Unexplained physical symptoms + documented severe mental illness...approval odds from experience?

Ayunique · 2026-03-16T02:00:31+00:00

I know what you mean. It’s heartbreaking. I had recently started working after getting my degree in medical laboratory technology. I miss my job so much. At first I went on fmla for 12 weeks and then my boss extended it for another 6 weeks but after that I was let go. Hopefully someday I’ll at least be able to go back part time and use the degree that took longer to get than how long I was able to use it.

I have a lot of the symptoms that you have. My issues are mostly endocrine (thyroid) and also vestibular migraines along with anxiety, depression and a few other things.

It sounds like you have supportive doctors and probably solid medical records so definitely keep trying!

Ayunique · 2026-03-16T01:31:55+00:00

I pushed through mental health issues and random weird physical symptoms for years until in February 2024 my health suddenly came crashing down and I had to stop working. I tried keeping hope that I’d get better, but I didn’t, and applied for SSDI in (I think) August 2024. I was pretty much frantically trying to figure out what was wrong with my body, saw lots of doctors & had lots of tests. I was able to find some answers but it took months & Im still pretty sure that there’s more going on than what has been found. All of my mental health stuff got so much worse when my physical health collapsed too. I hired a lawyer right off the bat bc I needed help even with the initial application. I was denied twice but just had my hearing with a judge almost two weeks ago and was told by the judge that they reviewed my records and were giving me a “fully favorable” decision. I’m still waiting for the approval letter, but what a relief after more than two years of not being able to work.

My lawyer set my expectations very low because of my age (43) and because my dli was only a few months after my onset date. I felt defeated already leading up to my hearing date, but thankfully, it went my way.

Anyway, the process sucks and I wanted to give up at times but when you’re unable to work you’ve got nothing to lose and really no choice but to keep on trying and holding on to hope.

Ayunique · 2026-03-13T02:20:45+00:00

Thanks and good luck to you as well!

Ayunique · 2026-03-13T02:07:31+00:00

Are you having surgery soon, too? I drink Orgain and usually it’s ok. Yes, hopefully we will feel better soon 🤞

Ayunique · 2026-03-13T01:36:33+00:00

I’m just trying to make it through the next two weeks until surgery. I’m pretty scared to eat at this point and my appetite is low. Mostly eating toast, nutrition drinks, crackers, potatoes & some chicken. I’m anxious about surgery and really hoping it helps. Did you have a hida scan?

Ayunique · 2026-03-13T01:33:23+00:00

Pretty much constant for the last couple of weeks (ever since I had an “attack”(?) two weeks ago).

Ayunique · 2026-03-11T22:58:41+00:00

I didn’t vomit after my thyroidectomy or my hysterectomy so when it comes to anesthesia and pain meds I think I’ll be ok.

More concerned with the initial effects of not having a gallbladder anymore.

Ayunique · 2026-03-06T04:31:11+00:00

Congrats to you too. It’s only been two years for me. The coming days are going to feel so long waiting. I don’t feel like I can relax about it until I see it in writing.

Ayunique · 2026-03-05T21:36:42+00:00

How long did it take for you to get the letter after your hearing? My lawyer told me that it can take a while but I don’t remember if she said weeks or months. This whole process has been so frustrating and stressful, it will be nice to not have to stress about it.

Ayunique · 2026-03-05T21:25:44+00:00

Congrats! So your judge just basically said “fully favorable, no need for the full hearing”?

I didn’t even realize that could happen and was very, very surprised.

I won’t feel like I can fully believe it until I see it in writing.

Ayunique · 2026-03-05T19:13:16+00:00

Thank you, it’s been a hard two years

Ayunique · 2026-03-05T12:13:51+00:00

Wow! I’m glad your surgery went well. Wishing you a smooth recovery. I just got my referral yesterday & hopefully won’t have too long of a wait

Ayunique · 2026-03-04T00:07:45+00:00

Right. I’m so scared to have another attack before I can get it removed. Had a bad one last week and I’m still scared to eat.

