Some advice needed

milly2k

Hi all
just a bit of advice needed please
ive had health problems for over 12 months now and have just been diagnosed with an under active thyroid and arthritis in both my hands and im struggling with working etc and ive had to drop down to 16 hours and dont know what to do. i'm a single parent my daughter is 16 at college and i dont get anything to help with that. . ive claimed tax credits but dont no how longer i am going to be able to continue working. ive worked all my life so dont no much about benefits or what i would be entitled to if the inevitable happened and i had to completly give up work so any advice would be very helpful.
thanks
milly

Oldernotwiser

milly2k wrote: »

Hi all
just a bit of advice needed please
ive had health problems for over 12 months now and have just been diagnosed with an under active thyroid and arthritis in both my hands and im struggling with working etc and ive had to drop down to 16 hours and dont know what to do. i'm a single parent my daughter is 16 at college and i dont get anything to help with that. . ive claimed tax credits but dont no how longer i am going to be able to continue working. ive worked all my life so dont no much about benefits or what i would be entitled to if the inevitable happened and i had to completly give up work so any advice would be very helpful.
thanks
milly

Surely you receive Child Benefit and Child Tax Credits?

If you've only just been diagnosed and started treatment, I wouldn't worry about leaving work just yet. Once the treatments start to take effect you should be able to cope much better.

milly2k

hi yes i said im claiming tax credits also the treatment for the thyroid is starting very slowly to work and the treatments hit and miss as the dose of thyroxin has to be altered every few months as your body becomes used to it. its the rheumatoid arthritis in my hands that is the proplem as it is only going to get worse.

midnight_express

If you were unable to work beacause of illness you could claim ESA. It is worth remembering that your income from benefits will drop dramatically once your child leaves education.

Oldernotwiser

milly2k wrote: »

hi yes i said im claiming tax credits also the treatment for the thyroid is starting very slowly to work and the treatments hit and miss as the dose of thyroxin has to be altered every few months as your body becomes used to it. its the rheumatoid arthritis in my hands that is the proplem as it is only going to get worse.

Sorry but you did say that you receive nothing for your daughter still being in education, which you do. As has been said, you'll lose this when your daughter leaves non advanced FE and will find yourself living on ESA (if you qualify) and whatever your daughter can contribute to the household if you've given up work.

There have been enormous advantages in the treatment of RA so you really should be more optimistic about your treatment options, although I know it's hard when you're just starting. Have a look at the NRAS site for information and support.

http://www.nras.org.uk/

Fiver29

I have also just been diagnosed with arthritis in my hands and elbows, which is made worse by not being able to take anti-inflammatory painkillers because of my colitis. But I would say that by far the worse thing you could do is stop working, keeping your joints moving is the best thing in the long run, because once you stop they'll deteriorate at a rate of knots (as happened with my knees due to bad advice from the GP).

McKneff

It will settle down eventually, I promise, I was diagnosed with RA 25 years ago, it took a long time with medication to get it to a stge where it was manageable, I was off work for 5 months, the worst 5 months of my life, RA in every single joint in my body, I literally wanted to die, if I hadnt had kids I would have done, but medication was eventually found that did the trick. I havent had any medication for 10 years now, I have the odd flare up if I over do it, scrubbing potatoes leaves me in agony for a day, so I dont do it. I went on to work full time for 23 years. Mental motivation has a lot to do with it also. You'll find things around the house that helps, cold water, hot water,
It will find its own level eventually. I did think, like you that I would never work again and I was stuck with the pain for the rest of my life and a wheelchair beckoned.

If one lot of medication doesnt work, ask your doctor if you can try another. I had gold injections for a number of years on a monthly basis and cortisone injections when things were really bad. So dont despair.

Good luck

sleepless_saver

If your income's low enough you might be entitled to housing benefit if you're renting, and council tax benefit. Your local council are the ones to contact.

krisskross

milly2k wrote: »

its the rheumatoid arthritis in my hands that is the proplem as it is only going to get worse.

Have you tried all the available treatments? My husband has had very good results with the Anti-TNF drugs plus the occasional steroid infusion if he has a flare-up. His RA is very well controlled now for the 1st time in 10 years.

McKneff

It doesnt automatically mean the RA in your hands are going to get worse, my hands and fingers are fine now.

Wrists, well i have to go steady, spread any load Im carrying and use arms totally rather than just carry a shopping bag on one hand.

You learn to adapt, keep moving, even when your wtching the TV, flex your fingers for a while.