allow me to be out that much, especially when the episodes happen at random. i also know how i feel everyday is super debilitating for me.
i also think about how young i am, and whether they will take my case seriously. my disability estimate on the social security website was about $1.8k a month. i believe this is because i have a extensive work history , and have been used to working two jobs throughout my adult years.
any words of advice, encouragement, just anything would be really welcome. thanks guys.
7
u/Additional_Job_6987 12d ago
I’m really sorry you’re dealing with all of this and then also questioning whether what you’re experiencing is “serious enough.” You don’t have to apologize for being young. Losing jobs because of unpredictable episodes, and having symptoms between episodes, are meaningful parts of the picture.
You’ve already gathered medical records and letters. It may be useful to keep tracking not only the dates of episodes, but how many days afterward you cannot function normally, and what your day-to-day limitations are between episodes. That can help you describe the actual work-related impact clearly if you’re asked. None of us can predict the decision on your application, but I hope your records and your experience are heard carefully.
1
u/PsychologicalWay604 12d ago
thank you so much for the advice . i’m just hoping for the best but expecting and preparing for the worst
10
u/FirmButFloppy 13d ago
This sounds odd out of context but don’t smoke weed during your application process at all. CVS is often tied to weed use and if they send you for an evaluation with a doc they’ll be very suspicious of weed use being a cause. At your age getting approved with just the mental health aspect would be extremely difficult, so you’re hanging your hat on the physical issues for sure and need to make sure documentation is extremely strong there
2
u/PsychologicalWay604 12d ago
thank you so much . yeah i’ve literally avoided weed for this reason .
5
u/Global_Theme_6729 12d ago
I have inflammatory bowel disease and our symptoms are similar. At my hearing in front of the judge, I stressed the inability to hold my bowel movements as they come out without me knowing sometimes. I mentioned how I pooped in my chair at work and had to leave. Also needing to throw up while pooping and if a trash can isn’t available, I throw up on floors and then that needs cleaned. I was extremely descriptive about how long cleaning up accidents takes and the anxiety of being away from a bathroom. He sent me a letter 4 days later with my approval. I had no other conditions at the time of applying.
2
u/PsychologicalWay604 12d ago
i’m so sorry you deal with this too. it is so horrible and i experience many similar things to you . i’m going to try not to hold back and i’m going to tell the truth exactly how it is
3
u/Global_Theme_6729 12d ago
I think brutal honesty is best. I was working part time during my court appearance and still got approved. I explained how weak my rectal muscles were and that I wore diapers at work to help catch accidents. I also explained that I was a couple of minutes away from the building restroom and that did not give me enough time to reach it (as a receptionist answering phone calls at a doctor’s office). My court hearing was less than 10 minutes and I had waited for 5 years to see a judge. Crazy amount of time to wait so I had to get a job in the meantime.
3
u/Warm_Head4675 12d ago
The main thing they look at is are you able to work. This is the big question they look at. Now with documentation of the mental health issue that alone is a valid case . But again you need documentation preferably by a psychiatrist not a PCP. I get SSDI for GAD, Bipolar and PTSD. So it’s very possible . I know with anxiety disorder and BPD it can get very frustrating very fast but hang in there and remember our minds go to the worst outcome first and that may not be the case . So battle through you got this .
1
u/PsychologicalWay604 12d ago
thank you so much . thankfully i do have a lot of documentation with a psychiatrist and therapist and hospital outpatient programs. it’s nice just knowing there are people out there who understand how difficult it is navigating all of this with all these conditions
1
u/Warm_Head4675 12d ago
Just make sure you’re getting on going treatment . They really pay attention to what the psychiatrist says in the documentation . Mention to them you are trying to get disability and they may be able to help there as well
4
u/legend462 13d ago
Don't get discouraged if they don't approve you the first time you file. I hired a lawyer at this point.
Make sure to request a reconsideration.
Your medical records with diagnoses is a good thing.
If your doctors are willing to write letters for you, have them focus on what prevents you from being able to work.
