Medical Disability for Thyroiditis/Hashimoto's Disease?
Monday November 26, 2007
If you have thyroiditis or Hashimoto's disease, are you eligible for medical disability? I haven't heard from too many thyroid patients who have successfully received disability coverage for their thyroid conditions, but apparently, the folks who make decisions about your disability often use a guide that explains just how much time you should get for different diseases. Here are the guidelines (note, they are in Adobe PDF form) for disability coverage of Hashimoto's thyroiditis.
Comments
I find the information interesting. I have frequently wondered if I could ever get awarded disability because of my ongoing issues with autoimmune thyroid disease. In reading the document, it seems there is an assumption that thyroid disorders, with drug treatment, should be well under control within a month. Two and a half years after my diagnosis, I’m still waiting.
In providing a list of only three cited scientific references–one more than ten years old–I seriously question how the Rhode Island Department of Labor & Training could make a valid conclusion that “no (return to) work restrictions or accommodations should be necessary” (for thyroid patients).
Knowing individuals with thyroid disease are often struggling to get through their required daily life and work duties, my guess is the number of people who could fight for disability allowances would be limited.
I do have hope thyroid disease will one day be recognized by all physicians as a complicated condition which affects day-to-day function, but I don’t think this will happen in the near future.
I totally agree with your evaluation of the document and had similar questions to yours as to the validity of the dated cited sources.
I currently am pursuing disability through social security. I have Hashimotos and Hypothyroidism. When I applied the man at the S.S. office told me that if my application was denied the first time to make sure that I submit an appeal and even pursue it to a hearing if necessary! He said it was worth pursuing. My application was denied so I got an attorney and filed an appeal. That was 4 months ago and I am still waiting. I will pursue it because at this point there isn’t any way that I can be a reliable or dependable employee never knowing from day to day how I am going to feel.
Maybe if more of us with thyroid disease would apply for disability insurance it wouldn’t be so difficult to get. Unfortunately most of us need the income so either keep trying to work as we struggle with our disease or end up declaring bankruptcy. There is something very wrong with this picture, don’t you think?
I have Hashimoto’s “ENCEPHALOPATHY”
Thyroiditis and can’t even find a doctor
to treat me, let alone the disability
people helping me! I have very disabling
SEIZURES that have ruined my life and
finances. I am self-employed with my
husband thus, they said I didn’t qualify;-( My dentist! is the one that
saved my life and continues to help me.
We keep looking for doctors together
but, I am out of money now ($43,000+)
and my insurance hardly pays for much.
I am scared and don’t know what to do?
My husband is 67 and growing very tired
of working alone. And, on the days I’m
seizing he can’t leave me at home alone.
We have just been “hanging-on” but, are
going to have to sell our home because
we are out of money and cant’ work much
anymore. If anyone has ideas, I will
listen!! Thank-you for listening to me!
I live in The Netherlands, and have been on ‘disability-benefit’, due to my Hashimoto’s,…since 2002..
Since that year, I’m considered a 100% ‘invalid’(semantics.., and receive 75% of my last earned income as an invalidity benefit/income…
I’m (my health-situation) revalued ~every 2 years…
This is the situation/reality in The Netherlands…If your illness is ‘considered’ REAL, then it does NOT matter, whether you have a serious heart-condition, OR Hashimoto’s (and NOT responding properly to the medication/treatment..)
Interested in other countries ‘rules’ on this matter..
This does NOT mean, that EVERY Hashi’s Hypo in The Netherlands can claim ‘invalidity-benefit’ (we’re not THAT easy…):..
….It depends on the assessment (tests etc..) of the person (the ‘arbeidsdeskundige’:..a qualified doctor, whom ‘judges’ the patient’s work-capability & illness…) whom evaluates your situation..
Sincerely,
Ira
If you are not receiving equal treatment under the SS law, contact your congress people. SS is a federal issue. Your representatives are there ti help you with federal agencies. They have clout. They can make government agencies behave properly in just days.
I would write a concise statement relating how you qualify and how you are not getting what the law provides. Then call the local offices of your representatives or senators. The people there can tell you where your issue should be sent and the b=name of the person in charge. This will ensure that your message isn’t misfiled or filed in a wastebasket because no one knows where it belongs.
