Answer to question at DLA Medical - Are you able to prepare yourself a simple meal, such as Beans on toast.

[kraftyk8]

I'm sure I've blogged this before, but I can't find it and I wanted to use it as part of an answer to a question, so here it is again.

'Simple beans on toast for lunch?'.

If I am able, it causes me severe discomfort in my hips and legs to walk to and around the kitchen.

If I am able, it causes me severe discomfort in my hips, arms and wrists to bend down to the cupboard and get a saucepan out, then and carry it to a work surface.

If I am able, it causes me severe discomfort in my shoulders, arms and wrists to reach up into the cupboard and get a can of beans out.

If I am able, it causes me severe discomfort in my arm, wrist and fingers to pull the drawer open to get my can opener and spoon out.

If I am able, it causes me severe pain in my shoulders, arms, wrists and fingers to try and open the can, most days I can't.

If I am able, it causes me severe pain in my arms, wrists and fingers to pour the beans into the pan, put the pan on the hob and switch it on.

If I am able, it causes me severe pain in my back, hips, legs, arms, wrists and fingers to stand over the beans and stir them whilst they heat.

By this time I am in constant pain throughout my body.

If I am able, it causes me severe pain in my arms, wrists and fingers to pull the fridge door open to get the bread and butter.

If I am able, it causes me severe pain in my shoulders arms, wrists and fingers to reach up into the cupboard and get a plate out.

If I am able, it causes me severe pain in my arms, wrists and fingers to operate the toaster then put the toast on the plate.

If I am able, it causes me severe pain in my arms, wrists and fingers to butter the toast.

If I am able, it causes me severe pain in my shoulder arms, wrists and fingers to pour the beans on to the toast.

If I am able, it causes me severe pain in my arms, wrists and fingers to pull the drawer open to get my cutlery out.

If I am able, it causes me severe pain in my back, hips, legs, arms, wrists and fingers to carry the plate and cutlery to the table.

If I am able, it causes me severe pain in my back, hips, legs, to sit in a straight backed chair at the table as a healthy person would normally be able to.

By now, not only am I in constant pain but my body feels quite exhausted.

If I am able, it causes me severe pain in my arms, wrists and fingers to cut the toast and pick the food up with the fork to put it in my mouth.

To be honest I'd rather go hungry!

happy hugs, kate

[electricjaws]

i'd tell them i hate beans as they make you f***t and when you have to f**t it hurts to do so because of your fibro!!

[Hidden in reply to electricjaws]

That's a good one too, as I have lots of things wrong down there, I will probably say that myself next time, thank's for the idea xxx

[Hidden]

beand play havoc with my IBS, so Id have to clean s*** off the loo and floor, bet theyd just love to hear that, but thats the truth ]lol]

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

God love you Lally, I have diverticulosis and nearly do that actually I hate when they look straight into your eyes and ask you are you incontinent, and how are your bowels, and do you bleed through your pants all the time, you are allowed no dignity in these places they should have a sign on the door or wall, "Please, leave your dignity outside the door of the examination room, as it is not needed"

XX

[Plumcake in reply to Hidden]

I have diverticulosis too, and I reckon I should get shares in a loo paper company. lol

[Hidden]

what it comes down to is the answer for the form is no you are notable being able means todo it like everyone else does...... this is a guide to the answes you need on dla well done kate i hope loads of the people on here realisewhat being able meansthe butterfly hovers petal

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Faded blossom, what if they ask you then if you can put a prepared dinner for one in the microwave if they had to, I told the examining doctor at my last esa exam, that I could because she sounded like she was making me feel as ass when I said I could'nt cook, and she kept asking me repeatedly if I could'nt and why not and on and on and on Jesus I hate the buggers, they make you feel so worthless xxx

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Play by their rules the unfair ones show them.what u cannot do borrow a wheelchair and have friend with you to do every small little task even handing you a pen. You drop hot pots even plAtes get to heavy to hold all this is actually true so show them a bad day actions speak louder than words. If all seems to be futile get agitated and threaten suicide as an option refuse to be olacayed it scares the hell out of them. I haveg mine indefinitely just do what they are asking for shmbow them a bad day. P

[Bubblebutt in reply to Hidden]

you have the right idea fadedblossom, I have just had my ESA medical & got put into support group. I do use a wheelchair if I go shopping, but it came out for medical, I left out my afternoon tablets so they saw me as I am on a bad day. My DLA forms were filled out in same way & I got that for indefinate.

