SSDI chances for someone with multiple chemical sensitivity

[xfrustrated]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Georgia
I have recently been diagnosed with multiple chemical sensitivity, vasomotor rhinits, reactic airways disease, allergic conjunctivitis and facial damage from overexposure to chemicals contained in air fresheners and candles which has progressed also to reactions to any type of product containing the chemicals used in fragrances. In addition to seeing my own primary care physician, I have also been seen by a board certified environmental illness specialist who is the one who diagnosed me with the above. I also went to see an ear, nose and throat specialist who concurred with the findings and diagnosis of the EI physician. Both state that I will have to have environmental restrictions on any job and that I can not be exposed to any type of fragrance without the risk of a reaction and, therefore, no one will hire me for fear of my reacting to something that may be brought into their premises even if any office I work in have their employees go fragrance free. Both also state the fact that there is no cure for my condition, only the chance of controlling my reactions by avoiding those chemical fragrances that contribute to my reactions. I am 55 years old and have worked my entire life and it greatly pains me that I am unable to work out in the public any more because of my condition or, for that matter, to not have any freedom in just the simple things in life as going to malls, restaurants, grocery stores, etc. We have always been a 2 income family and are now reduced to 1 and I would like to know if I might have any chance of collecting SSDI?

 

[OHRoadwarrior]

No one can figure the decision of SS on your claim. Try Googling SS blue book and reference your symptoms.

 

[Onderzoek]

The only thing that is for sure is that if you don't file a claim, you will not be approved.

 

[xfrustrated]

Thank you for the information. I am going to wait until my appointment in October at a treatment center in South Carolina. MCS cannot be cured but I may be able to minimize my reactions but will still have to have environmental restrictions on the job. I would much rather work than to draw SSDI benefits.

 

[xylene]

Both also state the fact that there is no cure for my condition, only the chance of controlling my reactions by avoiding those chemical fragrances that contribute to my reactions.

Then you need to see more doctors.

One - titrated exposure therapy can and does work for reducing severity of allergic reactions. Even chemical sensitivity. Particularly in adult onset reactivity.

Two - antihistamines are miracle drugs. You can take them - there are many. You cycle different ones so as not to lose effectiveness. If you have drowsy side effects at the needed dose, you take dextroamphetamine or other alertness medications (Vyvanse, ritalin, etc...)

Three - It is possible to master the burden of suffering with serious allergies. Do not let a diagnostic statement make you feel incurable or unworthy.

Disability may be the right choice. But you you have a much bigger road to hoe medically before you will get approved.

 

[xfrustrated]

Xylene: With absolutely no disrespect intended, please let me state the following:

As to seeing more doctors, already been there done that but the problem remains that my primary care physician did not have any knowledge or training in the area of environmental medicine; however, once he saw my notes and diagnosis from the EI physician I first saw, he was very interested in reading up on the MCS condition, diagnosis and treatment. When I explained the synergistic effect that happened when the chemicals from the air freshener were combined with the chemicals from the scented candle, he totally understood. He had previously prescribed several antihistamines that I took for awhile that did nothing to alleviate my reactions. Even the ear, nose and throat specialist, who also did not have any training or experience with MCS, concurred with the EI physician's diagnosis. I got very tired of wasting money on physicians who were not knowledgeable in this area of medicine. I am in my 50's and have never in my life had allergy problems and the RAST allergy test proved that I did not have any allergies. Neither MCS, nor Vasomotor Rhinitis, are allergies. In May, 2011, the World Health Organization met with several physicians, experts, lawyers, etc., and they have accepted the medical evidence proving that MCS is not psychological but physiological and, in all likelihood, an ICD code will be assigned to MCS in the year 2015. Germany, Japan and Austria have already assigned an ICD code to MCS.

As to your statement, "Do not let a diagnostic statement make you feel incurable or unworthy." Even before I was diagnosed, my body let me know that something was wrong and that I could not go anywhere in public where I was exposed to the chemicals contained in fragrances without experiencing a reaction resulting in being bedridden with extreme pain and fatigue for days. Again, it is a medically proven fact that MCS is not curable and that even with treatment, I will still have to live with environmental restrictions. I will not overload my body with unproven medications because it has enough to deal with the adverse reactions I experience whenever I get around anything with a fragrance.

I have spoken to indoor air quality experts and found out that federal regulations, back in the 70's, greatly reduced the amount of outdoor air allowed in to circulate the indoor air pollutants out which resulted in "sick building syndrome" and even the EPA and OSHA state that indoor air pollution is much worse and damaging than outdoor air pollution and that several items, which also include fragranced products, greatly contribute to indoor air pollution.

