Could you receive SSD benefits for your severe IBS?

Certain maladies seem more common now than they were in the past. For instance, many people suffer from gluten intolerance, celiac disease and other autoimmune conditions. Another ailment that many more people seem to live with these days is irritable bowel syndrome. At one time, this was not well known and was usually only a diagnosis from an astute gastroenterologist.

These days, many people receive IBS as a diagnosis, and much more is known about the condition. However, only some people such as you suffer from a severe case of IBS. In fact, your condition may be so bad that you are no longer able to work due to the severity of your condition.

What symptoms best identify IBS?

The problem with making people understand that your condition is severe enough to keep you from working is that people tend to self-diagnose without having a good understanding of the disease. They don’t understand that people like you endure the condition every day, and it can be severe. This puts you in the unfair position of having to justify your condition and symptoms with painful and often embarrassing specificity. You will need to go in depth regarding your symptoms, including the following:

• You suffer from severe abdominal pain due to cramping, spasms, dull aching and other gastrointestinal discomfort.
• You endure constipation and/or diarrhea on a daily basis.
• You rarely feel as though you had a complete bowel movement.
• You experience bloating that grows in intensity throughout the day.
• You have mucus and/or blood in your stools.
• You live with excessive flatulence, belching and gassiness.
• You consistently experience nausea and/or reduced appetite.
• You endure persistent acid reflux, indigestion and heartburn.

You may also experience pain in other parts of your body. Headaches, muscle aches and back pain are not uncommon with IBS. You could have trouble sleeping, heart palpitations, dizziness and the need to urinate frequently, among other things. Essentially, you feel as though your body is betraying you every day. Medication may dull your symptoms, but it does not do so enough to allow you to work.

Obtaining SSD benefits may not be easy, but it is possible

Careful and thorough documentation of your condition is necessary when you apply for SSD benefits. You will need substantial evidence from your doctors, friends and family. It may even help to obtain statements from your former boss and coworkers regarding the decline in your ability to work since your symptoms began. In fact, it may be challenging to figure out just how much evidence and documentation you will need.

The process of applying for SSD benefits can be frustrating, stressful and complex, which would almost certainly exacerbate your condition. Fortunately, you do not have to go through the process alone. Working with a compassionate and experienced attorney could make all the difference.