Been ill now for 3 weeks, admitted to hospital then being treated by community nurses at home. They got a physiotherapist to visit today & she assessed me & has recommended a lot of equipment eg: bed bracket, percher seats,toilet rail, bath seat, commode, walking stick, walking frame & for days where i would like to go out for the day a wheel chair, extra had rails for stairs. Im amazed by the service as some of the stuff i got delivered this afternoon & the rest on Wednesday . My query is as my condition has dramatically worsened since being awarded low rate PIP & no mobility back in January do i now inform them as my needs are much worse & are not going to improve to where i will manage without all this equipment? Im guttered as im only 52yrs & was hoping not to be needing this however i want to try & get back to work in the near future but have taken so much time this year my sick pay has halved.
Been so poorly its scared me this rec... - Lung Conditions C...
Been so poorly its scared me this recent flare up of Bronchiectasis
Hello Julie14, I can't help with your question but would like to offer you my best wishes. With all the extra help you are now getting let's hope it makes a huge difference to your well being. Try and keep your spirits up by doing whatever you can. This could be listening to music, reading, phoning a friend or even sharing your feelings with us here on the forum. Chrys
Thank you x
That’s a lot you’ve got going on now but lots of help coming your way. Do get in touch with DWP or whoever and inform them of your change of circumstances.
Good luck with it all and wishing you well. Xxxx
We have pip and when my condition changed using oxygen. And use a wheelchair they sent out an assessor to see me lovely lady. Answered questions and said will email everything to the main office and within a week they sent us a letter saying I had been awarded higher rate . Hope all goes well. Show them all equipment letters.etc
Have you applied for universal credit. My hubby gave up work to help me and we get carers allowance as well. We didnt know we could apply for these. Universal credit check it out on line about sick but if you have to give up work apply. Also dont forget blue badge
Thank you & yes i have badge but i currently work but not sure what will happen in future, i want to stay in work as i love my job.
Hi Julie, I am so glad you have had such excellent treatment during and following your recent exacerbation.
The aids you have shoud give you extra points but you need to speak to a benefits expert - BLF, Welfare Rights, DIAL or CAB before you go ahead, as it could mean you have to re-apply, as I assume you are hoping that your low rate care will be higher and that you will now qualify for the mobility component.
Wishing you the best of luck. Please let us know how you get on.
Cx
I am planning on doing just that C & i will keep yous informed thanks
Hi Julie feel better soon.x. After I was in intensive care ...I applied for higher mobility Pip as only on Lower mobility and received higher mobility and lower care. Remember to point out to them all they aids you have had as these can mean points...any difficulty with form filling ect use help aged or citizens advice ...Good Luck and feel brighter soon x
Hi Julia14,
I truly know how you feel, I have been admitted to hospital every winter for the past 5 years. To answer your question, most definitely YES put another claim in your condition has worsened and its clear you can not walk any distance, or if you do it will have a detrimental affect on you. I am 57 now so I was the same age as you when mine got worse.
All the best for the future.
Dave
Same here Dave, but more recently I’ve even been admitted in the summer months to. I have Asthma also & this is making my condition worse. I now cannot walk unaided & i worry that i may have to give up work but really hope not.
I know someone who had new conditions diagnosed and contacted pip. They requested submission of new form . Sorry you are having a rough time.of it.
Thank you & i am going to look into this.
Dear Julie, my word you are going through it. I send best wishes and hope some improvement is in sight. When I’m ill the radio is my best companion. Keep going. Marlene
Thank you Marlene
Julie14, definitely inform the DWP to be reassessed, you need more help and they should be aware. I too have bronchiectasis and asthma, amongst other things so I really hope you get this sorted, and all the best to you, it's a horrible illness, that unfortunately not enough is known about it. COPD is talked about more but this does come under the 'umbrella'. . Good luck and I do hope you start to feel better soon
Thank you & i will look into a reassessment.
Wishing you well Julie. Sorry I can’t help with your quiery.
Hello Julie14,
So sorry to hear about the bronch flare up. I really do understand how you are feeling and when the infection just drags on for months on end, it becomes difficult to see the light at the end of the of the tunnel.
I had a really long flare up last year that lasted eight months and it was so so hard when I went down to half pay for months on end and I was unable to claim anything else.
The thing I can recommend is watching lots of boxsets on iplayer to take your mind off things and agree with Roadrunner44, talk it out, cry, laugh share with your partner /husband, friends and family who will be there for you and it will be a huge relief and burde. I used to keep everything in and to myself which was making matters worst.
