ESA Medical Assessment Blues...

Debt_Tired

I have an ESA medical assessment a week next Friday (August 21st). I’ve been depressed for a number of years now and last May I tried to kill myself (couldn't even get that right). I can’t go into too many details because some of them are unique and will reveal my ID.

I can’t sleep, can’t concentrate, while I constantly worry about things (including my debts). I’m forgetful (which is becoming more frequent, I think) and frightful about things. What I want and what I’ll get are two different things. I want to go through with my DRO, which I have had to put off again and again, but I know I will fail my ESA medical assessment and will be forced back onto JSA sooner rather than later.

I’m getting no help from the NHS. The last time I saw a specialist (CPN) she spent more time playing with her hair than in helping me. I’ve had my last appointment cancelled. Last month another NHS professional telephoned me to make an appointment at a certain medical centre in town. I kept my appointment – only to be told that they (a) didn’t know who I was and (b) they had no record of any appointment made by another from their office. I was asked if I had been drinking or had taken drugs, which I thought was highly offensive (I neither drink nor do drugs). I just feel that I’m on my own. I have refused all medication on the grounds that I took 143 tablets in one go, when I was last prescribed them. I don’t want to tempt fate.

Remploy are a joke while A4E are also waiting in the wings – those who can teach, those who can’t run Job Clubs (I have enough problems and pens, thank you very much).

My understanding with the ESA medical assessment is that those with depression are thrown back into the JSA pit. That said the number on JSA in my area has doubled and you only get three minutes when you sign on.

What I want/wanted was to stay on ESA for a year (to coincide with my DRO), while I can sort out other issues pertaining to my well-being.

Can anyone advise on what I should expect if I fail my medical? I wish I hadn’t failed when I took those bloody tablets (enough to kill an elephant – yer right!!!). Things haven’t improved, but then again – with my lucky I’m not surprised I failed.

I wish I was more :A than

Debt Tired [and fed up...]

astonsmummy

Sorry I have no benefits advice, but regarding the tablets, you could possibly ask for 7 day prescription?

Bethankim

Hi sorry things are so tough, I have severe depression and have now got ESA after passing my medical, i did fail it the first time but after an appeal was reenstated.

I found the second time having my partner with me, he encouraged me to tell how bad it really is on a bad day. if you dont have a partner do you have a family memeber or friend who knows you well and can support you.

be very honest about your depression and talk about yur worst days not your better days. they need to know how bad it is for you.

on another note - in terms of your care do you have a local support group or mind in your area? you can find them via a google search i am so glad im in touch with mond they have been brilliant and have a helpline and can help with benefits etc.

boo666

adding to this it took me nearly 20 years to tell the doctor something was wrong, i was told by a friend to write things down and give it to my doctor, it did work and she new exactly were i was coming from and what i meant.
maybe write a daily diary between now and your appointment and keep writing just incase they refuse.

cattie

Debt_Tired wrote: »

I have refused all medication on the grounds that I took 143 tablets in one go, when I was last prescribed them. I don’t want to tempt fate.

You have choices here. You can either collect small doses of medication from your local pharmacy if you don't want to have too many meds in the house, or you can see if you can get them every few days from the local community mental health team.

The other option is to be prescribed medication that tends not to be fatal or dreadfully harmful in overdose. It's something that is now prescribed for me as I've attempted od's in the past.

System

You say you're not getting any help from the NHS, have you considered changing doctors/CPNs/etc?

Also are you getting any other help such as counselling/CBT/etc?

As others have said there may be ways around the meds issue, i know a fair few people on 7 day scripts (personally i have to give all of mine to my bf as i can't be trusted with them...)

As fas as the ESA medical goes, i know its easier said than done but try not to make yourself feel worse by worrying too much about it. IF you did fail the medical you are well within your rights to appeal ( alot of people are doing this) and if you had to take it to tribunral. Its a new benefit which they really haven't thought through very well, especially in regards to those with MH problems. If anything i'd see you failing the medical test as THEIR failing not you.

If you can, take someone with you. Whether it be a friend, or your CPN. And maybe do as boo666 says and keep a diary of how you are feeling.

lellie

I'm also going through the ESA process and awaiting my medical and like you suffer from MH problems (Bipolar Disorder).

I think we both need to be honest about how bad things are. It is very easy to underplay things, but if you are honest about the suicidal ideation and other aspects of your depression they should see that you are too unwell to work. I am fairly confident I will pass my medical, but I do know it won't be easy.

I suspect you are being negative about your chances, another symptom of your depression no doubt. I too can be like that. Always thinking the worst. Try not to though and see what happens. If you do fail, you can always reassess what to do then and you always have the option to appeal. I've been taught in therapy that we have to try and live in the moment and not always worry about the future and things we cannot change.

Others are right in suggesting options for medication. An overdose is not a reason to stop taking medication. If anything it is indicative that you need to find the right medication and need treatment for your condition. I too attempted suicide earlier this year (Feb) and am still on weekly prescriptions. My partner keeps any other medication in the house locked up away from me. I'm also on medication that wouldn't be harmful in large doses. When I was in hospital I was on a tricyclic AD (amitriptyline) but was switched from that as it was regarded as too risky in overdose (There's the slight side issue in that it has been decided that I can't take any antidepressants as they only make things worse in many Bipolar cases, but the initial decision was based on overdose risk). I am also never left alone, my partner always around to watch an eye over me. All of this is to try and keep me safe and make it as difficult as possible for me to attempt again.

I do understand what it feels like. Especially the feelings of failure, made all too real from the failure even to kill yourself.

I hope you are getting some support. I know how bad NHS Mental Health services are. My CMHT worker is a social worker, not a CPN and has no mental health knowledge at all. If your CPN is no use though you are within your right to ask for someone else.

davethorp

I have depression also and have been on a cycle of IB, JSA, IS, JSA and now ESA (when it finally get processed). Have failed 2 medicals also with the last one the doctors report reading like I was at a totally different examination as he ignored everything we said (we plan on recording the next medical just in case)

Whatever happens hope things go ok for you especially since I had a very bad relapse last week and was tearful, suicidal and self harming again

spikeysoul

If you want to record the medical you will have to do it in secret - if they know you have to have professional sound recording equiptment and a sound engineer to run it. Otherwise they will refuse you the medical and say you didn't co-operate, then that means they can dismiss your claim.

If you do record in secret I believe you will only ever be able to use a transcript - and it would be used !!! if it was from your memory. So basically, in secret just to help you remember what is said exactly rather than as evidence I'm afraid.