DWP " Medical " Assesment :(

rbradley89

Hello Everyone,

I have been claiming Employment Support Allowance since April 24th and I got a letter on the weekend saying I need to attend my local Job Centre for a “ Medical “ I walked over to my local phone box and called them to set the appointment up.

I will go in to some detail to why am I claiming ESA.

Back in February I reported something that happened to me when I was 6 (now 20), I was sexually abused by my step dad and I felt that I had to report it because of something that has happened when my nice and nephew were around at his house, it was to protect them.

I have now had to of relived what happened to me to the police and my GP and its having a big effect on my mental health, I am now on anti-depressants and propranolol, and the worse bit has not even started yet (Is due in court very soon) and that's going to be a very stressful time.

Many a time I have contemplated ending my life because of this.

I am now scared that I am going to fail this “ Medical “ and be forced to sign back on JSA, I am worrying that I will be unable to get my point across.

The Medical is on the 19th of this month, does any one have any advice for me ? It would be greatly appreciated.

matt2222

Hello

Sorry to hear about your troubles and I hope you have people to
help and support you and to go with you for this medical
If possible I would write down everything you would want to
say and take it with you so you can refer to it
or even give it to the person carrying out the medical as soon as you go in before you are asked to touch your toes etc!! I don't know how much information
they may have about you before you attend.I am sure they will be
understanding and wish you all the best

matt2222

Forgot to mention about your medical being on the 19th of this month
which is a Saturday.Are they really doing medicals at the weekends.
Wow they must really be wanting to get through them.

rbradley89

Thanks for the replys both of you.

I am currently in a situation where I have zero support, I was supposed to go see the " lets talk " well being counsellor today but I could not make it due to having no transport and it !!!!ing it down.

I thought it was odd too being on a Saturday, its at 1pm but I am not sure if I am going to be able to function properly due to being on 50mg of amitriptyline, it makes me sleep for a long time.

Can I ring them back and ask them for a later time ?

sunnyone

rbradley89 wrote: »

Thanks for the replys both of you.

I am currently in a situation where I have zero support, I was supposed to go see the " lets talk " well being counsellor today but I could not make it due to having no transport and it !!!!ing it down.

I thought it was odd too being on a Saturday, its at 1pm but I am not sure if I am going to be able to function properly due to being on 50mg of amitriptyline, it makes me sleep for a long time.

Can I ring them back and ask them for a later time ?

Amitriptaline is used for nerve pain now, your dosage is for nerve pain, not as an anti deppressant and it is normally taken as one dose later in the day and it shouldnt affect your ability to go to a medical at all during the day at all.

Have you had CBT?

I did and it changed my life, my PTSD is now adjustment disorder.

[Deleted User]

sunnyone wrote: »

Amitriptaline is used for nerve pain now, your dosage is for nerve pain, not as an anti deppressant and it is normally taken as one dose later in the day and it shouldnt affect your ability to go to a medical at all during the day at all.

Have you had CBT?

I did and it changed my life, my PTSD is now adjustment disorder.

sorry to contradict you but amatriptaline is still used as an anti-depressent,and a 50mg dose can believe me make you tired,i take 50mg am and 75 mg pm and i can sleep for england.
the effects would also be more pronounced in the early stages of taking it.
Back to the OP and yes its not unusual for medicals to be done on a saturday but if you tele them and explain why an appointment at 1pm might not be a good idea for you they may change the appt for you.
Im genuinely sorry for your problems and i hope the ordeal is soon over,please do try and see a counsellor it will help to talk to someone who doesnt know you. And im sure if you had concerns for other family members you have 100% done the right thing,please keep telling yourself that.
If you have no support from friends/family you will always find someone on here to talk to if it helps.
good luck
John

divastrop

Is it possible for you to get an appointment at the CAB before your medical? Or even go to your local MIND and ask to speak to somebody? They often have people who can advise you or even go with you to the medical. Also, try googling ESA mental health descriptors so you have an idea what kind of things they are going to be asking you about, it helps to be prepared in my experience.

I took amitriptaline once. I took a small dose( 10 or 20mg If I remember correctly) at teatime and slept for the whole of the next day. Different meds affect people in different ways.

dmg24

divastrop wrote: »

Is it possible for you to get an appointment at the CAB before your medical? Or even go to your local MIND and ask to speak to somebody? They often have people who can advise you or even go with you to the medical. Also, try googling ESA mental health descriptors so you have an idea what kind of things they are going to be asking you about, it helps to be prepared in my experience.

I took amitriptaline once. I took a small dose( 10 or 20mg If I remember correctly) at teatime and slept for the whole of the next day. Different meds affect people in different ways.

You should not need someone to advise you before the medical. You just need to give full and honest answers.

rbradley89

Thanks for the replys everyone, its greatly appreciated.

I am needing to go see my GP sometime this week as I feel the amitriptaline is not helping with my depression so I am most likely going to be put on a higher dose.

I will go see my local CAB tomorrow at some point to discuss this.

Worse case scenario I fail this " assesment " what do I do then as my Dr says I wont be fit for work for quite a while, does it mean going on JSA?

divastrop

Sorry if I gave wrong advice, I have always been advised to take somebody with me but that was for incapacity medicals.

rbradley89

I think its the same thing.