THE FULL FACTS

_________________
IMPORTANT FILES TO HELP UNDERSTAND HOW ESA WORKS
The Full Facts ESA50 Claim form and Guide (pdf download)
This guide is the most important file at site.including what illnesssess do not have to attend a medical
download/file.php?id=66

ESA SUPPORT GROUP CRITERIA
viewtopic.php?f=7&t=321

What to write if you think you should have a home visit
viewtopic.php?f=31&t=620&hilit=home+visit#p1871

Interesting piece Miss Ben E Fit.

Basically whilst people are going through the sheer hell of first battling long and hard to get a diagnosis that recognizes the many symptoms as ME/CFS, and then some with the DWP and ATOS, the same time the experts are squabbling over conflicts of interest in the areas of gender and politics and that lo and behold at the bottom of it all it may just be about money after all.

At the end of the day, anyone with several if not all of the associated symptoms is seriously ill whatever they want to label it as as a whole. Indeed as is indicated here perhaps if we give a separate diagnosis for each recognized symptom then we don't need an ESA ME controversy. Instead we are suffering from nausea, exhaustion, night sweats, insomnia...on the other hand I would have thought just calling it all ME makes life an awful lot easier for GP's but then again they are dependent on funding so yep the existence or non-existence of this condition is about whether or not we can afford it.

Let's see how this might translate with a historical analogy. The Black Death or the middle ages resulted in wage rises: through mass population reduction and subsequent lack of available labour allowing a villein to hold out for a better deal and ultimately a level of freedom not experienced since before the Norman Conquest (i.e. not in their lifetime). The lords of the manor couldn't afford to abandon serfdom so they just pretended the plague didn't exist and this made it go away. Of course that is a fantasy revision of history but I think it is quite equivalen to what is occuring right now with ME.

By the Victorian era the British had adopted a stiffer up lip attitude of it being 'bad form' to speak out and this resulted in epidemia of water born disease not to mention an artificial segregation of the sexes we are still paying the price for now.

Times change but some people never do. Eventually the truth comes out though screaming and shouting like the discovery of a cheating partner's hidden affair. Some things just cannot be hidden simply because we don't like what reality is saying to us.

Question: why are so many British people suffering from mental illness these days? Is the reason social perhaps. Aren't we social animals? Well I'm sociophobic and so are many people whose only outlet or interaction is via websites such as this one. So what does that say about us and society, does it satisfy us, does it nourish us or does it perhaps suck the life out of us. Are we happier with the vast material wealth of the 21st century than they were in the post war years of the 40's and 50's when they had nothing? Well these are the questions which I expect members of parliament to have to deal with. Instead they not only ignore the reality of people's illnesses right under their noses, they lie about the mass of unemployment currently 8 million because they know this is the root of the problem and that they have failed to adequately manage it. Instead of solving the problem they lay the blame at those unable to work regularly if at all or whom where even made ill by dubious work environments. Do they really stop to think that anyone with a socially isolating illness actually wants to go through the humiliation that is the current Kafkaesque benefits system on top of that. It is incredulous and not least because the wider general public is conditioned to believe it until of course it happens to them or one of their family when they find nobody listens they just point the finger to alieviate their own unsatisfying lives at the expense of an easy scapegoat. Well with all the additional unemployment just around the corner that is exactly how I expect inadequate governments to respond.

The only thing current ESA assessment of ME, depression or any other mental health problem affecting thousands of genuine claimants is going to achieve is to exacerbate all these illnesses through sheer accumulative anxiety and stress that even a regular person with no history of mental illness would struggle to cope with. Add to that the funding pulled from support services just at the time they are going to be needed the most and I think we have a man made socio-epidemia of substantial proportions on the cards.

There's an old saying that 'ignorance is bliss' but when truth hurts some so much it is not that they don't know but that they don't want to know for fear of learning something and that something sometimes lies within.

We should bury these attitudes with ESA, JSA and all the other timewasting gimmicks and focus on not just diagnosing people correctly but getting the appropriate care to them. Mental illness is real not imagined. The symptoms of ME are real, whatever you want to call them doesn't make them less so.