My own thyroid issue has been with me since I was eight years old, It changed my life. I now manage it well, but I can understand that not everyone is anywhere near as fortunate. Those of you who are disabled have a right to financial help.
Good suggestion Jana. Before reading your email I contacted both of my state senators telling them of my situation. I received a phone call from one of them who is going to take a letter detailing the process I’ve been through to SSDI and will push for a decision in my behalf. I only wish I’d thought to do this sooner before the situation got to the point of requiring bankruptcy.
Again, Great suggestion Jana, I hope more people read this and take action.
My thyroid was removed a few years ago. Since then I have had nothing but problems. I’ve always been active and have worked since the age of 16. I’m now 40.
The thyroid issue has never been under control for me. Now it is to the point where my legs are severely swollen and it’s hard to stand or walk for long periods of time. I have sharp muscle pains, weakness and fatigue. My blood pressure is high and I have debilitating digestive disorders. I suffer from anxiety and depression. Until now, I have never feared anything. Now I find myself crying, having terrible thoughts about myself and feelings of hopelessness. I don’t want to be around a lot of people and I’ve lost interest in many things I cared about. I just feel tired all the time. I have terrible bouts with nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. It’s a constant battle with illness and infections.
I have begun the application process for SS Disability. I fear what is going to happen if I’m denied. These people making the decision have no idea what kind of hell it is to try to work with this disease. The pressure of having your job held over your head doesn’t help. Most employers make you feel ashamed and many deny you the time off for Dr. visits. Even though that’s against the law, they find ways around it. And even when you can work, it’s hard to find employment because they know you will need time for medical assistance. It’s a no win situation. It’s not that I don’t want to work. I’m a single mother with 3 children. I need to provide an income. I’ve even worked with symptoms that could result in my death. Last year I developed pneumonia and worked through it for 4 months. I was not allowed the time to recover and my employer was completely aware of my situation. Many companies simply do not care. This is the way we are treated and it needs to change. Imagine a body you’ve been used to all your life… that suddenly quits on you and turns on itself. This is not by choice, it is completely beyond your control. This is what people with thyroid issues face every day. It should most definitely be considered a disability. By it’s very definition, it disables the body and many of it’s life functions. It is serious and deserves to be addressed as so.
after YEARS of suffering through undiagnosed graves disease (almost killed me), i finally diagnosed myself and then the doctor confirmed with a blood test and so on.
now, after 18 months of medication, i have been diagnosed with hashimotos. the memory loss in unbelievable, even typing this, i have to use a dictionary for almost all the words.
i can’t function around people anymore, and i too am at a lost.
take care, mari
Recently I thought that I might qualify for disability. I’ve had hypothyroidism for 13+yrs. Anyway, Over the past six months or so, my symptoms have gotten worse. My memory is shot, and my husband thinks I am going crazy sometimes, I cant remember a conversation from 2 min ago, My hair is so thin and almost embarassing, I have alagator skin and ache constantly, and sometimes feel bipolar with emotions, and depression is something I guess I’ve learned to live with. All of these symptoms that I have had to deal with over the last 13 yrs are now coming to a peak and getting worse… Much worse…and now some new sypmtoms too. Whats even worse still – not that I am working but that I work with children. Sometimes I feel they are smarter than me. It is discouraging to hear that SSI doesnt find it debilitating enough to qualify. I suppose I will still try but it looks somewhat bleak.
Good luck to everyone. This is a silent pain that no one else would understand.
God Bless.
Hi:
I have it too and recently I found Thyrosense that is really helping me. I am waiting for the doctors to be put on synthroid.
I’m glad to hear that I’m not alone. My boss constantly tells me that I’m great at what I do but there are times when I’m not feeling well and I don’t hide it. I’ve told him about my situation and it seems like he doesn’t understand. This has been going on for 3 years or more but I only got diagnosed recently. It’s controlled but I still get the symptoms. I don’t ever want to call in sick because I need the money; but I don’t know what to do when I’m not feeling well.
I am going through alot of testing my dr says my thyroid is enlarged and i have all the symptoms but the labs dont show much. my hair is so thin i am always tired and sick. i called in on friday and my boss tells me there is no excuse for being sick and i tried to tell her about the dr but she wouldnt hear it now i feel like i have no choice but to try to file for ssi or disability after i get all the testing done. its all very depressing. damned if i do damned if i dont. i guess all i can do is try to take care of myself and be happy for my kids.
