Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group I applied for SSD again . . . Round 3

Can you do 60mg for a week, maybe Bridget? Then start tapering down? If it was beginning to work at the end of nine days last time, perhaps 7 days at 60mg then lowering by 10mg per week might be an effective taper. Although at the end of the taper you might want to slow it down and go down by smaller increments.

I think there are some others that have used Allsup to help them with their claims. I'm not big on KA supporting or backing one person or company over another, but I have heard nothing but good things about this company, both from KA members and from people outside of the web. If I had known about them from the beginning I would have gone that direction over the attorney.

It is correct that you can have an attorney or a non-attorney representative assist you with your case from the beginning. However I think that many attorneys don't want to bother with the first round or so because they are locked into a compensation that SSA sets. So most of them probably limit the majority of their involvement to the later judicial appeals process.

I think you hit the nail on the head when it comes to what her attorney said about not being able to help out at first, Chris. I knew that just didn't sound right to me, and I should have immediately thought about the financial angle.

As far as the advocacy of Allsup, I guess I should make it clear that my endorsement is purely a personal one and has absolutely nothing to do with my role as administrator here at KA, nor does it in any way reflect an official position by KA in regard to social security assistance.

Brad

Hey Bridget,
I hope you get the ssd soon. I'm sure the three of you would be much better off too. I was denied 3 times before I got disability, but by the time my third denial came around, my lawyer was already prepared to go to battle for me. It wasn't long after that when I got my first SSD check, including 2.5 years of backpay. Btw, you might be entitled to backpay too, from when you first filed for disability, that is, if you and your lawyer can prove your condition at the time back then.
Hang in there.
Take care,
James.

Well I don't think I'll be able to get much backpay because at Wells fargo at 25hr/wk I was making about $1000/month . . . it wasn't for very long, just since late August. I was unemployed (due to health) all summer, and only worked about 6 weeks in the spring after my unpaid maternity leave, and I don't think I made over 900/month then. While I was pregnant I worked my butt off at JC Penney and probably made $850/month or so. I was so happy about the $10.25/hr at Wells Fargo, it's the most I've made starting out anywhere (well except working horses) because I was able to bring in almost $500 per paycheck at 25 hours. But 25 hours was too much for my body, a few weeks ago I told my bosses I need to cut back to 20 hours, had a doc's note and everything ("Bridget is a patient of mine with severe ankylosing spondylitis and fibromyalgia." that doc's awesome, I never had anyone give me a note saying I was severe before. They always seem to downplay your condition) but it was too late because I was already heading into this flare and now I'm just toast.

I haven't slept hardly at all the last 2 nights, because of the prednisone, I think. It's like my head is buzzing . . . and that fibromyalgia thing where your brain "wakes up" every 30 minutes and ruins your sleep. I'm a severe flippin insomniac, and between the bad pain, the prednisone, the LDN (and I can't take percoset at night because it'll fight with the LDN) I'm just miserable. When I found out the fibro "wakes you up" every half hour, it was such an "a-HA!" moment, it made so much sense.

I haven't heard back from Allsup yet, I'm going to try them again. I know it's Sunday but it's worth a shot. I got the paperwork from the lawyer in Albuquerque, and it's discouraging, because the return address on everything is in Washington DC.

I'm going to clean our bedroom today, even if it kills me. And it probably will kill me. but since I'm not going to work tomorrow, I may as well clean the room and beat the crap out of myself, at least I'll be proud of accomplishing something.

We have another snowstorm coming in right now, and it's supposed to last until Monday night, then another comes in Tuesday and leaves Thursday, then ANOTHER coming in Friday . . . SERIOUSLY! It's like we're getting 12 hours of sunshine between 2 days of snow . . . over, and over, and over . . . our back porch is in the shade and it's about 2 feet deep right now. I mean, this is AWESOME for agriculture, and it's beautiful . . . but ow.

my daughter is SO CUTE. dear god.

love all,
Bridget

Hi Bridget,
I don't have any suggestions or advice. I just wanted to tell you I'm sorry you are going through such a terrible flare. It totally sucks that you can't even take care of your horse!

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that you'll get SSI. You certainly deserve it and I know it would help a great deal.

Karen

thanks karen *hug*

Bridgette, if you don't hear from Allsup this week, let me know. I had a very good working relationship with my contact there, and I'm sure she'll remember me. I'd be happy to call her and give her your info just to get the ball rolling.

Brad

Thank you, Brad! I'm still waiting on one packet from Social Security and whatever Allsup is going to send me. The lawyer in Washington DC sent me a packet immediately (like the last 10 minutes on Friday immediately and I got it Saturday . . . they were quick, I'll give them that! lol). I'd really like to use Allsup instead since it's getting such great reviews from KickASers!
I sent my package of W2s etc to Social Security today. (between Cody and myself, we made about $7,000 of taxable income last year. We paid 10,000 on our mortgage . . . haha).
*sigh*
I fed my horse today. By myself! It took a LOT out of me. It's snowing again. My back is spasming. I've been getting so much beading done in 2010! haha.
If I don't hear anything from Allsup I'll let you know Brad, thank you so much!

Bridgette, I haven't read all of your posts. I just wanted to encourage you to hang in and not give up. I won my disability when I went before the judge. Until then I was just a number. To the judge I was a real person and he was so nice and didn't even want to keep me there because he could tell I was in so much pain. You just have to outwait them. I didn't use an attorney until I went before the judge and an attorney friend went with me.

Best wishes.
Hugs.
Possi