How do I survive without a job or SSDI?

I suffer with Fibromyalgia, Basilar Artery Migraines, Abdominal Migraines, Osteo-Arthritis, Asthma, Carpral tunnel, severe alleries, IBS, chronic infection. I have worked since I graduated high school and have run myself into the ground. I am the only bread winner in my family so I can't stop working, but if I don't I will continue to be ill, and will become more ill. Also, my reliability at work is poor as I often cannot work. While I am working I am constantly in pain, sick and crying. What solution or middle ground should I find/take?

Do you qualify for public assistance at all? Go talk to a social worker at a public health center. They can usually give you some idea as to what kind of help you'll qualify for - food stamps, TANF, Medicaid, etc. - if you do have to quit work.

Getting Social Security disability takes time, and your doctor can't just "put you on disability" as one person mentioned, not as far as Social Security goes - although a doctor who is supportive of your disability claim and keeps good records will make your claim go much more smoothly.

Do you have any disability coverage through your employer? If you have short-term disability coverage, your doctor CAN put you on STD leave, and you should immediately file for Social Security disability at that time, as well as the various public assistance programs. If you have long-term disability coverage, it should pick up when the STD leave runs out, which would almost certainly happen before Social Security gets around to doing anything.

If you don't have disability coverage through your employer, you're stuck with having to work as long as you can, then trying to make do with public assistance 'til Social Security comes through - IF it comes through. :-(

Your doctor needs to figure this out. It is your doctor who can suggest SSDI. You need to print this out and give it to your doctors and ask for help.

Believe me, I know, I have become disabled after working all my life. I am terrified. And judged. May God help you-seek him first.

Sounds really bad. So bad, that if I was a Doctor I would place you on disability ASAP! Hope you have an understanding family who can help you get though this with love and all support needed. God Bless

U need alot of help and if u dont get it i would be ready to sue

I think the other answerers have given you good advice. I'm sorry that your life is so difficult. Best wishes.

They're starting to recommend that people with IBS, or IBS-like symptoms be tested for celiac disease, which is an intolerance to gluten (wheat, rye, barley and oats). A lot of people with celiac were misdiagnosed as having IBS for years. (18 years for me). It takes an average of 11 years for a person with celiac to be diagnosed.

I also had fibro-type pain (undiagnosed - long story) to the point where I could barely walk most days. I was on my way to a wheelchair when I found out I had celiac. When I went gluten-free the pain was gone within days. Poof! I don't want to get your hopes up that this is an answer though because I know how it feels to live like that year after year. I'm just telling you my experience.

I also had horrible headaches and mild allergies, as well as depression/anxiety/irritability, exhaustion, insomnia, hair loss, etc., etc., etc.

Here's a webpage by the National Institutes of Health on celiac -
http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases...

If that starts sounding familiar here are a couple of message boards for people with celiac and other gluten intolerances.

http://www.glutenfreeforum.com
http://www.celiacforums.com

You can also be intolerant to other common foods and get IBS symptoms. Soy, corn, eggs, yeast, dairy, etc. You may want to think about keeping a food/symptoms journal and see if you can identify the culprit(s).

I hope you feel better soon.

Nancy