Hi all, I'm a newbie I have many problems fibro, FHM, Platabasia, Gilbert's Sydrome etc. I have a ATOS ass coming up & need some info Plse.

[1fatiguedme_]

The first assessment was a nightmare, lies and more lies. This one I have requested a recorded session, has any one had an assessment which has been recorded? Any guidence would be very much appreciated. Thank you

[TheAuthor]

Hi 1fatiguedme_

I sincerely hope that you are feeling as well as you possibly can be today? I am very sorry but I have never been through anything of this nature. However, I have pasted you a link to the ATOS website whereby you should be able to get an idea of what to expect.

atoshealthcare.com/

I want to wish you all the best of luck with your assessment, and please let us all know how you go along?

All my hopes and dreams for you

Ken

[1fatiguedme_ in reply to TheAuthor]

Hi ken,

Thank you for your support, really helps. Not a great morning so just rest for today, this assessment thing is stressing me out!!. I'll check out that link and see what I can find. I will post how it go's on Friday. Thanks again

[Ginsing]

Morning to you

I just popped on to wish you all the best with your assessment.

Try and keep calm and composed, till your nerves by gentle breathing exercises.

One of those things we seem to forget we can actually say No sorry cannot do that!

Always be polite an est of luck!

xgins

[1fatiguedme_ in reply to Ginsing]

Hi gins,

Good morning too you, hope ur feeling ok today. Thank you for your reply, I just dread this awful treatment we have to go through to be able to live. I will try my best to keep calm and will do my breathing exercises, this time I will def so no to the things I can not do, u give an inch n they take a mile!! Thank you for your words of support will keep you posted

[Betty67]

The assessor will be pushing you to see how much you can do. Remember you are expected to say no I can't do that or that hurts I won't do that.

[1fatiguedme_ in reply to Betty67]

Hi Betty67

I will be very cautious this time round, they lure u in and come across as though they care, won't be fooled this time !! I will be assertive in saying what I need to. I just hoping that there is actually a recorder in the room as I've requested, if not I am not sure if I can refuse as I had my ass date changed so that they would have it there. Will just have to wait and see.

Thanx again for your words of advise will keep it in mind..... If I don't forget lol

[Irene25]

You need to tell ATOs everything about your illness and how it affects your life each day. Down to eating, washing, sleeping walking talking going out carrying cooking etc good luck

[1fatiguedme_ in reply to Irene25]

Hi Irene25,

Thank you for your reply, I did exactly that on my first assessment n they twisted the truth to beyond belief, hence this time around I have asked for a recorded ass!. I will emphasise as much as I can for them to listen.

Thanx again will let ya know how it go's

[vixen49]

I had my assessment this Monday gone and was told to do my own recording which I completely forgot it takes up to an hour and they need to see you at your worst I wouldn't have a bath that day or take any tablets for a couple of days

[1fatiguedme_ in reply to vixen49]

Hi vixen,

I hope it went well for you ? let me know how it went for you when you get your result. I was told I could only take a dual recording system as they need a copy too? They said my phone or a dictaphone was not allowed!! So are recorded sessions always an hour or was that just how long your ass took? I will not be making no effort with my appearance at all, even thou that is the only thing I am able to do to keep me in good spirits, it's bad that we have to present our selfs in such a way just to get some help, wish it was all over n I could get back on my own two feet!!

[vixen49 in reply to 1fatiguedme_]

I was told it would take up to an hour but becos they seen me at my worst it took half an hour so I'm not sure if it's good or bad. Plus it gonna take up 8 weeks for the results

[vixen49]

Oh I forgot good luck with assessment hunni sending you gentle hugs. Ros xoxox

[1fatiguedme_]

Lol my memory is just as bad, think it's actually getting worse !! Maybe I should forget my name on Friday lol Thanx again will keep you posted

[vixen49]

Mines bad I keep forgetting my kids names or get them mixed up

[Shadows-walker]

