CPET Test for disability?

[Davsey27]

Curious if anyone on here has got a cardio pulmonary exercise test done and how intense you may have found it and if it helped you with disability?

Thank You

 

[SnappingTurtle]

Curious if anyone on here has got a cardio pulmonary exercise test done and how intense you may have found it and if it helped you with disability?

Thank You

I did. The 2 day cpet itself was okay for me. You are just cycling on a stationary bike for as long as you can at increasing resistance. However, it triggered a rolling PEM crash that lasted a month. I did have a few ok days here and there but yes, it was a month. It took me from activity level 3 to 2. However, I knew this risk and took the 2 day test anyway because I knew it would help my disability case. That, QEEG and support from my ME/CFS specialist (not just anny doctor) won my claims for STD and LTD.

 

[Davsey27]

Thanks snappingturtle

Have you or anyone else on here heard if its helpful for social security disability?

 

[*GG*]

It's intense, or should be. You are supposed to exercise to where you cannot anymore. I had the test done in 2010, was shown the door by my employer in 2013. I think my shitbag lawyer said it was helpful. I didn't have the test done after applying, so not sure how helpful it was, but I would think it is!

GG

 

[SnappingTurtle]

Thanks snappingturtle

Have you or anyone else on here heard if its helpful for social security disability?

Per some disability talks and articles (see solvecfs videos and How To Get On wordpress site, and @nyanko_the_sane 's posts on disability), CPET is accepted as objective medical evidence for SSDI. I am counting on it as part of my ongoing SSDI claim.
However, all your evidence will be reviewed in its entirety, so make sure you know what is written in your full medical records (ie, treatment or progress notes). As mentioned before, having a recognized ME/CFS doctor treating you and filling out appropriate SSDI forms is probably the most helpful.

If you are going to risk the PEM, make sure you get a 2 day CPET, not just one day. Otherwise, it will difficult to prove presence of PEM, and therefore, disability. If you are certain you do not have PEM, I wouldn't bother with 2 day CPET.

 

[Davsey27]

Per some disability talks and articles (see solvecfs videos and How To Get On wordpress site, and @nyanko_the_sane 's posts on disability), CPET is accepted as objective medical evidence for SSDI. I am counting on it as part of my ongoing SSDI claim.
However, all your evidence will be reviewed in its entirety, so make sure you know what is written in your full medical records (ie, treatment or progress notes). As mentioned before, having a recognized ME/CFS doctor treating you and filling out appropriate SSDI forms is probably the most helpful.

If you are going to risk the PEM, make sure you get a 2 day CPET, not just one day. Otherwise, it will difficult to prove presence of PEM, and therefore, disability. If you are certain you do not have PEM, I wouldn't bother with 2 day CPET.

Thank you

I already seem to be getting skipped heart beats at rest since I got covid back in december and still recovering

One of my concerns is arrhythmia complications from pushing hard on the bike

I want to succeed in disability but have health concerns about the test

 

[SnappingTurtle]

One of my concerns is arrhythmia complications from pushing hard on the bike

My me/cfs doctor was there closely watching my stats during the test. I believe an me/cfs doctor will assess if a patient can safely endure a cpet. If you are severe, cpet may not be an option.

 

[Alvin2]

I believe an me/cfs doctor will assess if a patient can safely endure a cpet. If you are severe, cpet may not be an option.

This in itself is evidence in the patient's favour. As long as the doc puts this in writing, preferably with details.

 

[Davsey27]

This in itself is evidence in the patient's favour. As long as the doc puts this in writing, preferably with details.

You mean without even performing the test?

 

[Alvin2]

You mean without even performing the test?

If the doctors opinion is that you are too sick to do the test and that it could cause permanent harm then yes.
Judges and juries like numbers but if you can't get any an explanation why is medical evidence. Its not as good as a bunch of very low numbers but it is better than nothing.

 

[Davsey27]

Yeah it seems people in this world are cruel when it comes to me/cfs.Testing agencies using algorithms instead of objectivity and one size fits all.

