- Jun 3, 2006
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- US-Republican
Hello everyone,
To the moderators - I am not 100% sure that this is the correct forum / area to post this kind of thread. If this would be more appropriate in another location I would ask that it be moved to where it belongs.
I know that there are people here on CF that are all over the world. This thread is going to specifically apply to the US because that's where I live. I'm considering filing for disability and I wanted to see if anyone on here has any info, advice, etc that they can provide to help me make my decision. I am currently employed full-time, but over the last two years I've had a somewhat rough go health-wise and I'm afraid I might be in jeopardy of losing my job because of it.
I am a type 2 diabetic I was diagnosed when I was 21 and I'm now 42. I have a family history of diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure. Two years ago I developed a pressure ulcer on my left great toe. I have severe neuropathy in my toes and feet. At the same time I went in for my annual eye exam and found out that I had diabetic retinopathy as well. I had to have laser surgery on both eyes (Focal Point Laser). Over the next year I continued to deal with the ulcer on my toe and my eyesight not getting any better.
I know that the problems I was / am having are mostly related to my diabetes. I have not had good control over the last few years even though I'm on an insulin pump. Last August (08/2014) I had my annual eye exam again and the retinopathy was no better. I still had blood leaking / seeping through my retina and I had some "floaters." I then had laser surgery on both eyes again but this time I had two different laser procedures. I had the focal point laser again and also had a pan-retinal laser done on both eyes. As a result I have lost some of my peripheral vision and I have trouble seeing in dim lighting. I also have mild color-blindness when it comes to blues and greens. These are all side effects of the laser.
At around the same time I developed another pressure ulcer on my right foot under the "pinky" toe. I was taking care of it the same way that I was with the ulcer on my toe (at the direction of a podiatrist) and I thought everything was okay. Unbeknownst to me an infection developed under the skin. I was using the wrong kind of tape and it was creating the perfect environment for the bacteria.
In December 2014 I went to my podiatrist for a regular follow-up visit. He saw my foot and immediately told me that I had to be admitted to the hospital. I had a large area of necrotic tissue and gangrene had set in. So off to the hospital I went. I was in the hospital for 7 days. I had surgery to debride the wound, but they couldn't save my pinky toe and had to amputate it. Then I spent the next five months in wound care as my foot healed. During that time I also had 6 weeks of IV antibiotics to kill the staph (fortunately not MRSA) and strep infection in my bloodstream causing sepsis.
In April 2015 I met with my diabetes doctor and he was concerned that because I had such bad neuropathy in my toes that I could also have a condition called Cardiac Autonomic Neuropathy and referred me to a cardiologist / electrophysiologist. I then had a nuclear stress test that showed abnormal results. Then I had a heart cath done and that's when they found the blockages. I had about 10-12 blockages total in 4 arteries. So I was then scheduled for a CABG. On 06/22/2015 I had a quadruple bypass. I've been doing well as far as the healing is concerned. I went back to work last week but I think going back full time may have been a mistake.
So here's my dilemma. I'm 42, diabetic, and I have several health issues. My eyes are not getting any better. I have almost no sensation in my feet. I've now had a toe amputated and 4 bypass grafts on my heart. I have to drive over 100 miles a day round trip to work. I live in one of the poorest counties in the state so there are no good paying jobs close to home.
I want your input.
To the moderators - I am not 100% sure that this is the correct forum / area to post this kind of thread. If this would be more appropriate in another location I would ask that it be moved to where it belongs.
I know that there are people here on CF that are all over the world. This thread is going to specifically apply to the US because that's where I live. I'm considering filing for disability and I wanted to see if anyone on here has any info, advice, etc that they can provide to help me make my decision. I am currently employed full-time, but over the last two years I've had a somewhat rough go health-wise and I'm afraid I might be in jeopardy of losing my job because of it.
I am a type 2 diabetic I was diagnosed when I was 21 and I'm now 42. I have a family history of diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure. Two years ago I developed a pressure ulcer on my left great toe. I have severe neuropathy in my toes and feet. At the same time I went in for my annual eye exam and found out that I had diabetic retinopathy as well. I had to have laser surgery on both eyes (Focal Point Laser). Over the next year I continued to deal with the ulcer on my toe and my eyesight not getting any better.
I know that the problems I was / am having are mostly related to my diabetes. I have not had good control over the last few years even though I'm on an insulin pump. Last August (08/2014) I had my annual eye exam again and the retinopathy was no better. I still had blood leaking / seeping through my retina and I had some "floaters." I then had laser surgery on both eyes again but this time I had two different laser procedures. I had the focal point laser again and also had a pan-retinal laser done on both eyes. As a result I have lost some of my peripheral vision and I have trouble seeing in dim lighting. I also have mild color-blindness when it comes to blues and greens. These are all side effects of the laser.
At around the same time I developed another pressure ulcer on my right foot under the "pinky" toe. I was taking care of it the same way that I was with the ulcer on my toe (at the direction of a podiatrist) and I thought everything was okay. Unbeknownst to me an infection developed under the skin. I was using the wrong kind of tape and it was creating the perfect environment for the bacteria.
In December 2014 I went to my podiatrist for a regular follow-up visit. He saw my foot and immediately told me that I had to be admitted to the hospital. I had a large area of necrotic tissue and gangrene had set in. So off to the hospital I went. I was in the hospital for 7 days. I had surgery to debride the wound, but they couldn't save my pinky toe and had to amputate it. Then I spent the next five months in wound care as my foot healed. During that time I also had 6 weeks of IV antibiotics to kill the staph (fortunately not MRSA) and strep infection in my bloodstream causing sepsis.
In April 2015 I met with my diabetes doctor and he was concerned that because I had such bad neuropathy in my toes that I could also have a condition called Cardiac Autonomic Neuropathy and referred me to a cardiologist / electrophysiologist. I then had a nuclear stress test that showed abnormal results. Then I had a heart cath done and that's when they found the blockages. I had about 10-12 blockages total in 4 arteries. So I was then scheduled for a CABG. On 06/22/2015 I had a quadruple bypass. I've been doing well as far as the healing is concerned. I went back to work last week but I think going back full time may have been a mistake.
So here's my dilemma. I'm 42, diabetic, and I have several health issues. My eyes are not getting any better. I have almost no sensation in my feet. I've now had a toe amputated and 4 bypass grafts on my heart. I have to drive over 100 miles a day round trip to work. I live in one of the poorest counties in the state so there are no good paying jobs close to home.
I want your input.