social security disability?

I am 34 and have 2 young children and was diagnosed with stage 3c colon cancer in 2008.   I qualified for disability during chemotherapy (is this unusual?) and never imagined that I wouldn't be able to go back to work someday, but I have all the nasty side effects from chemotherapy. I know that I'll eventually be up for a medical review. I am tired of seeing doctors, but at least my records are current.  I have anxiety, depression, PTSD, & toxic nerve damage (neuropathy).   I just cannot think of a job where I would be able to function at without pain.  When I sit for long my legs & feet go completely numb. My typing is difficult & writing for more than a few minutes is painful.  And it's difficult to focus. The dr. and I are still trying to work out my meds.  Neurontin didn't do much for the neuropathy and just made me short of breath.  Any ideas here?  Can anyone else relate to this?  How does your employer work with you?  Or do I have nothing to worry about.  Also, at what point would someone with nerve damage seek out a handicapped parking permit? Cold weather makes the neuropathy worse & in a cold weather climate I would only use it if in an emergency.  I fear ever needing Oxy again & being wheelchair bound. My feet hurt so bad right now. It's constant though.  :(

Sunshine,

I know that a Stage 4 diagnosis of CRC qualifies for an expedited SS disability, but I'm not sure about Stage 3C.  I'm guessing it would depend upon whether or not SS felt you could work. I did STD and LTD through my employer when I had surgery and Folfox.  I went back to work before I needed SS disability to kick in.

Be careful with the handicap placard.  My father-in-law asked his doctor for one (he's 86 and has bad legs) and the MA registry took away his license.  He had to do a driving test to get it back. 

Jack

 

On 9/17/2009 sunshine1234 wrote:

I am 34 and have 2 young children and was diagnosed with stage 3c colon cancer in 2008.   I qualified for disability during chemotherapy (is this unusual?) and never imagined that I wouldn't be able to go back to work someday, but I have all the nasty side effects from chemotherapy. I know that I'll eventually be up for a medical review. I am tired of seeing doctors, but at least my records are current.  I have anxiety, depression, PTSD, & toxic nerve damage (neuropathy).   I just cannot think of a job where I would be able to function at without pain.  When I sit for long my legs & feet go completely numb. My typing is difficult & writing for more than a few minutes is painful.  And it's difficult to focus. The dr. and I are still trying to work out my meds.  Neurontin didn't do much for the neuropathy and just made me short of breath.  Any ideas here?  Can anyone else relate to this?  How does your employer work with you?  Or do I have nothing to worry about.  Also, at what point would someone with nerve damage seek out a handicapped parking permit? Cold weather makes the neuropathy worse & in a cold weather climate I would only use it if in an emergency.  I fear ever needing Oxy again & being wheelchair bound. My feet hurt so bad right now. It's constant though.  :(

Sorry to hear of all your side effects - I am a caregiver to 43 yr old with stage 4 colon.  He has experienced many different side affects also including the neuropathy - he has been off that chemo since May 09 and his hands are back to normal but still has problems with his feet.  Have you applied to permenant ssi disability?  I would look into that - even if at first you are denied whenever you are approved I believe it is retroactive back to your initial application date.  It is worth looking into.  I am sure your doctors would be able to document your illnesses and conditions.  Have your doctors discussed these conditions as permenant or in time may pass.  I wish you peace and pain free as soon as possible.  Hope you find the answers you are seeking.  K

HI

So sorry to hear in what you are going through, we applied for SSI and got it with no problem, because  what you have is a life threating disease and they treat that very serious, aslo we got a handicap  sign for car , with no problem because of my wifes condition ,, colon cancer and nuropathy.

The medicine LYRICA is a huge help in Nuropathy, it takes edge off and is really good, see Dr about it,,, also on top of that is an anti depressent tablet, that added with Lyrica really really helped with nuropathy, even tho my wife  dosed not suffer from depression, we where told they used it with nuropathy and had good results, and we admit it has helped a lot.

 Stay positive and keep going ... and Pray...

   Best Wishes .....

I was sorry to read of your problems from chemotherapy.  I know how painful peripheral neuropathy can be as I have the same problem, caused by oxaliplatin.  My oncologist suggested neurontin but I didn't find it helped much.  Could you ask your GP to refer you to a pain management consultant or clinic? I did this and was advised to try gabapentin (which I think you call Lyrica - I'm from the UK) in combination with amitriptyline.  This has really worked well for me and would be worth trying.  Best wishes for a happier future.

 

On 9/17/2009 sunshine1234 wrote:

I am 34 and have 2 young children and was diagnosed with stage 3c colon cancer in 2008.   I qualified for disability during chemotherapy (is this unusual?) and never imagined that I wouldn't be able to go back to work someday, but I have all the nasty side effects from chemotherapy. I know that I'll eventually be up for a medical review. I am tired of seeing doctors, but at least my records are current.  I have anxiety, depression, PTSD, & toxic nerve damage (neuropathy).   I just cannot think of a job where I would be able to function at without pain.  When I sit for long my legs & feet go completely numb. My typing is difficult & writing for more than a few minutes is painful.  And it's difficult to focus. The dr. and I are still trying to work out my meds.  Neurontin didn't do much for the neuropathy and just made me short of breath.  Any ideas here?  Can anyone else relate to this?  How does your employer work with you?  Or do I have nothing to worry about.  Also, at what point would someone with nerve damage seek out a handicapped parking permit? Cold weather makes the neuropathy worse & in a cold weather climate I would only use it if in an emergency.  I fear ever needing Oxy again & being wheelchair bound. My feet hurt so bad right now. It's constant though.  :(

im sorry for your pain and know exactly how you feel.  im taking 75mg of oxy 5 times a day and it barely takes the edge off.  i started working again 3 months ago after not working for 2 years after the beginning of my ordeal (colon cancer).  my ostomy is now only a small part of my problems with employment.  my neuropathy has become even worse since returning to work.  im a welder and am on my feet alot and move around alot.  ergo, the movement makes it almost impossible for me to keep on an ostomy pouch, this, which i am not supposed to have to use since i had a revision from my illeostomy in which everything is internalized and i use a catheter.  the procedure has gone awry and it leaks constantly now, for which i am to have another surgery next month.  i also have terrible problems with gas which makes the ostomy thing a problem too.  i think i have learned that this is due to me breathing through my mouth since allergies make my sinuses so bad.  well, ive digressed,  unless youd like more of my story ill just answer your question.  ive pretty much resolved myself to having severe pain that no one aside from people like yourself can understand.  my work people know nothing of my issues other than thinking i spend alot of time going to and from or being in the bathroom.  i really want to tell the world how terrible i feel but they really dont care and often respond that everyone has pain and works through it.  i wish i could go back and not have done any of this but i guess thats not an option.  ive been avoiding going for disability as i kept thinking i was going to get better.  but each time i think things are better something else goes wrong, so i might just have to try for it.  every day i go to work wondering if im going to be fired for missing alot of for wasting alot of time.  anyway, good luck to you.  if you wish to chat and vent with a kindred spirit feel free to reply to me.  michael