atos medical fear

boobless

hi all

i have been called for my esa medical at the end of this week.

can anyone please tell me if this is a physical exam ? since my mastecomy i have developed an intense (i know irrational) fear of being touched in the area and i could no more undress my top half in front of a stranger than strip naked in the street. i cannot even bear to look at myself.

the dread really is making me quite ill and full of panic.

dmg24

It really depends on what the condition that you are claiming for is, and how it affects your ability to work. I imagine there are few conditions that would require you to undress your top half completely, but they may ask you to remove your top if they need to check anything muscular in that area?

If your condition may require you to remove clothing, perhaps you could wear a vest, so that they can still check your arm/ shoulder muscles, but without causing you distress?

needahome_2

dmg24 wrote: »

It really depends on what the condition that you are claiming for is, and how it affects your ability to work. I imagine there are few conditions that would require you to undress your top half completely, but they may ask you to remove your top if they need to check anything muscular in that area?

If your condition may require you to remove clothing, perhaps you could wear a vest, so that they can still check your arm/ shoulder muscles, but without causing you distress?

make sure it is a female doctor, wether it is a physical or non physical examination they have to provide a doctor of the same sex

boobless

thank you for your replies

I think a vest is a good idea, i had breast cancer that had embedded the chest wall which was removed very deeply along with the muscle associated, also lymph glands were removed and muscle and tissue from back of chest wall was used to replace the front, this left me with severe odeama and nerve damage, i have no use of my upper right side and i just cant bear for anyone to see the state of the scarring etc.

Auzelia

dont have anything to add really just want to say well dont for beating the disease!

Emmzi

I would call before you go and ask what it entails. Some medicals are just a questionairre and blowing into a tube etc. Some are more detailed. Might be worth knowing so you can prepare either way.

boobless

just thought i would update everyone

I had my medical assessment for esa today and i need not have worried about the examination itself, the doc said there was no need for anyvisual for his purposes, my description and certificate was enough. anyway have read through all what is going to happen, i.e watching the way i arrive and walking, and being able to sit in a chair without arms and the tests take about 70 minutes ?????

well, i arrived at 1.50pm, went into the room at exactly 2pm, the doctor asked about my condition etc, what job did i do before, asked me questions about my operation and what treatments i had, then done a few movement tests,lean over, bend knees, stretch up etc - then said ok i will send report off to dwp and they may contact your gp/oncologist - goodbye - i came out at 2.25pm
He didnt ask about future jobs or what i thought i could do etc

now i am worried sick that he thinks i am kidding and i will not get any esa.

any views or comments most welcome

ladylumps45

hi boobless:o
please dont worry too much and make yourself ill.your illness/disability is not something a doctor could think you are faking or kidding.hopefully the wait wont be too long for you before you hear.best of luck and keep us posted.x

NASA_2

The doctor wont ask about jobs as far as I am aware. That will be down to the DWP.

Elsas_mamma

Hi Boobless,
sorry I cannot help with the esa question.
I did want to say though, I know how you feel about your scarring etc. I have the same. I had a double mastectomy in 2005( this was my second time round!) and as yet have not felt brave enough to go for the reconstruction. I have lymphodeama in my left arm and hand, it can be very painful and does not look good at all!!

Have you spoken to anyone about how you feel? Do you have a breastcare nurse or macmillan nurse. They can arrange for some counsilling with people who know what you are going through. It might help.

The Macmillan cancer charity also have a benefit department that may be able to help you through the process. If you go to the macmillan cancer support website there is lots of help there.
Good luck, take care and try not to worry.
K

boobless

ESA wrote: »

The doctor wont ask about jobs as far as I am aware. That will be down to the DWP.

probably me being me again but i thought the medical was in 3 parts -
limited capabilty for work assessment
limited capability for work related activity assessment
work focused health related assessment

and they were all done on the same day