17 year Old with IBS

Jowo_2

Again, the focus on 'getting a grip' is at the loss of the more rounded viewpoint which is that claiming benefits is a last resort, not the first option to consider, and there is a low chance of him securing benefits for a condition that doesn't fully prevent him from employment, nor gives him signficant care or mobility needs.

The majority of people making claims for ESA to say they are too sick to work do not pass the assessment which focusses on what the claimant is able to do, not allowing them to focus solely on their limitations. Of course, he can still try but this assessment doesn't take into account how he 'feels' and his perception of barriers to employment but simply what he can or cannot do. The OP can work through the descriptors to identify those he fails or passes.

http://www.newcastle.gov.uk/core.nsf/a/wr_esadescriptorshome
http://www.newcastle.gov.uk/core.nsf/a/wr_esadescriptorslcwphysical

Again, the OP can look into applying for DLA.

But mainly, he needs to focus his energy into better diagnosis and care to improve his overall health, his college attendance and finding employment that is friendlier towards his anxieties and condition.

themull1

My ex husband was mis diagnosed with IBS for ages before they found out it was Crohns Disease, so make sure you do get a proper diagnosis, good luck, it is a horrible thing.

Indie_Kid

janninew wrote: »

I'm sure I've seen many posts from you saying people deal with and are affected by illness/disabilities differently? Just because you cope fine and manage, does not mean the OP can. Telling them to get a grip and that they are worrying about nothig is, in my opinion, unfair. He might have much worse symptons than you.

At one point, I had it quite bad. One of the first things my GP would do when I had to see him about my stomach, was check my weight.

I have had it bad - however, it's not the end of the world. It's something you do learn to live with. I've had it for just under 4 years now - yes, it was hard to deal with at first; but it's something that you do get used to living with. I wouldn't class IBS as a disability - the effects are minimal, tbh. Nothing that a few painkillers, imodium or laxatives can't help with.

he needs a sick note to claim ESA (which isn't forthcoming, his doctor wont even write a letter supporting that his IBS makes him need extra time off of college so what chance does he have of getting signed off work?).

Even then, if the OP just has IBS, they're very unlikely to even get in the WRAG.

I personally would've never dreamt asking my GP to sign me off - the only thing I remember having to ask them for was a letter stating that I had GP appointments. (couldn't get them out of 6th form - can now)

Benup

GlasweJen wrote: »

It was actually me who told the OP to get a grip.

He could have worse symptoms than Sh but at the end of the day he is looking for advice on claiming benefits when there aren't any to claim OP is under 18 (so no JSA), he is physically able to walk to a toilet and to attend to his own toilet needs (so no DLA) and he needs a sick note to claim ESA (which isn't forthcoming, his doctor wont even write a letter supporting that his IBS makes him need extra time off of college so what chance does he have of getting signed off work?).

If the OP were to drop out of college what little money he does bring into the house in terms of child benefit and child tax credits will disappear. How will his family cope then?

Thanks for the answers guys and i will be looking into alot of them!

GlasWeJen: No where have i said that my doctor will not give me a letter supporting my IBS... The lady i spoke to on the phone said that, im waiting for a call from my doctor.

SuziQ

worriedmummy wrote: »

I know how you feel exactly benup.

I too suffer from IBS pretty badly. Day in day out and even on an hourly basis, I dont know how bad it is going to be.

I have suffered this since my teenage years, (now late 30's) and will not see a doctor about it, for fear they will want me to have a colonoscopy. (I have a bad phobia with regards to medical interventions).

QUOTE]


This really worries me: if you have never had a colonoscopy then how do you know it's IBS and not something more serious? As someone who was diagnised with bowel cancer last year please can I urge you to get yourself tested? I am not particularly brave, but must have had over 30 colonoscopies over the many years I had severe Ulcerative colitis (total colitis from age 27) and I have to say they are NOTHING to worry about-the worst bit is the prep beforehand!

