Many people living with Fibromyalgia are no longer able to live the life they want, or used to live before their diagnosis. This includes working, which is a necessity of life, unless you have a trust fund, married rich, or won the lottery.
Working with Fibro is near impossible if your symptoms are not under control, and even if your symptoms are under control it is still very difficult. We then turn to Disability. Applying for disability is a job in itself, that you wish you had an Assistant to do for you. You file the paperwork, go through interviews, have many doctors do examinations mental and physical. Then the majority of the time you are denied, and have to reapply.
I understand that some of these people are absolute idiots with no compassion or sensitivity. I will not say all as I am sure there are a few good ones, I am being hopeful on this. We go through the questions, the stares, the insinuations that it is mental, as well as the suggestions that we want on disability for the free ride. Sometimes it works, it does turn people off, and stop the process of the individual applying for disability. Is it deferring the right people?
Have you ever sat down and thought about it from their point of view? I know this is difficult, especially when they are going through the process. These individuals deal with hundreds, if not thousands of people a year, with a percentage of people who are faking the symptoms and trying to get a free ride. I have met a few of these people, as I am sure some of you have. Then we have a disease, that has not been recognized in every state, province, county, city, or country, as more than a symptom. There are few tests that diagnose it, actually really only the 18/19 point test (some doctors are doing 19 points now). These are employees who have been trained to look at the medical information given to them, including xrays, ultrasound, and test results. Which we are unable to give them.
We are the red flag. Before they have talked to us, they have reviewed all the information, as soon as they see Fibromyalgia it is a red flag, and it is not fair to us. However, how many people file using Fibro as their reason without actually having it. We are the individuals that have really no medical proof, yet we are going to the government saying "We are sick, we need help, we cannot work".
They are going to be extra cautious to approve a person with Fibromyalgia.
Although the Disability staff does have reasoning to be more cautious, it does not give them the ability or right to treat you with disrespect. They will, one person will definitely make a comment, or say something absolutely ridiculous.
"If you want money marry rich" (that was my favourite)
"You don't look sick"
"It is just mental"
"You are feeling overwhelmed that is all"
and the straight to the point comment;
"You are trying to scam the system" (I have had this numerous times)
No one, at any time as a right to speak to you with this kind of ignorance, disrespect, or lack of compassion.
Please remember though, when you get these comments, try to remember how many people they have who try to commit fraud, or that these employees have been trained to red flag us, or that in some cases they just are not to bright and can't get pass if they don't see it, it is not true (if there is no medical proof, it is not true). As many times they make the comment, as many times as they deny you, remember these things, because you will want to say something, you will get frustrated, and you will get extremely angry, but hold your tongue, and remember this is how they have been trained, and if you comment they will deny you on that alone.
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