Need assistance with filing for disability...

[powderpuff]

I agree with LitliwIowa. Call SSA and get clarification. The process only gets harder, at least it has for me. I hired Allsup yesterday as I believe their professional advice will be helpful to win my claim. The small fee will be well worth the larger headache I will have if I continue this on my own.

THANKS YOU GUYS.

I originally tried ALLSUP, but they won't touch my for 5 months.  Somebody here sent me a link and it says apply right away.  So that is what I am doing and if I need to hire allsup later, I will.  And I didn't want negative comments, but the truth is I am still employed.  I went on medical leave for a month from Feb. to March, when I went back I got much worse.  The pain was worse, lost a bunch of weight, having severe pain in my back, having disc problems with my neck..yada yada, yada.  At any rate, I am once again on medical leave for the next 2 months.  I am sure I will be fired before then as my FMLA expires at some point, but who knows when as nobody ever kept track.  Even if I don't get fired I am going to let my sick leave run out and I guess I don't want to quit, but I won't be going back, I have to many problems.  I am the girl who went back from leave in March and they trippled my work.  I couldn't do it before they trippled it, sure can't do it now.  Faxed rheumy short term disability paperwork 2 weeks ago, haven't received that back yet.  So going to try for short term, long term disability and soc sec disability.  I can't even sit in a chair for an hour without agonizing back pain, let alone 8 hours.  Very, very scary as I am single, I have NO other support, but I literally cannot do it anymore.  I got my water bill in the mail today and apparantly forget to pay it last month.  Have forgotten to pay my credit card bill twice in the last several months.  Stuff like that is getting more and more frequent and it is scary.  Not like me at all.  So I am putting my faith in God and praying for once I can catch a break. 

I truly appreciate everyone's help.  I can see how someone could easily give up, especially when you are so ill.  It is just overwhelming.

Your story sounds familiar. I haven't worked for over a year and if not for my SO, I would be homeless.

I would love to do this on my own and not share the money with Allsup, but I just can't. I'm already in a constant state of stress and I never feel well anymore. I find myself praying my way through everything these days.

After you complete the Adult Disability Report you may want to start the Adult Function Report right away. Try to send it with the ADR if you can as it will help your case and speed things along. The AFR is gruelling. A total of 21 main questions and 50 sub questions. Just be honest, and use the worst day scenario to explain your limitations. Hopefully, I will obtain useful advice from Allsup that I can pass along to you.

(((HUGS))

[slccom]

I started looking up ALLSUP. One warning from xxxxxx is "frustrating-ssdi-allsup-withdrew-what-now.205871"

I don't see read flags for this company, but be aware that: (From SS site)
Out-of-Pocket Costs

"During the course of representation, a disability attorney usually has to request a claimant?s medical, school, work records, and occasionally medical or psychological examinations; these can be expensive. The client must pay these costs separately from the attorney's fee (of 25% of their backpay). Other costs may include charges for copying and postage. It would be unusual in most instances for these costs to exceed two hundred dollars per case (and, usually, the out-of-pocket costs are lower).

Sometimes an attorney will ask for money in advance to pay for these items. This is permitted so long as the attorney holds the money in trust until it is needed. However, attorneys usually front these costs for their clients. Then, once the case has closed, regardless of whether you win or lose, the attorney will send the client a bill requesting reimbursement for any funds fronted on behalf of the client.

Before hiring a disability lawyer, you should ask whether you will be charged for out-of-pocket expenses in addition to the lawyer's fee, and what types of expenses might be included."

Be aware that I heard that Binder and Binder is really bad. One thing they do is to either make you do all teh work, which is what  you hired them to do for you, and charge exorbitant fees for "expenses," such as copying.

You should be able to find someone in an independent living center who can help you, or a relative, and try it on your own. Sjogren's is recognized by Social Security now , which makes a huge difference.
http://www.sjogrens.org/home/about-the-foundation/advocacy/ss-disability

You may well end up doing the same work and paying a large chunk of money to attorneys for no good reason.  Look in this forum for help and suggestions.

Sharon 

[Autoimmunity]

I agree with LitliwIowa. Call SSA and get clarification. The process only gets harder, at least it has for me. I hired Allsup yesterday as I believe their professional advice will be helpful to win my claim. The small fee will be well worth the larger headache I will have if I continue this on my own.

THANKS YOU GUYS.

