PIP Form

Hello, I am new here & have just received the PIP form. It all looks a bit confusing, maybe it's made that way on purpose. I am currently in receipt of both the higher rate of DLA for care & mobility. I have psoriatic arthritis, Ankylosing Spondylitis, Spondyloarthropathy, sjogren's syndrome, crazy tinnitus & a few other things. I have just turned 45 & first got ill about 9 years ago. I had been put on Methotrexate & was on this for just over 8 weeks but it made my liver go haywire & become toxic & left me feeling really ill & did nothing to help my joints then after months of blood tests to check my organs were ok they decided to put me on another drug called Sulfasalazine, I only took 2 tablets one morning & went out the back in the shade & my face burnt really bad, this was at 8 am, I had a very severe reaction which caused my skin to become overly sensitive to the sun & heat, sadly this side effect has not gone away & I am left with this now. I decided I did not want to take any more immunosuppressants & my doctor agreed though he does nag me from time to time to go back to see a different rhumatologist to see if anything new is now available so I am currently on the waiting list to do this though I don't feel overly joyful about the prospect of taking more of these meds. My GP has been great with my pain meds & we found a anti inflammatory that can really help though its not a cure it has helped but of course there are side effects so I find myself not taking them so often now & just take the pain meds which are co-codamol which leave me feeling groggy, my gp says he doesn't think they should cause me to be drowsy & its more down to a lack of sleep which is caused by pain & stiffness at night but I think its both as I can't take them in the day much as they do zonk me out! I am going to see my GP next week & would be grateful for any help or advice anyone could give me as to what I need to ask him for as he only gives me pain meds & meds for my eyes, he knows my health is an ongoing thing but I have never really spoken to this doctor about how my life at home is controlled by my illness things like taking a shower & going to the toilet at night, my husband has to help me, even turning over in bed is a task as I'm so stiff & pained. My eldest son often helps during the day as he works in the evening, does this count too? I do have slightly better days which compared to the really rotten days are a breath of fresh air to have a day of relief but will this odd day go against me now? I often use a crutch as my spine is starting to fuse together & my hips are stiff & painful but some days I can't use it as my arms, wrist & shoulder hurt too much for me to lean on the crutch, I have read that this is classed as an aid & can go against you. I'm so confused right now & I would be so grateful for any piece of advice or help before I put pen to paper, thank you for reading.

Hello Gordon, thank you for your reply. Yes I have been reading through the PIP claim guide, it takes time for me as my eyes are so sensitive the the screen. Thank you for posting the link though. It was actually my previous GP that suggested I try to claim DLA but he has now retired. I don't really see an issue with my GP giving me a letter stating my illnesses as he has willingly done this for my son to inform schools about his health, I guess in a way I'm probably a bit embarrassed to go into detail how my life can be at home & exactly what I need help with as I'm not one to complain & have got to the point that I haven't wanted to tell him how bad my pain is cause he just says go back to the rheumatologist or take more painkillers & I just carry on. I can get a lift to the doctors next Tuesday so I will let you know how that goes.
Thanks again

Hello, I managed to see my GP on Wednesday of this week & asked him if he was able to provide me with the medical evidence I need to send off with my PIP form & he said he would ask his wife! It turns out his wife is one of the doctors that is on the medical assessment board, he said he would give me all the information I need after he had spoken to her to find out what is best to send off & that he will have a receptionist from the surgery phone me to let me know it is all ready for me. He said if I get called up for a medical then I must not see his wife as it could make things awkward if she disagrees with him or if she states I am able to keep my benefit. Now I hope he ca n get this done for me ASAP & doesn't forget.

Do you know if everyone has to have a medical, I was told someone would be ringing me in 14 days but that has passed now so I don;t know if they are waiting for me to return the form which I am slowly getting through but its not a nice form at all!
Thank you.