Fibromyalgia

[Tommygurl]

Hi all you warriors. Can I just ask a question

If fibromyalgia classed as a disability?

[Dinkie]

In what way are you asking? Yes fibro is covered under the Equality Act 2010. However some folk are really affected by their fibro and some not so much. Some have other illnesses on top of fibro.

[desquinn Partner Volunteer FMAUK Trustee]

This is my semi standard reply to this question:

Is fibromyalgia recognised as a disability?

There are very few conditions that upon diagnosis would equate as a disability. The equalities 2010 mentions the likes of being blind for example. However, the act focusses on when people are impacted by conditions to an extent that the person is less able to do things to a significant degree. Fibromyalgia is mentioned in the guidance notes of the act as an invisible changeable condition that could have the Act applying to a person with the condition.

In practice people with fibromyalgia vary significantly in how it affects them and to what extent they may be limited in doing what are considered normal tasks. Some people with fibromyalgia can have full time jobs or run long races but others could be wheelchair or bed bound and require assistance with daily activities.

So being diagnosed with fibromyalgia would not automatically make you qualify as disabled but if the impact from the condition stops you from doing things then your employer can be asked to make reasonable adjustments to support you within the workplace. This can be allowing you to move about more frequently, a cushion for your chair or perhaps the ability to work from home. This will depend on the size of the company, the role that you occupy and some other factors.

You can seek an occupational health assessment as they may suggest what sort of reasonable adjustments the company could put in place for you.

[Tommygurl in reply to desquinn]

Thank you for explaining this for me i really appreciate it !!Am in a bad place atm my friend sadly passed away , recently got diagnosed with fibromyalgia still trying to get my head around it all.

When am in a flare up I can't focus and nothing makes sense to me and I can't get my head around the simplest questions .

I feel I have nothing in my brain like I have nothing to say untill someone asks me a question..like "is fibromyalgia a disability " I couldn't reply as brain fog has set in it's like my brain has been erased 😥 does anyone else feel like this x

[10x10]

Jo

So sorry for your loss

And to the answer to your question yes

I do all the time

I had to come out of a job Indomw for over 2 years I couldn’t remember the simplest things I had to do with my job my brain was blank

I can’t remember stuff at times when family will say oh remember when we did this

It’s can be so so scary

I also get my words mixed up all the time

I could say something like oh can you put that milk in the washing machine please

Or I cannot say the simplest word for toffee

My family to help me laugh about it in a nice way saySnglish I’d my second language

Even spelling things now or how to write sentences I get so confused by it all were to put full stops ect

When I spoke to my doctor they said it’s symptom of fibro

I’d had all other test brain scan ect to rule out anything else

I hope this helps for you and

You take care and just take each day at a time x

[Tommygurl in reply to 10x10]

Thank you for your reply

I am exactly the same .I have 2 sons (grown up now ) both diagnosed with ADHD as children.

I feel like I have blagged my way through life and thought I must have ADHD but to embarrassed to seek help !!

I can watch a film but have no idea what it's about .

I don't no where to put full stops etc .

I can be in a group and have no idea what they are on about .

It goes on

When I saw last saw my doctor I mentioned ADHD he said its fibro symptoms 🤷‍♀️ I get so frustrated.

You take care x

[dinkic]

many class it as such, more high profile cases recently have helped it become more accepted but not sure on its own you would get a disability benefit for it, I have never tried although I have other things that class me as being so. I have heard of the dreadful things that have happened to some people doing so and cannot put myself through the mental pressure.