I originally tried ALLSUP, but they won't touch my for 5 months.  Somebody here sent me a link and it says apply right away.  So that is what I am doing and if I need to hire allsup later, I will.  And I didn't want negative comments, but the truth is I am still employed.  I went on medical leave for a month from Feb. to March, when I went back I got much worse.  The pain was worse, lost a bunch of weight, having severe pain in my back, having disc problems with my neck..yada yada, yada.  At any rate, I am once again on medical leave for the next 2 months.  I am sure I will be fired before then as my FMLA expires at some point, but who knows when as nobody ever kept track.  Even if I don't get fired I am going to let my sick leave run out and I guess I don't want to quit, but I won't be going back, I have to many problems.  I am the girl who went back from leave in March and they trippled my work.  I couldn't do it before they trippled it, sure can't do it now.  Faxed rheumy short term disability paperwork 2 weeks ago, haven't received that back yet.  So going to try for short term, long term disability and soc sec disability.  I can't even sit in a chair for an hour without agonizing back pain, let alone 8 hours.  Very, very scary as I am single, I have NO other support, but I literally cannot do it anymore.  I got my water bill in the mail today and apparantly forget to pay it last month.  Have forgotten to pay my credit card bill twice in the last several months.  Stuff like that is getting more and more frequent and it is scary.  Not like me at all.  So I am putting my faith in God and praying for once I can catch a break. 

I truly appreciate everyone's help.  I can see how someone could easily give up, especially when you are so ill.  It is just overwhelming.

Your story sounds familiar. I haven't worked for over a year and if not for my SO, I would be homeless.

I would love to do this on my own and not share the money with Allsup, but I just can't. I'm already in a constant state of stress and I never feel well anymore. I find myself praying my way through everything these days.

After you complete the Adult Disability Report you may want to start the Adult Function Report right away. Try to send it with the ADR if you can as it will help your case and speed things along. The AFR is gruelling. A total of 21 main questions and 50 sub questions. Just be honest, and use the worst day scenario to explain your limitations. Hopefully, I will obtain useful advice from Allsup that I can pass along to you.

(((HUGS))

OMG there is another report to fill out??!!!  Seriously, I had no idea.  3 reports?  Is that right?  The disability application, the disability report and a function report?  Because I do not even see anything that says function report on the disability website, or are you referring to the disability report because I am about to throw myself in front of a car. 
I am going to mail in medical records tomorrow.  I did the disability application today and will finish the disability report tomorrow.  I need to go back through, add medications, make sure I said what I wanted to say.  My back is killing me, my hip is killing me, I took pain and muscle relaxers and they are doing nothing.  They sure make it impossible, don't they?
This is why I wanted to hire an attorney so I didn't have to run around collecting the records and trying to figure this all out for myself.

[ellenkerr]

I wish you all the best, this is a difficult process, and when you are sick and have brain fog, it can be overwhelming.  I had short term & 

long term disability where I worked, and I went out on short term, tried to return, and ended up having to go on long term disability. 

The bonus was the LTD insurance can get out of paying the ongoing claim for LTD if they get you approved for SSD.  So it benefits them

to hire Alsup to apply for SSD for me and they handled all the correspondence for me.  I was denied the first time, which they claimed

was pretty common, so they filed the appeal and submitted all of the required paperwork, and I was approved for SSD.  The entire process

took about 24 months.  Since my LTD insurance paid about $1500 more a month than SSD (this was based on my salary and I had a

pretty good job at the time), they just had to pay the $1500 difference every month instead of the entire amount I was entitled to. 

That was fine, however, the insurance company said at the 24 month mark, they had to "re-qualify me" to determine not only if I could

do my "own job", they had to see if I qualified for"any" job.  Besides all the medical issues I had, the brain fog was the worst, and

that's what my disability was based on at the time, even though they had all the other medical records and notes.  When I left work,  I

could have probably qualified based on my fibro, sjs, or arthritis.  Anyway, the insurance company set up an appointment

for me to have "psychological testing" with a doctor they brought in from St.Louis, and had me test in a hotel conference room they

rented for the day.  After the testing, about a week later I received a letter from them telling me basically that I was faking and over-

exaggerating my condition, so they denied any payment from that date.  They did say I could appeal, so I wrote a letter to submit

my appeal, along with documentation from all my doctors.  My neurologist, my psychiatrist, my PCP, etc. all said I couldn't work due to

my condition.  I'm in the process of waiting for their response, but they made it clear, that they could use any reason they wanted to

deny my claim.  It's not like SSD, where the rules are the law, but insurance companies can make it harder by claiming the rules of the

policy changed, or any other reason they want to claim.  As you know how hard this journey is, I am certainly not "faking it".  Even with

doctors notes and documentation, they claimed I didn't have fibro, but the symptoms could be explained by other issues.  They said my

memory issues were probably due to poor sleep because of sleep apnea and most likely I wasn't using my CPAP.  They were correct

that I do have sleep disorders, however after losing a little over 100 lbs, my doctor told me  I no longer had apnea and I did not need a

