*nods* It is difficult for me to appear credible, though there is thorough documentation on my medical conditions. My pain level though is not measurable nor is my drive, so they end up believing that since they can't do what I am doing while in this much pain, then I couldn't.

In this context, the judge didn't believe that if I were in as much pain as I stated that I could drive myself to the hearing. But of course he didn't know that three out of the five heart attacks I've had have been at work - and I finished my shift each time before leaving for the hospital. Or that when I had these last two - last Monday night and early Tuesday morning, that I went to work on Tuesday and worked my entire shift plus overtime before going to the hospital. If he knew that about me, he might have believed that I drove myself to the hearing even with the pain level what it was. Or perhaps if he knew that when I was with Force Recon, a group of some of the most unstoppable men on the planet - that my team considered me the bar for un-stop-ability.

But he knew none of that because each time I made a suggestion to my lawyer about these and other things that speak of who I am - he blew it off.

My primary doctor did. There is a form that you have your primary care provider fill out called a Residual Function Something or other. In it he stated that I could not walk or stand for more than five minutes and sit no more than twenty minutes. As for the surgeon, I did make sure that he put it in his notes...he assured me it was. I called my attorney to forward it to him and he said we'll wait till we get the official denial before we do anything.

We talked about this in depth before the lawyer requested her information. I'm confident that she did a fine job - I really think the lawyer doesn't much care.