[Hidden in reply to Bubblebutt]

That's what I did and have incapacity indefinitely and dla indefinitely dla higher mobilty thanks to my doctors letter i was also. Given a care plan all I did was plY by their rules and showed them example fly what a bad was they are clever at handing u things you have to stretch fir or dro0ping things for you to pick Jo. my friend a.swerved most if the questions and if they git too personal I became agitAted ....... p

[rosehip]

I could just eat it x

[Hidden in reply to rosehip]

True Rosehip that would be a good one, if it was opened for you and left beside you wherever you sat/were, you could say you would have to eat it cold, if no-one else was about to heat it up for you or that you prefered cold beans, you hate them hot, why do they have to make such fools of people, it would be much easier if they did'nt.xxx

[fairycazzie]

I am in severe pain reading uour DlA list lol..

Well i have to admit i kniw ppl with cars on disability who wrk so how on earth are those questions acceptable. Also they can do more than me physicaly too?! I have read the blue badge questionaire. I see different now to 2 yrs ago as i was over fit and healthy and i had pitty for the ppl i know disabled, but since whats happened to me and how i have changed and what they can actually manage and after readin disability questionaires i scratch my head lolI cant get my head round it at times. I cant open a tin of beans by time i did do it i would of starved and died anyways.

My car is down some stairs into the street but i use my grass most of time. I climb 14 stairs to my loo every day and by time got there i have finished(joke) but joking aside the Q's are ridiculous!!! I have customer who lives in a house steeper stairs than mine and i observe and she is medicaly ill fact! And only in 20's suffers pretty much what i do but she has chrones i have ibs although when sat in tears in severe agony i think its more than ibs i have. I could not live in her house climbing her stairs every day and no way can a stairlift be fitted but she has been given full carers allowance, she works from home. Now i struggle everyday but dont claim a penny and believe am progresdively gettin worse! Got facial stuff at moment and i getting less mobile and sociable. I focus on wrk and kerping everyone happy to come home and flop! Lyrica has been a lifesaver . I have to add those questions i would like to be asked on them or do they have members of staff who suffer. They need to have EXPERIENCE.

Fibro crosses paths with MS and you put ms on DLA you instantly awarded. Yet both are chronic disabling illnesses and a sister illness but fm is not a disease! So if uou have other medical issues along side fm that also debilitating why is it not categorised as a Disability?!? Off the course as always. I say those things as one i read up a lot and the other i pay attention to what doctors say verbaly too. If they can not fully distinguish the 2 there is obviously similar case.

Correct me if i am wrong or what you feel .. Very sorry going on a lot but its frustrating xx i still waiting results

[Suzyindahouse in reply to fairycazzie]

