They THINK an Employer Will Hire Me!!

by Mary Seroski
(Boise, ID)

Just Me at my Former Workplace

I was officially diagnosed with fibromyalgia in 2004. Since then, I've been diagnosed with chronic pain, ice pick headaches, migraines, narcolepsy, sleep apnea, tension headaches, scoliosis, tendinitis, osteoarthritis in my spine, knees, and hands, rheumatoid arthritis, tethered spinal cord, bulging discs, degenerative discs, bursitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, depression, deviated septum, GERD, patellofemoral pain syndrome (chondromalacia), hearing impaired, near-sightedness, cataracts either from GERD or prednisone... don't know, obesity (lifetime struggle mostly), and pilondial cyst surgery when I was 18.

Where I worked, I was a contract worker at HP.

HP was great and accommodated me with a darkened cubicle, ergonomic chair, keyboard, monitor, and mouse. Then the company I really worked for switched bosses on me and she decided to get rid of me... illegally with false accusations.

But I think I was ready to go even though I hated leaving. I was taking lots of pain medication to deal with everything and my "fibro fog" head was getting worse. My hands were hurting a lot even with pain medications and I was falling asleep at my desk.

I applied for Social Security Disability one month after I was "let go." I was denied with the explanation that YES I have disabilities, but they believed an employer would accommodate me. HA!!!

After over 80 applications, no one wanted me. And I couldn't go on trying anymore.

So now I am waiting for my hearing date. I have a Social Security Disability lawyer who is awesome. But the wait can take over a year. We want the judge to come to town and confront him rather than do a teleconference.

I have two doctors' statements saying I will only get worse and can't really function now.

I know that Social Security Disability Administration is hiring more judges to take up the backlog of applicants. But it still is frustrating to wait so long. I have no income and no insurance and am in constant pain.

I hope I get a hearing before the end of 2008.