I had my hearing this morning

[jeanniebug]

Wow...what an emotional day. I just wanted to let everyone know what happened. I went to the hearing and the judge asked me some questions. My lawyer and I had all my medical documentation regarding my IC. The judge did ask me some detailed questions about IC and I did not hold back on what it feels like. She asked me the strangest question...she asked how IC had impacted my marriage. I told her the truth..that it was very difficult for me to have sex and in the end, he strayed and we divorced. I started bawling. The judge handed me a box of kleenex...she was actually really nice...lol...I wanted to crawl under a rock. It just brought up all the memories of the looong road I've had with this illness. :(

In the end, the judge asked the vocational expert's opinion on whether or not I could have worked the 3 years I was out of work. The vocational expert said, "no, she could not have performed any job under these circumstances, and I'm recommending payment for the entire time she was out of work."

When the judge asked me how my IC felt at its worst. I said, "imagine a UTI and/or kidney infection, every...single...day...of your life...for 3 years." I could see the horror on her face as well as the female vocational expert's. Well, I spoke the truth, ugly as it was.

I was so freaked out, I didn't know what to think. When we got out of the courtroom, my lawyer told me this pretty much means we won? I will get the final decision in the mail. But he said, he's only had one case in 20 years that the judge did not agree with the vocational expert.

I'm hopeful. This would be such a huge relief to me. Not just the money...but to be validated that IC really is this disabling for some people! Also, if my IC ever gets to the point again where I can't work, I'm told it will be much easier to claim monthly benefits. (Since the court has already acknowledged it as disabling)

So I just wanted to let everyone know, if you were out of work and filed for disability, and have gone back to work before a decision was made...don't give up on your court hearing! I had no idea you could back-track and still try to claim for the time you were out! Wow...3 years later...what a long road.

I'm not believing anything till I get the official letter. But my lawyer seems to think its in the bag. :pray:

[traceann]

Good for you!!! :) I am keeping my fingers crossed for you and looking forward to hearing you got your "you won" letter!!! ;)

[laura dove]

I think that is the best news that i have heard involving ic, in a long time!!!!
will pray that your letter will come through. thank you for being so brave!!!

[leelee88]

Please let us know... Keeping my fingers crossed..:angel:

[jeanniebug]

When that letter comes, you all will be the first to hear about it! I just had no idea today would be so emotional for me! I've been tearing up all day...just a mixture of relief, grief and happiness all rolled into one big drama ball. :lmao: I'm really glad to be back at work, but I still struggle with IC daily. When I got back to work and told my Senior Manager how it went in court, she was crying with me! She survived a brain tumor a couple of years ago, and really "gets" the medical stuff.

What I didn't expect were all these emotions. One the one hand it was such a relief to have my day in court, on the other I felt all this grief like..wow...I'm not crazy...I really do have something that disabled me...

There it was, just staring me in the face! That's the only way I can explain it. I'm so glad the court date is over. :bow:

[Babs RN]

Hey girl,
My fingers and toes, arms and eyes are crossed. I know what a long road it has been. Glad you have a manager that gets it too.

Hugs,
Barb::hi:

[Elle]

That's great news! I can't wait to see your post when that letter finally does come in!
I know what you mean about all of the emotions. I didn't think it would bother me that much, but I got really emotional, too (as Oprah says... I was doing the "ugly cry"!). My judge was very compassionate also. Like your case, it seemed obvious to me that he was going to approve my case, so I asked him if I was approved or not. He told me I was, and the tears started flowing again! I was so happy to finally have the validation that this disease is as horrible as it is, but I was also sad that someone else felt my illness was bad enough to be called a "disability".

[dancemomof2]

Sounds like my visit with the law judge only I had a male and felt super weird with the meltdown, glad to hear it went well.

[hdb1982]

What state are you in

[jeanniebug]

I'm in Tennessee. I was denied the first try for disability, this was my 1st appeal in front of the judge. THAT is the part that took 3 years from first filing to finish. :loco:

[Dixiefireball]

Pretty much sounds like my day in court also, I had a male judge however. It made it a bit hard for me to answer some of his questions, but I did. I fought for a little over two years. If not for my husband and my dad I don't know what we would had done. Its so hard when we have no income coming in, but the bills still are. They really need to make a better but yet quicker system to help those of us who are truly disable.
Best wishes to getting a quick awards letter!
I went at the end of Nov of 2002 due to the Hoildays, and a dealth in the judges family. It was Jan when I got my awards letter, then March I got the check in the mail
Rhonda

[icnmgrjill]

Yahoo!!! I often describe it as "It feels like the worlds worst bladder infection. Now just imagine having those symptoms for days, months and then years."

[ICNDonna]

I hope you hear back very quickly. It sounds like you did a very good job of speaking out for yourself and for all of us.

Donna

[windwalker]

Prayin it comes through (quickly!).