You have to be off work for 6 months before you apply for disability.
Just do the best you can, that is all you can do. Then when you can't work anymore you will see where you are at. Just do not quit.
The diability paper work has you write what your days look like.
I had a svere crisis and was in the hospital for 6 weeks. I couldn't even think about work. After 6 months I was still unable to drive or leave the house. I was able to retire erly also. You just have to wait. If you get worse you may have to look into "accomodations" at work. This would look like rest periods or what ever could take place at your work.
Ann

I was referring to social security disability
I don't know about other insurance disability.
Ann

Welcome to our group. I am so sorry you are having problems. You will find the group very supportive and a wealth of knowledge/experience.

If you doctor mentioned filling for disability I would suggest that you having further discussions about this topic. Find out if they have experience with assisting other MG clients filling for disability. Your doctor will have to give a detailed report why they feel your conditions prevents you from working any longer or at least for a temporary period.

I would do as much internet research about this subject as possible. I found the following two web sites that may help. MG is one of the disabling conditions considered.

http://www.ssa.gov/dibplan/dqualify5.htm#a0=0
http://www.ssdrc.com/section-12.html

No I do not feel you are being a big baby. MG by itself can be extremely difficult to deal with. Having a child with medical problems, single mom and difficultly at work only adds stress and as you stated depression.

Please do not feel like a failure. It sounds like you are a very good mom and being doing well for yourself until just recently. Very important that you understand that stress/depression makes your MG conditions worse.

If you havent already, please make sure your doctor knows this so they can determine if you need medications to helpthis is very common for MGers even without all of the problems you are going though.

I would like to suggest that you check out the MG Links and News MG group site. It is a wealth of information about MG that you may find helpful. You can find it at http://www.dailystrength.org/groups/myasthenia-gravis-links-and-news be sure to clink view all.

Please feel free to ask any additional questions. We are here to help in any way.

Wishing you the best.

Bruce

I received my social security disability 3months after applying on-line. I did not wait 5 months either. I know I was a lucky one and appreciate it very much. You have to describe your symptoms at your worst

thank you all for your advice. I so appreciate this website and all your input. I've learned to pace myself in life according to my MG symptoms, it's just that the last couple of years it has become more difficult and my MG just doesn't give me a break to catch up. Now my boss seems to be losing her patience with me and medical condition and sometimes I guess I can't blame her, she has a business to run. I will look into disability options now. I am starting to worry that with my worsening condition, I will burn out and not be able to take care of my daughters. thank you, thank you.

try to take it easy
Ann

Do you have State disability in you State?

Yes, Sam. I live in California. =}

Bruce, thanks for the helpful webstes.

I was reading what you posted and I will say you are not a failure by no means. You have endured alot I don't know anything about the disabilty but I think you should do what is good for you. You have a long life ahead of you and in my years I have seen people get disabilty for nothing. My MG started this year and it has been one journey, you have had children held down a job supported a family and still have not felt good yourself your not a big baby and far from it. I would listen to Bruce he is a very inteligent man and knows things. I may be wrong but there may be organizations out there that may help you, Good luck and GOD bless you..

I am on disability for MG. It took me awhile to be approved for it, but I was a bit worse then you are currently. If you can work, I would say continue it. I personally have found not being able to work very depressing. I know if I could, I would in a heartbeat, and after a few years of fighting with that one, I had to accept it for what it was. I'm sorry to hear you are struggling so much. I can only imagine what it must be like to have MG along with other problems like ITP, and a child that has it too. Like bruce said, if your doctor brought it up, I'd give it some consideration and look into it. I wish you the best.

Any time you are considering filing for disability you need to consider having an attorney help you. There are low cost legal aid services that can help. Listed below is a link for legal aid in CA.

http://lawhelpca.org/issues/disability

Again, please stay positive that you can do this. I'm sure you will make the best decision for you, your health and your wonderful children.