DEAL WITH IT!

_________________
IMPORTANT FILES TO HELP UNDERSTAND HOW ESA WORKS
The Full Facts ESA50 Claim form and Guide (pdf download)
This guide is the most important file at site.including what illnesssess do not have to attend a medical
download/file.php?id=66

ESA SUPPORT GROUP CRITERIA
viewtopic.php?f=7&t=321

What to write if you think you should have a home visit
viewtopic.php?f=31&t=620&hilit=home+visit#p1871

*claps*

Ive been showing M.E symtoms for over 2 years now are have been sign posted back and forth

Ive been given amitriptyline which is supposed to take the edge of chronic fatigue
and i do feel less naseacited when i take it

but a few months ago I explained to the same doctor that id been getting heavy cramps with my 'dips/ plunge' in energy

''hmmm, it sounds like fibre myology''

''oh really??!! so maybe I can find out whats wrong with me now, a possible diagnosis???''

''theres no real point in diagnosing you with it''

''but without your diagnosis doctor, i cant get support, no one will listen to me''

''well just tell them it sounds like fibre myology''




I went home and curled up in a ball and cried- but that was because of my depression lol

If your doc thinks you have what I think he might mean to be Fibromyalgia, you have every right to demand that he refers you to a rheumatologist - them's the one's who diagnose Fibromyalgia. I'm in the same boat as you - loads of chronic and worsening symptoms and no clear diagnosis.Then my oncologist referred me to the rheumatologist because of my incessant moaning about my muscles hurting so much, and lo and behold, said rheumatologist took one look at me, asked a couple of questions about fatigue and depression, prodded bits of me that I didn't even know hurt, and said I was a very typical case of Fibromyalgia. (He did, incorrectly, insist it was caused by sleep apnea,which an apnea test showed to be nonsense, but still. It's a diagnosis of sorts!) My GP isn't impressed, and maintains I have something he calls adreno-pituitary insufficiency/deficiency/failure. Reason GP not impressed is that FM isn't cureable, the cause remains unknown, and treatment varies from patient to patient, as does the level of disability and illness it causes. Interesting to me is that whilst all the FM sites cite chemical intolerances, bizarre reactions to prescription drugs, etc, which have been the bane of my life when it comes to finding treatment options that my stupid system will actually accept and not produce throwing up, migraines, selling up, dizziness, exhaustion, rashes, excessive sweats, zits, the runs, etc etc etc, these sme sites list some very heavyweight (ie, "dirty") drugs to counteract the symptoms! Chances are that if you have chemical sensitivities, you won't be able to tolerate these recommended "treatments". I reacted v badly to amytriptaline, with (about from nausea and throwing up and migraines, which it was supposed to be helping) the feeling that someone had set fire to the inside of my thigh! I mean real "WTF?????" scream outloud pain. It also made me MORE tired and sleepy.
Anyway, I digress! I just wanted to say that you really might benefit from an appointment with a rheumy - wasn't something I'd ever considered, but FM is much more than stiff achey muscles. It's the headaches and nausea, the feeling like you're wading through wet concrete, the chemical intolerances, the insomnia, the anxiety and depression, all that and more. Definitely worth getting checked out.

Hope that helps!

A x

Miss B - quite so! Here bloody here!

A x

LK -

PS Fibromyalgia is on the "tentatively invite for medical assessment" list - ie, if you can get enough evidence to show how messed up you are because of this, there's a chance they won't insist you go in to see them. They might want to do a home visit instead, or with any luck, given their backlog, they may just pass you straight into the support group. Which would be nice!

