MEDICAL

[sadie21]

going for a medical for my ESA through DHSS being put through a medical by a nurse from ATOS any info or help would be grateful thanks Sadie x

[Val02]

Just remember to answer all questions as if it's your worst day......and take info about PBC and doctors letter with you.

Good luck

[SC49]

When I first went into the interview I said to the doc, 'I know that PBC isnt very common so I brought some information about it.' That way I wasnt questioning his professional judgement - i was just being helpful.

my worst symptom is fatigue. I took along the article in the british medical journal by M Hale, J Newton and D Jones. I think its called a patients journey. It describes what the fatigue is like and it has a wee bit by prof jones and newton about how it fits with PBC. I also took a couple of pbc foundation leaflets and their web address.

If you get a chance, explain to them how things have changed for you... so what your day was like before and what it is like now. Describe what its like on the bad days and let them know how many bad days you have. For me, I dont have good days but I might get a couple of random good hours in a day.

You have probably organised your day to accommodate your illness. Put in writing a list of things that you experience and how you deal with it - it is very easy to forget on the day because a lot of the stuff you probably build into your life and dont really think about it.

So if you have pain, for example, when you are on your feet for more than 20 minutes, you probably dont stay on your feet for 20 minutes. Make sure you take a a wee record of that; if you cant follow a tv programme or can't stay awake during the day, make sure that you have the information in front of you so that you will remember the details. Give them a copy of it so that they can look at it again when you have left.

If you have any info from PBC Foundation about the effects of PBC - like leaflets for example, Take them with you.

If you have someone close to you who can prompt you about things that you might forget, take them with you.

The doc I saw was very good on PBC because he had a neighbour who has it so he was very knowledgeable about the practicalities of living with it.

Also on facebook there are a few pages that have a lot of detailed information. My faves are

Atos healthcare medicals to review your disability benefits

facebook.com/groups/1031170...

4UP

facebook.com/groups/4UP.HQ/...

These are both closed groups so you will have to do a friend request thingy. They are both very good resources for getting info bout what to expect. Neither are connected with DWP or ATOS

Good luck

[Tessa in reply to SC49]

All very good info except I wouldn't touch 4UP with a barge pole!

[SC49]

I will amend my advice to say 'use their resources for the information that is contained in the files section'. I've not asked for advice from any of them - just looked at the guidance that they have produced. I think, following on from what Tessa says, i am very wary about making posts on the pages asking for advice or engaging directly with people on the pages, particularly on the private messaging side. There are some dodgy folk about and they do not need to know all your personal details.

[Tessa in reply to SC49]

Totally agree with you SC49. There is good and bad everywhere. I found some really good Facebook groups where I have felt fine discussing my health problems etc and then some where, like you, I will just make use of resources in the files and help others if I can.