So yesterday I attended my second ill health capability hearing and was terminated on health grounds. I feel I am at the mercy of not only my condition, physicians but the systems that are supposed to be in place to support us who have additional needs.
I was involved in a RTA Oct 2015 and have had ongoing problems since then, finally diagnosed with thoracic outlet syndrome and underwent surgery to remove my first rib and scalene muscles to alleviate compression of the nerves, arteries and veins at the outlet of my neck/shoulder! The aches and pains I was putting down to my body compensating from holding myself awkwardly as s result of pain. I was actually diagnosed with fibromyalgia and myofascial pain syndrome. An mri revealed the start of a bone spur and arthritis in my right shoulder.
Since then I have been exploring pain medication options. Post surgery I developed difficulties with my swallow not in my throat but lower down. So have been investigated by ENT, SALT, Dietician, and Gastro. It was discovered I had stomach ulcers, lascerations and inflammation. This has been treated but a subsequent gastroscopy showed the ulcers healed but still inflamed and the advice was to come off naproxen and be the-referred back to chronic pain team. All the while this has been ongoing I have been off work since July 2018; being pressured to return having to attend occ health appts, and consent to records being provided. All of which are used against me.
So now my contract has been terminated I’ve lost my career, my income, and my independence! I have no control over timescales and keep chasing! All this has left me stressed and feeling low. I try not to show my family especially my children but I am devastated even though I was expecting it. I realise my post cannot be held indefinitely but I just needed extra time to stabilise medication for pain.
Where do I go from here? I’ve been made to feel it’s all in my head by physios drs and other professionals yet I’ve had major surgery and firm diagnosis! This is not through choice I never would have imagined at the age of 34 I would be in this position. I have worked since I was 15 and enjoyed my working life!
Advised to apply for PIP and found that process very degrading! Awaiting on the outcome of that... anyone know how long that takes?
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Braveheart1
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Hey just wanted to say hi and sorry you have lost your job / how long have you worked there ? - the reason I ask it may be with looking to see if you have any claims for unfair dismissal , but you have to have been there at least two years
As for PIP My pip application took 5 months in total.
Please don’t give up - your a fighter getting through each day - maybe find yourself a part time job or some kind of hobby or study a degree or something just to keep your independence - you don’t have to rush anything but I know for me I couldn’t cope without something to occupy me
Talk to your family make sure they understand and take help and support where you can - don’t feel guilty it’s not your fault - I know what it’s like to be in your 30s and facing a life like this but my husband keeps me going.
Thank you for replying. No I have not been in play quite two years but I believe it’s one year for disabled employees. The thing is my occ health report indicated I would not be fit to return at this point even with adjustments or redeployment. I’m in s no win!
Ok just thought I’d ask a- may be worth getting an hour with an employment solicitor most offer first hour free just to be sure , it may be your works didn’t follow process or something. It may be they say there nothing you can do but worth finding out
Wish you well and good luck with your pip application - don’t forget you can also apply for ESA too.
If you have been in employment and have now been dismissed then you should qualify for contributions based ESA, which would not be affected by your husband's earnings. x
Hello. Sorry to hear of everything that is going on for you. You will be able to apply for universal credit and claim the ESA contribution based rate. This is for I think 6 months. It’s not means tested so your wife’s work won’t be counted. It’s worth applying and also for PIP if you haven’t already done so.
I really hope things start to improve for you. Something positive always comes out of bad things that happen to us. That’s what I believe !!!
As Robpw says seek as much support as you can. Please don't hold it in and certainly dont think its in your head. Say to yourself, that you know how you feel. No-one on this earth can say what this feels like. They aren't in your body and pain and the extent is an individual feeling to everyone. Best Wishes to you 😀
Hi
So sorry to hear what's happened to you. Could you take ill health retirement and then you may be able to claim pension that you have paid in. Take care Lynne
Hi you should be able to claim esa contribution based that is for 12 months once you Claim this and pip you can also look at sdp and early ill health retirement I have just had mine come through and the first 25% is tax free so may help while you are waiting to sort out your benefits it only took a couple of weeks to sort out my pension I wish you luck and as someone else has said get in contact with a work place solicitor I think you may be surprised with what your work could have done and did not as my dad used to say if you don’t ask you will never know the answer
Thank you everyone, I was told in the hearing and by occupational health that I am not a candidate for early retirement based on my age and the fact I’m still having ongoing investigations. This has devastated me! I’m 34 😔
I really feel for you, I had to give up a career in lecturing that I loved due to my ill health too. It's not easy living with constant pain 24/7 and our family and friends can never really understand what we are going through just to get through the day let alone the energy needed to fight constantly for everything.
I do hope you are able to find some relief from your pain and suffering and sort your financial situation out asap, as this will give you peace of mind and help you to cope.
I'm so sorry you are going through this and totally understand as I've been through it too. I was a nurse and absolutely loved it I fought so hard to keep my job I changed dept and hours but my health just kept taking over.
I did take a career break negotiatied with help from my union rep but still had to go into hospital for treatment and my contract was terminated. I feel your pain and am sending you some (((gentle hugs)))
I am on esa in the support group started as contribution but think element of income based now as well.
You have veen given good advice here already but I will echo what others have said and if you feel able to do so, which is difficult when in pain but do try and find out how this process should have been done as what happened with me had additional factors which I won't go into here but I was told I'd had incorrect advice but this was not acknowledged in the letters that followed. Also I will say make sure you keep copies and yoyr own records of everything especially as you are much younger than me as I have just been through an incredibly stressful situation with dwp and I needed proof of missing documents which thankfully I had as record keeping is vital in nursing never thought I'd need to do it in these circumstances though.
Please remember you will get through this...you will feel many feelings as this is very much a grieving process so you may feel overwhelmed at times but that is normal and its good to express it. Be kind to yourself...
How awful Bravevheart, you have been through so much. I'm not on pip as yet. Luckily I managed to return to work but not sure how lo g i can keep doing it. I had been doing really well, but having flare last few days. Hope your pip is sorted soon, you don't need extra worry when feeling like this. Best wishes to you.
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