CPAP any longer.  Bottom line was I started calling attorneys, and most of them would handle SSD claims, but they didn't take LTD

insurance claims.  One said said they couldn't help me since I had already filed the appeal.  They said if I lose the appeal, then they

might consider taking the case, but they wouldn't touch it now.   I think this pretty much tells me that I have no way of winning this

claim.   Apparently it is common knowledge that the big insurance companies can deny you on a whim.  I never saw this coming.  Its so

frustrating going to all the doctors, all the tests, etc and totally exhausting, then dealing with an insurance company that is counting

on you just giving up if they make it hard enough,  When you don't feel well, most people do just give up.

I just wish you and everyone else on this site applying for disability the very best of luck.  Hang tough.

[Autoimmunity]

mizzy - :O.  Wow, I would like to say I am shocked, but sadly I am not.  I am a medical biller/collector for a hospital and I have seen insurance screw people over a number of times over claims, and of course the person is sick and has no idea how to appeal, it's just ridiculous!
I have short term, but honestly, I think my issues may be pre-existing.  I have long term dis. and that is automatic paid through my employer, so not pre-existing.  I would just have to get through the 6 months first and then if I am approved for ltd the difference between the ltd and ssd payment is maybe $150, so not much.

Your story is what I am afraid of.  I have a number (more than 10) of health conditions, but my main one is rheum arthritis, and mine is the kind that constantly moves around to different joints, so I do not tend to get a lot of swelling or joint damage, but I do get a lot of pain (although I will have a few days here and there where I am ok - so much better when I am not working, honestly!) and I have narcolepsy and just the fatigue and constant sleepiness from the RA itself I can barely function.  I go to work, go home, sleep, force myself to wake up and shower after my 3-4 hours of a nap, go back to bed and do it all over again the next day.  Weekends are sleep, sleep, sleep.  Plus my brain fog, memory problems and confusion.  It would be easy for someone to say I am faking it.  The other horrible part is I had a very abusive childhood, so I internalize everything and tend to not really believe myself either and/or don't know how to stand up for myself.  I can have a horrible week, then one good day and if someone asks how I am, all I remember is the one good day.  So when people think I am faking I never stand up for myself, I just put my head back in the sand.  Not a good thing.

[Autoimmunity]

Ditto to Sharon's comments.

My sense from experience in going through TWO reps? Crappy. They did NOTHING except that NOTHING they did resulted in me at the hearing level. BOTH were paid from my back benefits...even tho they did NOTHING but stall my claim.

Even though the process of applying is sort of like being a small any having to climb this huge mountain, do as much as can be done independently of an attorney or rep. SSA at the local level is very helpful. When in doubt on paperwork they request, call them directly and they will explain. Plus, local office here anyway advises that they have to document every call they receive pertinent to the claim.

It's far better to give too much info than not enough.

Oh, there is another report : Adult Function Questionare - Third Party. That one you don't fill out. You select someone who best knows your life limiting situation. I completed the one for my roomie. I am the only one really in a position to know how his disabilities impact on basic daily living and such. I actually added a three page attachment for "additional information" to be sure they understood his medical situation was ongoing impeding his ability to handle many daily activities and such.

We're still waiting for a finding. It's been a hair over three months now.

Autoimmunty, as for currently still working? Don't fret about that. As your condition becomes more and more lifelimiting, you already see the handwriting on the wall. Periods of disability leave from work also are taken into account. At least they were in my case.

No matter how overwhelming the process is, don't quit!!

Thanks litliwlowa, I think I should hire you as my assistant

[deniselb]

I had the same questions you have. Did they only want information supporting the condition I was filing for, or for all my health issues? How far back should I go? I was 57 years old and had a medical history that goes back forever. I went round and round. I had no idea what they were looking for. I could have written a book if I put down everything.

My psychiatrist advised me to put down as much information as I had. He sounded as though he was confident that he understood the process, so I took his advice. It went well. Maybe it was the right thing to do. He also told me to make sure that when I was describing how my condition prevented me from working that I kept my focus on that. They don't want to know how sick you are or how bad you feel; they want to know exactly why you can't work.

