Sorry about the multiple posts. Posting from my phone and it doesn’tlet me do paragraphs!
Just wondering - were you assessed by ATOS?
I was, and they didn’t visit me.
Well i had the lady from DWP come today to help fill in the forms. She was lovely and so helpful. I was totally drained, crying, and depressed at some of the questions, but we got through it. Now got a stinking headache and probably will end up in bed.
She said its a long wait to hear so I am just going to forget it all happened now, and just chill out. I could never have filled it in on my own so really grateful to Aged UK for organising it for me.
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Morning peeps, now i have had time to calm down (my BP was way up all afternoon even on my tablets shows how these forms can affect us).
Thinking back on the questions and what she asked me, the general thing seems to be how well you can dress yourself, use aids (for toilet needs, shower, feeding etc), and how well you cope going out, anxiety, depression etc. Onlly one real question on actual mobililty as in how far you can walk, what happens etc. I actually if my memory serves me right think that the PIP form was less to do then the DLA or that could be simply because i was just answering questions.
She didnt stress over taking loads of things, but took them anyway. I had a list of my medications and by each side it said what the medical complaint was for, she found that very useful, and for how long i had been suffering with each one.
I had my care plan from social services, and letters of diagnosis, and attending the pain clinic, and the outcomes of that.
The only problem i can see is, my GP of 10 years retired a few months back, she knew me inside out, i have only just seen the new one, for my anxiety and depression and she doesnt have a clue about my back ground.
Anyway the emphasis does seem to be about what you can do for yourself, and anxiety and depression going out, being social etc.
The form itself didnt look as bad as i thought but i would say if anyone can get help like Aged UK, or CAB then i woud go for that option, its a lot less stressful. x (P.S, i feel rank this morning and struggled to sleep the form does make an impact on our lives without doubt, and it shouldnt be that way).
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Thank You all for your advice,just finding this whole thing very stressful and very unnecessary,When you have this nasty illness that everybody knows is never going to get better.
Well the lady can as it happens she could not find my house so had to walk down my drive way to find her so she saw how I walked and exhausting it was for me to do that , the interview wore me out so then I went for a 40 min nap but slept for 4 hrs