Watch some good comedies, it honestly was the best tonic for me as well as seeing my girls at end of each day coming home from nursery.
I hope your employers are being understanding and supportive of your condition? I have been back to work for nine months now, have had so many flare ups and bad days when I cannot breath properly at all, but I couldn't bring myself to go off sick again so end up going into work and leave early if I am really bad or take annual leave, it is the only way for me to manage this horrible disease and not let it get the best of me!
I don't know much about Pip, but I am sure if you were reassessed, there would be some increase in your payments, after all, these long term conditions very rarely stay the same year on year and can change drastically.
I have also only just turned 50, so do understand that giving up work is not an option and it does get us out and into some sort of routine which really helps, you will get back to work, I promise.
I do wish you all the best and please hold onto some hope, you will improve with time, just eat well, stay warm and ask for help, reach out.
May good health be on the horizon for you, wish you better. XX
Thank you for your kind words. I understand everything you have said & im hoping to go back on Thursday even though its only for 2 days it will get me to my 2 weeks annual leave then i can stop feeling bad fir being on sick leave & hopefully can return in the new year feeling stronger x
Well done for going back to work. You have done so so well and give yourself a pat on the back. Your work colleagues will be pleased to see you back I'm sure of it.
Just don't overdo it. I was a bit of a yes person at work which did me no favours! Say No if it is not manageable.
Take care X
My gosh julie I have been suffering this last 10 weeks trying to breathe with copd problem but it sounds like your going through hell. I tend to wish for help from god to help my breathing problem. Just relax! Close your eyes and wish to. You might be surprised. Xxx
It's a shame that the amazing care that people get when leaving hospital doesn't continue in the community. It would reduce stress and probably reduce new admissions.
No advice to give but as a 54 year old, your post moved me.
I hope you find some new things to interest you that you can do perhaps at home and bring joy to you, (sewing, reading, knitting, crafting, writing a short story (e.g. London Magazine has a 2500 word competition at the moment where you can win £500) or something that you perhaps now have time for.
(In this weather, I keep my mum (who has Bronchiectasis) away from the cold and people as much as I can and just go for walks at Waitrose as their store is small but big enough for a decent walk for her, staff polite and helpful, and trolleys at the right height to help her walk (with me holding her arm). She also loves the free coffee and paper that she gets there. Don't know if you can walk that far though.
Wish you the best
Thank you & im stocking up on magazines as its something i would not normally have time to do. At the moment i struggle to get upstairs or from my living room to kitchen which is right next to me but I’m hoping the nebuliser & my new steroid inhaler will help. I also have a flutter device & do my breathing exercises regularly. Im 52 yes but feel like 100 at the moment.
I would suggest you speak to Fightback founded by Michelle Cardno based in Bury regarding benefits. They have numerous ways of contacting them including a helpline 0161 672 7444, email and facebook messenger. They do a free drop in first of every month. What type of work do you do? If you can get back to work it is preamble to not working.
Thanks i have been in touch with someone today & waiting for more info. I work in Children’s Social Care full time, ive just got a mortgage so i need to work for the next 8 years till its finished so need a good plan in place.
Your employer will have a duty of care towards yourself. Do they have an occupational health department you can see who will make suggestions around reasonable adjustments to enable you to return to work successfully when well enough. How long have you been off work? You probably would need graduated return, you work in a rewarding area but a tough one.
I spoke with my manager today & she is getting in touch with Occ health. Ive had approx 6 months off but not all at once, i went bk beginning sept on a 4 week phase return & went off sick again on 25th Nov. Being a social worker is tough but i love my job & want to work for another 8 yrs at least.
I wish you all the best and hopefully occupational health will be useful. Are you full time normally?
Thank you & yes i am full time
Keep us all updated it is difficult when working age, so unwell and wanting to work.
I am returning to work on Thursday but i break up on Friday for 2 weeks so not to bad. Hopefully when i return in the new year i will be nice & rested.
Hoping all goes well, are you doing a shorter day?
Thursday 9-11.30 then Fri 9-12.30 as we have all been given afternoon off in Fri to go for lunch as a team.
Those are a really good hours and lovely to have some quality time with your colleagues too
If that is you in your profile photo you certainly don't look 52 at all. You look to be in your 20's if it is you. Xx
bronchiectasis flare up
I am so scared that this is it
Its still cold out but I'm fed up so it was time to get kitted up and break out.
Availability of Inogen one G4 on the NHS
Vaccine booked 