I omitted the Adult Function Questionnaire - Third Party. I just told them I live alone and there really isn't anyone who can do this. It wasn't a problem.

To Mizzy:

Bottom line was I started calling attorneys, and most of them would handle SSD claims, but they didn't take LTD insurance claims.

There definitely seem to be two distinct types of disability attorneys - some handle LTD, some SSD, no overlap. You should be able to find one who does LTD. But none of them really want to talk to you until there's a case.

[ellenkerr]

Autoimmunity, this process has been a real eye-opening experience for me.  The rough part was that once you are eligible for SSD, you

have to wait 2 years to be eligible for Medicare.  This makes absolutely no sense to me.  Since I wasn't working during those 2 years, I

couldn't afford and/or qualify for medical insurance.  I made just enough to not qualify for Medicaid.  So I went 2 years with very few

doctors visits because I couldn't afford it.  I'm sure this didn't help my condition any, but I didn't have any choice.  So for my appeal to

the insurance company, I had relatively few current medical records.  I only had  those few plus all the visits I've had with specialists

since January, when I became eligible for Medicare.  They denied my benefits starting in December while I was still uninsured.  The

medical documentation I have provided these past 6 months, they say are not considered since the "diagnosis" had to be before the

December determination.  I know, that is stupid and I am screwed. 

As for the psych tests I took, I can't say why the results came back as they did.  My undergrad degree is in psychology, so I am familiar

with these type of tests, and the "controls" built in to determine if someone is faking or not giving it their best shot.  There were

several types of tests that you had to chose which situation would apply to you.  I asked the Dr. how to answer these because none

of the selections would apply to me.  He said just answer something.  The questions were something like, would you rather rob a bank

or steal a purse?  Well, duh, I wouldn't do either of these.  So I'm sitting there trying to figure out the best answer...are they trying to

decide if I'm violent and would use a gun, or just sneaky and would rip off an old lady?  LOL no winning here!!!  Regardless of what I

would have answered or how I did on the test, the insurance company sent their own "expert" to test me rather than referring me to

a local expert.  They have no intention of paying LTD for the next 4 years that I am entitled to it.

What I have learned from this site and the fine and supporting people here is to trust and believe in myself.  I've decided I can

only control what I do, or how I feel.  I have decided that I will not let anyone else define who I am, or worry if they think I might

be "faking" my illness.  I know what is real and I will not make any apologies for being sick anymore.  The last 2 years I worked almost

killed me from stress, trying to work when I was sick, couldn't think to save my life, and an exhaustion and sleep deprivation beyond

description. I used to work at least 60 hours a week, plus I was working on my Master's Degree.   Yes my life is different now.  I may

have limited income, but I can take a nap when I need it, and be as active and involved as I want to be.  I can't describe how

wonderful it is to sleep in when I am tired, drink a cup of coffee on my deck in the morning enjoying the birds, sunshine, and not be

worried about being late, forgetting something, missing a meeting, getting stuck in traffic, or be on a dead run from morning to

night.  I've realized that I am  in charge of my life, and I will do what I need to do on my terms.  I think I've become a better mother,

daughter, grandmother, and friend since I've gotten sick and given up my job.  My family will attest to this!!!  I think we just have to

keep encouraging each other and remind ourselves that being sick isn't what we planned or wanted, but it can be an incredible

journey when we treasure those wonderful moments that we used to miss out on or take for granted.  I am learning to be more

patient, and kind to myself.  I'm learning to say "no" when I'm asked to do something that takes too much out of me.  The spoon

theory that I read on this site was helpful, in fact, I shared it with my family.  If one of my daughters wants to know if I will do

something for them, go somewhere, or babysit, I'll tell them "yes" if I have enough spoons left to do it!!!  They are beginning to

understand that some days I just don't have the steam, even if I look OK.  I forget sometimes and get frustrated and want to vent,

but then someone with a level head on this site will reassure me, and I immediately understand how blessed I am.  Gee, if we

didn't have a chronic illness, just think how boring life could be!!!  LOL

((Hugs))

[Doxie]

 Autoimmunity,

It's late, but I'll try to comment briefly here, and login in the morning to write more, after I have more time to read everything.

When they ask about the appointments,  just put down your first visit and and then the last time you saw the doc.  Just put down the month and the year.  If you don't know the month, try to at least put the year. If you don't know the year, guess the year and put a question mark by it.  They are just trying to get a feel for how long you've been seeing that doctor, and about when.

