Just been diagnosed with fibromyalgia am struggling to Keep my job and need to reduce my hours can I get any help financially & blue badge

[Debstops]

[Mdaisy]

Hello Debstops,

Welcome to this community. I remember how it felt being newly diagnosed. I am sure you'll find empathy, understanding and support here.

I hope you don't mind but I am getting sleepy so will answer you question in more detail tomorrow if ok? I hope the information below will help until tomorrow.

If you would like to read my reply to this post, some of the information may be relevant to you too. Link below

healthunlocked.com/fibroact...

For more info on Fibro please visit our FibroAction website fibroaction.org.

To read info on Blue Badge please see this factsheet below from Disability Rights UK, link below

disabilityrightsuk.org/blue...

I am sure others will be over to have a chat, so grab a cuppa and enjoy meeting members. Sorry for the bedtime reading lol

Goodnight

Emma

[Debstops in reply to Mdaisy]

That's fine thank you it look forward to hearing from you tomorrow thank you x

[Susan20067389 in reply to Debstops]

If you live in the UK, you can get help with access to work, they can help you with your work load.

Here is some information on Access to Work:-

gov.uk/access-to-work/what-...

[Zosie]

Morning Debs welcome to the site. I hope you enjoy it here. My fibro isn't bad enough to be able to claim any benefits but other people on here know a lot about this side of things abs will help you. How are feeling about the diagnosis? Xoxo

[Debstops in reply to Zosie]

Thanks for your response I am still trying to get my head around it don't understand. How bad do you have to be to get help I am having to rest all weekend to get ready for work again on Monday I have someone doing my housework on the weekend as I can't do it so much pain from working all week x

[cowsrock]

Welcome

We are one big family here and anything your worried someone will know about in detail, I have had Fibro since 2003 but have managed to keep going even with extras on top, but now like you work is suffering my memory is getting so bad everything has to be written down lol, anyway I have just applied for pip as I was told you can even when working and even climbing stairs and taking a bath now is painful and difficult, I have just got a Blue Badge after filling in form and having a medical. You csn also get a disabled buspass and yellow card from adult and children services resisting disabled.

We are all at different stages just ask.

Cowsrock.

[Debstops in reply to cowsrock]

Hi thanks for your response yes I have applied for that good luck with yours xx

[Royalspec01 in reply to cowsrock]

Hi there don't know if your council housed or private but you can ring you local social service adult team and ask for an assessment for a wet room and if your private there is another way where there is a grant to apply for my sister had this hope you can and good luck this could reduce your stress loads as well

[cowsrock in reply to Royalspec01]

I applied for a wet room was toldI wwould have to pay as withmy husbands and my wages we don't qualify for it free unless on benifits.

[Debstops in reply to cowsrock]

Who do you apply to I do work and own my house but I live on my own on low income and find getting in out of bath really hard at times x

[Susan20067389 in reply to cowsrock]

Hi Cowsrock,

Are you applying for a blue badge before you get any high rate mobility?

If you have problems getting out the bath ask for an assessment at your home by the council. I was diagnosed with FMA last year I think now, if not longer and I have been living on my own since May and my flat as been aided for me.

At my front door I have two handrails (as it's an awkward step), in my front room my main sofa I sit on has been heightened (so it not to much of a struggle to get up as my legs seize up sometimes), I have a perching stool in my kitchen for when I'm washing my dishes and cooking (as it gets to painful to stand for long periods of times), my bathroom also is aided with one handrail next to the toilet with a heightened toilet-seat and a bath-lift, I have another handrail next to the bath (which I use to steady myself while getting on or off the bath-lift) and finally in my bedroom I have a bed-leaver (as I find it painful in the mornings to get up so with my bed-leaved I just pull myself up)

Xx

[Debstops]

Oh thank you so much that is good to no x

[kittyfisher]

Hi debstop i have suffered from fibro for 6 years though like yourself i was only recently diagnosed. I had to give up work in august there i just couldnt carry on. I then applied for pip but got the letter stating it would take ten weeks for a decision so in the meantime i was allowed to apply for ESA. I got a reply and my first payment in just over a week. This got me help with housing benefit etc. I phoned CAB first of all and they were a great help. Kitty xx

[Debstops in reply to kittyfisher]

Thanks so much for your reply it's nice to no that your not alone xx

[Susan20067389 in reply to kittyfisher]

Hi kitty,

How are you?

I am currently on DLA and only getting low care and mobility.

I hope you don't think me asking and I understand if you don't want to answer. What do you get on PIP?

