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Avatar universal

Disability? Do we ever get better?

I just have a general question...I know a lot of us are suffering and having a lot of issues and I know I am not alone in that.  Has anyone tried to get disability or gotten it?   Is it possible to get better with this disease?  I feel like I take 1 step forward and three steps backwards.  Beginning to feel a little better physically and now I have nodules.  
Thanks for any replies. Amanda
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649848 tn?1534633700
COMMUNITY LEADER
Marpo hasn't been active on the forum since 2009, so I doubt she will respond to your questions.

You should go to the nearest Social Security office and talk to them to find out what you need to do to qualify for disability.

What thyroid condition do you have and do you take medication for your thyroid condition or just for your heart issue?  It the medications you're taking are causing such serious side effects, your doctor should be able to give you something else in their place.
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Avatar universal
I was hospitalized in 11/2014 for my heart it likes  to beat at 210 to 220 after serveral day in ICU it was found that I have grave desease I had my own business for 15 years and have a five star rating in March of 2015 I had know choice but to close my business I have bug eyes double vision pain all over my throid is the size of a baseball I can't hear out of my right ear and always off balance and falling I owned a Mobile vehicle detailing business I can be around most cleaning cimicals and can no longer walk with out losing my breath and my heart raising the doctor has put me on 2 different throid medication which cause a bad reaction welt the size of quarter all over my body even on the palms and Bottom of feet and ich like crazy
I am having a horrible time finding a doctor that can help me and I need to get of SSI can you help me
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Avatar universal
Hi Marpo1,  I have been diagnosed with Graves Disease and recently received radioactive iodine treatment in the form of a pill.  I feel a slight difference, but I am no way 100% better. I still have trouble walking the stairs.

Also just recently, I applied for social security disability; but they told me I would have to wait 120 days before I am informed if I'm approved.

Can you please send me information about your GD speech? You can email me at ***@****.  Thanks!
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Avatar universal
Hello Marpo1, I have been trying to get on disability but keep getting denied. Don't know why. I would like to receive some info on how you were able to do it.

Thanks.

Greg
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Avatar universal
I'm am not even sure what to do I can't even afford treatment , I'm 28 the things I did before to make money required a great deal of confidence , then I get this graves and my face changes because of my eyes , and my energy is no more , I gain and lose weight like crazy , what do I do I went to the clinic , but after being on meds and stuff I still have to go to specialist for the problems it's causing and I can't afford it like I can't sleep at night , I can't get out of bed in the morning , getting energy thru out the day is a hassle and it's a epic fail half the time , I am a Felon getting a job I can work is hard , and my eyes my god wtf is happening to them , it has put me in a deep depression and I don't know what to do
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Avatar universal
pls sen me the info ***@****
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Avatar universal
Are you being treated for Graves'?

What meds are you on?  Do they have you on a beta blocker to lower your heart rate?
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Avatar universal
im 24 years old i have graves disease im scared my heart rate is 157 wich is hight when i move around cant keep my job due to my eyes im trying to get it but i dont know if i will be approved....
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535882 tn?1396576685
i was on disability for 18 months. due to thyroid. just document it all ! seek all help. different docs. even go to therapy! say your anxious as long as your under doctors care, and have at least one doctor supporting you,  you will get the disability. short term .//long term  permanent is another story .also as long as one doctor is supporting you the other doctors will  not go against the doctor that says you can't work.  hard to prove permanent.
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1612810 tn?1298351762
Well, I just tried in january however, I havent heard anything back but I had a goiter that was shoving my thyroid clear up my throat so i had to get it removed. I might also have fybromialga so it makes it all hard. Without insurance it is hard to get tested for that. I also found out that it is NOT what you have but IF you are able to cope or can work. They take the job you currently have/had and take a low, med, and low scale. They ask you questions, see where you fall and go from there. i was an assistant deli bakery clerk at kroger and they fired me because of call offs and the fact that they didn't want me to work for them anymore. And that was lifting boxes, pushing large hand cranks, pulling heavy stuff, on my feet for over 8 hrs, focusing on people when i couldn't, and probably some more things I can't think about at 130 am in the morning lol

