Your immune system is in place to protect you. In most people, the immune system does its job as it should, and as a result, people continue to be healthy and fight off viruses and infections. However, for those with autoimmune diseases, their body is in overdrive. Their immune system is overactive, meaning that they get triggered by things that are not, in fact, a threat to the body and start attacking them.
If you have an autoimmune disease, you will know all too well how damaging and debilitating it can be. They can cause inflammation, swelling, fatigue, joint damage and weakness, among many other things. On some days, you may feel extremely ill and simply unable to do anything. Therefore, autoimmune diseases are considered to be a disability.
Autoimmune diseases can be hard to diagnose, and many people struggle to get recognition of their illness simply because it is an “invisible” disorder, and doctors cannot find anything wrong with test results. If you are struggling with what you believe is an autoimmune disease but you are struggling to gain disability benefits, the following are some tips.
Develop a close relationship with your doctor
Having an alliance with your doctor is key to getting the benefits that you need. Even if your doctor has not yet successfully diagnosed you with a condition, they will be familiar enough with your symptoms to be able to write a letter confirming the debilitating nature of your condition. This will be necessary to gain disability benefits.
Keep a journal
Keeping a journal of how your condition varies from day to day can both help with your diagnosis and with gaining disability benefits. Using this, you will be able to demonstrate the extent to which your condition affects your functional abilities.
Gaining disability benefits is not always easy, but it is a right for those who are suffering from debilitating conditions. Make sure that you take action to get the benefits that you deserve.