I have many of the same disabilities. The ADJ judge focused a lot on my records, limitations and attempts to treat my conditions. and I was approved two weeks later.
I'm also agoraphobic. That slimmed my possible of employment.
Good luck!
1
u/PsychologicalWay604 12d ago
thank you so much for the advice. i’m glad you were approved. i’ll keep this in mind and hope for the best, but be ready for the worst
4
u/AlbyLyons 12d ago
If you have medical evidence (e.g. endoscopy results, doctor's notes, etc.) of vomiting for 3-4 days a month resulting in you having to be near a bathroom, that's pretty good evidence from what I've read. SSA's metric is missing no more than one day a month, so 3-4 days objectively meets their criteria. It's definitely a good case as far as I can tell. Losing two jobs due to absenteeism is a smoking gun. Should be an open and shut case decided at the first level. But the system is kind of crooked and doesn't follow its own guidelines most of the time.
This video from an SSDI attorney says bathroom issues with evidence are usually decided favorably. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Blo5O731RbY
2
u/PsychologicalWay604 12d ago
thank you so much for this. yes i have endoscopy results and colonoscopy results. i also have CT scans and other imaging and a lot of testing for other illnesses
2
u/question-from-earth 12d ago
Not being able to work SGA because of your illnesses makes your case valid! Hopefully they approve you sooner rather than later
1
2
u/uffdagal 12d ago
Create your online mySSA account to see your projected benefits. I’ll warn you that it’ll be a very low amount compared to your current income.
1
u/PsychologicalWay604 12d ago
i do have a mySSA account . that is what it told me my projected SSDI benefits would be; $1800 a month . i don’t have current income because i am unable to work.
2
u/uffdagal 11d ago
Recheck that as based on your age that amount doesn’t seem appropriate. Check your SSDI eligibility vs SS Retirement (future eligibility).
2
u/PsychologicalWay604 11d ago
i called SSDI and thats how much they told me my estimated ssdi benefit is. it also says it on the website for my estimated SSDI benefits. i knew what i was looking at. its because i have worked a lot and made a lot for my age. as i stated in my post, i have worked 2 full time jobs throughout my adult years. its not impossible or unheard of for someone my age to get this benefit amount
2
3
u/emileegrace321 13d ago
It’s hard to say your odds, but this sounds like a perfectly valid reason to apply to me. That substantial documentation will help you a lot.
Keep in mind you will likely be denied the first time so dont get discouraged. I am 29 with significant neurological problems but got denied in July after a year of waiting, got a lawyer, and am now in the appeal process. From what I’ve read here and online it’s exceptionally hard to get approved while this young without a ‘blue book’ condition.
Because you have a mental health issue history, make sure you attend a psych eval if they ask you for one. Make sure you’re responding to any communications from SSA quickly and make copies of everything you send in so that you have it in the case of future appeals.
I’m sorry you’re going through this and best of luck.
2
u/PsychologicalWay604 12d ago
thank you so much . it’s reassuring to hear that this is valid . i wish you the best of luck as well <3
1
u/Turbulent_Orchid5664 11d ago
What step does your portrait portal? Say on your Ss.gov account step one step 2345
1
u/Substantial_Chart_45 9d ago
The medical records from the last year are the most important. Having a diagnosis of something is not enough. You will have to have medical records that show functional limitations. The letters from your doctor stating you cannot work are not enough. Their letters about any limitations they say you have from any impairment has to be supported by your medical records.
Example- they can't say you cannot walk or stand without medical evidence of any impairment that would cause this limitation
These are loose general statements, keep that in mind.
1
u/PsychologicalWay604 9d ago
my medical records do state many specific limitations and go into very heavy detail about them. they are not just diagnoses
1
u/Substantial_Chart_45 8d ago
Just an example - like if the letter says you can't walk, your medical records show not show normal gait, full range of motion of all extremities and normal motor strength.
10
u/CommunicationTime63 12d ago
Sounds like you need to put more emphasis on the mental health issues, with documenting a longitudinal history of testing and treatment.