Is this one of the descriptors for ESA?

jasonwatkins

Neither would I because epilepsy is, obviously, a far more serious condition that shouldn't be made light of.

It doesn't mean that "loss of consciousness" isn't applicable in both cases though.

amus

jasonwatkins wrote: »

I'm aware of this ...



Excessive daytime sleepiness is a known symptom of OSA.



http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21531244

I've lost count of the number of times I've missed my stop on the bus because i've fallen asleep on the way home. I also regularly lose most of the the afternoon due to being unable to stay awake.

Yes, the apnea is, by definition, a sleep disorder. But that does not mean it doesn't have directly related consequences during the day.

So you're not loosing conciousness, you are falling asleep. The descriptor relates to an involountary loss of conciousness.

jasonwatkins

amus wrote: »

So you're not loosing conciousness, you are falling asleep. The descriptor relates to an involountary loss of conciousness.

Falling asleep is losing consciousness.

The medical definition of sleep is quite clear about this.

amus

jasonwatkins wrote: »

Falling asleep is losing consciousness.

The medical definition of sleep is quite clear about this.

It's not however, uncontrollable, hence you not fitting into the descriptor. I recognise that sleep apnoea may well cause tiredness during the daytime, but this does not equate to an uncontrollable loss of conciousness, which is why you have not been awarded any points.

I have never seen anybody score points for this descriptor for anything other than blackouts, fits or seizures.

martin57

outtawork wrote: »

i am recently diagnosed with sleep apnoea & have been given a CPAP machine but I can't actually sleep with it on. The hospital want me to try using it in the afternoons when I nap to get used to it. I find it very claustraphobic.Any advice?

Using a CPAP is like trying to sleep all geared up like a deep sea diver, I have tried it too, and only solution in the end was to have surgery have tonils and that v thing at the back of your throat out, has helped a lot with the sleep apnoea cut it down by at least 70% I would think, but its very painful for a few weeks afterwards, depends on your sleep apnoea type as a lot of people have to get the sinues done as well.

martin57

GlasweJen

You know when your tired and going to fall asleep so your altered conciousness doesn't meet the DLA requirement for altered conciousness without warning.

tamiami

I don't understand why someone would want to try and claim a benefit due this. My husband has epilepsy and works 40 plus hours a week and has had 2 days off sick this year with flu!! He is on medication and tries to lead as normal a life as he can. Incidentally, when he went for his last brain scan and annual check up, his consultant was telling him how there are so many people trying to claim they have epilepsy to get out of work and claim benefits - but apparently the doctors are aware of who they are as soon as they sit down and can spot them a mile away, lol!!

Sixer

tamiami wrote: »

I don't understand why someone would want to try and claim a benefit due this. My husband has epilepsy and works 40 plus hours a week and has had 2 days off sick this year with flu!! He is on medication and tries to lead as normal a life as he can. Incidentally, when he went for his last brain scan and annual check up, his consultant was telling him how there are so many people trying to claim they have epilepsy to get out of work and claim benefits - but apparently the doctors are aware of who they are as soon as they sit down and can spot them a mile away, lol!!

This is why benefit entitlement isn't based on a diagnosis alone. I had a boyfriend with epilepsy who also held down a demanding job perfectly well - but his condition was controlled pretty well with medication and he really only had 3-4 seizures a year (although when he did have them, they were whoppers).

But there were people at his clinic for whom medication was pretty ineffective and who were seizing two or three times a week with no real warning. Holding down a full-time job would have been nigh on impossible for them.

tamiami

Yes I agree totally, but those who have many seizures a week will have brain scans and they can monitor them and try to see what is causing them - but the doctors know that they have seizures. My hubbie has had seizures during scans as they try to trigger one to try to find the cause of them. But according to his consultant there are quite a few trying to fool the system by pretending they have seizures and they think the doctors can't see through it!!

jasonwatkins

Ok, I'm not about to get involved in a game of "my one's worse than your one". I've claimed IB for Sleep Apnea and I feel completely justified in doing so and I'm not about to apologise for that to anyone. And it's for that reason that I'm also going to appeal as well.

If, as I expect, the appeal is rejected then I'll accept the decision and get on with my life.