Money,time and systems management over human compassion

It's unfortunate when list of medical people who are trustworthy become smaller and smaller

Not Cpet in particular but other agencies.Just cruelty disguised behind smiles

 

[Davsey27]

I did. The 2 day cpet itself was okay for me. You are just cycling on a stationary bike for as long as you can at increasing resistance. However, it triggered a rolling PEM crash that lasted a month. I did have a few ok days here and there but yes, it was a month. It took me from activity level 3 to 2. However, I knew this risk and took the 2 day test anyway because I knew it would help my disability case. That, QEEG and support from my ME/CFS specialist (not just anny doctor) won my claims for STD and LTD.

Curious what was your baseline before the test?

 

[Davsey27]

It's intense, or should be. You are supposed to exercise to where you cannot anymore. I had the test done in 2010, was shown the door by my employer in 2013. I think my shitbag lawyer said it was helpful. I didn't have the test done after applying, so not sure how helpful it was, but I would think it is!

GG

Can you elaborate on the intensity..did it feel like it was as intense as an all out sprint back to back days?

 

[SnappingTurtle]

Curious what was your baseline before the test?

Before the test, I was at 30. After because of PEM, I was 20. See https://me-pedia.org/wiki/Bell_CFIDS_disability_scale

 

[*GG*]

Can you elaborate on the intensity..did it feel like it was as intense as an all out sprint back to back days?

Well you are supposed to exert yourself to your maximum on both days. Not sure what you mean by sprint? So just a 30 second interval? I think you start off slow, they are monitoring (capturing I think) all your exhales, how they can say you are at diminished capacity, no fooling the test!
GG

 

[Davsey27]

I went ahead and did the two day cpet a little over a week ago..first week was tough.Learning to appreciate the importance of pacing.Thanks for the feedback for those on here

 

[Judee]

This website talks about it for SSI & SSDI: https://howtogeton.wordpress.com/2017/09/07/the-pros-and-cons-of-a-two-day-cpet/

One thing they said is:
There is a misconception that the two-day CPET is a “Guaranteed win” for disability. The two-day CPET has certainly been a great help in many disability cases, however it is by no means a guaranteed win, and we have heard from readers who were denied after CPET tests. (I think here they are talking about STD and LTD.)

If applying for Social Security, the two-day CPET might get ignored because of the Acceptable Medical Source rules. Learn more here: CPET Test for People Applying for Disability (Here is where they talk about SSI & SSDI.)

I went ahead and did the two day cpet a little over a week ago..first week was tough.Learning to appreciate the importance of pacing.Thanks for the feedback for those on here

Please let us know if it helps you with your case.

 

[SnappingTurtle]

Here are some mock hearing questions that an attorney i know of in Florida took with me tonight.I hope anyone may find this helpful.He has a show every Thursday nights at 8 est where tou can call in an run questions. Feel free to critique.

I haven't listened yet, but thank you fir sharing!

 

[Pyrrhus]

Related discussion:

Who has used Work Well Foundation's CPET for their disability claim?
https://forums.phoenixrising.me/thr...ations-cpet-for-their-disability-claim.59077/

 

[Pyrrhus]

From another thread:

The two tests sites I see on the forum were a bit of a journey, we live in TN. I dug around the internet and found a company that sells the test equipment. I emailed them thinking they would at least know who has the equipment, and that may be a good way to find one near you. A very knowledgeable person called me back, I believe he is the tech service guy who installs, trains and supports this equipment. He was familiar with the test, they do it all the time. Shared the scientific paper that had been posted in Frontiers in Pediatrics. He confirmed they use the same methodologies, they use a stationary bike instead of a treadmill and they believe it gives more accurate results. They also provide data analysis for folks that buy these, but may not have that expertise. It gets better.

Their corporate office is in a north suburb of Atlanta, just a 130 mile drive away. The cost of testing and analysis is only $500 at their facility. They don’t need a referral, you just pay prior to testing. They don’t do insurance, but provide a bill with the codes for you to submit. Company is MET-TEST. I sent them an email hoping to just find a closer site and got more than I bargained for. They responded in a couple days. Woohoo!