So basically any one can get disability if you can prove you can no longer work. Dr records would be of great help.
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Avatar universal
Have a look at the info I just posted to Keerthi69.
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Avatar universal
Hi, All. I was just dx this year with hypo and was still hopping for a fix-all, but I guess that is not going to happen. I was doing great, trying to get back to work, I am a special education para so I work in schools too, but I have only been subbing as of late. I'm not exactly sure what happened, but my levels are off again. They raised my dose, but what I wanna know is how is everyone keeping their regular jobs? It took me 2 weeks to see the Dr in which time I could barely get out of bed, and it is going to take maybe another 2 weeks for the pills to start working. I don't know what kinda jobs you guys have, but I don't know of any that are going to be okay with that. By the way, thank you all for sharing your stories. just knowing that I'm not the only one feeling this way helps a lot.
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1013194 tn?1296459481
Oh yes i can sure relate to that...I was going back and forth to doctors for 25 yrs with those symptoms..Im now 47 and only just dx in June Hashi/Hypo...By that time my whole body was down to a snails pace, I gained 16 kgs on my small frame..i stopped work as i could not care for my clients anymore ( i was in aged care ) I am slowly improving on treatment, I am hoping im able to look for a job not as strenuous nxt year..It is hard on one wage, and i was so angry that it took so long to dx me and my health had to get so bad by incompetent doctors..Dawn
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Avatar universal
I just wanted to say that I really am grateful for this site and being able to share, it really does make a difference.  I ask about the disability since I lost my job the very day I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's - I knew I had low thyroid, but not Hashimoto's.  My endocrinologist told me I was undermedicated for over 8 months and threw my body not to mention my mind into havoc. I do not know if any of the rest of you have any kind of mental issues with this - like brain fog, memory loss, word loss, anxiety, panic attacks.....this aside from the extreme fatigue is the most scary for me. I am trying to find a job before things get too bad financially. Again, thank you all for your support!!
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Avatar universal
If its any consolation...I am sitting here at 1.05pm in my pj's lol :)
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393685 tn?1425812522
Peg -  You know I am here - you can reach me anytime.
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458072 tn?1291415186
Sitting here reading all these posts, makes me want to just squall. To have someone else know what it is like helps so much in making me not feel like I have just gone off the deep end .

I have such a hard time putting words down like the above posts, and they are so therapeutic to me. I have not been able to explain how this disease makes me feel.My family has a hard time dealing with this. I used to be the one that handled all the details of household and family living, plus work up to 60 hours a week, and I just have not been able to for such a long time now. I still try to handle things, and feel bad because I am not able to, which impedes the healing process. Its really something, because I feel guilty when I am not handling the household like I should, but then I feel terrible physically when I do try to keep up the duties, so its a catch 22.

I was bedbound during my sons senior year this past year, and that really devastated me. And does even when I think about it today. I think sometimes the family just tries to steer clear and I just deal with it the best I can, which is not so good some days. I don't have the raging and anger, I just shut down and can't say anything regardless of what is going on.  It gets very lonely because they don't know what to do, and being around others is scary because you don't know how you are coming across, and then my memory is just plain shot,  so I am wondering "did I act stupid, did I say something I shouldn't have?", among other thoughts.

So because of that, I am so thankful to be able to come here read everyones posts and think "yep, I understand that, I know exactly what they mean, I feel that way myself."

I have so many family members that have this disease, and they have not had the horrible time that I have had. Albeit, I did have it 19 years before it was ever diagnosed, and then had adrenal exhaustion after beginning armour thyroid therapy.

Trying to stay positive and maintain some joy is very hard. I believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and I  have a  hard time understanding why He does not heal me, but I try to remember that His ways are not my ways, and I see only today, while He sees the whole  picture. So with that I just try to keep trusting and leaning on Him. But I must admit, it gets very hard at times.
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1052292 tn?1274457092
Reading all of your posts is helping me so much.  I have other friends with thyroid issues but sometimes I still felt alone in my struggles.  I'm so glad I found this forum, it's helping with that a lot.  Also, I am finding so much good information here that I never knew before.  

I have an appointment scheduled next month with a surgeon here in town who also has an integrative medicine practice.  I called and talked with his staff and they said he truly understands and knows how to treat thyroid issues.  I am still waiting on the endo in Tallahassee to decide if he wants to see me or not so I figured I would check out this guy in the meantime.  I always prefer the natural approach to anything and if this guy can help me I will be thrilled.  