A x

Hi. Im new to this site, so i apologize if I'm posting this in the wrong place. I have Fibromyalgia, I had been mis-diagnosed with Palmoplanter pusticular psioriatic Arthritis in 2002, I was put on Methatrexate (MTX chemo type med) self injecting meds until 2010 and also Etanercept (embrel) also self injecting, I was taken off both meds because the Embrel was having no real beneficial affect and I had been told they should have worked between 2-3 wks. My rheumotologist decided it would be better for me to re-visit my initial diagnosis of PA in a combined rheumotologist clinic. i went in front of 5 differennt RTs and felt like a guineapig, one said it could be PA another said I had danced/run too much when younger (HMMMM WTF?) another said i had osteoarthritis, my RT and the head RT of the department discussed FMS, although they did blood tests, x-rays MRIs all they showed was that I had degenerate wear n tear in alot of my joints, which didnt show or explain my CFS, IBS, depression, extremely painful body from head to toes literally, or my memory issues (fibro fog) so they prodded and poked and asked me quetions and then showed me a list of 18 symptoms of FMS, i had them all, Im now under the care of a pain specialist as well as my RT. The only meds that help in any way are the morphine based ones which I only take when on a lvl 10 pain day.
I was dismissed from my work due to 'medical capabilities in july this year after my employers kept my jon open for me since April 2009 when my condition became much more in evidence.
I won my DLA claim through the tribunal 18 months after originally putting in my claim, (i had been off sick from April 09 and didnt claim til Nov 09 as I wanted to return to work) after refusing to give up and just say ''screw it'' but I have not been able to claim ESA as they say I have not paid enough contributions in 2006. They do have me on 'Limited capabilities'' and I only get contribution based stamps nothing else. I have just received a new form which i need to send back. Im worried with everything that i have been reading/told about Atos and their scoring of people, will this affect my DLA if they give me nil points? I havent returned the form yet and am struggling to fill it in, it is so damn confusing to me and i am already having probs without this added stress of trying to be honest and wondering if my honesty is going to go against me. I havent been called in for a 'medical' as yet but I'm expecting to be.
The last medical i had I received a copy of the examiners report and I just couldnt believe what she had written, she denied i was on anti-depressants even though i took along ALL my medicines, she said I could go shopping, but didnt mention that i go wih my husband or that he carries everything while I bimble along on my crutches having to stop every few seconds, I could prepare/cook a meal if I sat down to do so.... i think sitting and reaching over a hot cooker is definately a health and safety issue not to mention other stupid things she had written.
Ive been told that some MPS are trying to ensure that FMS is a real conditon, but would like to know what my rights are if I dont agree with the MEs results, can I demand a copy of her report? What can i do if i dont agree with it?

1. You've been told rubbish about 2006 stamps. Even if you are claiming Contribution-based ESA the year they would now be looking at should be the tax year that finishes April 2010 AT THE EARLIEST. In any case, there are two forms of ESA - as well as CB-ESA there is Income Based ESA (means tested), so even if you didn't have enough stamps you could claim that.
2. No, your DLA is safe for now. It's due to be replaced by PIP but not until 2014.
3. Yes you must ask for the HCP's report and appeal against it if you don't agree. In any case, you should appeal within 30 days of getting the decision letter (it will say that somewhere in the letter you got). If the 30 days are running out, then appeal first, and ask for the HCP report after you appeal. Remember - your appeal is not against the report, it's against the decision itself. The report would simply be ammunition to use in your appeal. But don't delay.

_________________
Forms:

• GL24 (February 2012) - Download pdf
• ESA50 2013 NEW - Download pdf
• ESA113 (03/11) - Download pdf (DWP Form sent to Dr to complete for ESA)

Information:

• Claim Form and medical guide - (Download pdf)
• The Full Facts - Advocacy support list
• Support Group Criteria
• ilegal guide to ESA50 questionnaire
• Turn2us - access to Benefits and Grants
• Contact your local MP
• 2012 WCA handbook pdf
• ATOS official complaints procedure pdf

Hi there

Being a fellow CFS sufferer for a number of years having to live with peoples narrow minded views on the condition I would'nt wish it upon anyone but at time wished i could so they could see how the condition rules ones every day life.
Last night for instant I was feeling aches and pains in my limbs and decided to try and sleep, I couldnt get comfortable at all and spent the night tossing n turning from side to side getting up at 8am feeling like i never slept all night, now I have to face the day trying to get by on drugs that only mask the problems making me wonder if really i wanna continue this life im leading.
Has anyone else here who has learnt to cope with a daily life of CFS found increasing problems due to the whole process of ESA and it proceedure or is it just me??

bigmac

bigmac, CFS is one of the range of MS symptoms too. I have felt the effects of all the "bad news" coming my way (about the general situation with ESA I mean), but believe me it will get a whole lot worse once my own brown envelope arrives.