As to titrated exposure therapy, if the EI physician I am going to see feels that it would be beneficial, I will be more than happy to try and I am hoping that he will accept me as a long term patient but he will be the last and only physician that I will allow to treat me for MCS.

Thank you for responding to my post.

Then you need to see more doctors.

One - titrated exposure therapy can and does work for reducing severity of allergic reactions. Even chemical sensitivity. Particularly in adult onset reactivity.

Two - antihistamines are miracle drugs. You can take them - there are many. You cycle different ones so as not to lose effectiveness. If you have drowsy side effects at the needed dose, you take dextroamphetamine or other alertness medications (Vyvanse, ritalin, etc...)

Three - It is possible to master the burden of suffering with serious allergies. Do not let a diagnostic statement make you feel incurable or unworthy.

Disability may be the right choice. But you you have a much bigger road to hoe medically before you will get approved.

 

[xylene]

In May, 2011, the World Health Organization met with several physicians, experts, lawyers, etc., and they have accepted the medical evidence proving that MCS is not psychological but physiological and, in all likelihood, an ICD code will be assigned to MCS in the year 2015. Germany, Japan and Austria have already assigned an ICD code to MCS.

In all fairness, with no disrespect, you are trying to access the disability system of the United States. You have a big hurdle.

I will not overload my body with unproven medications because it has enough to deal with the adverse reactions I experience whenever I get around anything with a fragrance.

If you are not going to pursue treatment, and avail yourself of multiple concurring opinions as to the extent and intractable nature of your conditions with treatment... you will not qualify for disability.

As to titrated exposure therapy, if the EI physician I am going to see feels that it would be beneficial, I will be more than happy to try and I am hoping that he will accept me as a long term patient but he will be the last and only physician that I will allow to treat me for MCS.

No diagnostic code, poorly understood illness, and your are playing the hard game on doctors and treatment.

You are not going to get disability. 0% chance.

 

[OHRoadwarrior]

SSDI is rarely a good choice for anyone. It is usually humiliating, for someone to go from having proven their worth, via gainful employment, to taking a significant amount less, on the government dole. I honestly believe people mistakenly feel these people are in the same class as SSI applicants, many of whom, are looking for something for nothing. Having been in the process of "falling down", for decades, I can sympathize with those who are working wrecks. I am one also.

 

[xfrustrated]

Xylene: There are hundred of thousands of people across the world that suffer from MCS but it was very encouraging that the World Health Organization has accepted the medical evidence and we are all, in the United States, are very optimistic that, once the WHO assigns MCS a diagnostic code, we will all benefit from it. All of us do not doubt, and acknowledge, that we have an uphill battle.

Let me clarify what I stated about not going to anyone else for treatment. Every physician whom I have seen that are not knowledgeable in environmental medicine have told me that they do acknowledge that I have physical health problems when I am exposed to these chemicals and have also told me that they do not see anything else they can do for me and all advised me to see someone who specializes in environmental medicine and that is why I will not go to anyone else, other than an EI physician, for treatment, because I was advised by physicians who specialize in other areas that I need to see someone who specializes in environmental medicine. If my EI physician advises me to see anyone else, by all means, I will follow his advice but I will not, on my own, without a physician's referral, be seen by anyone else. I will also not go to any physician whom I believe I can put words in his mouth, I want a physician that will only state what he personally, from his own evaluation, believes.

It is encouraging that the ADA guidelines accept MCS as a disability. It is also very encouraging that more and more governmental agencies are initiating fragrance free polices in all of their offices, which includes the Centers for Disease Control.

Thank you again for responding to my post. I very much appreciate and respect your comments and glad that you are stating your personal opinion rather than telling me what you think I want to hear.

In all fairness, with no disrespect, you are trying to access the disability system of the United States. You have a big hurdle.



If you are not going to pursue treatment, and avail yourself of multiple concurring opinions as to the extent and intractable nature of your conditions with treatment... you will not qualify for disability.



No diagnostic code, poorly understood illness, and your are playing the hard game on doctors and treatment.

You are not going to get disability. 0% chance.

 

[Proserpina]

In all fairness, with no disrespect, you are trying to access the disability system of the United States. You have a big hurdle.



If you are not going to pursue treatment, and avail yourself of multiple concurring opinions as to the extent and intractable nature of your conditions with treatment... you will not qualify for disability.



No diagnostic code, poorly understood illness, and your are playing the hard game on doctors and treatment.

