Fibromyalgia

bigzippy

Ok... so, I've found out how to post pics now (by found out I mean CwtA told me )... so if you really wanna see what some of my paintings are like (the pics are pretty poor in some instances I'm afraid ) then I can show you... either on here or in PMs if teacher's gonna come out again...

General consensus required people.

(I also make/made jewellry etc so if you're all reeeeally nosey... )

somebody_else

notlongnow wrote: »

She doesnt have much money but 'gets by' but she says she isnt interested in the money she could claim but she would find a blue parking permit extremely useful as she has a lot of hospital appointments for other problems.

The Blue Badge is a seperate issue - although a lot of people seem to think the Blue Badge and the DLA go together.

As bigzippy said, you apply for that through your local council, it's a very simple form and will take 6 - 8 weeks to come through.

You do not need to be in receipt of DLA in order to get a blue badge (although there is a question about DLA on the form, because if you are in receipt of the Higher Rate Mobility, then the badge is awarded automatically), so don't wait 'til you've heard about the DLA claim before applying for the badge.

You can, however, use the fact that you've got a blue badge as further evidence of your requirement for DLA.

Whatever you do, don't delay putting in the applications for both. If the badge comes through before the DLA claim is decided, then you can phone the DWP and add that information to your claim. If the DLA comes through before the badge (unlikely, but I suppose anything is possible), then you can phone the council up and inform them.

Unity

poohbear59 wrote: »

I have TMJ disorder. Have always had it as far as I can remember. DH sometimes has to ask what the noise is when we are watching TV too as I am 'clicking' it to try to make it more comfortable.

I gave up eating French bread because of the noise my jaw makes and actually it used to make it a bit painful. However I now have IBS and wheat is one of the triggers so I wouldn't be eating it anyway - still miss it though .

Unity

somebody_else wrote: »

If you don't mind me asking, did the brick attack involve a blow/injury to the head? You don't have to answer that, but I have come up with a wee theory over the years.

I know several people (myself included) who have either sustained a head/brain injury of some kind or who have (or had at some point) epilepsy - all of whom have complained of really vivid/scary dreams. Those with the head injury (apart from me, for the aneurysm was there for years before it ruptured) noticed the dreams became really memorable after the event, and those with the epilepsy found that the dreams started to settle down once their seizures were under control.

Not being a medic, this is just speculation - and now I can't remember where I was going with this, so I'll just post. It might ring bells for others.

It was indeed a half-brick to the back of the head! A boy from my class threw it, it bounced off the roof of an extended cottage and hit me on the back of the head. It knocked me unconscious and I was blinded and concussed for two days - plus nine stitches. Many years after - I had a brain scan which showed a lipoma in the the meninges which is often associated with epilepsy and possibly the reason the neuro advised me to give up driving (which was my passion Formula Ford 1600 racing days included ) although I have not to my knowledge had a seizure. I also have an abnormality in the hypothalamus which the medics say could account for the odd way I metabolise meds.

Prior to this I used to sleep like the proverbial log, it was like flicking a switch - total peace until the next morning.

Unity

notlongnow wrote: »

Hi, my mum has FM and is 64 years old...65 in Feb. She doesnt claim any benefits but Im telling her she needs to look into it. She works 17hrs a week and has to drug herself up on MST before she goes.

Some days are ok for her but majority are rubbish. She struggles to get from the living room to kitchen.

Because she is 65 soon is it worth her waiting until she is 65 and apply for attendence allowance?

She doesnt have much money but 'gets by' but she says she isnt interested in the money she could claim but she would find a blue parking permit extremely useful as she has a lot of hospital appointments for other problems.

She has never ever claimed a penny in her life and always worked one or two jobs so ivwe told her it s her time.

Should I wait until february until she is 65?
Thanks.

p.s. What are the known causes of FM?? if there are any. My mums problems seemed to start after she broke her foot and was mis-diagnosed in a+e and when it was discovered, her foot had healed awkwardly and they left it that way.

could head injury cause it?? Around the same time as her foot injury my mum also had an accident at work where she fell on the icy carpark. That time the hospital let her DRIVE home with a 3 inch gash at the back of her head oozing blood down her back and she was so spaced out with concussion she couldnt remember my name!!

