Had my ESA appeal tribunal today, stressful but one funny moment.

[Larrie7]

So just got back from my ESA appeal. Had an assessment and was declared fit to work despite the ongoing back pain, pelvic pain, IBS type symptoms, agonising period pain etc. You know what I'm talking about ladies. So I appealed and had my appeal today . There was a judge and a doctor, the doctor asked me a whole series of absolutely absurd hypothetical questions. Felt like a proper grilling. The questions included; " if your house was on fire how far would you able to walk'. "Regarding your appointment with the specialist endometriosis centre, if your dad wasn't able to drive you (about 50 miles away) but arranged for a reliable taxi firm to take you would you still go to the appointment?" . "Do you ever go to the local park". 

The best was 'Were you able to successfully find your way to the correct hospital department on your last hospital visit" . My response: " I might be ill but I'm not stupid" . Oops.not sure how well that went down. 

Despite being quite a stressful experience, the lady judge seemed very nice and understanding. Get the results in a few days. Fingers crossed  

[Sophie87]

They don't have any idea what we suffer with. Many people think that is only simple period pain and that probably we are just lazy (or at least that's how they make me feel sometimes). But they don't understand that our mental and emotional health and body suffer with this disease. Those questions you've been asked sound ridiculous and I would find it rather comical if I was sat there. Hopefully, in the next few days you'll get a positive result. Fingers crossed! Keep us udated, it would be nice to know how you get on x

[Tboag]

Unbelievable, of course you can get out the house if it was on fire, women have been known to do amazing things in crazy situation s, he should have asked you, how often you go to your local park, or shipping, 

I would crawl to my next appointment if I thought it was going to make me any better, 

Bloody stupid people, I'm off work for a month, because I was so fed up with working 4 hours and coming home and laying on sofa for the rest of the day, just to be able to go back to work the next day, ridiculous, where is the quality of life there, 

Good luck and fingers crossed for a positive outcome, xxx

[Blondedia]

I've go a tribunal hearing coming up in the next few weeks, I've opted not to go as I know how ridiculous the questions are and the medical assessment stressed me out enough as it was again, ridiculous. 

I've supplied all my hospital proof, hopefully it will be enough.

 They forget how tough us women are, we give birth which is painful enough so our pain barrier is already quite high, so if we're struggling with endometriosis and other pains and problems that go with it, then they should take note, we're not wimps!!

Hope you get a good result from the tribunal. X

[Larrie7 in reply to Blondedia]

Hey Blondedia. It was so stressful and there were so many questions that were just ludicrous. But I found out today that I won my appeal So happy. But interestingly I didn't win it on my physical symptoms but on the fact that if i was found capable of work it would result in a significant risk to my mental health.  

Good luck with your appeal let me know how you get on. Don't forget if you aren't successful you can off sick on JSA for a maximum of 6 months. Which I was going to do if  failed my appeal. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you x

[Blondedia]

So glad you won your appeal!!

  Apart from the endometriosis, I also have terrible back problems, a large prolapsed disc in my spine, as well as near complete deterioration of my 2 lower discs, so I'm constantly in pain. 

 At my medical assessment, they said that I had complete use of my upper limbs just because I lifted my arm up when asked, or because I said I could lift an empty box if I needed to, funnily enough, or not so funnily enough, you don't need to bend on the assessment, that's not required, something I'm not able to do, so I wrote them a lengthy  appeal and put all my consultant letters in with it and they reinstated my ESA last week saying that I had a valid appeal, but I now have to await the actual appeal, which I'm hoping will be positive, I'll let you know.

Lisa X

[Larrie7 in reply to Blondedia]

The whole process has made me so angry. And I'm angry for everyone else that has to go through it. You don't get any points for being in constant pain everyday. You get treated like you're just making it up, you pretty much have to be clinically dead to get 15 points. And the whole process was done to save money but how much is the appeals process costing? I imagine its quite a lot and a lot of people do win their appeal so the whole process is unbelievably flawed.  It sounds like you have a really good shout though  

[Blondedia]

Yea I agree, it's totally flawed! Hopefully it goes well. X