Be honest and upfront when answering questions, show medical records as documentation, any thing that doctors can back up test results, even witnesses as to the person you were before your condition prevented you from working and what a typical day is like now. How limited you are, etc. Anything that will back up your statements. Your medications and the side affects you have, the cost of medications, cost of any special diet/supplements you are taking to keep going. Any physical therapy you have to do to keep going and any documentation from PT therapist even have them as witness that includes your other doctors.. I hope this is a help for you.

Allow them to see and hear the real you. Don't take meds. Take your walking aids. Let them know it's ongoing and getting worse. Do not dress up or try to appear better than you are. Let them see what your normal or bad days are like.

Have your lawyer with you. My stress level went up during my hearing and the fibro fog kicked in. Let the attorney lead the way and help you, direct you. My attorney was Erika Riggs from Disablility Attorneys of Michigan......http://www.damichigan.com/

My hearing was back in 1999. I wore my TENS unit to help my back. Darn thing started acting up and I had to stand up because the battery was going dead and it started hurting me. I was so embarrassed. Everyone has helpful information. If your doctor is on your side and your attorney is good, you should be fine. Good luck.

I had a lawyer, Binder and Binder, I had my Rheumatologist, my Psychiatry, and my Regular Doctor, fill out questions that my lawyer had ask, when I went in August of this year, the judge had my work history, my doctors notes from 2007 up to my last appointment 2016, He was very nice and he also told me he was sorry it took so long for me to get approved, (2013) I wasn't even in there 10 minutes, my lawyer did such a great job getting everything I need, the judge also told me the reason why it takes so long is they really don't understand fibromyalgia, but with everything else that I have going on, Scoliosis, the nerve damage from both fibro and Scoliosis and depression, anxiety, he couldn't understand why they didn't approve me when I apply in 2013, Best of luck Shauna I hope everything go good for you.

It was only me and my lawyer in front of a video judge back in 2005. when the stress and fibro fog kicked in, my lawyer got yelled at by the judge for trying to help me explain. I thought for sure I would get turned down. tough judge. they asked about my work life and home life, asked what I did to help relieve the pain (which was rest and hot showers besides the meds). there was a clerk at a pc looking up things I could do based on my answers. eventually the clerk told the judge there wasn't anything that would help me keep a job. I did tell her (judge) that I worked as long as I did because I was able to get up and move around when I needed to and sit when I needed to, my hours were a little flexible, but as my sick days added up, I was eventually laid off. hope this helps a little. good luck !!!!