As I am looking to reapply for care and mobility once I have seen my fibro specialist as I'm going to request for a wheelchair as walking is becoming to painful and dangerous with my legs giving way

My boss (where I volunteer) and CSW (Communication Support Worker) think and understand why I'm after a wheelchair as simply tasks drain me for the whole day, also my FMA also only effects me from the hips down.

I went shopping with my friend a few weeks ago at our local metro centre and I hired a wheelchair (a horrible heavy bulky wheelchair) that when I was pushing myself it kept veering off to the left,

> annoying. So anyway I pushed myself then my friend pushed me a lil and the next few days I wasn't effected at all no pain no nothing. So the wheelchair I am after is a light weight Quickie Wheelchair Arron 2, through hopefully my local NHS.

Sending Gentle hugs xx

[kittyfisher]

I've only recently joined this forum and now i couldnt be without it. I am like yourself trying to come to terms with it. Even though i was glad to find out what had been wrong all these years but was scared at the same time. I find not working the hardest thing to cope with especially as i adored my job. I'm at a stage just now of feeling very low but to talk to others on here who know exactly what your going through is such a help. Everyone has been great. Theres always someone who can answer your questions or lift your spirits xx

[Debstops in reply to kittyfisher]

That is nice to no . That's what am scared of listing my job so I think I might try reducing my hours and see how I Cooke with that I am on my own and if I don't go to work I will be stuck in here all day every day that will kill me I have never claimed nothing it's all new to me xx

[twinks in reply to Debstops]

Hi thought id say hello , its a shock when told , isnt it ,even though u know ur not well.

Great people on here , I have fibro and a few othee medical probs , hubby athritis and has jut had heart attack 4 weeks ago never rains does it.

Enough about that , the citizens advice are a great help , also is there anyone in work that may advise u too , often we don't want to say in work I understand,

Cab will help with forms too.

All the best T x

[kittyfisher]

I'm lucky in the way that I have my family living with me also a niece though I must say being in the house all the time is just not for me but I cant do anything. I've been having a rough time with the fibro for over 3 months now. Its doing my head in. I read about the help others get like counselling etc but I've been offered nothing. I'm going to see doc this week have a chat with him. How are you coping?

[suffolklass]

Hi Debs

Welcome to fibro land! Someone somewhere on site has an answer to the vast majority of questions.

I was fortunate to get retirement from my work earlier this year, after a long, hard fight.

It is not good when you love a job and it gets too much. I kept going for as long as I could, working, looking after the kids, doing bare minimal housework because I physically couldn't do any more. Then sleeping most of the weekends. Work and the drive there and back tired me out so much. It is a vicious circle we get into.

I thought I had pain but when I finished and started catching up on 5 years of housework I found the real pain of fibro.

Do you have a union rep at work? They should be able to give you advice and occy health to advise your employer on the best way to keep you working. I would try not to go straight to reducing hours as you may be able to get assistance. Reduce your hours if you need to if the help doesn't help you.

Sorry, I don't know about the benefits side of things, hope this is of some use though, if you want t ask anything get in touch with me.

Good luck

Is x

[Debstops in reply to suffolklass]

Thanks am just starting to look at my options now so thank you for ur advice xx

[AlexW]

Hi All

I got diagnosed three years ago and have continued to wrk full time as a staff nurse until now. I am 42 and really don't want to stop working however the NHS haven't been very good with assisting me and lately the pain has become unbearable.

I have just received the forms for the blue badge and intend on applying but don't know what else to do now

[paddysmum]

I was in the same position 3 year ago. I was so bad that I kept falling at work and sleeping on the job. Had hours reduced to minimum but still finding it hard going. I made an appt. With occupational health doctor, who tested me fully, sent me to rhumatologist who diagnosed me with fibro and ME, ibs and sleep apnea!! Cuttining a long story short I went through my union who retired me on full pension, occ heath doctor applied for DLA on my behalf (which I won). I also applied for blue badge and got it !! Dont despair, be brave and go for it, if the doctors diagnose you and provide evidence of diagnosis you'll be fine.

[Deebee17]

Paddysmum your story is so similar to mine except that I am still working and I don't have ME. I do have a \blue badge and it has made a lot of difference when hubby takes me out. It's saved me a fortune too as we have an agreement that I pay for the car park as I don't drive. I have applied for PIP and I am waiting to hear....it's been a while though.

Debstops, hang in there. You're among friends here

[Debstops]

Thanks Hun am waiting on pip answer xx