Is FND a disability?

lexilu

Just diagnosed with FND. Waited year for neurology appointment. What is difference with ME and this. Feel like not believed. Can hardly walk and speech and sight affected. Is FND a disability?

Holly_Scope

Hi @lexilu and welcome to the online community. 🙂 According to the Equality Act 2010, "you are considered disabled if: You have a physical or mental impairment. This impairment has a significant and long-lasting negative effect on your ability to perform everyday activities". What you've described looks to fall in to the category of the Equality Act. You mentioned feeling like you're not believed. I'm sorry to hear that. Are you having an issue with someone in-particular i.e. DWP or GP?

lexilu

Yes work. I was happy to have a diagnosis. In my work we have access to an NHS data base and FND isn't on it therefore it doesn't exist. Told by manager been fobbed off as now neurology have washed their hands of me. Told me he insists I get a second opinion or at least request one. He also read that some doctors don't believe in it eg like ME was years ago. I was very upset yesterday as felt so stupid. I could hardly work. I do admin at home but they want me to travel over an hour to an office. I can't stand the noise and the light and physically struggle to walk now. Anyway I will cope but it is depressing how FND is perceived. Only diagnosed a few days ago feel like going to get an uphill battle when I really don't need it. Thanks for responding

durhamjaide2001

i would definitely say FND was a disability

lexilu

Thank you it is whether work like it or not. Been to Tu.

Holly_Scope

Hi @lexilu I'm really sorry that work haven't been supportive of your needs. Have you had an occupational health assessment? If not, it might be worth requesting one from your employer.

It'll be an external organisation completing the assessment and it's typically done when a person is struggling with their physical or mental health. They talk to you and put forward reasonable adjustment suggestions to your employer to support your needs at work.

lexilu

My Tu rep has suggested it. Will discuss with manager. Had nice long sleep after work. Feeling much better.Thanks for responding as don't feel quite so alone.

Holly_Scope

Good, I hope the chat goes well and they get that in place. It's definitely worth doing. Pleased you had a good rest, it always helps 🙂 Please let us know how you get on (if you don't mind of course).

lexilu

will do

SarahT41

I would definitely recommend getting an occupational health report. It's generally a phone call with a specialist nurse or healthcare professional who asks lots of questions about your condition and how it affects you specifically, and then they write it into a report that goes to your manager.

I would also ask your employer for a risk assessment. This is basically a written agreement of any reasonable adjustments you need to do your job. You are legally entitled to reasonable adjustments under the equalities act. Let your employer know that you know that you're entitled to this as a disabled person.

I don't have FND, but I have been there with facing a new diagnosis of a condition I don't know much about, and definitely don't know anyone else with. The best thing for me has been national charities/societies for my specific conditions. I have learnt far more from patient information webinars with health professionals that specialise in my condition, peer support groups and closed Facebook groups than I have from any healthcare professional I've met face to face. I've done a quick Google and there is a FND charity in the UK so definitely reach out to them for advice.

And if it comes to it, do you have HR? Because it's unacceptable for your manager to be arguing with you over whether a condition you've been diagnosed with exists.

lexilu

my Tu rep says the same. Just taking it in as was lot to cope with and I was in shock with his attitude which really upset me. Will speak to GP as soon as I can. Thank you for responding.

teddybear56

I have recently been diagnosed with FND and i would definetly class it as a disability. I struggle to walk, my wrist and fingers hurt all the time and have weird pins and needles and electric shock feelings all the time. The brain fog is terrible. I am trying to take ill health retirmement at the moment.