u/PookieNookie

Hi.

I’m applying for disability. I am struggling to afford groceries and basic necessities. I live in my mom’s house, while she is out of the country, with my partner. I believe I can apply for SNAP benefits but I honestly don’t know much about it. I’ve done some research but I wanted to reach out here if anyone has any advice. I have around $1.5k to my name but most is savings for my appointments, medications and procedures. My partner helps as much as he can but we could really use some help.

Thank you!

Edit: It’s really disappointing that I am getting downvoted for simply asking a question. This is a subreddit to get information and to help and I’m answering questions truthfully and I’m being downvoted. Where else am I supposed to ask or get this information? I’m not here with any malicious intent and am just trying to seek help and you guys are just downvoting. It’s very discouraging.

As title states, it’s been six weeks since surgery and my belly button incision is still open. It’s no more than an inch, but it’s split. White tissue underneath is visible and so is the pink/red tissue. It bleeds sporadically as I think movement causes it to tear more occasionally. It is leaking fluid that the doctors say is normal, the fluid is a deep yellow. It has leaked so much that it overflows. It has a strong odor that my partner has smelled but my doctors say is just “sweat and moisture”.

I have been back and forth with the surgeon and they are making it seem like I’m being very dramatic. They’ve started ignoring my pictures and messages. They told me that no stitch or skin glue can be added due to the location.

My results were inconclusive. They could not find endo in the biopsies they obtained but my surgeon said since it was scar tissue it could’ve been early endo that was managed by my birth control. There was not a lot taken out and wasn’t made to seem like a big operation that might warrant longer healing.

Now, I do have several auto immune diseases that could certainly be delaying the healing process which I understand, but my doctors won’t even say that this isn’t normal. They’ve acted very annoyed with my questions and concerns.

It hurts. I can’t stretch far, I can’t twist much, I can’t sit for long. I still can’t have any baths, go in the pool or be intimate with my partner. I am
taking pain medicine around the clock to manage it. It sometimes seems to be healing but then will reset to bleeding and an increase leakage of fluids.

I completely understand if they truly can’t do anything due to the location, but just reassurance that hey this isn’t normal, we see it, we recognize it, we just can’t do anything. I don’t know if I really am just dramatic and crazy.

I’ve had my gallbladder removed and that was a laparoscopy and I healed fine with no complications. Has anyone else experienced this?

Thank you for anyone who reads this. I would just really appreciate some guidance. I’ll try to keep a long story short.

I am 23, 24 in two months. I was diagnosed with Adult Onset Still’s Disease (adult juvenile arthritis) in 2020.

I tried applying for SSI in 2021, midst getting diagnosed with other things and took too long so they closed it. I’m retrying but this time for SSDI as I have the work credits. I, unfortunately, obtained a lot of diagnosis’s over the years that have progressively made it impossible for me to work. These are my current diagnosis’s:

Lymphocytic colitis (a form of microscopic colitis)

Adult onset Still’s Disease (adult juvenile arthritis)

Membranous nephropathy that caused nephrotic syndrome and permanently changed the shape of my kidneys. I am currently in remission but have to remain under medication and frequent visits

hEDS

POTs

Narcolepsy without cataplexy (currently working on changing diagnosis to with cataplexy)

PTSD

Autism

ADHD

Depression

I see a specialist for all my conditions. I am currently seeking a rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis which I don’t think will be too hard to get as the medicine that is treating my adult onset Still’s disease in an RA medicine and I have the symptoms.

There is also something wrong with my neck/back that I am getting an MRI for and currently in physical therapy for. I do already have documented arthritis in several joints.

Over the last six years I’ve had to consistently use either a cane, walker, or wheelchair. I have only ever had three jobs. Two of which I had to leave due to my health. The third one I currently have but may lose. It’s an on-call job where I accept cases that work for me but I have to work a minimal of three days.

I can no longer work more than 15 hours a week and that’s pushing it. This job is remote and I still can’t handle it. I have not accepted a case there since 10/2025 as I’ve been incapable of working due to flares and surgery. I’ve had to take an incomplete and stop university due to it but manage now with extensive accommodations (that are documented) and online class. The only way I get money is because my mom is a veteran and I am on Chapter 35, so I get money for going to school, no other income.

I have recently started pain management and physical therapy as I said and both have documented that I have a severe disability that limits my daily functions. We are working on finding a plan for my constant pain.

I am switching therapists but I see a psychiatrist who has been with me when my physical health has worsened which led to my mental health worsening and an increase in medications.

I don’t go out unless it’s to appointments because I can’t drive for long, my partner drives me everywhere. I live with my partner and he takes care of finances and of me. We live in my mom’s house and she helps pay most, if not all bills and my partner handles the day to day.

I am on my mom’s insurance as she works in the government and is trying to go through the steps to allow me to stay on her insurance after I turn 26 as I am disabled.

I think that’s enough overall information but please feel free to ask me more in the comments.

I feel very overwhelmed with all the information and the process. I thought of getting a lawyer to help with the process but I’ve seen that it’s better to get that if you are denied. I have also gotten accustomed to keeping documents due to having to navigate the health system. I have already asked several doctors to write me a letter and I have three specialists who will. My last employer is also willing to write a letter for me. Do I wait, see and then decide on a lawyer?

From my understanding a lot of my conditions are in the blue book, but I’d need to make sure I use their wording and have my doctors use their wording if I understand correctly.

I know it’s a lot of information, so again thank you for reading. I’m looking for some tips. I know this can and most likely will take time, I know navigating it will be stressful but I just want peoples opinions on if it’s possible for me or what I need to do to make it possible for me. Any positive stories are welcome too! I don’t know anyone on SSDI so I have no one to ask.

Thank you.