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A New Free Report - What Is Lupus?
This fascinating new report from UK-based publishing house Health Research Today answers some of the most-asked questions about this baffling disease :
- What is the medical definition of lupus?
- What are the symptoms of lupus?
- What tests are there for lupus? How do you get a diagnosis?
Fill in this form and we will send you the report immediately, which you are welcome to send on to friends or family!
Living With Lupus
This article is an extract from the ebook Freedom From Lupus!
Social Security Benefits
Patients who find themselves unable to work may look into obtaining Social Security Disability Benefits. Social Security benefits are awarded when there is objective medical evidence that a condition is severe enough to prevent an individual from working. In order to get your Social Security benefits, the first thing you will need to file a claim is your medical reports. Yet, even before you start filling out paperwork to get Social Security disability benefits, you will need to be sure you meet the work requirement. Most people who have been working for five or more years prior to filing for disability will meet the requirement, but you will still need to call your local Social Security Administration office and check.
In many cases your claim will be decided on these reports, so in order to have a successful claim (processed in a timely manner) you need to communicate with your physician. The reports need to be detailed and accurate. This also means that you need to make sure details of your illness are properly documented in your medical chart, so that important information is not left out of your medical reports.
The following information should be included in your Social Security medical report:
Medical history: It should include history of pain, stiffness, fatigue, and other lupus related symptoms. This also means that during every visit to the physician you need to be communicating all your symptoms. A journal or diary is helpful in keeping track of your symptoms, what works to relieve the symptoms, and what has made your symptoms worse.
Clinical findings: These are observations the physician has made during examinations like description of symptoms such as inflammation, rash, and more. Any elevated temperatures should be reported, swollen glands, organ failure, infection, etc. need to be recorded in the report.
Laboratory findings: Laboratory findings are test results. If you have had x-rays, blood tests, bone scans, ultrasounds, and more, the results of all those tests should be found in your medical report.
Diagnosis: Some doctors, while being detailed about all your symptoms, sometimes forget to put down the diagnosis in the medical report. Make sure it is in there. Also, be sure that the tests and criteria that the physician used to diagnose your lupus are also listed in the report.
Prescribed treatments: This should not just be a list of your current treatments, but also how those treatments are working. It should include any side effects or other problems with medications.
Doctor’s opinions about what you can do despite your lupus: You doctor should be familiar with what activities you are still capable of doing. He or she should be able to describe your ability to perform tasks like walking, standing, sitting, lifting, handling object, travel, and so on.
Work-related impairments: Your physician should also have an idea of what you do for a living so he or she can determine if you are capable of performing the duties required. Graphic descriptions are helpful.
You may need to follow up with your physicians to get he information needed in the reports. If you see more than one doctor, you may need reports from each doctor in your treatment team. You will also need your own records that you have been keeping all along. Names, addresses, phone numbers, HMO numbers, type of treatments, and dates of appointments are all important items in filing your claim. If you are keeping a diary, you will most likely have a lot of this information handy. You will also need your financial information, just as you would for your taxes.
Once you have all your information together, you can set an appointment with Social Security to complete your application. Most offices conduct their claims-related business by appointment so they can assure you their full attention. You can also file by mail or phone, but it can beneficial for the representative to see your lupus symptoms in person.
Once the respresentative has all your information, he or she will read your disability report. Then he or she will request medical reports, and finally, the representative will review the information to determine if you meet disability requirements.
Read the rest of this article in Freedom From Lupus!
© Health Research Today