Hi,

DON'T WAIT!!!! I totally agree with S/E and Bigzippy, you need to get a claim in for DLA immediately, but please get the advice of a Welfare Rights Worker or CAB advisor in filling it in, as there are hidden pitfalls. If your mum is refused at first and a lot of people seem to be:rolleyes:, ask for a review, submit an appeal and if necessary go to tribunal. It is very daunting - but a necessary evil. Even if all else fails and she hasn't hit the cut-off age of 65, re-apply. My DH used to work for 'THEM' and reckons they aren't in the business of being fair - they are in the business of saving whichever govt. is in power - MONEY. I may get shot down in flames for this, but it seems remarkable that someone can be seen by DSS visiting GP, refused DLA totally - but win the highest rate of both mobility and care at tribunal - there is a rabbit away somewhere.

Another point is that if she applies and gets DLA, it may well help her situation with Attendance Allowance.

As to the Blue Badge, it is supposed to be a separate issue, however some local councils will not award one without being in receipt of DLA. I ran into this problem some years ago as when I initially got my BB it was in 1979 some twenty-odd years before I claimed DLA. When it came up for renewal, they tried to say that I couldn't keep it because I wasn't getting DLA and I had a bit of a wrangle as I originally got it because of a friendly consultant who suggested I apply and wrote a supporting letter.

There used to be a 54 page document on filling in DLA forms on the BHAS.co.uk site, but I think it was too helpful as it's no longer there:rolleyes:. However I did download it at one stage for a friend so I will check the main PC (when I remember due to the brainfog) and see if it is still there. If it is, I'll PM you and see about getting it to you, if you would like it?

Best of luck to you and your mum - I hope she is successful.

Careful_with_that_Axe

Morning (just)

I had to say something on here as the post count is 666 :eek:
Don't have much to say at the moment though. Not a great night. Bad dreams that woke me almost every hour then my brain started going into overdrive "worry" mode.
But I want to try to exert myself today to see if I can get some better quality sleep tonight.
Unity, if you do have that doc, I would love to see it please? I have yet to apply for DLA as I find the form too daunting. I've picked up the form any number of times and started filling it in, but then left it as it's so awful.


This is the device for "cleaning" that I meant
Later my lovelies
x
p.s. you know I want to see your piccies BZ

yellowrock

Hi Bigzippy

Would love to see your pictures!:T

veryunsure

Hi, I have had it suggested that I may have fibro - thingy. (by a doctor). My GP said maybe, maybe not, there is not test or treatment, is this true? I do have spinal problems (lower back and neck) but I seem to get other symptons too, like scalding hands, aches and pains, and oh so tired. I must admit I have seen the size of this thread and haven't the energy to page though it all so apologies if this has been asked and answered before.

purplecatlover

the bhas dla guide, i didnt realise it had been taken down but it was out of date as they didnt update it when the new style forms came out. i used that guide for my first dla claim, and was honest, and got awarded dla with no medical, and no appeal etc.....i really wish i knew what my doctor had said about me lol. that scared the !!!! out of me.

benefits and work have an excellent guide but unfortunately you have to be a member to access it and there is a charge. however i have had so much help form the information on their website, that i think it was well worth the money, so much so that i extended my membership for another year even though i wont need the dla guides again for a while. they are very up to date, and keep abreast of the news re the benefits they deal with.

the guide on there made the form appear a lot less awful this time time round (first one i have had to do since my very first claim as i had someone else to do them for a few years). they didnt contact my doctors this time, just renewed it ....which again makes me want to know what has been said about me in the past, and did they use old medical evidence that is still relevant or what?

just take the forms a question or part of a question at a time. it took me a good 4months to get mine completed this time, but i wasnt in any hurry as they send the renewal forms out 6months before your current award ends.

poohbear59

What an interesting lot of posts, thank you!

I got myself a new laptop about two weeks ago and since then my hands and wrists have been really painful, more than usual. Does anyone have any idea on how to sit with a laptop on my lap and not make my hands and wrist so much worse?
somebodyelse, My first head injury was when I was 3 years old when I fell out of an upstairs window and landed on my head!! No hope for me then!

I have always had nightmares/night terrors, earliest I remember was when I was about four years old. My family had no sympathy when I was young. DH was a bit freaked out about it to start with but after 24 years married he has got used to it to a certain extent. I have never thought to mention it to a doctor. Re, the epilepsy, a consultant I saw a few years ago decided not to test me as he was sure he would get a positive diagnosis and didn't want me to lose my driving licence. I don't drive much now anyway.