Fibromyalgia

Unity

DontBeAWageSlave wrote: »

Dont know if this still thread for fibromyalgia but have been diagnosed with it and depression and on meds for both. I get IB but have been refused DLA as the DWP doctors seems to think nothing more than that there will be no long term problems and that I could go upstairs to get my meds for her.
Depression keeps me housebound so having problems and giving up on appeal unless someone can do home visits. Are there any people like the CAB who would visit to help with appeal?

Hi and welcome, I just want to echo S/E and say - really, don't give up. I was in an awful state but Welfare Rights convinced me to push ahead with the claim as they said it was patently obvious the decision was wrong. Give your local Welfare Rights Office a call as I think they may do home visits - I think they used to certainly. I know what you mean about depression keeping you housebound - for a very long time I just didn't have the physical or mental wherewithal to even get washed and dressed, let alone leave the house. Even now on bad days I would far rather just stay where I am, because it's safe and warm.

It is right that lots of people get turned down on the first application, because the system isn't fair, it is set up to save whichever government is in power money - simple as that. If this isn't the case how come some people go from being totally refused to having the higher rate awarded at tribunal?

The main thing is that you are not alone - but you need to push ahead and claim what is rightfully yours.

CWTA - You have it exactly right, It is the second time in three weeks that we've had a near miss. I have the greatest respect for DH reflexes - last time it was a drunk at a bus-stop who just stepped off the pavement into the path of the car. I have no idea how he missed either one!

Unity

suep wrote: »

Dontbeawageslave - I should think they would come out to see you to help with your appeal. I had someone from CAB come out to me to help me fill in the DLA forms as I was housebound at the time. Ring them and ask. Good luck with your appeal.

CWTA - Thankyou hun, Im glad I did share my news with you all

Unity - OMG !! How scarey for you both, I hope your feeling better now and dont end up in a flare from the shock. I know what you mean about some old people not knowing when to stop driving, where I live is known a Gods waiting room, you always know when your nearly home as the car in front is going at 20 mph, even the tractors are faster lol
sue

Oh this did make me laugh :rotfl: 'God's Waiting Room' - it's a good 'un . I personally think you can tell a bad driver if he or she is wearing a hat, be it a trilby, baseball cap or even a bloomin' deerstalker! Although on this occasion it was a white haired old bloke with his equally white haired wife. I think what made it worse was that he didn't even register what all the fuss was about :mad:.

Careful_with_that_Axe

I would add driving gloves to the list of attire!

Proudly stating that they've been driving for 60-odd years and never had an accident whilst leaving a trail of mayhem in their wake.

mummyof3boys_2

HI
I have been lurking on this forum for a while but i am wondering if someone can help or advise me. My husband was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia recently after having symptoms for the past 4 years. At the moment he is trying to get meds sorted we put in an application for IB but he was refused, we are in the process of appealing but are very confused on how to word the letter of appeal.
Yesterday i was in tears on the telephone as some dragon in the IB claims department told me my husband should just take a painkiller and get on with it ,why do these people think they can talk to others like that?

Anyway enough of me ranting on , what i would really like to know is if it is common for people to get turned down for IB for fibro and if anyone has got any advice?

We have contacted CAB and have an appointment on Thursday but we are both worried sick that he will get turned down again and be forced to return to work when he is not physically capable at the moment.

Hope you can help xxx

somebody_else

Unity wrote: »

Oh this did make me laugh :rotfl: 'God's Waiting Room' - it's a good 'un . I personally think you can tell a bad driver if he or she is wearing a hat, be it a trilby, baseball cap or even a bloomin' deerstalker! Although on this occasion it was a white haired old bloke with his equally white haired wife. I think what made it worse was that he didn't even register what all the fuss was about :mad:.

Meant to respond to this earlier, Unity. Glad that it was no more than a near miss, but that was bad enough.

I don't suppose you managed to get his number did you? I know it's a horrible thing to have to do, but if you did, it might be worth reporting it to the police. Especially as you say he didn't seem to realise what he'd done.

Sadly, there is this really daft system in place whereby people over the age of 70 get to certify themselves as fit to drive. Which means anyone who is determined to continue driving (whether they're fit to or not) can continue to do so. Did you realise that a doctor has no legal requirement to inform DVLC that a patient isn't fit to drive? As I know from my own experience after the brain haemorrhage, this sytem is dependent on the driver informing them of a medical condition that might affect their ability to drive. Even worse, after I'd informed them of the B/H, I was told I could continue driving until they'd completed their investigation and made a decision. As it was, I knew I was in no fit state to get behind the wheel for a good 6 months afterwards, so didn't attempt it.

