Hello Everyone.... I was wondering if anyone has any advice they can give me for my hearing next week in front of the judge. This is my second hearing but from what I am hearing this time its a lady judge and she is hard. The first judge was a man and he was just so nice and understanding. Its so scary.... i am just so worked up with this that I am having a hard time with everything. With my stress level being so high, my pain is worse. This might sound crazy but it is. Sometimes I just think I am, lol...but really I am not, lol!! I go to see my lawyer on Wednesday to review everything. Is there anything that I should ask him or anything??? Any advice would help me tons...I live in PA if that helps! From what I hear, every state is different. Sorry to have to vent but I dont like this feelin of being scared and worrying.
Have A Good Day!
Lisa
Lisa, I wish for you a very successful hearing. I certainly can't offer anything in the way of advice here for you, cos your Health System is very different from here. However, try and stay cool and not stress too much - and by the way, you're not crazy. We know what stress does to pain levels and that's not what you want right now. So, hang in there girlfriend, and - try not to be worrying and scared.Thanks Jeanne for the kind words. Its always nice to know that my feelings are not crazy that people feel the same. I sometimes dont know what direction to go in.
Hope you have a good day!
Lisa
I guess praying that God breaks down her resistance to you, that He opens her heart and sees your need. That is one thing I definitely do before facing something like this. I have seen Him break the coldest of hearts.
Lisa, I am waiting for a "decision of record" so I have so far not appeared before an ALJ but one thing that I keep hearing is that you and your attorney need to prove that you can no longer be "gainfully employed". I am told they ask you to describe a typical day and be very explicit in your answers. Instead of I get out of bed at ____ time and I am stiff, say I try to get out of bed at ____ time by letting my legs hang over the bed until my knees are bending then I stand holding onto the dresser to see if my legs will hold me. Then I duck waddle to the bathroom and crash down onto the toilet (those knees again). When I finally get off of the toilet I shuffle to the kitchen for my meds. Well you get the idea.
There is a great disability section on a site called "butyoudon'tlooksick.com" and the moderator Carolyn will be a great one to answer your questions. You can email her or just post. She devotes her life to empowering us to receive the benefits that we should get since they are so difficult to obtain. She also advocates for people working with disabilities.
Hope some of this helps.
Lisa, Here is some real good advise.
Be honest. Answer the questions. Do not try to embellish. Any type of dishonesty or streching the trueth will certainly go against you. So many people lose because they are so prepared. You do not have to prepare to tell the trueth. Know what I mean?
Don't let the judge intimidate you!
You'll be just fine!!
Good luck!