Social Security

I got my letter from Social Security with their decision. I was approved. I know some areas take ages to process claims so I guess I live in an area that doesn't have a bad backlog since I only applied at the end of Dec. I think having gone to Mayo Clinic for my diagnosis & the fact the geneticist there stated flat out it will never get better & will only go down hill helped me get approved.

What I am glad for (apart from being able to pay my bills now, lol) is that when I have a good day that energy doesn't have to be sucked up by a job so that I have none left for Toad. That was really hard for me, I would work a 3 hour shift & then spend the rest of the day either just flopped on the sofa or napping on it & she would have the tv on. Now we are able to sit & read together or play together. On Wed after pre-school we were able to stop at the fast-food joint & have lunch together & I realized it's the 1st time just the 2 of us have ever eaten somewhere together. I'm glad this means my daughter gets a mom rather than a woman who can't do anything with her, I can't do a lot, but at least now I can do some stuff.

Update

I don't know where the hell my mine has been, but I think I really needed the blog break. I had been popping in from time to time to read other peoples blogs, but I needed to step back a bit I guess.

Anyhow, what's new with me? I'm got done w/PT for general joint crap & now may be heading back for my neck, stupid neck. I am trying to go to the water arthritis class at the gym, hope to do that 2x per week. I modify 90% of it, but the teacher is fine with that.

I got my orthotics & the one sucks so I doubt I'll be wearing them. 2 castings & 4 appts for 1 ok & 1 useless orthotic, lol.

My right knees pops a bit out all the time now so I am going next Friday to see on ortho for a consult to decided if surgery is needed. Dunno if I'd do surgery right now, but I'm up for seeing what ideas this doc might have.

I'm tapering down my Neurontin, I'm sick of the weight gain & I think that's a big knee pain/sublux issue. I was at 900-600-900 & got down to 600-600-600 & am switching to 600-300-600 this week. My goal is 300-300-300 or 300-0-600, something around that. I have gained 25lbs in 18 months & that's got to be killing my knees. My neuropathy is coming back up with these lower doses, but I think I'd rather have the neuropathy.

I'm not dieting, cause I suck at it, but I have cut soda out & am just trying to nibble snacks so much. Also trying to be sensible with what I eat. Like I still get take-away, but last night I got chicken sandwich instead of a burger or if we get drive-thru Toad & I will split a burger & each have our own small fry. Even if I don't loose much, that's ok so long as I stop gaining.

I've called

to apply for SSDI. Damn, that's a hard call to make. I gave them my basics & they will call me back to set up an appt as their system wasn't letting them make appointments.

In other news I am trying to teach myself knitting. It's going very slow since I have to stop & rest my hands so often. I am hoping that I can use knitting as a hand strengthening exercise.

How am I?

Well funny you should ask, I have no clue. Because I am unable to work I am on assistance which means I have to jump thru hoops on their timetable rather than my own.

In the very back of my head I liked to keep the thought that everyone is wrong & I don't have EDS & by next summer I'll be able to take up jogging to loose this bit of weight I gained from the Neurontin. I can be the me that is a size 4 & wears platform heels everywhere. The me I was 4 years ago, sure I hurt & had times when I couldn't walk cause my legs wouldn't work, but hey those days were few & far between.

I went yesterday to the dr to talk about my prognosis since the assistance office sent me a letter saying I had to either get back to work or apply for SSDI. I asked if he thought I ought to apply, expecting him to say either he had no opinion or maybe. He said that normally he doesn't suggest it to people, but in my case it'd be a very good idea too & he'd help any way he could. I feel a bit gutted by that I guess. I'm only on my early 30s, I should be applying for social security. I guess this answers my question as to if I am disabled or not.

'Cause one can never have enough stress

I'm filing for disability this month. When one is born with a genetic disorder what is the 1st day of disability? When I had to stop working full time almost 3 years ago, but did work part time (never coming close to the $ amt that counts as gainful employment) what was my last day of employment? If filling this stuff out drives me to drink can I also add substance abuse to the list of impairments?