_________________
Forms:

• GL24 (February 2012) - Download pdf
• ESA50 2013 NEW - Download pdf
• ESA113 (03/11) - Download pdf (DWP Form sent to Dr to complete for ESA)

Information:

• Claim Form and medical guide - (Download pdf)
• The Full Facts - Advocacy support list
• Support Group Criteria
• ilegal guide to ESA50 questionnaire
• Turn2us - access to Benefits and Grants
• Contact your local MP
• 2012 WCA handbook pdf
• ATOS official complaints procedure pdf

Hi all

@tiddk
Tell me about it was just about able to manage my daily life when mine arrived didnt even wanna look at the ESA50 first of all putting it away in the drawer but finally managed to complete it. After a wait of a few weeks expecting a call to ATOS i was surprised to receive a letter informing me of my inclusion to WRAG. After the red mist settled I placed my appeal form which im in the process of waiting to hear about.
Since this whole sorry process started its turned my world upside down making my condition worst guess ESA is not good for ones health.
best of luck when your brownie arrives

bigmac

One thing I've learned from these forums, is to download the ESA50 pdf and I've been completing it slowly in my own time, giving it a lot of thought. If they assign me to a group purely on medical evidence without even requiring the ESA50 (i.e. if I'm one of the lucky few) I won't consider it a wasted effort. It's taught me a lot.

_________________
Forms:

• GL24 (February 2012) - Download pdf
• ESA50 2013 NEW - Download pdf
• ESA113 (03/11) - Download pdf (DWP Form sent to Dr to complete for ESA)

Information:

• Claim Form and medical guide - (Download pdf)
• The Full Facts - Advocacy support list
• Support Group Criteria
• ilegal guide to ESA50 questionnaire
• Turn2us - access to Benefits and Grants
• Contact your local MP
• 2012 WCA handbook pdf
• ATOS official complaints procedure pdf

i felt hell since gettimg the letter then the questonair then the remnder letter
next the medical i tought several tmnes easier to just die

Hi

Dont be surprised if your not asked to attend a medical I didnt get one and was placed on WRAG which im in the process of appeal good luck and try not to stress out

regards

I was diagnosed with CFS 2006 and went form a Qualified Hillwalking leader ( Certificated by the local council) taking groups of people walking the hills, Instructor/Leader for biking with Duke of Edinburgh scheme and lastly Support Worker all mentioned activities/job were physically & mentally demanding and involved loads of socialising.....the hammer blow CFS and now I'm not capable of doing any of the above. Changed my doctors twice as they weren't very supportive of CFS and now I have a great doctor who believes in this condition.....ATOS dont care......I didn't get a return envelope with ESA50 so my daughter handed it in in person (Caddogan Street) for me....If posting in your own envelope send it recorded mail so that it has to be signed for and then either you or friend/family phone office the day they are due to sign for it and check it is logged in their system....thats what I did and after much waiting on my part they eventually found my form logged in the system. I might have CFS but I'm not complety stupid yet.....given time by ATOS I will most probably end up that way

Hi,

Newbie here.

In the mind? No. But my diagnosis of PVFS was confirmed by the specialist in CIU. He quite rightly suggested after finding viral titer in the blood, that I should also visit the diagnostic Psychiatrist, and I readily agreed. They both mentioned that those who were properly diagnosed, would suffer because of some GPs who used CF/ME as a waste basket diagnosis. This was brought home to me following a recent phone call to the DWP about recent benefit changes and reductions/cap. A very nice young lady explained that there were so many people who had not been diagnosed properly, and the DWP knew who they were, and that there was nothing wrong with them. But those folks couldn't be targeted, so everybody had to through the form filling and reassessment. Scream!

Best wishes.