Sounds like she has cyclothymia, not bipolar I. Also, medications do make all the difference. Even when you're on a good combo, there are always breakthrough symptoms as we well know. But when you're not on a good combo (which in my case has been more often than not), you never know how you will wake up or how the day will go. You could feel like dying the emotional anguish is so bad. And on days like that, how can you work a job? It all seems so futile. Your future seems so hopeless, money ceases to matter. That's my experience anyway. I have to hardest time going to my job one day a week. And then I get this letter from SSDI saying I'm plenty functional to get a new job with more hours. That's just plain cruel. I guess it's their job to deny first and read the file later, if you get a lawyer.

I'm sorry that happened to you and I agree with everyone else. She had no right to request a doctor's note. You've already been declared disabled and the only one you have to answer to is the government agency that can review your case periodically.