This thyroid problem sometimes feels as though it will kill me I was so bad at one time I almost went into congestive heart failure. The mood swings feelings of angr crying. Memory loss and ur boss tellin u that ur not the sharpest tool in the shed lately is horrible. The pain and weak muscles the wt gain hair fallin out. No comprehending what people say heart pounding hot as u know what. I want to apply for disability but aftr reading this it seems hopeless
Can anyone help those with Hashimotos disease the symptoms are horrible the symptoms are endless. Working is the hardest thing to do lately I feel as though I am losing my mind and much more I never want to b around people I just don’t want to do anything I feel bettr alone. No I take that bak I hate what this has done to my life. Is there any help or hope
Dear debrah dumalo,
I also have the Hashimotos thyroiditis but also Hashimotos Encphlopathy. I have had the thyroiditis for @ 20 yrs now.
It will get easier, if you take your medicine faithfully and tell the Dr. when things change. I went from a walking zombie, to being human again. But it takes time. Good luck to you and make sure you get plenty of rest and a good diet, lots of excercise. It will happen.
Alice Hile ATTENTION
I have Hashimotoes Encephliopathy and thyroiditis.
I have a Dr in Ann Arbor MI. She and her team Saved my life. She is an Endrochronoligist her name is Dr. Holsing ( I believe her first name is Carrie). She and her team were the only ones to be able to help me.
I had 12 hrs. and they finally figured it out.
Now. 3 yrs later I am doing as well as can be expect.
She is at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, MI.
Sorry I cannot find any paper work so I do not have a phone number for you but I am sure your Dr. can make some contact for you, somehow. Please let me know if this helps you. GOOD LUCK.
I applied for SSD and it took 2 yrs for that to be approved. I had to hire a lawyer, find a doctor that would believe all the medical problems I was having as a result of thyroid cancer, try and explain to my husband why I was so tired all the time and not able to work anymore-which he left me and then came back (that is another story!) almost lost my home. I finally found a doctor that LISTENS to me, she does the finger stick blood test so I finding out things that I never knew about my health. I am taking vitamins and minerals to get me back on track.
I can relate to all of the postings here. I’ve recently been diagnosed with Hypo and now recognise that I’ve had it for years. The symptoms that I get are life destroying in many ways. It’s a struggle to keep my job going, I never seem to laugh or enjoy anything anymore and there seems to be no end. Because look fairly normal, people think you are ok but I’m not. Surely, there must be an answer to this condition.
I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH HYPO BACK TEN YEARS AGO.LOST MY JOB MY FRIENDS ALMOST MY LIFE. LIFE TODAY IS TOUGH DAY TO DAY ACTIVITIES MINIMAL. I CANT EVEN REMEMBER HAPPINESS.
ive suffered with my thyroid for about 12 years now and just recently its getting worst just had to increase my medidation, ive put 2 stone on i feel totally exausted all the time and suffering from insomnia i feel the world is against me and i have no friends im in pain constantly with my joints and feel so deppressed i just want to feel better
After reading everyone’s comments, I don’t feel so alone. I went to work, slept on my lunch hours and came home and fell asleep immediately. The tiredness is only the beginning, as I’m sure most of you know. It’s amazing to me that someone can get SSD for having had a drug dependency, but for those of us who really suffer, we can’t seem to get help. I’ve had Hashimoto’s Disease for 12 years. My last endo took me off my meds and you can just imagine the havoc she wreaked on my body. I had a goiter larger than a golfball and she told me I was just depressed and yelled too much causing my throat to swell. After four trips to the ER, which is a waste of time, I came across a doctor who has had his own thyroid removed. When I tell him I can’t take the medication, he believes me and we try something else. He told me when I went in the first time that it would take a long, long time to get back to even beginning to feel normal. That’s been a year already and we still haven’t stabilized on any medications. I have gotten past the panic attacks and the shakes, but I still carry xanax everywhere I go. For the longest time, I couldn’t even go in the grocery store. I, like others, prefer to stay at home and go nowhere. I don’t want to be in the public. I don’t want people coming to see me. My house used to be spotless. Now, I can barely get up the energy to load the dishwasher, but I make myself do as much as possible. I will say I was thrilled to read the comments here. It makes me feel human and not alone.