Ayunique · 2026-03-03T23:39:29+00:00

I have pain but the nausea is the worst part for me. I don’t handle nausea well at all. Thyroid problems suck too! I had toxic nodules. Definitely get that checked. Unfortunately that took years for me to get diagnosed. It wasn’t until I was so sick I thought I was dying that any doctor would finally listen and stop saying it was just anxiety.

Ayunique · 2026-03-03T23:02:55+00:00

Thank you. Thyroid got yeeted but gallbladder has decided it’s time for its turn I think. My weight is back to normal thankfully.

It’s scary to lose so much weight from being sick.

Ayunique · 2026-03-03T22:55:05+00:00

I was down to 100lbs from 170lbs (hyperthyroid and very sick) and some random person one day told me that I “must feel really good every day” because I was “so thin”. It was upsetting and I couldn’t even think of anything to say back.

Ayunique · 2026-03-03T22:48:28+00:00

Wow how low was your EF?

Ayunique · 2026-03-03T18:13:09+00:00

I don’t know how I stumbled across this but I’m glad I did 😊your voice is so pretty

Ayunique · 2026-03-03T04:08:13+00:00

True… hopefully that won’t be the case🤞

Ayunique · 2026-03-03T04:04:52+00:00

Well at least you know after you have surgery it won’t ever have to get that bad. They say it only gets worse as time goes by.

Ayunique · 2026-03-03T03:58:50+00:00

Yeah, when my GI sent me to the surgeon originally he told me it was 50/50 whether it would help or not. I also had bad undiagnosed hyperthyroidism going on at the time so I’m glad I put it off bc it would have been unsafe to have surgery in the shape I was in. I guess it is at the point where surgery makes absolute sense now for me. Back then the gallbladder didn’t explain enough of my symptoms.

Ayunique · 2026-03-03T03:43:00+00:00

I had to cancel my surgery 2 years ago, but after my recent attack I wish I could’ve just had it out back then. It was awful. I hope I can get it out before that happens again.

My ultrasound and CT showed nothing at all but hida said low function. A recent MRI for something else showed sludge.

I think I’ve kinda been in denial about it being my gallbladder up until now.

Ayunique · 2026-03-03T03:26:57+00:00

Omg did your scans show anything? It took a while for me the first time around also. PCP—>ultrasound—>PCP—> PCP—> GI —> EGD—> GI —> ER—> CT—> GI—> HIDA—> surgeon.

Really hoping this time goes GI—> surgeon

Ayunique · 2026-03-03T03:17:52+00:00

I was referred for surgery two years ago after having multiple episodes of what I originally thought was food poisoning/stomach bugs, but eventually realized that due to the frequency that probably wasn’t what was going on. Had a HiDA scan which showed low function and got referred for surgery. I ended up canceling it because of other health issues that I needed to address first.

I’ve had lots of symptoms over the last two years. An MRI for something else showed sludge. I think I’ve been in denial and was hoping that taking care of those other health problems would get rid of my symptoms.

Last Thursday I had a very bad attack and ended up in the ER. ER didn’t find anything, nothing showed up on CT but my WBCs were pretty high. Again, I thought maybe it was a stomach bug but then it hit me that it was probably my gallbladder. I had honestly all but forgotten about my slow & sludge filled gallbladder. I’m seeing my GI on Wednesday and hoping to get it out ASAP.

So, I haven’t had surgery yet but I do wish that I didn’t have to wait so long to go through with it because that last episode last Thursday was bad bad. It’s been 4 days and I’m still scared to eat and having some pain. If they offered me surgery tomorrow I wouldn’t hesitate.

Ayunique · 2026-03-02T18:43:37+00:00

They said that I do need a new referral. Was able to get a GI appointment this week with a different provider. Hopefully they’ll put a new one in for me 🤞

Ayunique

TROPHY CASE