Try to remember all your doctors the best you can.  If you don't, oh well. You do the best you can do.
If you list all the hospitals and doctors, that should cover all your lab work.  When it asks for tests, just put down a few really important ones you want them to especially look for.

For instance, I had some good documentation that confirmed my Sjogrens from the NIH, so I listed that on my tests.  I also had some very convincing MRIs of my back, and I listed those. I probably only listed a few others. Most all my other numerous other tests and lab work, I didn't list specifically.

When you have to talk about the doctors, you're to list what they did, you can mention that they ordered many blood tests, etc. you don't need to be specific. There is no way you could do all that. You would drive yourself crazy! They would never expect it either.

This first application part is the hardest, and you're almost done! It's information I would have had to collect whether I had a lawyer or not, so I was better off doing it myself.  Don't worry about the Adult Function Report until you get the disability report in.

If you are on sick leave or whatever, then you are not working. And if you feel you can't go back, now is the time to apply! You do what you need to do for you!

The biggest thing you can do when you put why you can't work is to just say why these illnesses, fatigue, arthritis, or whatever are keeping you from working.  More about this tomorrow.

PS -  List every single illness you have. It doesn't matter whether it is "part of your disability " or not. They all affect your health.  When I had my interview with the case worker, I was embarrassed that I listed so many things, and he did comment, that every little thing can help. (Of course not if you don't have the major things)

[slccom]

Mizzy, the idea is that you will, if you are considerate, please die in the two years you have to waid for Medicare.

Autoimmunity, don't panic over the "reports." They really aren't that hard. Start now to keep notes as to what you can do on a usual day. Not a good day. Not an absolutely awful day. When do you get up in the morning? How do you get ready for your day? (Can you?), including dress, shower, which I'm guessing you don't do every day, brush your teeth, cook, eat, clean up, get to whatever you go to, how long you have to rest after each activity, how long you are wiped out after a doctor visit, what kinds of mental tasks you can do and for how long, when you go to bed, how well or badly you sleep, if you can drive safely, what you have for a social life. You can get help to fill them out, you know. You just have to tell them that you got help, and that person signs that they helped.


And the attorneys can't do this for you. Nor will they. One person said that she got the records, offered to make the copies for Binder and Binder, and they wouldn't let her. They charged her $1/page to copy. What state are you in? I'll look up an independent living center for you.

You can do this without getting ripped off. We'll help.

Hugs, Sharon

[quietdynamics]

Reading all you are going through I am so happy I used an attorney.

I used a Nationally accredited Disability Advocate (they are not referred to as attorneys when you google...I heard about them on a NPR talk show one day)

I did not pay out of pocket for records, or anything...the attorney subpenaed them for the case. I physically met with them twice. One phone interview with SSA; focused on strongly on limitation and detriment of ability to safely perform job responsibilities. Clear, real examples and lost time from work, etc. as compared to work performance prior. Education, accreditation, etc.
(There is a great deal I learned during the meeting with the advocate about the process and the interview, what to focus on, etc.)

Everything was so well documented that I did not have to go to a hearing.
I was approved; I believe it was about 5 months or so.
I was notified over the phone by SSA...I actually thought it was a prank call?!!

[Autoimmunity]

Mizzy, the idea is that you will, if you are considerate, please die in the two years you have to waid for Medicare.

Autoimmunity, don't panic over the "reports." They really aren't that hard. Start now to keep notes as to what you can do on a usual day. Not a good day. Not an absolutely awful day. When do you get up in the morning? How do you get ready for your day? (Can you?), including dress, shower, which I'm guessing you don't do every day, brush your teeth, cook, eat, clean up, get to whatever you go to, how long you have to rest after each activity, how long you are wiped out after a doctor visit, what kinds of mental tasks you can do and for how long, when you go to bed, how well or badly you sleep, if you can drive safely, what you have for a social life. You can get help to fill them out, you know. You just have to tell them that you got help, and that person signs that they helped.


And the attorneys can't do this for you. Nor will they. One person said that she got the records, offered to make the copies for Binder and Binder, and they wouldn't let her. They charged her $1/page to copy. What state are you in? I'll look up an independent living center for you.

You can do this without getting ripped off. We'll help.

Hugs, Sharon

Ok, so that brings up a question.  As I have stated, I have been diagnosed with narcolespy within the past several years.  I take nuvigil.  I have fallen asleep like when I take my car in for service, I have literally fallen asleep when I have gone to the dentist and had my teeth drilled, etc.  Once, and only once, maybe a year and a half ago on the way to a doctor appointment in another city I didn't take the nuvigil, thought I was fine, fell asleep driving!  I know, I am ashamed!  It was only for a second or so, but it happened.  So thankful I did not hurt anybody.  Do I include that story?  I have never even told my doctor as I was afraid of having my drivers license taken away or should I be more subtle - I am unable to drive without the narcolepsy medication?  Up until that point I really questioned that diagnosis as it's one that is just so out there, but not anymore.  Thanks!