I can see how frustrated you feel when you realise that there are people on DLA that are working but DLA is not a benefit that is affected by whether you can work or not and is there to help you be able to do the day to day things that would be more expensive for you to do than a person deemed to be fit or without a disability. There are so many types of illnesses like for instance Spina Bifida. I was a carer before getting too disabled to work myself and used to go and help this lady to get out of bed and into her bath and dry her and dress her. I used to do the things she was unable to manage alone and then we would see her to her car where she was able to transfer into the driver seat and from there manage to take off her own wheels off her chair and then life the chair into the passenger seat beside her. The car was specially adapted as she had no use below the waist area really but then that lady went off to work at the Council offices where she was a receptionist. The money that she got from DLA enabled her to pay for the help she needed and for the car that got her around. This is why you do see people that are still entitled to it even though they go to work. It is not a means tested benefit either but purely assessed on your degree of disability and not what illness you have unless you are in the terminally ill bracket which is quite different. Of course then you come to good old ESA and that is looking at things differently as they are trying to work out whether the illness you have regardless of what it is as with this all illnesses are basically equal as it is ability and not medical diagnosis that is in question. Kate is so right in her explanation about the cooking some beans on toast and I think that it is the fact that a lot of people are not seeing this in the right light that returns quite so many people who are refused. Always in your mind you have to remember what it is like on your worst day and what will occur if you do manage to struggle on and so something. Any of those questions on either form for DLA or ESA is always NO. You may be able to do it one day but what about the day that you can't even get yourself out of bed and even struggling to the loo is a nightmare. Can you make baked beans on toast that day? At the end of the day the question has to be answered in that way as there is no provision for somedays I can if this or that happens etc etc.. Just concentrate on your ability to do things and not so much on what your illness is similar too as they are all being judged in the same way now as you are. Gone are the days when a specific illness almost always guaranteed you benefits. I know it sounds harsh but in some cases it is right too. Loads of disabled people are proud to go to work each day and if we were well enough to be able to do it regardless to what our diagnosis was I am sure we all would be as well. Hope this all makes sense and does not come across as patronising as it is not meant in that way in any way shape or form nor is it meant to offend anyone it is just that I do find a lot of people are quite confused by the whole benefits thing. Hugs to you and all of us who are suffering but surviving to fight another day and praying it is going to be an easier one. xxx Suzy xxx

[donna67 in reply to fairycazzie]

I hope you don't think I'm butting in but have you contacted your local ocupansional therapist you can get them from the directory is u live in uk and tell them what your put uncover and there help get all the aids you need to make it easier in doors for you,they asked ot see me on a really bad day witch at the time was very upset and felt like they were looking at me just see me in pain but after I realised they help me out no end and thank heavens for ots .....hope this is of help xxx

[fairycazzie]

This is just an opinion of course and not aimed at anyone it is what i have learned about entitlements to any illness which some is unfair!! I give one sweet to one child but 2 to the other wheres the fairness and equalness. Xxx

[Hidden in reply to fairycazzie]

Brilliant as usual fairycazzie, spot on and so true could'nt have put it better,

WOULD'NT YOU LOVE TO BRING AN (OPENED) TIN OF BEANS WITH YOU INTO YOUR MEDICAL, AND JUST WHEN SHE ASKS THE QUESTION, TO TAKE THE TIN OF BEANS OUT OF YOUR BAG AND 'ACCIDENTALLY' THROW ONE OVER HER, AND THEN APOLOGISE, AND SAY "OH I'M SORRY I JUST WANTED TO SHOW YOU ONE I HAD OPENED FOR ME EARLIER, AS I HEARD YOU WANTED TO SEE ONE OPENED!" or something like that see would she like that, it would definitly take the smug look off her face, might get you failed, but would'nt it be worth it (I know,, not really)

Gently hugs and take care love Claire xxxxx

[Hidden]

when you break down a task, that we need to do its very easy to forget the process es and how difficult we find all of them

[Hidden]

Lally isint it very hard to put it all into words when she's (or he) at you straight in the face, you know I think I'll have to practice it all with one of my sons or my daughter, the day before so it's all perfect, if only. God love us all xxx

[Butterfly54]

Thanks for starting this one Krafty,what with the one on swearing and now this,I haven`t laughed so much in ages.

My answer would just be don`t like beans.....next.

Love haus and good luck Butterfly54 xxx

[electricjaws]

my partner makes me a sadnwich in the day and leaves it on the table because he doesn't want to come home and find broken plates and dropped beans on the floor,to clean up! the one question that makes me laugh is "do you have pets?" i said no but i do have a hamster and she takes ages walking round the block and stopping at every tree to cock her leg!!!!! i think they think if you have a dog or cat you are well enough to look after it, but even if i had a dog or horse or girraffe my partner would be doing the donkey work(excuse the pun)!!

[Hidden]

Oh you made me laugh Electricjaws about the hamster I'll be telling my family that one for ages! lol, did you really say that to the examiner?, it would serve them right if you did, they deserve it, though unfortunately they can't get it, do you think I should tell them next time, I had to give away my animals because I found it too tiring reminding my children to look after them or just say I don't have any?, I think I said that about a sandwich, what would you say if they asked "Well could you walk out to the kitchen if your partner left it there for you and did'nt leave it near you?", I think I said No.

