Disability Claim
Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2012 4:20 pm
Per my other posts, as you know I filed disability claim with my company. Realizing that RLS, in and of itself, is going to be a battle to obtain this, I spent a significant amount of time with doctors and online research. I have 5 doctors; 1 Internal Medicine, 1 Neurologist, 1 cardiologist, and a psychotherapist and psychiatrist. Beside personal visits with each, I also sent a letter to each summarizing my issues, lack of sleep and some of the affects it has had on me and how it relates to difficulty at my job.
The psychotherapist and Psychiatrist both are in absolute agreement that this is needed. The Cardiologist, too, has written in his files that lack of sleep due to RLS can trigger atherosclerosis and cause yet another heart attack. What seems to be an issue is the Neurologist and Internal medicine docs. Both kind of think I need to treat the anxiety and/or depression and the RLS will subside. I've insisted that through multi-year tracking, it's the other way around. That the sleep depravation causes the anxiety. I received a call from my IM this morning regarding the letter. He is absolutely sympathetic to the issues, but said a couple things that may be challenging. 1, that he hopes my psychologist and neurologist are on board, and 2, that this will be the very first case he's ever seen of someone trying to go out under RLS. While RLS is listed as the primary condition, it isn't the RLS so to speak but the sleep depravation caused by the RLS.
I'm trying to get my ducks in order to be able to provide pertinent information to disability company to support this. I am scheduled for neuropsych evaluation in the next couple weeks to determine the extent of cognitive and psychological impairment (slowness and other). The NeuroPsychologist, after yesterday's consultation, clearly sees some extenuating issues and will be performing various tests over a 2 day period.
What gets me is the doctor's who are licenced to prescribe drugs would prefer that method and continuing to try everything on the drug store shelf, speaking loosely. It's almost as if there is no compassion, but instead, "some" drug will work, so keep on taking them. I've been of this camp many years, but as you know from other posts, this has changed in the last 2.
Dr. B, as I've read in his books and via email with him, does have a section on disability, so he apparently supports this in recognition of the detriments this causes. I've reached out to him again, this morning, hoping to schedule a visit with him while I'm in LA late June. I offered to send him my neurology records so perhaps we can get started even without a visit. I have all blood tests including ferritin, etc. He has seen a copy of that and said I'm highly sufficient with iron.
The previous 3 nights have been pretty awful. I've had worse, but these were right up there. I'm on the Gabapentin 300mg. Neurologist does not want me to increase yet. Says it takes 4-6 weeks to work it's way through. Sounds like a Lexpro type of engagement, and probably needs to ween off when done.
Per my doc's comments this morning, I agree there is little case history on RLS and disability. Has anyone here successfully obtained disability through private or group policies (not SSDI), and if so, any recommendations? alternately, if you attempted and were denied, any reasons that might help me form a better presentation?
As a standard disclaimer, I am certainly not attempting to take advantage of the system and if application is denied, I will continue to remain out of work because I just can't do it. But that's what the policy is supposed to be there for.
Appreciate any feedback on what may be a sore subject with many. I hope you understand, as some have already express agreement.
**additional edit** My wife and I were just talking, and she had some great points. Could this not also be Chronic Fatigue Syndrome? I've researched the requirements, of which you need 4 of 8, and I definitely have at least 4 of the 8. I also read that CFS can sometimes coexist with RLS/WED. Both stemming from and as a cause. This may explain the severe tiredness and inability to do much. What irks me in this regard, is why hasn't any of my doctors even discussed this with me? First of all, and although similarly to RLS there is no cure and is treated symptomatically, CFS is a known and recognized disability, at least on the SSDI platform. It might also offer some relief at least mentally that there is something else going on here.. Thoughts?
The psychotherapist and Psychiatrist both are in absolute agreement that this is needed. The Cardiologist, too, has written in his files that lack of sleep due to RLS can trigger atherosclerosis and cause yet another heart attack. What seems to be an issue is the Neurologist and Internal medicine docs. Both kind of think I need to treat the anxiety and/or depression and the RLS will subside. I've insisted that through multi-year tracking, it's the other way around. That the sleep depravation causes the anxiety. I received a call from my IM this morning regarding the letter. He is absolutely sympathetic to the issues, but said a couple things that may be challenging. 1, that he hopes my psychologist and neurologist are on board, and 2, that this will be the very first case he's ever seen of someone trying to go out under RLS. While RLS is listed as the primary condition, it isn't the RLS so to speak but the sleep depravation caused by the RLS.
I'm trying to get my ducks in order to be able to provide pertinent information to disability company to support this. I am scheduled for neuropsych evaluation in the next couple weeks to determine the extent of cognitive and psychological impairment (slowness and other). The NeuroPsychologist, after yesterday's consultation, clearly sees some extenuating issues and will be performing various tests over a 2 day period.
What gets me is the doctor's who are licenced to prescribe drugs would prefer that method and continuing to try everything on the drug store shelf, speaking loosely. It's almost as if there is no compassion, but instead, "some" drug will work, so keep on taking them. I've been of this camp many years, but as you know from other posts, this has changed in the last 2.
Dr. B, as I've read in his books and via email with him, does have a section on disability, so he apparently supports this in recognition of the detriments this causes. I've reached out to him again, this morning, hoping to schedule a visit with him while I'm in LA late June. I offered to send him my neurology records so perhaps we can get started even without a visit. I have all blood tests including ferritin, etc. He has seen a copy of that and said I'm highly sufficient with iron.
The previous 3 nights have been pretty awful. I've had worse, but these were right up there. I'm on the Gabapentin 300mg. Neurologist does not want me to increase yet. Says it takes 4-6 weeks to work it's way through. Sounds like a Lexpro type of engagement, and probably needs to ween off when done.
Per my doc's comments this morning, I agree there is little case history on RLS and disability. Has anyone here successfully obtained disability through private or group policies (not SSDI), and if so, any recommendations? alternately, if you attempted and were denied, any reasons that might help me form a better presentation?
As a standard disclaimer, I am certainly not attempting to take advantage of the system and if application is denied, I will continue to remain out of work because I just can't do it. But that's what the policy is supposed to be there for.
Appreciate any feedback on what may be a sore subject with many. I hope you understand, as some have already express agreement.
**additional edit** My wife and I were just talking, and she had some great points. Could this not also be Chronic Fatigue Syndrome? I've researched the requirements, of which you need 4 of 8, and I definitely have at least 4 of the 8. I also read that CFS can sometimes coexist with RLS/WED. Both stemming from and as a cause. This may explain the severe tiredness and inability to do much. What irks me in this regard, is why hasn't any of my doctors even discussed this with me? First of all, and although similarly to RLS there is no cure and is treated symptomatically, CFS is a known and recognized disability, at least on the SSDI platform. It might also offer some relief at least mentally that there is something else going on here.. Thoughts?