ESA Health assessment

bloody...

Hi again.

I have received a letter today from the health assessment people and I have an appointment on the 22nd.

I am pretty sure I will lose all entitlement. I doubt they will take my mental health into consideration and considering the fact my GP is only writing "low mood" on my sick notes is not really going in my favor either.

The only thing I have to go on is my urinary problems and frequent migraines, which should all be documented.

This is embarrassing but here is an overview:

It all started over a year ago, My partner gave me an STD. I had to have two rounds of strong antibiotics to clear it. My first symptoms were that of cystitis. Over time these have gotten worse and I have never had a break from these symptoms.

I coped with it for about 10 months until I started getting horrendous pains in my back and in the bladder area, started leaking urine constantly and occasionally I would say probably once every 2 weeks I completely loose control of my bladder and soak through an incontinence pad onto my clothes, if I am on my period it happens more, my period usually lasts for 7 days so in those 7 days I will completely void maybe twice on average. It happened to me in public once when I was sitting on a bus, I was on the bus for about 15-20 minutes, I got off at the nearest retail park and dried my clothes under the hand dryer. I just couldn't control it, I had no warning, it started off as a leak like usual but just wouldn't stop and I had no warning, I do have the urge to wee but this is just constant, I mean like 24/7, every minute of the day.

The Dr's have tested me for STDs, UTI's they did discover a UTI, gave me antibiotics but it only took the burning and back pain away, I've had internal and external Ultrasound scans, i have an appointment with urology on the 12th November for a uroscopy. Dreading it. I have also had some medication to try and control the urinating but it hasn't really made a difference. The problem with my DR is I don't really have time to discuss all of my problems so I just get pushed out the door, I'm lucky I got the antibiotics and the urology referrals. The only reason I got it was because it was a locum GP he was just covering for my normal Dr. (god bless her)

As for the migraines, I get migraines nearly every day. I am taking medication for it Amitriptyline, haven't noticed any difference yet, the tablets make me drowsy that's all.

So can someone who knows what they are talking about and has experienced this before please give me some insight, opinions advice or anything on what my chances are?

If I am going to fail anyway I will just not go and save myself the humiliation.


Thanks

NYM

I've just read the info on the drug you're taking, Amitriptyline and it seems it's prescribed to treat depression. Is it also prescribed to treat migraines ?

bloody...

Yes the Dr gave it me for my migraines, I have to take one a night.

I am also taking setreline for depression, I wanted to ask the Dr to change them at my last appointment but I didn't have chance, they don't really help.

paragon909

bloody... wrote: »

Hi again.

I have received a letter today from the health assessment people and I have an appointment on the 22nd.

I am pretty sure I will lose all entitlement. I doubt they will take my mental health into consideration and considering the fact my GP is only writing "low mood" on my sick notes is not really going in my favor either.

The only thing I have to go on is my urinary problems and frequent migraines, which should all be documented.

This is embarrassing but here is an overview:

It all started over a year ago, My partner gave me an STD. I had to have two rounds of strong antibiotics to clear it. My first symptoms were that of cystitis. Over time these have gotten worse and I have never had a break from these symptoms.

I coped with it for about 10 months until I started getting horrendous pains in my back and in the bladder area, started leaking urine constantly and occasionally I would say probably once every 2 weeks I completely loose control of my bladder and soak through an incontinence pad onto my clothes, if I am on my period it happens more, my period usually lasts for 7 days so in those 7 days I will completely void maybe twice on average. It happened to me in public once when I was sitting on a bus, I was on the bus for about 15-20 minutes, I got off at the nearest retail park and dried my clothes under the hand dryer. I just couldn't control it, I had no warning, it started off as a leak like usual but just wouldn't stop and I had no warning, I do have the urge to wee but this is just constant, I mean like 24/7, every minute of the day.

The Dr's have tested me for STDs, UTI's they did discover a UTI, gave me antibiotics but it only took the burning and back pain away, I've had internal and external Ultrasound scans, i have an appointment with urology on the 12th November for a uroscopy. Dreading it. I have also had some medication to try and control the urinating but it hasn't really made a difference. The problem with my DR is I don't really have time to discuss all of my problems so I just get pushed out the door, I'm lucky I got the antibiotics and the urology referrals. The only reason I got it was because it was a locum GP he was just covering for my normal Dr. (god bless her)

As for the migraines, I get migraines nearly every day. I am taking medication for it Amitriptyline, haven't noticed any difference yet, the tablets make me drowsy that's all.

So can someone who knows what they are talking about and has experienced this before please give me some insight, opinions advice or anything on what my chances are?

If I am going to fail anyway I will just not go and save myself the humiliation.


Thanks

Has the doctor ever mentioned stress etc being a factor to you getting headaches, I went to a specialist who said my anxiety and stress caused tension headaches, And prescribed Amitriptyline 25mg, I normally take 50mg simply to get a sleep because the doctor wont prescribe sleeping tablets.

When I went for my assessment my mental health was what I passed on, I have problems with asthma and a knee issue, When she asked all my mental health problems, She said shes got enough information and wouldn't need to know anything else.

