Getting the docs on your side can be a good thing. Testing intelligent doesn't mean you're functionally intelligent, if that makes snese. My one friend has a PhD from Princeton and since she began having symptoms of immune disorder, she can't remember I she showered or put on her shoes, yet she can still function on other levels. The late Terry Pratchett (author) had a type of Alzheimer's where he couldn't remember how to put on pants but could still write a novel outline. Cognitive function and dysfunction are not all that clearcut. My mom's memory is awful since she started having FM symptoms a couple years ago, and yet she can whup butt at Jeopardy.

Short version is---get help from the rheumy and even any other doc you've seen to make the case that testing as intelligent isn't necessarily "functional". Okay?

Hugs of support,
Leo

I agree with everything Leo said. I just want to add that the tested doesn't know much if she doesn't understand that different functions access different parts of the brain. I have nasty "recall" issues that I'm going to say are unrelated to Fibro, as I've had this issue back into childhood. But...if it's a memory of an experience, I probably will have no trouble, as those memories are stored, literally, in pictures in my mind. I think my brain developed a workaround somewhere along the way.


The ability to name objects is a very specific area. If she doesn't understand that it's completely "normal" to test well in some functions and not others, she needs to find another job.

Hope you can get some backup on this - any doctor you've been with long term is a good place to start.

Is this an actual disability doctor you are dealing with? She doesn't sound like she is completely on your side if she won't take into account your other report. I hope you have a copy so you can take that to court yourself and present it to the judge is she chooses not to. We can have very high I.Q's but that doesn't mean we are okay if you know what I'm trying to say. I don't know if this is what you mean but I can stare at something right in front of me knowing darn well what it is, but do you think I can name what it is?? Much of the time I cannot until some time passes. It's so frustrating. Bring everything you have, all the ammunition you can and make sure you and your doctor are on the same page. Please let us know how things work out. Is this your first appointment in front of the judge? Do you have a disability lawyer? Keep us posted. Hugs GB

Don't expect her to change her report. You need to talk to your attorney. Depending on the other medical evidence, it sounds like it may lead to a denial.

Did Social Security direct you to this individual for cognitive testing? So many times such people will try to make others feel they are faking or don't have enough symptoms for disability. I agree you should let your attorney know (if you have one). If you don't I highly recommend Allsup, which is a nationwide disability organization who has helped numerous people obtain their disabilities - to include yours truly.

I can imagine the stress you are feeling as I know how I felt. Don't mean to sound preachy/religious yet realize you have done the best you can no matters how problematic others have been. Let God deal with the rest for you now that you have done your part. I also agree to take an updated doctor's report with you when you see the judge. If you have an attorney/advocate let them advise you in this area. Please keep us updated and hang in there okay. Hugs:)

Thanks for you comments (except for Just Me, who has completely freaked me out--but I know has helped me in the past).

The rheumy sent me to a memory center. The NP who has been treating and testing me wanted me to have a longer test to be a baseline, so it wasn't a Social Security test, but I know everything has to go to Social Security. The woman who took the test was working for a stroke and brain damage center. She said something like, I was answering as if I had "real" brain damage. She is a PhD. I don't think she understands autoimmune brain problems or fibro type problems.

I then went back to the original NP who thought I was somewhat worse, but didn't write that in her report.

It is so weird for me to be so often looked at as if I'm a deceptive culprit, since in my personal life everyone thinks I'm remarkably honest. I'm also the world's worst actress, so I don't know how I'd be able to "fake" anything convincingly. My PCP has seen me when I can barely get a word out of my head, so if he is writing these things down maybe it will counter act one woman just testing one time and not even having the correct diagnosis.

After this hearing, I want a break from doctors!

I have a call into my lawyer to discuss this and my latest tests and doctor reports.

When I first filed for SSD, I was sent by them to their doctors (because I guess my own doctors' reports were not enough for them) but the two docs I saw at their facility I felt were purposely not assessing me based on my actual problems. They had me meet with an orthopedist whose range of motion tests didn't properly assess my physical issues (nor did he ever note my pain or the fact that I asked if I could sit down at one point and he said no even though I was in pain while standing waiting for him to write things down... but I digress). They also had me see a psychiatrist who asked me such probing questions as "where were the first Olympics held?" (it was 2012 so we had just had the Summer Olympics so that wasn't a hard question) and "what is today's date?" (which I only recalled because I had asked my Dad while in the waiting room filling out paperwork just prior to the "test". I got a copy of their assessments and was appalled with what they wrote about me because I felt it was all false based on biased opinions purposely meant to make it seem I was not as bad off as I am... and not surprisingly I was denied. I filed an appeal through my lawyer. Nearly a year later, I had my hearing and I was panicked that the judge would weigh those two reports more heavily than the ones from my own doctor... but thankfully she did not and I got approved. It took forever, but it did happen.