[Hidden]

Gentle hugs to all xxxx

[fairycazzie]

Hi Chris i have actually just read the info you posted on DLA and interesting as always ! so if it is there in Black & White then the people assesing those who go with Fibro are not either trained or never heard of it. It should be an instant Diagnosis as it is most Disabling and your lucky if hav goid days. The difference between MS and Fm is very difficult as ms carries a pattern. Fm id a 'chronic lifetime ' illness so i myself am pretty disgusted that they or anyone can say it is in uour head!! Why on earth would we complain of a continuous illness in 1st place and is it not being more recognised now? As even MRI can prove it. Also they prescribe you medications for those who suffer epileptic and anti seizure meds, would this not be dangerous to prescribe on some making it up as such so you could sue and say well apparently its in our heads is FM so why prescribe medications and pain relief to human beings?

End of day it is difficult to diagnose like MS (very difficult) a lot of tests and scans and physical examinations and questions (like am sure most of us been through as i have ) why would they waste NHS money if it was in our heads lol as they cross paths and also as my Neurologist asked me questions the ONLY answer he could give was theres no pattern?!?! BUT i only gave symptoms i never gave him a medical history or a run down and to be 'safe ' he ordered a Brain MRI . I replied have you read my medical history? Have you seen thosr 2 files (thick files) on the table. I said i dont know where to start i said you are going on the cervical MRI which shows compression on nerves and end of day from my operation in May 2010 i should not of ended up this BAD!!! He EVEN said i should NOT of been ping ponged around and should of had brain scan 1st!

I have a pattern and i know exactly how things have gone on but end of day i am not the mediacal profession and why should i have to pit ideas into their head let them wrk it out. They shoukd be experienced emough over many yrs of univerity training etc. i do hav a medical history.

So why would we want to be 'ILL' why would we want a disease ? Because i know myself i would have a limb removed and do anything to be back partying and going out sunbathing to the max lol to be back where i was before my hernia operation. I will say to my Grave that what ever happened there it has triggerd it all how i am today! I knew soon as i came round after theatre i was in different pain to the hernias and operations previously and it took over 2 wks to take me back to theatre to realise what damage had been done with nerve wrapped round a scrrew.

Now apparently within 24 hrs if you have sufferd symptoms this CAN lead to Ms and titanium also can cause ms and so can a very rare form of Glandular fever which i have had them all . Glandular fever epten barr i was hospitilised for months over 20 yrs ago and any illness i suffered after was a hospital visit or ill for wks !! So i am annoyed the fact anyone cannot take 10 mins to read!! A patient is feeling ILL and has not the mind, strenghts energies to think about the past or even feel like talking we just want answers !! So some one gets diagnosed with Dementia! ( as my dear gran did) i dont think they asked her?!? It was down to family and tests recognising as she would DENY it that anything was wrong being a very healthy lady until her 70's it runs in allll the women on grans side and tumours and cancer grandad and diabetis, arthritis, numerous case of pheumonia so i will let them do what they get paid for and trained for. Lol sorry sorry sorry it gets to me deep down as there are FAKEs who cannot be bothered to wrk andclaim from the system ! We are not the same! That could send some one suicidal to even put that to them its all in your head!! How can we pretend i ask. ?!? Xxxxxxxxxxxgentle fluffy higs

[Wenjay]

The question I would like to see on the DLA form is

'When you have prepared the meal are you able to eat it??'

I can make meal from scratch on a good day but by the time I have done it I am so shatterred I often don't have the energy to eat it so I eat a few mouthfuls, push the rest round the plate and then offer it to my husband and/or the cat. This happens most days so now on the two days I am at work Im eating in the canteen which means I do get two proper meals in a week!! Im now teaching hubby to cook as he has been spoilt for the last 24 years but now needs to learn if we both want to eat properly!!

[Davlad]

read this and weep............... we've no chance with what this conservative goverment has done to genuinely ill people.....

benefitsandwork.co.uk/news/...