ESA wca and bronchitis.

needmorehelp

Hello folks,

I am on contribution based incapacity and just wondering does the ESA wca medical take into consideration the fact that a person can suffer from acute bronchitis?

As a result of this can I have violent coughing spasms on a regular basis, and get infected very often which would require a lot of time off work.

An employer would probably find it difficult to employ me along other people because of the constant coughing (and need to get rid of chest mucus) and would probably worry about me passing it along to others in the workforce.

Is there any descripters in the ESA wca that would take these factors into consideration, or could be even used in a appeal?

Thanks for your kind help.

Muttleythefrog

ESA main phase has two groups. The descriptors for WRAG are in http://www.tameside.gov.uk/esa/wca, for Support Gp in http://www.tameside.gov.uk/esa/lcwra.
The DWP handbook for the WCA is http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/wca-handbook.pdf which also describes some special circumstances that can apply like regarding pregnancy or terminal illness or being a risk to self/others (refer page 33).

But you probably already have looked at similar already. At face value I'm struggling to see descriptors that may be applicable... but you may be best to judge for yourself. If no joy, might be worth trying to seek out British based groups on the internet regarding bronchitis sufferers.. maybe they discuss sickness benefits from a suitable point of view.

Oldernotwiser

From the sounds of it you have chronic bronchitis (COPD) rather than acute bronchitis.

http://www.axappphealthcare.co.uk/personal/medical-health-centres/fact-sheet/bronchitis

The fact that employers may not be keen to employ you is irrelevant to your ability to claim ESA, where your capability of working is what's important.

rogerblack

Are the spasms brought on by any particular activity?

If so, then that activity may be counted as not being able to be performed.

I assume you don't lose control of your bowels or bladder during these fits?

Do these coughing fits mean you rarely, or never go out?

The only other option would be the general 'if the claimant was found fit for x there would be a severe risk to any persons health' - which is probably a stretch.

needmorehelp

Thanks for replies. I don't think I suffer from COPD, as most of the time its the cold wet weather or going out in that that brings on an infection. For example I have had 3 infections in last 3 mths or so, loads of mucus of different colours (some streaks of blood) and unable to sleep for most of the night due to violent coughing fits which happen during the day as well.

Funny thing is even with these symptoms the doctor can examine my chest and tell me it seems quite clear, just got an x-ray done (no results as yet) its just something I have suffered from childhood with.

probably the fact that I have a depression deforminity in my chest Pectus excavatum doesn't help
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pectus_excavatum

but it does seem that there are no descriptors in the WCA that apply to me.

Thanks a lot though for your advice

Oldernotwiser

needmorehelp wrote: »

Thanks for replies. I don't think I suffer from COPD, as most of the time its the cold wet weather or going out in that that brings on an infection. For example I have had 3 infections in last 3 mths or so, loads of mucus of different colours (some streaks of blood) and unable to sleep for most of the night due to violent coughing fits which happen during the day as well.

Funny thing is even with these symptoms the doctor can examine my chest and tell me it seems quite clear, just got an x-ray done (no results as yet) its just something I have suffered from childhood with.

probably the fact that I have a depression deforminity in my chest Pectus excavatum doesn't help
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pectus_excavatum

but it does seem that there are no descriptors in the WCA that apply to me.

Thanks a lot though for your advice

You don't get an infection from going out in the cold!

Have you ever had spirometry?

http://www.patient.co.uk/health/Spirometry.htm

rotoguys

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

You don't get an infection from going out in the cold!

Have you ever had spirometry?

http://www.patient.co.uk/health/Spirometry.htm

What a very interesting thread.

I must have more wrong with me than I thought!!!

The more I read the postings and threads on this forum, the more certain I am that there is very little going in my favour healthwise. I seem to have a hell of a lot more wrong with me than is right.

Yes have used one, yes have to have a 'puffer' from the GP every winter and have to take antibiotics and have done since 1993.

I never thought that it would be relevant to either my ESA claim of DLA claim.

I have never mentioned it on any claim I have made.
Do you consider yourself disabled asks the ATOS assessor - oh yes, definitely, I spend up to three months every year at winter time coughing my guts up. It has been diagnosed as bronchial pneumonia many times and it gets cleared up eventually.

That and Brittle diabetes mellitus which I suffer from also are a walk in the park if that is all that is wrong with me.

Seriously, I wouldn't have the nerve to say that any or both makes me disabled and would allow me to claim a benefit. Consequently neither has ever been mentioned on the ESA50 or the DLA1 forms

midnight_express

What is Brittle diabetes ? Just curious. I am diabetic and I have never heard of it.

krisskross

midnight_express wrote: »

What is Brittle diabetes ? Just curious. I am diabetic and I have never heard of it.

Brittle diabetes would be very difficult to control diabetes with swings from very high to very low.

Would think only type 1 diabetics would have this.

DorsetGirl_2

rotoguys wrote: »

What a very interesting thread.

I must have more wrong with me than I thought!!!

The more I read the postings and threads on this forum, the more certain I am that there is very little going in my favour healthwise. I seem to have a hell of a lot more wrong with me than is right.

Yes have used one, yes have to have a 'puffer' from the GP every winter and have to take antibiotics and have done since 1993.

I never thought that it would be relevant to either my ESA claim of DLA claim.

I have never mentioned it on any claim I have made.
Do you consider yourself disabled asks the ATOS assessor - oh yes, definitely, I spend up to three months every year at winter time coughing my guts up. It has been diagnosed as bronchial pneumonia many times and it gets cleared up eventually.

That and Brittle diabetes mellitus which I suffer from also are a walk in the park if that is all that is wrong with me.

Seriously, I wouldn't have the nerve to say that any or both makes me disabled and would allow me to claim a benefit. Consequently neither has ever been mentioned on the ESA50 or the DLA1 forms

But you must have read a lot of threads in all your time here Andy??

rotoguys

midnight_express wrote: »

What is Brittle diabetes ? Just curious. I am diabetic and I have never heard of it.

Well if you don't know what it is you don't suffer from it. If you did, you would know that the consequences of it make Type 1 and 2 look like picnic.


Brittle diabetes, also called labile diabetes, is a term used to describe uncontrolled type 1 diabetes. People with brittle diabetes frequently experience large swings in blood sugar (glucose) levels. These cause either hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) or hyperglycemia (high blood sugar), which is more common and sometimes extreme.

Brittle diabetes can be caused by gastrointestinal absorption problems, including delayed stomach emptying (gastroperesis), drug interactions, problems with insulin absorption, or hormonal malfunction.

People who have severely low blood sugar levels may also have problems with their thyroid (hypothyroidism) and adrenal glands (adrenal insufficiency). Treatment of these conditions often leads to the resolution of brittle diabetes.
Gastroperesis can affect relative absorption rates of food, glucose and insulin into the bloodstream. The problem can be a side effect of damage to the nerves that control internal organs. This is a condition that sometimes occurs in people with diabetes. Medications such as Reglan (metoclopramide) do help to encourage more normal stomach emptying. Studies have found, though, that treating gastroperesis does not lead to improvements in overall control of the diabetes or its related complications.
Psychological problems, including depression and stress, are also often associated with brittle diabetes.

The blood sugar levels of people with stable diabetes may fluctuate occasionally. However, these fluctuations are not frequent and -- unlike brittle diabetes -- do not impact the ability to carry out regular activities of daily living.

Hence why Type 1 or 2 does not by itself qualify for ESA or DLA/AA