I would suggest you just keep seeing your doctors and having them heavily document your symptoms and the severity of them (always be specific when you speak with them - even write a journal, if it helps, to keep track of your symptoms and how bad they are daily). Perhaps even get a second opinion if you can afford to from another doctor and/or ask if they can send you somewhere else for another cognitive test. If you have multiple reports from more than one doctor that support your claims than that should trump one test from someone who wasn't even properly informed when they did the test on you in the first place (if she was referencing an old report then she wasn't properly prepared to test you and she may have had other preconceived notions about you to begin with). You're not going to be able to get that woman to change her report so you may as well forget that... but talk with your lawyer and see what their plan of action is regarding your hearing and if there are any other doctors, tests, et al. they think you should obtain before the hearing. The lawyer knows what the judge has to look at and what the judge will be looking for in your case in order to approve or deny it so they would know best whether it is worth your while to worry about that one report and whether you ought to do anything else.

Best wishes and good luck!

. Hi!
They will automatically deny you once more than likely. That's what people used to say.

Now though, I hear denial twice is common these days. So don't be discouraged. Doesn't seem right, I know. Why they do that with legitimate cases, don't know. I suggest an attorney. The way they did you already is suspicious to me.

Hi AnnNY!
I am so sorry that this happened to you. I will say that ItsJustMe is probably correct in saying that there is a possibility for a denial. I had a similar experience about 18 years ago when I applying for a disability determination. Now, as a medical social worker I deal with disability applications from time to time and I have learned a few things that might help you. While it's true that this examiner certainly has some pull here, the best bet is for you to be prepared when it comes to the time for your hearing. Bringing documentation that shows your accurate diagnosis, and anything that your doctor has said about your 'fibro fog". It is not uncommon to have cognitive symptoms with Fibromyalgia, and documentation that shows that may be helpful. You may not be able to get this examiner to change anything, but if you can advocate for your situation with reports or testing or chart notes from doctors who know you, I think you will be in a better situation.

There are tests that can identify trends in someone attempting to "fake" a cognitive test. Unfortunately, they do not take into account certain medical diagnoses or conditions, so someone with something like a "fibro fog" may not be understood by the tester. And frankly, the interpretation of results can vary depending on the skills of the person reading the test.

I really wish you the best in this situation. I feel that you are going to be in the best position by focusing on the facts of the situation, showing the inaccurate of the diagnosis, and providing supporting documentation about your case using info from the doc(s) who know you. And one last thing - if you think depression, or medications might be impacting your thinking abilities and/or your daily functioning see your doctor again. You want to be able to show that you are addressing all aspects of your illness, and talking with your doctor about the examiner's report might be useful in opening up a dialog that can be documented (and therefore valuable in your hearing), and might ensure that you are being cared for as a whole, unique person,

Again, best wishes to you!
Lynn

Ann, I apologize for upsetting you. I was trying to prepare you.

Just Me--No need. It was sort of a joke. The whole thing is upsetting me. The report makes no sense to me. It wasn't social security sending me to her, she was PhD., not an MD, and others have seen me having trouble getting the right words out right. If I have to go through another year of this because of this stupid report--I just don't know.

This sounds a bit odd, Ann, but what about a one-off psych visit? My psychiatrist's support on my emotional state has been a huge help in me trying to get help and referrals. (Basically, a good shrink or therapist can spot the "liars", and if they sign off on you as someone genuinely distressed, maybe it can help? I dunno the rules where you live, but it helps a little for me.)

GEntle purrs.

I suggest seeing a Neurologist.
Disability is tough..Im applying too....have to jump thru so many hoops...causes huge anxiety...so I understand what you are going thru with this woman.

A Neurologist can PET scan your brain and see if it has lesions...etc...signs of stroke....look up some diseases such as MS and if you have symptoms...discuss with your Dr. and get a Neurologist.

I know you are in the appeal process...so I hope you have TIME to do this before the court date?

I'm thinking of calling her and getting her response to my badly written letter to her. She also is working for a large hospital, so I'm thinking to talking to a patient advocate or her boss.

I have had a terrible time talking to shrinks in the last couple of years. I had an a flare with a fever, numerous neuro symptoms, and then had a seizure in a ER. I never saw anyone have a seizure, but somehow it was decided it was a psychological episode, based on my taking Zoloft, since I couldn't take Cymbalta. I couldn't figure out how I could have a fake seizure that would fool doctors, when the only kind of seizure I have seen is in movies and on TV, and it was nothing like that. Psychs came into my room for 5 minutes, tell me I was depressed (I wasn't remotely), visibly sneer at me when I wasn't able to do the cognative tests well, then send a bill for $500. It turned out the hospital was particularly interested in studying fake epilepsy (in epilepsy patients). When I got the records I found words I would never say and things like "pt. smells benzene." I don't know what benzene smells like. I felt like I stepped into a particularly nasty version of Wonderland. I think the woman who did the report had read the hospital records. I collected a lot of records to bring to my beloved old PCP who no longer takes my insurance. He was reading the records, saying "What a bunch of idiots!" Anyway, I am living on such little money that going to a random psych really terrifies me. My scans were negative except for "normal" volume loss. And since I'm on Medicaid, I doubt I could get them to do a PET scan. I don't have MS, but I have antimylen antibodies. Although it seems to be a forgotten test.

If you're not seeing a psychiatrist or psychologist for your mental impairments you need to. Counselors, therapists, licensed clinical social workers aren't acceptable medical sources. But in order for their medical records to be given any weight you need the backing of a psychiatrist or psychologist.