Question about psych exam

[krashleen]

I have to go to a I believe a pyschological exam on Friday...I don't know what it entails.

I will back up a bit. I applied in October (actually in April, but didn't complete the application process, so the actual date is October) I hadn't heard anything until this past week requesting my presence for an exam this next week with a PHD.
I had stated on my original application that I suffer from Chiari Malformation, OA, disc herniation, depression, some anxiety. I have a neck fusion from the skull to c4 in April. I cannot turn my head left to right. They (the docs/physical therapists) call it "limits of motion" vs range of motion.

Now my question. Is this the first of many exams? Or are they not accepting my medical (or they didn't receive all my medical paperwork) proof and want to exam my mental status to see if that is a qualifying condition?

Just curious. Anyone have any idea how long it takes? I haven't been denied or any other communication with SS until this request for this exam.


Does anyone have experience with approval/denial time frame after the exam? It appears that this doc is in practice in the area but specializes in hypnosis, but I cannot find out much else about him..my DH says he is going in with me (can he go in with me?) cause I can be hypnotized very easily.

Should I record the meeting? I don't know what his qualifications are, I tried to find him with different medical search engines, and having trouble.

Does anyone know of a way I find out more info on him without having to pay for the info? Do I have to agree upon the doctor?

Thanks in advance for any info you can help me with, your experiences are welcome!

PS I went to MSN SS groups and cannot find the answers I was hoping for, or its buried.

[suede]

Hi, I applied in 2002 for SSD for spine disorders at the time I did not have as much of a DX as I do now, but I was sent for a physc evaluation, for me it took about an hour and half much of which was spent talking, where at the start of the conversation he gave me I think 3 or 5 words to remember when he asked, needless to say i think I may have remembered one.
Then we did the thing with putting the pegs in the right form and the ink blots.
I had no idea as to how I had done I gave it my best.
Anyway I got the letter saying the physc. did not believe I was able to return to the line of work I was use to doing and because he did not think I would be trainable for another line of work because of my inablity to concentrate, my age and education.
As it turned out I was denied anyway, now I'm due to have my hearing this Thurs..
I wish you the best of luck.
Linda

[krashleen]

Everything I am reading is that people that are sent for either pysch or physical exams have limited records. I have tons of them for over six years and never stopped seeing doctors. I am worried. I know that I cannot do what I once did, nor even be a WallyWorld greeter. Not that there is anything wrong with that.

I wish you the best in your appeal. Keep us posted. And thanks for the information.

[Dolfinz]

H there,,,
I just got Denied at the ALJ level and I worked my *** off to get all the right medical records.. reports exms etc.. and the judge said I would never do the same work , but because the vocational expert that was at my hearing said that there were 225 jobs that I could Possibly do,it was one of the reasons for my denial.... be careful what you say and how you say it to the Doc.
Good Luck !!

Dolfinz

[krashleen]

If you don't mind me asking, how old are you? Did you elaborate on your condition? Did you have a vocational exam as well? Just curious as to some more of the facts....
If you don't want to share..thats alright too..
TIA

[suede]

Dolfinz,
I;m really sorry to hear that this has happened to you.
I'm really nervous about my ALJ hearing this Thur.
My lawyer says he doesn't for see any problems as I have good dr. documentation and the fact that don't have any formal education and I'm 53, so we'll see, I don't know if I'll be able to keep it together if I'm denied..
Did you have a lawyer, and what do you plan to do?
Linda

[brians2000]

Hi Suede, This is Brian and I have applied for SSD because of Back Problems also. I wish you luck this Thursday. I hope you get positive news so you can concentrate on getting better instead of worrying about how your going to pay for medical care.

[krashleen]

Made a mistake..my appt is today..I pray that it goes well.

I have read almost everywhere that mental exams are good and benefit the claimant vs the physical which can go against the claimant.

[krashleen]

Had the exam today, math, memory, and relationship questions...all told around 30 minutes of questions. I cried through most of it.
He was aloof. I have NO idea how it went. He advised to continue my anti-depressants, and said it could take a couple of weeks for it take effect and that pain was a big depression generator.
I also could not remember the five words that said at the beginning...and I cried about that. Not for the life of me..I remembered one of them at the end when we were leaving, but thats it. It makes me sad.
There were some math questions, but many childhood emotional triggers that got me going early on. Crying wise. I feel like an idiot.
I hope that crying doesn't hurt my case.
What do people think in the scheme of things?
how long after the exam does it usually take to find out whether you are denied or approved?

[Dolfinz]

Hi Krashleen and everyone..

I hope that it went well for you.. I can understand what you said, I cry alot to in alot of situations. Ya know, I realized a few months ago that SSI never sent me to be examined by any doctor ! I too did not have a DX when I apllied back in Dec. of 04. But I kept on seeing Doctor's and getting numerous tests done, until I could find a Doctor that BELIEVED in TOS and that wasn't til 06 this year.

Alot of the Denial letter makes statements that I may have filied too early. I am finding out that without a Diagnosis it is seemingly very hard to get SSI. Now I have to make a decision to Appeal and go before the ALJ Hearings Counsel or re-file again.. both from what I understand could be at least another year ! Yes I have a lawyer, I hired her after the first denial.

I have also learned (from here) to gather as much information that you can from your Doctor's and get copies of ALL medical records. I wish you the best.. We are all fighting for the same thing !

Keep smiling and keep fighting !

Dolfinz

[Dolfinz]

Suede.. I hope that yours went o.k. today .... I am 42....

[suede]

Krashkleen,
I'm so sorry that your physc exam was so distressing for you and I hope that you this will help to close your case with a favorable decision for you..

Brains & Dolfinz!!
Thanks so much for the good wishes..
IT WORKED, I got a fully favorable decision..
I'll tell more in another thread.
Linda

[krashleen]

Please tell us more, expecially timelines.

The examiner just triggered things about my past that I didn't expect. That started the ball rolling so to speak.
I hope to hear something good fairly quickly. I have heard that once a psych exam is ordered that decisions come in short order (like within a couple of weeks) so hopefully thats the case here. I know that there is so much supporting documentation, and that depression is one of things, and the examer when I was leaving said that it can take a couple of weeks for meds to start working.

Good to hear that things worked out for you...I am glad to hear it.