ESA ATOS Help Please

thatsmyusername

Thank you for all your replies.

She has seen several consultants and also a professor who have all told her there was nothing surgically that could be done to help her. The professor has stated this in a hospital report she has.

ab.da54

thatsmyusername wrote: »

Thank you for all your replies.

She has seen several consultants and also a professor who have all told her there was nothing surgically that could be done to help her. The professor has stated this in a hospital report she has.

I think you need to get a second opinion then thatsmyusername.

A stoma would stop your partner losing control of their bowels as the surgery would stop faeces reaching the anus. It's not something to be taken lightly but if it gave your partner their life back, it has to be something to explore. At least asking the consultant about it would enable your partner to explore the options.

Good luck with the ESA.

thatsmyusername

ab.da54 wrote: »

I think you need to get a second opinion then thatsmyusername.

A stoma would stop your partner losing control of their bowels as the surgery would stop faeces reaching the anus. It's not something to be taken lightly but if it gave your partner their life back, it has to be something to explore. At least asking the consultant about it would enable your partner to explore the options.

Good luck with the ESA.

Thanks but she already has 3 opinions from 2 consultants and one professor.

sunnyone

thatsmyusername wrote: »

Well she had the dreaded phone call today and the bad news was delivered.

She scored as predicted just 6 points.

The reason given over the phone was because she doesn't fit the descriptors anymore. I will explain my partner has no voluntary control of her bowels but she also cannot evacuate (empty) them herself. She cannot push to empty her bowels. So she loses faeces throughout the day as the bowel empties by its own accord. Because its a gradual process it doesn't fit the descriptor.

I myself currently work over 48 hours per week so we can survive without her money but I'm not sure if it's worth the hassle for my partner. Her doctor is willing to give her sick notes and has already put a letter together explaining her medical problems.

I'm just not sure what to do. She has no voluntary control of her bowel both emptying and from stopping them from emptying.

There are plenty of none surgical bowel managment programs including magic bullets and Piristeen which is a catheter system that works very well for people like me with no bowel/anal sphincter control at all.

ab.da54 wrote: »

Has the consultant discussed a stoma? Although not nice, a colostomy would be better than having no control of the bowels at all and would give your partner her life back.

ab.da54

sunnyone wrote: »

There are plenty of none surgical bowel managment programs including magic bullets and Piristeen which is a catheter system that works very well for people like me with no bowel/anal sphincter control at all.

Is this something your partner has discussed with the consultant, thatsmyusername?

I do hope there is something that can help as it must be awful for your partner, the way things are at the moment.

thatsmyusername

She already uses suppositories but they aren't called magic bullets. They are glycerine based to aid evacuation.

This isn't her only medical issue. She has a 1cm brain cyst which reared hits head the beginning of this year. She has violent headaches and has lost a large percentage of touch sensitivity all down her right side.

I was reading one of the links which Muttley supplied regarding the HCP and how they should test this. They recommend something soft to test touch sensitivity. The HCP used the hammer which they use for reflexes rubbing this on her arms and legs. She did note she didn't have any feeling in 90% of her right side on the ESA85.

sunnyone

Glycerine suppositries are for constipation yet you describe the exact opposite.

thatsmyusername

They help her pass stools. She cannot push so they act as a lubricant.

Sorry but I'm not a doctor/surgeon/consultant/specialist/professor I can only state what are her symptoms are and also what treatment she gets and what medication is prescribed.

I was on here asking for advice regarding her ESA. She has not decided whether to appeal. I'm not sure if she wants anymore hassle or embarrassment over all this.