I will say the last two days have been a bit better.  I am into the 4th week of being back on my Levo so hopefully my levels are coming back up to normal now.  I had one small episode of body/muscle aches later yesterday afternoon but other than that I haven't felt too horrible.  Still not much energy of course but I've been like that for 2 1/2 years now.  
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Avatar universal
Normal doesnt exist in my vocabulary...it never has.
It is hard being a Mom and wife and worker.
I dont think I couldve gone back to work if I had to come home, cook dinner, wash, look after kids, be a dutiful wife.
I guess I am one of the lucky ones who met someone and was diagnosed 3 months later with Graves so he understands who I am and where I am or am not at.
Sometimes he 'forgets' I have Graves ....just as we all do in lapses of times.
But I am fortunate enough to be able to work part-time and dont think fulltime is an option for me anymore.
I used to work 17 hour days but those days are long gone.
I worked fulltime previously after RAI and TT and found that I wasnt working fulltime because I wanted too....I too was trying to prove to myself that I wasnt someone who would fail.

I honestly dont believe I have failed now, I believe my expectations were too high.
So like Stella said...I work because I want too but now know my limits.
I know what and how much my body and mind can do now without feeling useless.
But I dont have kids to go home too so that does make it easier on me.
I can go home and if the dishes dont get done that night, I can do them the next night.
If I dont want to vaccum, I can leave it until I do.
But at the moment in the process of moving home and between jobs but still studying distance online (a years course to do at my own pace).
The whole secret to life after Graves or Hashi's is to know your limits.
Be kind to yourself and 'acceptance' is the key.
Thats the hardest thing of all....'acceptance'.
Acceptance that you will never be the 100% you was but you may find the 99% ...which in my books is good enough for me considering before RAI & TT.......I was 0%.
Yes I get tired, yes I get sh*tty, Yes I find things hard sometimes.
But in all honesty...I refuse to live a life like a vegetable.
I did that for too many years.
And if it means pushing myself each time to the limit I know I can cope with...then thats what I do.

I may go through many jobs, I may stick out one job and that is why I did an online distance course.......to take away the feeling of 'failure.
Anyone who has Graves or Hashi's will never 'fail' in my eyes because if we fail, we wouldnt be here looking for answers.
We wouldnt be pro-active in our recovery.
We wouldve 'given up' when we were diagnosed.

The only advice I can give to people here is...be kind to yourself and 'accept ' who you are and your limits.

Life is too short to wonder 'what if'.


SUCCESS IS NOT FINAL
FAILURE IS NOT FATAL
ITS THE COURAGE TO CONTINUE THAT COUNTS.
Helpful - 0
393685 tn?1425812522
My energy level is at the top again - so I no longer dose off. I am up at 4:am the latest and now have to work until 6pm - I really don't feel bad with that. Last year if you would of asked and this situation was then - I would have not been able to do this at all.

I too am only at this school for less than 3 years. The first year I was there I was miserable and that was not a plus for me in the "proving myself worthy" department. I am having a hard time redeeming myself as an educational support person is.

Anyone in elementary school/middle school secretarial support would definately understand the many "hats" you must wear all day long.


The key word here for me is "redeeming" I don't think I will be looked at as someone who just was ill and is better now. and in their defense - how could they? They didn't know me prior to thyroid disease.

I feel like a mental failure there. I know I could be what they need and have that ability now to do that now that I am over the hump of almost dying for Pete's sake. But I believe my furture is over there and they will look at me as incompentent. Truthfully, I pray they word lay me off so I can get over the embarrassment from being so ill and not at my best potential a while back. SO I can sort out the bullcrap and still be able to keep my home - financially.  They would be doing me the favor of cutting me loose - so I could finish the job of getting back to life again - health wise and simply move on.

Again - hard to swollow for who I was - prior to this .....

so I am thinking - will it be this way no matter where I go? is it worth the stress of trying to be something I may not be again? What if I fall again? Will I be on this idiotic freight train - trying to keep up before I get run over again?

