Congratulations Rose!! Your story continues to give me hope that this process isn't a complete waste of time and effort

My visit to the consult doc yesterday was as expected. And Rose, you were right, they looked pretty legit with the office set up and routine. I think they exclusively offer CE's for different agencies as I overheard the receptionist take several calls about immigration physicals (?) Didn't know there was such a thing, but the other people in the waiting room were all there for SSDI exams also. The letter I received from SSA said to bring all my medications and any glasses that I wore. When I arrived, I signed in and the lady behind the desk gave me a multi-page medical history form to fill out, which really irritated me b/c I have already filled out the pages and pages of history forms from the SSA and I don't have all the dates & details of every thing that has ever happened to me in my lifetime in my head!! These forms were also from the SSA (at least they looked the same and asked a lot of the same questions) They wanted mainly stuff pertaining to my claim but wanted name and dosages of all meds, who prescribes them, and when each one was refilled last. Also all hospitalizations and surgeries (again, I can't pull all that out of my head!) And all diagnostic procedures like CT scans, MRI's, etc, yada yada yada. I did the best I could on the dates....am I alone in thinking that they ask for all of this again to check for discrepancies in your story? My paranoia knows no bounds! Also at the end of the form it asks what you can and can't do (checklist of things like eating, preparing meals, dressing, driving, pay bills) and to explain why you can't do the things you checked that you can't do alone. All of that was given back to receptionist and I waited to be called.

Once in the exam room a "tech" of some kind, not sure if she was an MA or what, but she did screening for strength/coordination like having me walk toe to heel like they do when you get pulled over for driving intoxicated. Lot of those tests (follow my finger with your eyes, hold my two fingers and don't let me pull you over, that kind of thing) also blood pressure reading. This lady then had me wait again in the waiting room to be called back to see the doctor.

Once I was back in the exam room, the doc came in pretty quick. She asked general questions about what my claim was about (fibromyalgia, but my main claim is from bipolar disorder) and she explained that the SSA investigates every disorder listed on the claim forms, even if it's not a primary concern. I told her that my fibromylagia isn't what I feel is making it impossible for me to work and she said that was the only thing they were evaluating me for since the bipolar would have to be evaluated by a psych doc. So she proceeded to check my tender points and that was it. I asked her if I was going to have a CE for the Bipolar if that would come after her report was in and she said that if I hadn't already received an appt. notice for a CE with a pdoc that my own doc must have provided what they needed.

So, good, bad or indifferent it's over~ and for that I'm grateful!