DH>After Disability: A Guide to Getting on with Life. Lisa Bendall (Key Porter

Hello, all...

  I'd like a bit of feedback here...and hope this is on topic. I
apologize for the length of the message...but here's some background on
the events that led me to file for disability almost 2 years ago now. It
doesn't bother me being disabled, as I'm a realist...my body won't let
me really work anymore.

  I was originally born without arches in my feet, and had surgery when
I was 11 to build arches in them. My ankles were normal when I was
seated, but they'd fall to the floor when I stood up. Before the
surgery, there was no real bone configuration in my feet...had I not had
the surgery, I would have been in a wheelchair long ago. But, I think
that even with the surgery, my legs, feet, and back, have had trouble
with my weight. I now have cramps and spasms in my knees and legs...and
if I get down on my knees (to get something off the floor), I need
assistance to get back up.

  I've also had trouble with anesthesia, with plummetting blood
pressure...even when I sleep. That may be one reason I can't get a good
nights sleep anymore...the other is sleep apnea, which I was recently
diagnosed with.

  Up until 2 years ago, I had worked at an area silkscreen printing
shop for over 18 years. However, effects from a severe concussion and
two indirect lightning strikes over the years...among other
things...made me resign that position. I'll deal with the injuries
first, all of which occurred when I was still living in Florida with my
family, before my Dad's job moved us to Arkansas 30 years ago.

  First, the concussion...I got that after trying to crawl over a two
tiered vault on the junior high school physical education field. I
instead fell off, landing straight on my head. When a severe headache
ensued shortly thereafter, I went to the clinic, and the staff notified
my parents to take me to an area hospital. I believe that the daily
migraine headaches I have now are a result of that.

  Second, the two lightning strikes. The first one was from a strike to
a coconut palm tree, where one of its fronds was on the house. I had my
hands on the metal edge of the frame of the plate glass window in the
living room, and condensation on the window and my hands added to the
shock. I began "screaming bloody murder", tiles were blown off the
bathroom wall, and sparks flew out of the back of the house. For
many years, you could not take a flash picture of me, as I'd have
"flashbacks" (no pun intended), and begin screaming in terror. Shortly
before we moved to Arkansas, I had just come in from delivering an
afternoon newspaper route on my bicycle in a thunderstorm (not the best
of ideas). As I was stripping out of my wet clothes, I had my hands on
the washer in the garage to steady myself...and lightning hit the house
again. These combined with the concussion have led to severe short term
memory issues...I am easily distracted, and have extreme difficulty
remembering what was said to me, or what I did 30 seconds ago.

  Back in 1989, I was first diagnosed with a nervous stomach and a
spastic colon...where I was rushed to the hospital with severe abdominal
pain and vomiting. The doctor told me that I had to watch what I ate,
and I replied that "I do...from the plate to the mouth!" ...and he
said "you know what I mean". Two and a half years ago, I ate some cole
slaw from Kentucky Fried Chicken...which tasted just fine...but, it shut
down my digestive system for 2 weeks. Now, any stress will "set it
off"...where the abdominal pains are as bad as a kidney stone, or a
woman in labor.

  To make a long story short, as noted at the top of this message, the
daily headaches, leg cramps, short term memory loss, extreme fatigue
from pain medicines (causing me to fall asleep), and constant bathroom
runs (which still continue today), led to my resignation of the
silkscreen printshop job I had held for over 18 years nearly 2 years
ago. I filed for disability in August, 2004...because I felt that no
employer would hire someone who:

* Constantly fell asleep at their work station because of pain
medication
* Spent much more time in the bathroom than at their work station
* Could not remember what was told to them 30 seconds ago
* Had constant migraine headaches where they couldn't keep their eyes
open

  I was denied twice, and then my wife and I obtained legal counsel to
assist us. Twenty months after the original application for disability,
I finally got a hearing before an adminstrative law judge (13 weeks
ago at this typing)...but he said that it'd take from 3 weeks to 6
months to render a decision. They had a vocational expert there, but
with the testimony of myself, my wife, and our lawyer...for whatever
reason, they did not ask me if I could work certain jobs.

  When I was denied twice previously, it seemed to take less than 2
months...but it has been over 3 months now, and neither we nor our
attorney have heard anything. The question is "is there any way that I
can know what way they might be leaning?". Finances have become a bit
tight, and we need that "favorable ruling" to help with the bills that
have piled up (medications, car expenses, etc.).

  Any feedback would be appreciated.

Daryl

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