My values are different now, they have to be. I can't ignore myself and my lessened abilities from becoming sick has dealt me. Stress overburdens me. I don't "get off" proving myself anymore.  The strength of proving myself is not there as it was. I don't want to take on more than I can chew anymore.

In  my youth years - OH the jobs I did. I was a mechanic - ASC certified Dodge- roofer - Harley Davidson account controller  - furnace repair worker with my father. I was a floral designer - hair stylist - caterer- nail tech. ( all with no schooling or certificates) and a Mom - wife and all the jobs associated with that. and did an awesome job at managing all the above - at least I feel I did.

Then........ thyroid.... blew all that into dust.

Now one job - this - is difficult... I can't manage the enviroment. The idle gossip that once could be overlooked is in full vocus at times for me and I can rage completely out of control because of how senseless it all is in real life. Typing is challenging for me LOL - like I am missing a beat either in my head's words - or my fingers can't move fast enough anymore. I went from a 50wpm to about a 35wpm

WTH??

The day to day jobs of being there for my highschooler son ( senior year) and being a full time working woman - is challenging. It's like this disease is now making me chose - I can no longer do it all.

Is this disability worthy? I guess it's up to the way you approach your doctor - how she sees the situation and decision on her individual level to write the referral or not. It's not up to you on any level anymore. It's all up to the way you come off I suppose.

Hard to prove this statue with "normal" labs though I am sure. and we all know what - normal can be.



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798555 tn?1292787551
Interesting subject. Thyroid can really limit your work if you suffer from symptoms, it $ucks!

For ten years on only t4 I had a lot of muscle pain. I have worked in a lot of research and development labs which can mean a lot of standing on concrete - hard even without thyroid issues. If you are not in the lab you are doing computer stuff and the invention of the computer mouse was evil for anyone with thyroid related carpel tunnel! Slowly getting better with T3, but may never be 100% from scar tissue buildup.

How many of you dosed off in meetings? Very embarrassing not to mention it can put you on the lay off list.
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458072 tn?1291415186
I have not been able to work for over a year now. I have had so many various symptoms because of this disease and because of the way it was treated when first diagnosed. I had thought of applying for disability, but I want to get back to where I can work. I am not yet ready to say this is as good a recovery as I am going to make.

I realize I may not be realistic, but I want to get well enough to get back to the land of the living. And with the fact that I have as of yet to find a dr knowledgeable enough to treat this, it is just taking so long. Plus, it took 19 years to get a diagnosis which really has taken a toll on all body systems.
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1052292 tn?1274457092
Hi Stella,

I've only been in this particular school for a little over a year and I am at times overwhelmed.  I was at an Adult Education school for 14 years and loved it but it was an hour commute each way and with my health issues that was just getting the best of me.  I left in June of 2008 and took this job at a VERY busy elementary school.  Last year was rough and this year due to budget cuts they have added even more duties to my already very busy day.  At my other school I was a school financial accountant and all I did was bookeeping duties.  Here I am the bookkeeper, asst. registrar, records clerk, key keeper (as they call it), discipline clerk and help out in the front office as needed.  Too many hats!!!  Add to that the thyroid issues and it's not very much fun at all.  Hopefully I'll get the thyroid issues under control soon and maybe then I can handle this crazy, busy job much better.  If not, I told my hubby I might be looking at early retirement.  :-)
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393685 tn?1425812522
Hi Nelly - I can totally relate to your job. I am a secretary at a charter K-8 school and definately know how you feel.

I love working with the kids - but as you know - the politics of working at a school is not always "kid" friendly.

I worked at the public school here for 10 years while my thyroid ordeal kicked up. My last year there was absolute he// and eventually I had to leave. I can not say it was all me leaving either. I think they saw the decrease on ability I had - being so ill and my un-nervy irratible attitude I was getting because of the disease.. so I will admit - it was a 50/50 thing at that time.

Ironically - I got even sicker after I left  and spent 4 years - basically on a couch - in and out of emergency rooms. I thought I was going to die and almost did twice.

I figured out why I was so ill and have corrected it. It took 2 years for me to get to the point where I feel good now -. I went back to secretarial what I was doing at this charter school now for 3 years. Even though I feel well - I cannot preform in this enviroment as I did. I don't know if it is the stress there with administration - or me - or both. I just know I can't continue this way for too much longer.


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