You are not going to get disability. 0% chance.

I cannot disagree with this excellent response.

 

[xfrustrated]

Thank you for your comments. Again, I am in my 50's and have worked my entire life and intended to keep working until I could no longer physically work but had no idea that it would happen this early; however, that freedom of choice was taken away from me by the cruel and intentional act of another person. As you stated, I have always proved my worth and excelled at any position I have held. I have always enjoyed working and looked forward to the daily challenges I would face in the tasks that I was requested to perform and have always received outstanding performance evaluations. At every position I have held, the company has also had to push me to take a vacation and I would take no more than a week at a time and return to work immediately anxious to catch up with the work that was delayed during the time I was out. All I am looking for is only what is due me for the years and years I have paid into social security. I have never received any other governmental assistance whatsoever of any kind and have always paid my bills.

SSDI is rarely a good choice for anyone. It is usually humiliating, for someone to go from having proven their worth, via gainful employment, to taking a significant amount less, on the government dole. I honestly believe people mistakenly feel these people are in the same class as SSI applicants, many of whom, are looking for something for nothing. Having been in the process of "falling down", for decades, I can sympathize with those who are working wrecks. I am one also.

 

[Zigner]

Thank you for your comments. Again, I am in my 50's and have worked my entire life and intended to keep working until I could no longer physically work but had no idea that it would happen this early; however, that freedom of choice was taken away from me by the cruel and intentional act of another person. As you stated, I have always proved my worth and excelled at any position I have held. I have always enjoyed working and looked forward to the daily challenges I would face in the tasks that I was requested to perform and have always received outstanding performance evaluations. At every position I have held, the company has also had to push me to take a vacation and I would take no more than a week at a time and return to work immediately anxious to catch up with the work that was delayed during the time I was out. All I am looking for is only what is due me for the years and years I have paid into social security. I have never received any other governmental assistance whatsoever of any kind and have always paid my bills.

What all this tells me is that you ARE physically able to work. Just not there.

 

[xfrustrated]

What all this tells me is that you ARE physically able to work. Just not there.

I sooo wish I could work anywhere else; however, I tried and, because of all the perfumes in the room and the air freshener sprayed in the restroom my body started to react to the chemicals. I went and explained to the supervisor and, because he could see the physical distress I was in was very understanding and let me know that, if I ever got this under control, to call him immediately and, if they had an opening, he would rehire me immediately. I felt very bad because I felt I let him down even though he knew, when he hired me, of my condition. I had to even leave an unemployment hearing because I could not breathe due to the strong perfumes others had worn. When I have been called for interviews, I always let them know up front about my condition because I felt it would not be fair to them to give me a chance only to disappoint them if I had an allergic reaction on the job. I feel I do have so much to offer, I can type over 100 wpm, can navigate between programs without even using the mouse, can multi-task and always complete a project before schedule. All prospective employers were understanding of my condition but were worried that, even if my co-workers went fragrance free, I might be subjected to something someone else brought into the workplace. I cannot go into shopping malls, restaurants, grocery stores, etc. which has made me feel very isolated and cannot even have friends over to visit with or to go and visit. I am not even safe to go to a doctor's appointment if their office is not fragrance free for their workers and patients and have had to leave before without even seeing the doctor because the sooner I can get outside, the less severe the reactions will be and my face and eyes start burning, my blood pressure skyrockets, my temperature rises and that is only just the mnor reactions I experience. Even after I had to leave the job mentioned above, as soon as my reactions subsided, a few days later, I was immediately back out looking for another job. It is very difficult finding a position in a totally fragrance free environment.

 

[cbg]

Is it possible for you to find work from home?

 

[mcsman]

xfrustrated:

You're getting some bum advise here. If you're reacting to fragrances from perfumes, cleaners, etc where you work, you will get the same reactions anywhere you go. You will also get malicious co-workers who not only will ignore your needs, but who may actively harm you. You also cannot waste your time pursuing treatments for allergies or the other treatments that were suggested here; they are completely contraindicated for MCS. Countless people with MCS have wasted 10s of thousands of dollars chasing remedies and treatments recommended by those who do not understand the illness or those who are willing to take advantage of you or even those who MAY have a treatment that MAY help SOME people. The bottom line with successful treatments is that there is no physician who is going to cure you or make you better for working in normal social environments. Any treatment that can make you better relies on your avoiding as many toxic exposures as possible.

Getting social security does not require that you pursue treatments that are not designed to treat YOUR illness. Again: the treatments here are for allergies. They are NOT for MCS.