Hi I have not had mt atos appointment yet but hve been off work for nearly six months ,I am having a meeting with my personnel manager this afternoon , I am expecting to be let go , I have been told I proberly have UCTD ,but I do have Gilbert's , sjorgrens ,fibro ,Chronic fatigue , arthrits ,IBS and psysoris ,last week blepharitis was added to the list ,I have had lupus anti bodies in my blood last year but been told I don't have lupus if they had come and asseset me when I applied I would have got the help I needed straight away but as I have been off work for so long I am feeling a lot better what gets me so frustrated is that social services came assessed me for a home help and things to help me round the house I was told I could have 7 hours a week help but because I have applied for pip they won't give me the home help I live alone most of the time my daughter was coming home from uni 3 hours away to change my bed and get on top of things for me about every 3 weeks when I was really bad at Easter people realised what she was doing and informed social services that's when they got involved ,I do get some help from local charity now when she is in term they come round when I ring to do things like change my bed etc but that again came about from out side people getting involved ,there is a link on the NRAS site here to tell them about your experiences to the the government direct ,I filled it out last night they won't change the processes unless we tell them , good luck with everything ,the first thing I was diagnosed with was Gilbert's by the way 25 years ago I was told all my problems were down to that till I got really bad then the other week I was told it was nothing to worry about it wasn't that serious you never no what to believe again take care good luck. Chris

[1fatiguedme_ in reply to Shadows-walker]

Hi Chris

My job was kept open for me lucky, but I just could not return and I'm now in my second year of not being at work n still on the ESA roundabout!! It is a struggle to keep on answering there stupid questions n fill in paperwork that takes weeks. So fight for the help you need, try giving the DADB a call they helped me with the forms n things. As for your daughter she is a star, it's great to know that you have someone who can be there in times of need, glad that u have now got some help, and remember don't feel guilty for the help provided!! Thanks for that link I will def be looking into that !!! I'm not sure I've herd of UCTD or blepharitis, what are these ? if u don't mind me asking. Yeah I fully understand about the Gilbert's I was told the same, then Same as you, it's not that serious. I don't really trust what I'm told either. Thanx again for ur reply I really hope everything works out for you, and remember do not give up. :-))

[Shadows-walker in reply to 1fatiguedme_]

UCTD stands for undifferentiated conective tissue disease there are three types of CTD the first is of one type of tissue disorder the second is mixed. C T D the third is what I have unfortunately I have it throughout my body every bit is effected I am told it is rare and complecated ,tell me something I don't know if I am lucky it won't developed into lupus they are on a par the tissue that joins every thing together for instant the muscles to the lungs in my case is being attacked the same goes for my eyes that is blepharitis it also effects my joints , etc and my daughter is a star she is going to japan in September for a year with uni and she wants to make sure I am ok before she goes , perhaps you can tell me what DADB is please , and not back long from my meeting now have to see store manager on Monday to see what he has to say I might have a three month stay it's now a mater of and see , although I saw a colleague from my department and was told that yo keep my hours I would be expected to work from 5.45 am there's no way I will be able to sustain that anyway tired now so going to have a nap. Thank for advise much appreciated Chris

[Betty67]

I know that stress makes me worse. My first assessment said I was not ill enough as I was working full time. I was working full time so I could pay for help in looking after my baby as being in an office is much easier than being a mum. The second time the doctor had CFS herself and had had to give up being a GP but still wanted to work for one day a week so did assessments and she understood what it was like and got a higher assessment than i was expecting. On reassessment that was downgraded to what I originally was expecting / hoping for. I think now that I am managing my condition better than when I come off DLA and go to the new benefit I will probably lose the benefit altogether.

[1fatiguedme_ in reply to Betty67]

I understand what you mean, stress is a no no!! But I can't help but worry, I am just to I'll to be able to carry out a job n look after my son. I have now been off work for 2 years and have only ever got ESA, DLA refused me and I am now waiting for statement of reasons from my DLA appeal which was like an interrogation, I was in the room for an hour I came out exhausted and left the building in a wheel chair, they did not care at all. I hope you will be ok, if only all the ass where as understanding we'd have half a chance. Just don't give up, as I nearly did, It is hard work n they try all they can to remove us from there system, but at the end of the day we are I'll, we are not fakers and need as much help and support as we can get. I just hope all this benefit scandal ends soon, some one in government must av an understanding somewhere for people like us with many difficult issues. If u don't mind me asking when is your next med ass ?

[Betty67]

Don't know when next assessment is as when I had my last one I was given DLA for life and that was about 4 years ago. The doctor who did it said life of the DLA and not my life.

[black-storm]

Just remember to tell them the truth and what you can manage on a bad day, not a good day (that's what they want). Refuse to do something they ask if you can't do it and the things you can make sure they know you could do it once maybe, but not reptatively. They try and pull you in acting like they care, but they don't it's just an act. Good luck with the assesment and tell the truth, they can't trip you up if you simply do that.

[Shazzzy]

Best advice i would give is to have someone go with you, have them carry aythingg you need and let them help you as they normally would, it is best tosee things for themselves.