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Hi folks , dennis's interesting and informative description of problems pwps had in getting parking permits because of the on/off nature of our symptoms reminds me of an interesting encounter I had yesterday. We become so involved (or at least I do,) with our own problems sometimes, that we do not realize that others may experience similar difficulties. Yesterday I ran into an acquaintance I had not seen for a few weeks. It turns out tha she also ahd an interview with an SSA doctor on Friday, also to qualify for disability pension. But, she says, the problem is, 'the doctor never sees me at my worst'. HEr problem - she is severely allergic to certain chemicals, which can cause her to become totally dysfunctional. THese include common household chemicals like air-fresheners, and hairspray. But when she keeps clear of them, she is fine. Catch a whiff of hairspray etc, and she is helpless. SHe said it wasn't until she was going to another floor in a building accompanied by her doctor. and they entered an elevator where someone had used one of the guilty chemicals - and the doctor saw for himself her immediate extreme reaction - that he even considered her complaint as serious. BUt then, when he tried to help her fill in the forms for SSI, tere was no appropriate category under which to file her complaint. Ergo , it doinst exist, ie there is nothing wrong with her? so, I guess, we are not alone in our struggle for recognition of our special p roblems. Maybe if we joined hands with those others who share some of our problems, we could solve them together, just a little more quickly? Hilary Blue