OP as someone who has suffered from inflammatory bowel disease nearly all my life (I had my colon removed finally last year after the discovery of cancer) I have to say that mental attitude helped me immensely. I saw a healer and tried complimentary therapies with varying success over the years. I never however let it stop me frm doing what I wanted to do: I have got o' levels and A levels, trained to be a nurse,midwife, health visitor, got married, worked full time (sometimes 2 jobs) had 3 children, did my reflexology training,trained to teach and am now doing an OU degree. People have often said to me they don't know how I did what I did on top of my illness, but my attitude is, you only get one life and you have to make the most of it. I am not saying 'get over it' but as someone who has been there, done that and got the t-shirt, only you can do it. I worked shifts where I ran to the toilet frequently, I have even had 'accidents'-and yes it was embarrasing, however you do learn to cope, whether it be through diet, drugs, healing, hypnosis,- I have tried all sorts over the years, but the biggest help was learning to control stress.

I hope you can get some help and live a productive rewarding life as you are so young and have it all ahead of you-don't let IBS define you-I have never let my health problems define me (or contain me).

Oldernotwiser

Benup wrote: »

Thanks for the answers guys and i will be looking into alot of them!

GlasWeJen: No where have i said that my doctor will not give me a letter supporting my IBS... The lady i spoke to on the phone said that, im waiting for a call from my doctor.

You did say a couple of times that you called the doctor and were told certain things. I don't see how anyone could know that you didn't actually speak to a doctor but only the receptionist.

GlasweJen

Benup wrote: »

I currently trying to get a sick note but when i phoned them they just said no basically because to many people abuse the system so they cant just give them out.

Benup wrote: »

i phoned the doctors and asked for one and was told they dont give them out because a lot of people abuse the system...

Benup wrote: »

I made a mistake i have not yet asked for a sick note, it was a medical certificate that i asked for but i didnt specifically speak to my doctor. The lady i did speak to just said that they dont give them out due to people abusing the system.

I'm sorry I didn't realise that you expected me to be psychic as well! When you said "I didn't speak to my doctor" I assumed the lady you went onto speak about was another GP or possibly, at a stretch, a nurse.

Reception staff at the doctors surgery cannot deny you a sick line as they are unable to make any sort of diagnosis at all, they aren't even qualified to triage emergency appointments! Whoever you spoke to had no right whatsoever to deny you a letter or a sick line or whatever it was you requested but then she also had no right to ask any questions at all about your medical condition, she should have politely suggested that you see a doctor and offered you an appointment with one or even a telephone consultation since you've already been treated for this condition.

To be honest I have come across some right dragons of doctors receptionists but if it is true that your doctors receptionist refused to even get a request for a letter sent through to your doctor (which would have been private btw - my GP charges £17 for a letter for uni!) then I would be making a complaint to the practice manager and to your local health board.

ETA the letters I've had from my doctor all revolve around needing time off to have heart surgery or as a result of my neurological condition, i've never had to have time off for IBS except to attend the hospital for colonoscopies.

Lou76

SuziQ wrote: »

worriedmummy wrote: »

I know how you feel exactly benup.

I too suffer from IBS pretty badly. Day in day out and even on an hourly basis, I dont know how bad it is going to be.

I have suffered this since my teenage years, (now late 30's) and will not see a doctor about it, for fear they will want me to have a colonoscopy. (I have a bad phobia with regards to medical interventions).

QUOTE]


This really worries me: if you have never had a colonoscopy then how do you know it's IBS and not something more serious? As someone who was diagnised with bowel cancer last year please can I urge you to get yourself tested? I am not particularly brave, but must have had over 30 colonoscopies over the many years I had severe Ulcerative colitis (total colitis from age 27) and I have to say they are NOTHING to worry about-the worst bit is the prep beforehand!