As you are no doubt aware, there is no shortage of incidents when elderly drivers have caused quite serious accidents (not to mention fatal ones) because they're still driving when they shouldn't be. I do understand the need to retain one's independence, but at what cost? I also stopped driving while I was on the morphine because I could tell that my judgement had been quite badly affected. I could never have lived with myself if I'd been responsible for injuring or killing someone just because I wanted to continue driving.

Careful_with_that_Axe

Welcome Mummyof3boys.
I'm sorry to hear the experiences you and your OH have had. It just adds to the worry and stress.
I don't have Fibro, but something similar and was turned down first time for IB. However, the second interview I had, was a fabulous doc who really helped me a lot. I think to a certain extent it's luck of the draw who you get on the day and what their quota of acceptances has been.
Your appointment on Thursday will, I'm sure, be helpful and you will certainly feel that there is someone else on your side.
Try to keep your chin up and I'm sure I spea for the others when I say that we'll help you both all we can.

bigzippy

Careful_with_that_Axe wrote: »

bz, just coz SIL2B didn't want to go to Primark, you could still have gone!
Grim *grin* for your ex finding his Mum like that. Poor chap, what an awful shock.
How nice that you're considering fostering etc. My contributions are strictly limited to small financial donations to kids Hospices and Air Ambulance and the ocassional bout of data input for Oxfam's ebay shop and helping out at CPL. I don't feel I can sign up for regular volunteering as they need a dedicated schedule and with the vagaries of health .....
I'm glad you're having a good time. I'll record Strictly and X Factor for you just in case and, if you want/need, I can stick them on a CD and post to you.
You have no idea how relieved I am that someone else has a hanner type thingie in the car. I did feel I was just being weird with that!

Ethically and morally I then felt guilty. It might wear off by the next time I'm in a big town/city!
It was grim for ex, and for me tbh cos I still went to check for a pulse etc and coax him through his shock to ring the EM services etc.
We've thought about fostering dogs for a while after we're married, if the current dogs stay with MIL2B. Might be the way to go...?
We did have a good time in Derby, thanks We went for lunch/brunch/food (;)) I made it home in time for the very end of x factor and the results show. Missed Strictly. Might have a mooch on t'internet...?
Hehehehe @ hammer "hanner" I *know* I'm being weird with it

Was gonna write more but getting mithered by OH so gonna shoot off and catch up later or tomorrow. :wave:

mummyof3boys_2

Careful_with_that_Axe wrote: »

Welcome Mummyof3boys.
I'm sorry to hear the experiences you and your OH have had. It just adds to the worry and stress.
I don't have Fibro, but something similar and was turned down first time for IB. However, the second interview I had, was a fabulous doc who really helped me a lot. I think to a certain extent it's luck of the draw who you get on the day and what their quota of acceptances has been.
Your appointment on Thursday will, I'm sure, be helpful and you will certainly feel that there is someone else on your side.
Try to keep your chin up and I'm sure I spea for the others when I say that we'll help you both all we can.

Thankyou for your kind words:p .

The stress over the last few days has been phenomenal my husband isnt sleeping well because of the fibro as it is and all the worry has not been helping, his symptoms have progressively gotten worse!!

From what i can gather the Doctor who did his medical assesment for IB certainly did not have much experience of Fibro and certainly has not helped our case. I think the main problem is that because he couldnt see any outward signs of a disability he has written my husband off and i certainly dont think he listened to my husband explaining the pain he goes through each day and the struggle he has to do every day tasks without wiping himself out.

Hopefully the CAB will be able to help us and we can have a relativley stress free christmas for the sake of our children.

purplecatlover

is everyone having a nice lie in this morning? hope your all ok after the incidents...seems to have been a few days of shocking, scary things or bad news.

mummy good luck with cab.

elderly drivers, there really should be an upper age limit for driving, or some better way of regulating them.

Unity

Quick before teacher notices . My course tutor sent me these in lieu of a Christmas card - so I'm doing the same to you, especially as I think we could all do with a laugh - it helps with fibro and the associated depression.

http://justicefornone.com/article.php/2006120621585644

http://www.icq.com/greetings/cards/66/

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=i6_FnUL3B4Q

Love,
Unity