Had my assessment for pip this morning.

Hi everyone,

I've had my assessment for pip. She was a very nice lady, made me feel very comfortable.

She rang an hour before hand on the landline and I was unable to get up an answer it so my wife got it for me. She asked for me, but my wife took the call. (Is this normal that they ring before hand and is this one of their subtle checks I wonder?)

I was sat on the sofa after not long having a nasty attack and I was breathless and suffering with a tight chest and she made mention of the fact that I seemed breathless and in some discomfort and I explained to her that I had just had an attack. She walked over to me as I was unable to stand up and she shook my hand.

She didn't ask for my ID, she asked to sit down at my Dining table and I said it was fine and she turned to face me whilst I was sat on the sofa. She went through all the reports etc relevant to my case and also asked me to explain my IBS diagnosis from a few years back and what sort of effect my current condition has with my IBS etc. I explained that I regularly need to visit the toilet throughout the day and will never venture far from a toilet as I have a history of accidents.
She asked whether the toilet is upstairs and downstairs and I explained we have one on each, but I still not always able to get there without help and supervision as well.

She asked these questions.
Does anyone else live with you?
Can you get around all areas of your home?
Are there any modifications or adaptations?
What work do you normally do??
Have any adjustments been made to enable you to continue working?
Have you given up or changed work?
If so, was it due to your health condition or impairment?

I explained that I did work and I had a desk job and was let go due to 'impaired capability due to ill health' and I explained that I had evidence of this if she wanted.

She then asked to see all my medication and asked me how long i'd be taking them and what sort of side effects they have.

She then asked me how my diagnosis was reached after seeing the letter from specialist and I explained I had an endoscopy and a Manometry which was highly abnormal as stated in my diagnosis letter.
She asked me how often I see my specialist and when the last time I saw him and my GP.

She asked me a little bit of background of my condition as obviously they do not know a lot about it. I explained the condition and she asked me about my symptoms and I named the several symptoms that I have from it. Such as acute, chronic chest pain, crushing and tight chest all day, breathlessness, insomnia and jaw and back ache. She noted it all down and then asked me about my Insomnia and how many hours sleep I get a night.
She asked me if my condition varies and how it varies. I told her it varies hourly not daily but suffer symptoms 70% of the day.
Have I been admitted to hospital over the last 12 months. I advised her several times.
She asked me about any adaptations made within the home and if I were able to navigate around the house by myself and I explained I wasn't and I avoid using the stairs unless going to bed or having a bath.

She then asked me to explain a typical day and she helped me along the way by asking me do you have pain from early hours? Are you able to get out of bed right away or have to wait for a bit? Can you get out yourself? Do you need to visit the toilet straight after getting out of bed and do you manage to get there on your own? Do you prepare your own breakfast? Then asked about lunch and dinner. She asked does my condition cause issues with swallowing? Do I have to cut them into much smaller pieces than normal?

She asked if I can at least use a Microwave, but she suggested before I answered as probably not herself as food is too hot when it comes out. I agreed. I explained I could easily put it in, but would not be able to get it out in case I got burnt.

She asked me about getting dressed and I explained I can usually dress myself, but never without supervision and explained a previous accident.

She asked me about bathing and if I need help in or out of the bath, how often do I bath and do I wash myself. I told her I need help in and out of the bath at least 3 times a week and that I need constant supervision and I often experience attacks in the bath causing Lisa needing to empty my bath so I am not in danger because she can't always get me out of the bath during a nasty attack.

She asked me if I had any hobbies that I have had to give up and I explained that I used to like to play football with my sons, but I am no longer able to even take them to the park and my wife has to drive us even though the parks down the road. I explained I mainly lie down and watch tele for the majority of the day now as I am unable to get out of the house. I explained when I do feel physically able to go out I hate to, as I find the staring extremely embarrassing and people constantly want to call me an Ambulance and asking if I am ok causes me distress. I explained to her I will only go out with help/supervision, due to fear of collapsing and so Lisa can communicate for me otherwise I would be admitted to hospital by strangers every day. I gave an example where I collapsed on public transport so I have a fear of using it and it makes me anxious.

I then had a nasty spasm falling to the floor from the sofa which lasted a couple of minutes and she was clearly concerned. I spent the rest of the interview on the floor as I was unable to get up.

She asked me about my movement and if I am able to walk and how far can I walk without symptoms and if they are brought on by exertion. I explained that 70% of the day I am not able to leave the sofa and only leave if I walk to the toilet down the hall and that's only a couple of metres and I often need help. I explained I can never walk comfortably and I am always in pain and breathless and that if I do walk I become more breathless and Lathargic.

She asked me about the depression on my medical records and I explained to her that whilst I am not as bad as I used to be, I still feel depressed and upset a lot of the time because the boys want to play with me and I can't play with them and I can't discipline them when needed and that it makes me want to sit and cry when I think about not being able to go out and provide for my kids myself.
She then asked me about my mood and I explained I am ratty the majority of the time and she said she understood that and that anyone experiences the sort of pain that I do would be moody.

She checked my blood pressure and said it was good but my heart beat was very high but she expected that after just having an attack.

She said to me that my condition has clearly turned my life upside down and basically affects everything I do day to day.

I can't remember everything she asked but I hope the above helps those who are still waiting for theirs.
Over all I found it a very positive experience.

Any questions please ask.

bottleofbest wrote: Hi everyone,

I've had my assessment for pip. She was a very nice lady, made me feel very comfortable.