OP as someone who has suffered from inflammatory bowel disease nearly all my life (I had my colon removed finally last year after the discovery of cancer) I have to say that mental attitude helped me immensely. I saw a healer and tried complimentary therapies with varying success over the years. I never however let it stop me frm doing what I wanted to do: I have got o' levels and A levels, trained to be a nurse,midwife, health visitor, got married, worked full time (sometimes 2 jobs) had 3 children, did my reflexology training,trained to teach and am now doing an OU degree. People have often said to me they don't know how I did what I did on top of my illness, but my attitude is, you only get one life and you have to make the most of it. I am not saying 'get over it' but as someone who has been there, done that and got the t-shirt, only you can do it. I worked shifts where I ran to the toilet frequently, I have even had 'accidents'-and yes it was embarrasing, however you do learn to cope, whether it be through diet, drugs, healing, hypnosis,- I have tried all sorts over the years, but the biggest help was learning to control stress.

I hope you can get some help and live a productive rewarding life as you are so young and have it all ahead of you-don't let IBS define you-I have never let my health problems define me (or contain me).

Suzi, couldn't agree with you more.

When I finally decided to see the Dr regarding my 'dodgy guts' (took me 18 months or so to pluck up the courage ) he was fab.

Straight away he referred me to the local Gastro clinic [[STRIKE]Suffering[/STRIKE] Southern General, Glasgow] as, in his words "Some Drs will automatically diagnose IBS, without tests, IBS can only be diagnosed when all other avenues have been explored."

I'd been through the rigmarole of hospital tests (MRI, Lumber Puncture etc etc) to find the cause of my blackouts/muscle spasms (all came back as negative, thought to be caused by the M.E) so at the time I wasn't best pleased, I wanted a simple 'quick fix'. :rotfl:

The hospital were fab, or evil, depending on how I looked on it; endoscopy, gut hormone blood tests (??), colonoscopy - the final results, after gut hormones (ye what?) and caeliac etc was ruled out was Crohn's.

I wasn't presenting the 'classic' signs at the time; i.e weight loss, so this was probably a last resort.

If I hadn't been referred I would never have known, or had the proper medication to deal with my 'flare ups'. Worst still, I could have done myself more damage over the years than I care to think about.

People, if in doubt, please get checked out.

OP, have you been advised to take co-codomol (tends to cause constipation to "normal" people) to 'bulk things up'?

This was prescibed to me from my consultant (Dr Suzuki, Glasgow Southern General).

It doesn't solve the issue as such, but, I find, it can at least bide you extra time to get to the toilet before you have a terrible accident.

Might be worth asking your Dr about this?

devildog

OP Unfortunately GP's (in my opinion) are far to quick in labelling someones conditionsMy child's symptoms were dismissed for years despite repeated trips to the surgery(initially given half dozen tubes of gaviscon cause heartburn was diagnosed-pathetic) Other symtoms such as serious lack of growth height wise and being severly underweight also appeared to mean nothing!! However with perseverance blood tests were carried out and a quick referral to Gasterenterologist followed, lots more tests done and Crohns diagnosed. A year of treatment and child is now reasonably stable and has managed to gain 2 stone in weight
You need your GP to run some blood tests, this will show whether your inflammatory markers are raised, whether you are anaemic, deficient in anything etc.Any abnormal results should induce your Gp to refer you to a consultant.
With a proper diagnosis and treatment(might take a while to hit on the right drugs etc) a large majority of your symptoms could diminish.I know things are hard right now but they can improve-my child in final year of taking A levels and uni application in.
You need a proper diagnosis and take it from there.

dogcat_2

I too have Ulcerative Colitis...have had it for ten years. I have not been 'right' since being diagnosed. Some days I can't get off the toilet...other days...not as bad but still have to go about four or five times a day. I sympathise with anyone who has bowel disorders. They are really not nice. I also have arthritis in my wrist, knee and foot. My foot is so bad that I can hardly walk some days. My head feels dizzy most of the time. I do not drive...but I know that I would not be able to anyway...my heads all over the place. I also have raynauds disease. Bowel problems affect people differently. Only the person with the condition knows how they feel...please do not make them feel worse. Good Luck to the op.