Do you see any specialists... That could write a report, Ask your doctors surgery to print out a list of your medications, And ask your doctor if they would write a supporting letter for your assessment.

You shouldn't say you will fail because your not a clairvoyant and you don't know, Maximus aren't as bad as ATOS, I failed last year and passed this year. I know people who passed this year who probably shouldn't have....

pmlindyloo

bloody... wrote: »

Hi again.

I have received a letter today from the health assessment people and I have an appointment on the 22nd.

I am pretty sure I will lose all entitlement. I doubt they will take my mental health into consideration and considering the fact my GP is only writing "low mood" on my sick notes is not really going in my favor either.

The only thing I have to go on is my urinary problems and frequent migraines, which should all be documented.

This is embarrassing but here is an overview:

It all started over a year ago, My partner gave me an STD. I had to have two rounds of strong antibiotics to clear it. My first symptoms were that of cystitis. Over time these have gotten worse and I have never had a break from these symptoms.

I coped with it for about 10 months until I started getting horrendous pains in my back and in the bladder area, started leaking urine constantly and occasionally I would say probably once every 2 weeks I completely loose control of my bladder and soak through an incontinence pad onto my clothes, if I am on my period it happens more, my period usually lasts for 7 days so in those 7 days I will completely void maybe twice on average. It happened to me in public once when I was sitting on a bus, I was on the bus for about 15-20 minutes, I got off at the nearest retail park and dried my clothes under the hand dryer. I just couldn't control it, I had no warning, it started off as a leak like usual but just wouldn't stop and I had no warning, I do have the urge to wee but this is just constant, I mean like 24/7, every minute of the day.

The Dr's have tested me for STDs, UTI's they did discover a UTI, gave me antibiotics but it only took the burning and back pain away, I've had internal and external Ultrasound scans, i have an appointment with urology on the 12th November for a uroscopy. Dreading it. I have also had some medication to try and control the urinating but it hasn't really made a difference. The problem with my DR is I don't really have time to discuss all of my problems so I just get pushed out the door, I'm lucky I got the antibiotics and the urology referrals. The only reason I got it was because it was a locum GP he was just covering for my normal Dr. (god bless her)

As for the migraines, I get migraines nearly every day. I am taking medication for it Amitriptyline, haven't noticed any difference yet, the tablets make me drowsy that's all.

So can someone who knows what they are talking about and has experienced this before please give me some insight, opinions advice or anything on what my chances are?

If I am going to fail anyway I will just not go and save myself the humiliation.


Thanks

Did you get some help completing your ESA50?

Reading the ESA descriptors you should be awarded 15 points for the loss of control of your bladder alone as this happens at least once a month.

See descriptors here:

https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/employment-and-support-allowance/esa-glossary/1354-work-related-activity-group-descriptors

To be awarded the support group then this would have to occur once a week.

Does your medical evidence back this up? Is there anything in the evidence which describes the consequences of your urinary problems?

It might be worth keeping a diary with detailed notes about when this occurs.

Do go ahead with the assessment. It will be embarrassing but please explain in detail what happens.

If you do not get the required points then you can appeal. I strongly recommend getting some help with an appeal from CAB or a welfare rights advisor.

Don't give up. If you have to appeal a decision then getting help from a professional relieves some of the stress and anxiety.

I am not surprised that you are feeling depressed. Urinary problems can be so demoralising.

Good luck.

bloody...

Hi, I don't really know if the Dr has my loss of bladder control documented, I only ever mentioned it once to the locum Dr, she was really nice and listened, she even physically examined my kidney area which neither my GP or nurses did. I really hate talking about it. Unfortunately i don't see any specialists yet, because they do not know what my problem is. So at the moment it's under investigation and it's my word against theirs. However I do have an appointment for Uroscopy on the 12th November.

My partner wrote a statement pretty much stating "I am near impossible to handle due to my mental health" but I never really discussed anything about my bladder problems with him because it is so embarrassing and I feel I am jeopardising my relationship as well as other things already. He knows i have problems down there but he doesn't know to what extent. I don't live with him but I have been with him long enough for him to know how/who I am.

I can definitely start a diary now.

I don't experience The loss of control every week if you understand, but it does happen more than once a month I just said once every 2 weeks on average, definitely more than once a week when i am on my period though.

bloody...

paragon909 wrote: »

Has the doctor ever mentioned stress etc being a factor to you getting headaches, I went to a specialist who said my anxiety and stress caused tension headaches, And prescribed Amitriptyline 25mg, I normally take 50mg simply to get a sleep because the doctor wont prescribe sleeping tablets.

When I went for my assessment my mental health was what I passed on, I have problems with asthma and a knee issue, When she asked all my mental health problems, She said shes got enough information and wouldn't need to know anything else.

Do you see any specialists... That could write a report, Ask your doctors surgery to print out a list of your medications, And ask your doctor if they would write a supporting letter for your assessment.

You shouldn't say you will fail because your not a clairvoyant and you don't know, Maximus aren't as bad as ATOS, I failed last year and passed this year. I know people who passed this year who probably shouldn't have....

Yes, they did and that is what they think it is down to, I hardly eat either I have no appetite and I have lost alot of weight too, they said that's a factor