Hi Everybody, My name is Donna. I've been reading this forum for months and have really been encouraged by everyone but have never posted. I am new at all of this potsy stuff. I had a laproscopic cholesystectomy (gall bladder surgery) last March, had problems with SOB and low sats, and was hospitalized twice in the next two months with every test known to man. To make a long story short, I was dx with POTS by my cardio and internist around Thanksgiving. I was put on Toprol XL, Zoloft, and Midodrine and I am just now able to drive to the store etc. I still can't drive three hours to the Mississippi Gulf coast to see my children. I feel like most of you do on most days. CRAPPY!! I have some good days but more bad than good. I am a quilter and I am trying to make quilts for my grandchildren as one of my daughters lost everything in Katrina and she has four children and bedclothes are expensive to say the least. I applied for social security disability insurance. I have worked all my life and have paid in the max to ss. I got a letter today saying that I was turned down because my condition is not severe enough to be disabled. I am an emergency room nurse, and I can't take care of patients laying down, which I have to do most of the time. I can't even sit in church, I sit in the way back with my feet up. Can't even sing half the time because I get out of breath. They said that I have sixty days to appeal, but I am new at all this. They said that because of my age, I was not severe enough to be disabled. I am 57 years old. What do they want me to do? Go back to college and graduate when it is time to retire? Sorry, y'all, I am just very frustrated right now. Do y'all have experience with the social security administration. I am just frustrated and depressed right now. I would like nothing more than to go back to work. I love my job and love being a nurse and taking care of people. Don't they understand that this is no fun way to live. Oh well, any advice will be appreciated. Thanks, Donna