One other thing, do I put down the hospital and the imaging center where I get lab work done and had my mri/xrays (there is the section for hospital or other facility).  I started to, it just didn't seem appropriate.  It seemed more like for admissions or ER visits.  I have copies of the important labs, my xrays, mri reports that I am going to attach with each doctors medical records who ordered them (some already had labs/reports attached), so is that good enough.  See, I do make myself crazy over-analyzing everything.  It takes ten times as long to get anything done.

[Autoimmunity]

Autoimmunity,

It's late, but I'll try to comment briefly here, and login in the morning to write more, after I have more time to read everything.

When they ask about the appointments,  just put down your first visit and and then the last time you saw the doc.  Just put down the month and the year.  If you don't know the month, try to at least put the year. If you don't know the year, guess the year and put a question mark by it.  They are just trying to get a feel for how long you've been seeing that doctor, and about when.

Try to remember all your doctors the best you can.  If you don't, oh well. You do the best you can do.
If you list all the hospitals and doctors, that should cover all your lab work.  When it asks for tests, just put down a few really important ones you want them to especially look for.

For instance, I had some good documentation that confirmed my Sjogrens from the NIH, so I listed that on my tests.  I also had some very convincing MRIs of my back, and I listed those. I probably only listed a few others. Most all my other numerous other tests and lab work, I didn't list specifically.

When you have to talk about the doctors, you're to list what they did, you can mention that they ordered many blood tests, etc. you don't need to be specific. There is no way you could do all that. You would drive yourself crazy! They would never expect it either.

This first application part is the hardest, and you're almost done! It's information I would have had to collect whether I had a lawyer or not, so I was better off doing it myself.  Don't worry about the Adult Function Report until you get the disability report in.

If you are on sick leave or whatever, then you are not working. And if you feel you can't go back, now is the time to apply! You do what you need to do for you!

The biggest thing you can do when you put why you can't work is to just say why these illnesses, fatigue, arthritis, or whatever are keeping you from working.  More about this tomorrow.

PS -  List every single illness you have. It doesn't matter whether it is "part of your disability " or not. They all affect your health.  When I had my interview with the case worker, I was embarrassed that I listed so many things, and he did comment, that every little thing can help. (Of course not if you don't have the major things)

So helpful, thank you!  I do have beginning/ending dates but I got the impression early on in this thread, and I am sure it is me, like I have said I have memory/confusion problems, that I had to list each and every date I had seen that provider.  So that really helps.  Okay and I will list the labs that are more significant.  I listed 10 and then checked the box that I have more than 10 illnesses, so what more can they expect?  I am clearly not a healthy girl.  Really, thank you!

[powderpuff]

The brain fog and fatigue makes all this seem harder than what it is. These posts are very helpful and makes me wonder why I hired Allsup when I've already done the initial work for them.

[quietdynamics]

"Ok, so that brings up a question.  As I have stated, I have been diagnosed with narcolespy within the past several years.  I take nuvigil.  I have fallen asleep like when I take my car in for service, I have literally fallen asleep when I have gone to the dentist and had my teeth drilled, etc.  Once, and only once, maybe a year and a half ago on the way to a doctor appointment in another city I didn't take the nuvigil, thought I was fine, fell asleep driving!  I know, I am ashamed!  It was only for a second or so, but it happened.  So thankful I did not hurt anybody.  Do I include that story?  I have never even told my doctor as I was afraid of having my drivers license taken away or should I be more subtle - I am unable to drive without the narcolepsy medication?  Up until that point I really questioned that diagnosis as it's one that is just so out there, but not anymore.  Thanks!"

Definitely, list the narcolepsy and how it "affects your ability to perform your job" if that applies.
If your job requires you to sit at a desk and sitting in a place for awhile causes you to fall asleep....problem.
If walking gives you leg pain due to other Dx' ...then a position requiring you to be on your feet is not an option.  See my point? Your symptoms are then a catch 22.

But, you need to tell your Dr. so that the Dr. can document this in the medical records and of course make any necessary adjustments in meds for you.
Because if you do drive and have an accident...
'someone' is going to examine your medical records and willful negligence is not an excuse.