Your MG is getting worse and I'm glad you doctor is being aggressive with his treatment. You can also help by reducing your stress and work load at home. I hope you have some family, friends, church you can reach out too. It is often hard to ask for help but you would benefit from rest and distressing.

You have already taken a big step by reaching out and seeking help from this group. You are now part of our MG family and we are here for you.

Bruce

How about a FMLA leave? You should be able to collect from SDI. I live in Santa Barbara. Are you close.

thanks all, again. and Bruce thanks for the helpful website. Sam, I actually just applied to renew my FMLA however I was short by 15 hours because I had to take a month of in the calendar year because my daughter was sick and unable to use her limbs at all for a horrible time, bursitis and her RA was flaring bad. Yes, thank you for asking. I will reapply for FMLA if need be. thank you, Tesinato.

First: SS-temporary-disability can be filed, almost immediately.
But read on. BEFORE you start a project like that.

I am on SS-Disability.
Short story, cutting to the chase.
You cannot handle this, by yourself.
The bureaucratic hoops & barriers erected - to defeat you?
Are just too many.

Do NOT file a claim, by yourself. It will just be denied - and then you have to go through a lengthy appeals process, that can take years. THIS - is where you hear all the horror stories - about SS-Disability.

I recommend using a highly reputable legal firm.
That does NOTHING - but SS-Disability cases.

Generally speaking?
Do NOT use any firm, that you see, advertising on TV.
(I don't know - maybe there are exceptions - but I doubt it.)

These TV-advertisers are just ''phishing'' for business, looking for chumps to fleece. Not too different from scammers, who ply their trade by phone or mailings.

I was referred to a reputable law practice, by a professional counselor in my state government, who - once they realized my physical condition - immediately realized - i qualified for SS-Disability. It was 1 of the best things, that could have happened.

I was referred to - and used: Social Security Law Group, online at sslg.com. They also have an office in LA.
I cannot recommend them, highly enough. They are efficient, no-nonsense - and want the job done quickly.

Call them, talk to them, get their advice. Just talk, no committment.
On both temporary-disability, and permanent-disability.
You get no high-pressure sales pitch.
(In fact, they will probably have to call you back, a few hours later - because you talk to paralegals, and not ''boiler-room'' sales people.)

(Sidenote: the younger an age, at which you are declared disabled? The higher - your monthly disability. Because: you have lost many of your prime earning-years. It's all done by SS financial-calculations, a science in itself. However? No one gets rich, on SS-Disability. But - if you have no other choices? Well, it can help.)

SSLG will handle everything for you. From gathering medical info.
To filing your case, etcetera. No joke. All you have to do, is sign a few forms.

Two final notes: before you proceed to the actual filing of a claim?
(1) You must have medical-testing that is accepted - as demonstrating & diagnosing your illness.
(2) You must also have a doctor, signing-off on this medical-testing.
Generally, with MG or any other autoimmune illness - this will be the neurologist, who diagnosed your illness.
** It sounds like - you already have both of these.

I already had the medical-testing done, that diagnosed my illnesses (there were 3 separate diagnoses). My neurologist had no problem, filling out the brief forms - and providing a concise diagnosis (which essentially - were his clinical write-ups, already done.)

From the day, that SSLG took my case? To the day - I received my first disability check - was exactly 10-weeks.
Compare that - to all the horror stories, that you hear - about filing for SS-Disability.

Your case?
Yes - it would be complicated, by the fact that you still work.
SSLG could give you - an answer on this point.

Here is a question, you can ask SSLG (or any similar, dedicated firm, that you choose).
What job-protection is given to you - by the Americans With Disabilities Act? I don't know the answer.

Maybe I can give you more info, in the future.
Gotta sign off now, I'm very weak - and this took a long time to write.
- Ross
PS: I mention SSLG, only because they did such a great job for me. I have no financial stake, or investment, or arrangement - with SSLG.