The system and being disabled

[NordicNavajo]

Hi, Glad to have found some place to be amongst fellow sufferers who may also be left out in the cold. To introduce myself- I am a 48 year old fybro sufferer who managed to get the condition after whiplash from a RTA in 2007. After many diagnoses and disagreements and a horrific court battle which was a drain, here I am 5 years later having lost all bar my soul (job, dignity, self worth, ability to care for myself etc etc). I have managed to control the symptoms for 10 months and hold down a meaty level job for local govt for the last 7 years, but on preperation for the court case was advised to give up my wellbeing plan (ordered to or face the possibility of paying court costs in no win no fee) so I obeyed the specialist andd within 6 weeks I was out of action having contracted shingles. That was May 2011 and I have had trouble walking ever since. The effect on my nervouse system was so great that my body now also has a neurological disorder called functional weakness. My nerves and brain do not communicate so I have shingles pain of bee stings all over 75% of body 100% of time. I have had little to no support from GP's and have been left quite scarred from going through 5 years of hell. The medical investigations were prompted by solicitor and paid for privately. The irony of it all is I was a local govt employee in social care, they were able to lose me due to my 1 year sickness after shingles and after a fight to be pensioned off I am left with a whoppiung £997 per year pension for 3 years being signed off as too sick to work. I had asked to go back but were refused as they just wanted the post filled.

On the other side of the table I have had a 10 month wait for a tribunal for DLA, been through the ATOS nightmare and came out with o mobility and low level care. The reality is harsh, I cant work because a govt appointed doctor has said I am too sick, I get low level care when I need help 24 hours a day (and yes my form and statements were all checked by CAB and were in reasonable state) Ive suffered so many people pull me appart for court and for work and DLA that I am sick to the back teeth of medicals. The support I have had from GP's has up until I managed to find one who would at least help me try and find pain relief been non existent and my last GP filled in on DLA form "doesnt need any help from disability living allowance" which was the DLA nail in the coffin for me. I didnt even need ATOS to throw me away, my own GP had done it.

I am currently supporting my family (autistic son) on the remains of my court award for RTA which were supposed to last for a lifetime of care, but as I have that small amount I can get no other help. I fight for everything from a drug repeat prescription to attempting to get a blue badge, yet I have sold my car as can not drive at present and walk with a frame. I am told i am officially too sick for work, yet I am not in any official govt statistics as I fall between the cracks in the boards.

Desperately depressed but feisty as hell, I swing between the two modes. Fighting for existence, and of course for a return to some form of wellbeing or improvement.

Over the last 5 yearrs I have grown so much and know so much more than I did, for that I am thankfull. I have found alot that has helped me through the fybro,PTSD, IBS and neurological disorders that life has passed my way. But I have deffinately been downtrodden by all the sustems I am stuck in. The very same systems I faught to effect change in and equality within when I was employed. It is a shame I could not have been given the chance to effect more as there would be less to suffer.

I am currently looking to attempr a DLA tribunal appeal whcih has to be on the grounds of law. I am hoping to find legal representation and explore the GP's right to comment about my care needs as he had categorically stated he did not believe I was elligible for DLA.

Its all rough justice really as anyone who knows me in reality thinks that all these folk judging me must be insane as they can actually SEE that I am sick and can not mobilise. So much for fighting the fight on the hidden fybro front. What chance have we got?

After that lengthy intro, I would like to say hi to all and if you have any words of wisdom about anything here for me PLEASE do post. Despite it all I am still positive that there is life after these govt battles, just not sure how to access it!

Colourfull thoughts

NN

[irishlady76]

You sound how i feel today and everyday it makes you so mad doesnt it I also worked all my life and now I need help I cannot seem to get much I have just had a rant on here about DLA I got higher rate mobility after a fight but the fight took 2 years and they gave it me for 3 years so guess what i have to reapply as they dont do renewals its a completely new application so 10 months down the line after getting it I have to start all over again its frustrating so my heart goes out to you thinking of you just keep fighting dont let the system beat you ((((((hugs)))))

[NordicNavajo in reply to irishlady76]

Hi

and yes I will NOT let them beat me, the more I travel through the more I realise they have to be put right, and I will struggle until I get what I require. Before I was this sick I helped lots of folk who needed to receive benefit from DLA and every one got it, there is a significant change for the worse in the help being given and its a lottery. We should all fight on. Thanks for the support and the hugs

[Hidden]

hi and welcome well i need a cooffee now lol afte rading all that btu yes we are all the same pushed from this one to that one then let down by dla just got told no dla for me in may not appealing as my gp wrote a fantastic letter and the man from dial who came snd filled in the form for me said if after this yo get efused dont appeal just wait and reapply in year or so or earlier if you get alot worse so that what i doing

my goodness you have been through it bless you you must have files of paper eerywhere like me a file for this dept and that dept i keep all things official as you never know

oh well glad you have found the site and will chat again so welcome and love to you diddle xx

[NordicNavajo in reply to Hidden]

Thanks diddle, and dont give up, this help is our right morally!

C

[1961may]

hi im in the same boat i was in a RTA and have to fight for everthing and its hard when your not well enought to deal with things where is the help out there. soft hugs xxx

[NordicNavajo]

Hi May

I guess we have to pool our knowledge of how to get what we deserve. Thats why this place is good. I hope you get or have got court settlement in hand as insurance companies are another force that screws us over.

Kind thoughts NN

[Hidden]

Hello and welcome NordicNavajo! Great to see you here in our lovely forum!

Take a look around, you will find lots of info, advice, support and friendship here. If there's anything you need to know, just let us know and we're only too happy to help.

If you click on the link below it will take you to DLA Tribunal threads that our members have posted their experiences on, there may be some info there to help you -

fibroaction.healthunlocked....

There is also information in the form of a fact sheet giving info on how to prepare for a DLA Tribunal and the process if you click on the link below -

dls.org.uk/advice/factsheet...

[NordicNavajo in reply to Hidden]

A warm thank you NN