Yeah that is wonderful you got your disablity approved. So many people it takes years and many appeals for it to go through.

Congratulations, Kerry. I receive SS-Disability too. Like you, I had an overwhelming amount of medical-testing, to back the claim. I used a terrific law group - to file the claim. My first disability check showed up - 10 weeks after filing!
SS cares about one major thing: does the applicant have the evidence - to back the disability filing. SS also likes you to jump through many hoops - and over many barriers.
That's where the law-group - really earned its money! I never had to deal with any of the legal hassle. And the legal-fee was preset (by SS) - and deducted from my first check (which went back 18-months).
It's a shame - that I didn't file earlier. I qualified for disability - at a much earlier time. As a result? I lost many months of disability-payments. (Live and Learn.)

Thats great you were approved. It must be a relief. I just received my first denial last week. I still don't have a diagnosis, so am unsure what to expect with SSA. I am hopeful if I do indeed have MG my health will improve with treatment in which case I won't worry about SSA. Meanwhile I figure I should play it safe in case my health doesn't improve. Any tips on how to handle the appeal without a diagnosis? I am currently waiting for a referral to a MG specialist. Should I wait for this doctor's evaluation before filing the appeal, or just keep the ball rolling knowing it takes a few times?

Hire a law firm, that specializes in SS disability. I had excellent results with SSLG, on the web (they also have 4 regional offices). You may have other excellent law firms, in your area. (We did not.)

An excellent SS-diability law firm:
- takes no money from you, directly. Not upfront, not along the way, not ever.
- their fee is deducted from your settlement, only if you win. (so they make darn sure of your case - up front.)
- once you sign on the dotted-line, with the lawyers?
- they handle your claim, start to finish. You never have to deal, with SS, except for occasional yearly updates.

Unfortunately: if there is no diagnosis? There is no disability. It's that simple. SS laws: require medical testing & medical proof. There's no point in pursuing SS-disability, unless there is testing & proof. Even so-called ''temporary disability''? Requires medical testing & proof.
This was my personal experience. Thanks to decent health-care insurance: I already had medical testing and proof - long before I filed. You can also read Kerry's experience, above.
Take a positive approach to a SS-claim. Go see specialized neurologists, experienced with MG and MG patients.
Once there is a diagnosis, backed by testing and proof? A SS claim - will fly right through the system.

Sussanah,
Even with a diagnosis you would probably get rejected on the basis of not expected to last a year with treatment. You have to be expected to be disabled for at least a year, disability defined by unable to do any gainful employment given age training and medical condition. The adjudicating judge is sometimes more lenient, but if you get all the way there and then are denied, I think you have to start all over again, but I am not sure. If you have adequate medical information to support the claim that you cannot work at all, or be expected to be able to work before the year is up, then there is usually no problem. b.

Here is how the SSA defines disability from MG. This is in the Social Security Blue Book of Disability

http://www.ssa.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook/11.00-Neurological-Adult.htm#11_12


11.12 Myasthenia gravis. With:

A. Significant difficulty with speaking, swallowing, or breathing while on prescribed therapy; or

B. Significant motor weakness of muscles of extremities on repetitive activity against resistance while on prescribed therapy.

If you do not fit in either of these categories, you will not qualify.

--Kerry

hi kerry, i filed a few months back. Were you not able to work? I am still employed, with cut hours, but barely hanging on. My employer is working with me and my disability. I just get so exhausted.

From June 2009 through 2010 I was able to work reduced hours, but still able to work. In January 2011, I took medical leave for six months. I was getting worse and had to fully resign from work in June 2011. I have not worked since then and am still not able to work.

--Kerry

thank you for your response. Did you have a thymectomy? I had a complete transsternal thymectomy on 9-15-2010 and i believe I actually feel worse. I am told it takes time, which i am trying to be patient. I have 2 children to worry about, along with a mortgage. I am going to get plasapheresis asap. I just wonder how people, like ourselves, make ends meet with ssi taking so long.

I had no problem with my thymus. My problems seem to have started as an autoimmune reaction to a tetanus vaccine.

Those new to Daily Strength can read my story at krbunn.blogspot.com

Its a long story ;)

--Kerry

Thanks for the feedback. Personally, I hope this whole disability thing will be a moot point for me if I get a diagnosis soon and respond well to treatment. I just want to have the process started in case things don't improve. Here's to hoping I won't need disability!