Review.... PIP Telephone Assessment ....1 year later

Hi raindaisy

Forgive me, but I couldn't help but smile when you had that message about feedback. How typical.

A recent study of fibromyalgia and mortality rates says: "Fibromyalgia is a poorly understood disease whose prevalence has increased over the years... There is a growing understanding that fibromyalgia coexists with other health problems, including other rheumatic diseases, and gastrointestinal, neurologic and mental health disorders." Unfortunately, there are many medical professionals who still doubt its existence and many of the assessors don't understand the impact.

When you talk about your walking and the pain, you need to describe (again) what that is like. Catching your breath, pausing, feeling nauseous, stopping, balance issues, shaking, walking at a much slower speed, having to hold onto something, the subsequent exhaustion which means you couldn't repeat walking any distance immediately. You can say that exhaustion is not tiredness, and it often means that you can no longer keep your body upright. The assessor could not see that over the telephone.

If you were criticised for not having enough pain medication - they should also understand that most doctors are reluctant to prescribe, as are the pain clinics, as most of the medication available does not give people sufficient relief and everyone is scared stiff of people becoming addicted.

In terms of you having no MH input - you need to point out that it is common knowledge that MH services are under strain around the country, made worse by the number of people requiring help during and since the pandemic. They don't have staff to keep people on their books and these days if you even get care, it will only be for a short time and people will be get kicked off the list.

BIS

Hi Raindaisy

I'm glad that the letter finally arrived. You can still put in for an MR. You can still put in for a late submission MR, citing that you didn't receive the decision letter. You have a record of ringing telling them that you hadn't received it.

Thank you for telling everyone about your professional experience. I'm with you - filling in the forms and dealing with the DWP and assessment services is deeply personal and horribly stressful. It almost brought me to my knees when I had to do it for a close relative, and it was only thanks to B&W and Gordon that I got through it.

Good luck with the next stage of your fight.

BIS

Hi raindaisy - till death, you do fight! haha. Totally, it's so sad reading what you've put, and the way you're treat, if anything, you'd think they'd look after one of their own for all the years of dedicated service you've given them - it's not your fault that you've deteriorated over time, as peoples bodies and minds tend to do......it's just nature. I am in the same boat and praying that there are people higher up who award correctly.

Hi BIS, do you mind me asking how you got into becoming a MOD on here ? It's something I'd love to do, be able to help people on here, and learn whilst doing it. I do appreciate if it's not something that you're able to answer online - just thought I'd ask out of curiousity, and something that could help me pass the time.