[jtassar93]

Hi. I was just wondering how long it took everyone. I just began the process a few weeks ago and got some papers today. It said it could take 12-16 months. Wondering if it was really that long. I'm in Missouri if that makes any difference.

[Moose72]

Hey! Welcome back. I see you're on Rexulti, too. Cool.

Yes, its really that long. Mine took at least a year. BUT, its worth it!

[Sunflower123]

Originally Posted by jtassar93

Hi. I was just wondering how long it took everyone. I just began the process a few weeks ago and got some papers today. It said it could take 12-16 months. Wondering if it was really that long. I'm in Missouri if that makes any difference.

Yes, mine took over a year. Lots of hoops to jump through.

[jtassar93]

Originally Posted by Moose72

Hey! Welcome back. I see you're on Rexulti, too. Cool.

Yes, its really that long. Mine took at least a year. BUT, its worth it!

Thanks. Yeah, I've been on it for awhile, not sure it's doing anything though lol.

And thank you again!

[Moose72]

Originally Posted by jtassar93

Thanks. Yeah, I've been on it for awhile, not sure it's doing anything though lol.

And thank you again!

That's how I feel about it too- not sure its doing anything. BUT, I'm not having side effects either! I'm still on zyprexa- at 5 mg, so a slow taper down. I was up to 15. So far so good. Once zyprexa is out of my system, we'll see what Rexulti is really all about! It seems to be holding its own in place of the "missing" zyprexa, though.

[jtassar93]

Originally Posted by Moose72

That's how I feel about it too- not sure its doing anything. BUT, I'm not having side effects either! I'm still on zyprexa- at 5 mg, so a slow taper down. I was up to 15. So far so good. Once zyprexa is out of my system, we'll see what Rexulti is really all about! It seems to be holding its own in place of the "missing" zyprexa, though.

Yeah, no side effects. Which is good. I was on 20mg of zyprexa for a long time and it was the worst, lol. But good luck on your end!

[Moose72]

Originally Posted by jtassar93

Yeah, no side effects. Which is good. I was on 20mg of zyprexa for a long time and it was the worst, lol. But good luck on your end!

Yes. The worst! I remember when I first went on it- I was at the psych ER and they prescribed it to me. I don't remember what I was doing or saying exactly at the time, but nevertheless they prescribed it. Little did I know! Its gotten so bad on my end that I have fatty liver disease and ALMOST have cirrhosis of the liver! I've been working out and eating better and TRYING to get off this evil drug so I'll be better. Good news is, my primary doctor ran tests recently, and all came back normal! Even blood sugar which was elevated. I've lost 20 pounds. That reminds me, I go to the gym tomorrow.

My memory is wonky from that time, so perhaps it seemed to go quicker than it actually did, but I swear I got my acceptance letter within a few months of applying. Thanks to very good psychiatry referrals and all that fun stuff. Being hospitalized seems to help increase the likelihood of acceptance as well. I hope you don't have to wait 12-16 months, that sounds absolutely dreadful!

[jtassar93]

Originally Posted by Moose72

Yes. The worst! I remember when I first went on it- I was at the psych ER and they prescribed it to me. I don't remember what I was doing or saying exactly at the time, but nevertheless they prescribed it. Little did I know! Its gotten so bad on my end that I have fatty liver disease and ALMOST have cirrhosis of the liver! I've been working out and eating better and TRYING to get off this evil drug so I'll be better. Good news is, my primary doctor ran tests recently, and all came back normal! Even blood sugar which was elevated. I've lost 20 pounds. That reminds me, I go to the gym tomorrow.

Oh gosh, that sounds terrible! I hope you're able to get back to normal, well you know what I mean, haha. After I stopped zyprexa, I lost 40 pounds! It was insane.

[Moose72]

Originally Posted by jtassar93

Oh gosh, that sounds terrible! I hope you're able to get back to normal, well you know what I mean, haha. After I stopped zyprexa, I lost 40 pounds! It was insane.

I know what you mean. That is what I'm so looking forward to- losing weight just because I'm not on zyprexa anymore! Were you going to the gym? I have a fat belly. I've never gained in my belly before zyprexa. It makes my boobs look small because it sticks out so far.

[BipolaRNurse]

I didn't have a hearing. SS approved me for disability only six months after I applied. I used an attorney, and I don't suppose being hospitalized just before that hurt my case any. They did have me undergo a physical exam because I also claimed disability for medical issues in addition to my bipolar, and I think my age helped too (I'm almost 60 and employment prospects aren't very good at this stage of life). YMMV.

[jtassar93]

Originally Posted by Moose72

I know what you mean. That is what I'm so looking forward to- losing weight just because I'm not on zyprexa anymore! Were you going to the gym? I have a fat belly. I've never gained in my belly before zyprexa. It makes my boobs look small because it sticks out so far.

It was great to finally lose the weight. I gained it in my stomach as well. And yeah, I work out every day, but the weight didn't come off until I stopped zyprexa.

[Moose72]

Originally Posted by jtassar93

It was great to finally lose the weight. I gained it in my stomach as well. And yeah, I work out every day, but the weight didn't come off until I stopped zyprexa.

I'm lucky I've lost 20 pounds. How long did it take to lose weight?

[BeyondtheRainbow]

I was approved in 11 weeks without an attorney. I had been very, very ill for months before I applied with 2 hospitalizations and I think that was part of it. I also had a physical issue that isn't part of my disability officially but it affects what I can do so it may have impacted things. It all depends what stage you get to. Initial approvals seem to be relatively quick and after the first denial it starts spacing out depending on state.

[Moose72]

That reminds me, BeyondtheRainbow, I was lucky to get approved on my first try.

[jtassar93]

Originally Posted by Moose72

I'm lucky I've lost 20 pounds. How long did it take to lose weight?

Congrats.
It came off rather quickly. Only like 2-3 months.

[Moose72]

Originally Posted by jtassar93

Congrats.
It came off rather quickly. Only like 2-3 months.

That's good to hear. I guess the weight won't completely be gone by July when I see the dr. about my liver- they told me to lose weight- but it will be an improvement at least.

[Cocosurviving]

Hello there. I first applied when I lived in Nashville TN (11/2012). It took two months to get a denial letter. When I appealed 1/2013...afterward I moved to Oklahoma in 5/2013. I updated my address with SSDA. Then received a letter later that my court date was 1/2014. Unfortunately things are very slow in Oklahoma. I honestly feel I would not have had to wait that long if I stayed in Nashville. They were going pretty fast.