She rang an hour before hand on the landline and I was unable to get up an answer it so my wife got it for me. She asked for me, but my wife took the call. (Is this normal that they ring before hand and is this one of their subtle checks I wonder?)

I was sat on the sofa after not long having a nasty attack and I was breathless and suffering with a tight chest and she made mention of the fact that I seemed breathless and in some discomfort and I explained to her that I had just had an attack. She walked over to me as I was unable to stand up and she shook my hand.

She didn't ask for my ID, she asked to sit down at my Dining table and I said it was fine and she turned to face me whilst I was sat on the sofa. She went through all the reports etc relevant to my case and also asked me to explain my IBS diagnosis from a few years back and what sort of effect my current condition has with my IBS etc. I explained that I regularly need to visit the toilet throughout the day and will never venture far from a toilet as I have a history of accidents.
She asked whether the toilet is upstairs and downstairs and I explained we have one on each, but I still not always able to get there without help and supervision as well.

She asked these questions.
Does anyone else live with you?
Can you get around all areas of your home?
Are there any modifications or adaptations?
What work do you normally do??
Have any adjustments been made to enable you to continue working?
Have you given up or changed work?
If so, was it due to your health condition or impairment?

I explained that I did work and I had a desk job and was let go due to 'impaired capability due to ill health' and I explained that I had evidence of this if she wanted.

She then asked to see all my medication and asked me how long i'd be taking them and what sort of side effects they have.

She then asked me how my diagnosis was reached after seeing the letter from specialist and I explained I had an endoscopy and a Manometry which was highly abnormal as stated in my diagnosis letter.
She asked me how often I see my specialist and when the last time I saw him and my GP.

She asked me a little bit of background of my condition as obviously they do not know a lot about it. I explained the condition and she asked me about my symptoms and I named the several symptoms that I have from it. Such as acute, chronic chest pain, crushing and tight chest all day, breathlessness, insomnia and jaw and back ache. She noted it all down and then asked me about my Insomnia and how many hours sleep I get a night.
She asked me if my condition varies and how it varies. I told her it varies hourly not daily but suffer symptoms 70% of the day.
Have I been admitted to hospital over the last 12 months. I advised her several times.
She asked me about any adaptations made within the home and if I were able to navigate around the house by myself and I explained I wasn't and I avoid using the stairs unless going to bed or having a bath.

She then asked me to explain a typical day and she helped me along the way by asking me do you have pain from early hours? Are you able to get out of bed right away or have to wait for a bit? Can you get out yourself? Do you need to visit the toilet straight after getting out of bed and do you manage to get there on your own? Do you prepare your own breakfast? Then asked about lunch and dinner. She asked does my condition cause issues with swallowing? Do I have to cut them into much smaller pieces than normal?

She asked if I can at least use a Microwave, but she suggested before I answered as probably not herself as food is too hot when it comes out. I agreed. I explained I could easily put it in, but would not be able to get it out in case I got burnt.

She asked me about getting dressed and I explained I can usually dress myself, but never without supervision and explained a previous accident.

She asked me about bathing and if I need help in or out of the bath, how often do I bath and do I wash myself. I told her I need help in and out of the bath at least 3 times a week and that I need constant supervision and I often experience attacks in the bath causing Lisa needing to empty my bath so I am not in danger because she can't always get me out of the bath during a nasty attack.

She asked me if I had any hobbies that I have had to give up and I explained that I used to like to play football with my sons, but I am no longer able to even take them to the park and my wife has to drive us even though the parks down the road. I explained I mainly lie down and watch tele for the majority of the day now as I am unable to get out of the house. I explained when I do feel physically able to go out I hate to, as I find the staring extremely embarrassing and people constantly want to call me an Ambulance and asking if I am ok causes me distress. I explained to her I will only go out with help/supervision, due to fear of collapsing and so Lisa can communicate for me otherwise I would be admitted to hospital by strangers every day. I gave an example where I collapsed on public transport so I have a fear of using it and it makes me anxious.

I then had a nasty spasm falling to the floor from the sofa which lasted a couple of minutes and she was clearly concerned. I spent the rest of the interview on the floor as I was unable to get up.

She asked me about my movement and if I am able to walk and how far can I walk without symptoms and if they are brought on by exertion. I explained that 70% of the day I am not able to leave the sofa and only leave if I walk to the toilet down the hall and that's only a couple of metres and I often need help. I explained I can never walk comfortably and I am always in pain and breathless and that if I do walk I become more breathless and Lathargic.

She asked me about the depression on my medical records and I explained to her that whilst I am not as bad as I used to be, I still feel depressed and upset a lot of the time because the boys want to play with me and I can't play with them and I can't discipline them when needed and that it makes me want to sit and cry when I think about not being able to go out and provide for my kids myself.
She then asked me about my mood and I explained I am ratty the majority of the time and she said she understood that and that anyone experiences the sort of pain that I do would be moody.

She checked my blood pressure and said it was good but my heart beat was very high but she expected that after just having an attack.

She said to me that my condition has clearly turned my life upside down and basically affects everything I do day to day.

I can't remember everything she asked but I hope the above helps those who are still waiting for theirs.
Over all I found it a very positive experience.

Any questions please ask.

Hi bofb,

Thank you very much for taking the time to post this in depth description of your F2F.

I am sure that it will be helpful to our members.

I am glad that the assessor seemed courteous and professional.

Fingers crossed that you don't have to wait too long for what we hope is a positive decision.

bro58