Lyme Disease Support Group

Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne disease in the Northern Hemisphere. It is now one of the fastest growing infectious diseases in the U.S. Lyme disease is caused by infection with the Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria, and is primarily transmitted to humans as well as dogs, horses and other domesticated animals by the bite of infected ticks.

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Disability for Lyme Disease??

tjquiver
tjquiver
Has anyone, who is Dx with chronic Lyme disease, been able to get your disability approved? I've been trying for 4 years...& have gotten nowhere! However, I am NOT Dx with Lyme...only Fibromyalgia. I am NOT convinced, however, that ALL my problems are from Fibro! I have far too many neurological problems...& now my entire right side seems to be getting much worse. I won't even get into my cognitive/mental issues...scary! Numerous tests & MRI's have ruled out MS...as well as a hosts of other diseases. I had the Western blot...about 4 yrs ago...was negative.

I'm fixing to move near Denver, CO & am hoping to find a good LLMD there. I was given a list of them, from a girl in another Lyme forum. So...hoping to get answers soon...as I'm at the end of my rope! Seriously! Our living situation is desperate...& I just can not work anymore...too many problems, daily!

So...How does the SSDI system view Chronic Lyme Disease??
deleted_user
deleted_user
I appiled for ssi but I've yet to hear anything. It's tough these days a lot of out of work people are appling for ssi because they can't find a job, the gov majorly in the hole, getting on ssi is getting harder and harder. Do you have a lawyer I would get one, they only charge you once you get on ssi and they can get you a lot of back pay.

As for the blot test, any lymes doc that is worth a salt would say that if you have had lymes for a long time you will get a false positive because it hides so deep in the body that it won't show up on the test. My blot test was negative also but all my other factors were positive and my story fit so that is how my doc dx'ed me.

I hope you get your answers you need and the help you need.
tjquiver
tjquiver
Thank you freedom. I totally agree. It's getting harder & harder to get it. Mainly...because our government is broke...particularly our Social Security System! I've been telling family/friends that I believe they are turning almost every case down...with exception of severe cases that aren't even questionable. Lyme, Fibro, MS, & diseases in this simmer class...are "invisible" however, & much harder to prove.

I hadn't even thought of the unemployment issue...but you are right. I'm sure the SSDI & SSI applications have increased dramatically.
jasonalission0401
jasonalission0401
Hello,there.I’m sorry to hear that you have struggled with Lyme.Lyme disease is really scary.But I hope you'll always have hope that lyme disease can be cured in an effective way.Here are some information for you.I was a Lyme disease patient once, after few years, I found out a serial herb medicine which called DR ZHANG. They’ve been doing a medical study on Lyme disease by using herb medicine for a real long time. By using their medicine, my symptoms has been greatly relieved. And You can find helpful help on there website www.hepapro.com. Wish you get well early!
bestwestie0911
bestwestie0911
My experience has been that no insurance recognizes chronic Lyme disease. Other than Lyme literate physicians, I have not encountered one physician that doesn’t tell me chronic Lyme disease does not exist. I have been battling this dilemma for 15 years.
peace4all
peace4all
You can't really get disability for Lyme Disease specifically. You could get it for Fibromyalgia and CFS but you need a doctor who agrees that you are totally disabled and unable to work and you need to outline how the specific symptoms cause you to be disabled. Like Fatigue: Need to sleep 15 hours a day and nap throughout the day. Pain: Can't stand for longer than 10 minutes. Can't sit for longer than 30 minutes before pain is severe and I need to lie down. etc.
I had severe "CFS" and Fibromyalgia" and got disability before CFS was considered a disability. I had POTS and severe pain and I had everything clearly laid out in my medical records and doctors stating I could not work. It's a lot to do. I improved once I was diagnosed with Lyme and coinfections and was treated. When I was reviewed I add Lyme to my diagnosis list and was honest about my improvement and even though I was still disabled they kicked me off. I was only getting a small amount and the cost of a lawyer to appeal would have been ridiculous. You might be better off not mentioning Lyme at all. I'm still disabled but I'm improved.