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My GP Surgery refuses to see that I am Disabled.
Julian
Member Posts: 22 Connected
Hello everyone, I have been totally blown away in shock and have been made to feel like a freeloading fraud by my GP surgery today. I have been under this surgery for nearly 30 years. I am 54 and have been in poor health for over 15 years.
Earlier in 2004 I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and was medically discharged from my job at Royal Mail. Later that year in June I became a type 1 diabetic finding out with being very ill. I have degenerative arthritis in my knees among other areas. I suffer depression which started with a mental breakdown in the late 90's. I have complications with chronic pain stress and high BP when I have tried to hold down or work.I was moved from esa work related group and put into esa support group. My GP refuses to recognise me as being Disabled (having a disability) and say I'm not classed as disabled and will only recognise me as having several ailments. Surely Type 1 diabetes,fibromyalgia(Tramadol prescribed) fatigue arthritis Depression diverticulitis is a Disability. Or am I over reacting. I would love your honest thoughts please.🤔👍
Earlier in 2004 I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and was medically discharged from my job at Royal Mail. Later that year in June I became a type 1 diabetic finding out with being very ill. I have degenerative arthritis in my knees among other areas. I suffer depression which started with a mental breakdown in the late 90's. I have complications with chronic pain stress and high BP when I have tried to hold down or work.I was moved from esa work related group and put into esa support group. My GP refuses to recognise me as being Disabled (having a disability) and say I'm not classed as disabled and will only recognise me as having several ailments. Surely Type 1 diabetes,fibromyalgia(Tramadol prescribed) fatigue arthritis Depression diverticulitis is a Disability. Or am I over reacting. I would love your honest thoughts please.🤔👍
Replies
Fibromyalgia is a grey area because sadly although its a very serious illness it is not always recognised as genuine by alot of GPs and they dismiss the symptoms altogether.
If your not happy with your GPs care you can always get a second opinion you can asked to see another Dr at the practise or you can go and register with a different surgery ! Im not an expert but worked many yrs as a Carer and as you say you have been moved to another support group re ESA so your Assessor must have thought you were disabled to some degree .
Dont give up and let your GP thob you off you didnt ask to be ill and shouldnt be made to feel like you do.
Hi @Julian
As your ‘various ailments’ are having an impact on your daily life, proved by your transition from ESA WRAG to ESA Support, then yes you have disabilities.
There are some conditions where I would be reluctant to automatically prescribe as a disability, type 1 diabetes being one of these. If controlled by injections, diet and exercise and has little affect on your life in general then I would say this is a medical condition rather than disability. As mentioned it can lead to secondary conditions which certainly can be a disability.
As an individual I stood alone.
As a member of a group I did things.
As part of a community I helped to create change!
Understand my story is very similar to yourself. In the sense have worked became ill in having an addiction plus mental health issues. Plus born with a genetic condition.
So used to get a lot of fobbed off. Told to leave, or ejected from waiting rooms. Usually by elderly Doctors who never really understood me. Mental health or other assorted issues I had.
Know now related to mental health and addiction. I am the Doctor you know nothing. So found a advocate. Through a mental health charity. Used that to argue my case. Should have seen the look on his face. Did not like it at all.
Got what I need and left eventually the area. Until to this area am now. Had a Doctor talk to me like I was ten years and childish in manner and attitude. By time had spoken what I need out the door. Even wrote it down .
Back home suffering with mental health anxieties due to alcohol withdrawal. Need some support here. So contacted Rethink an Mental health charity for an advocate .Once again all changed when the Doctor sudden realised was serious.
Used them every time. They speak for you what you want to say. After a meeting prior to any appointment you may have.
I understand the need for proper and sensible dialogue with your Doctor. Yet if he does not recognise the issues and problems you have. I would also consider l have said an advocate.
Also find another surgery if that helps.
All I can add further you are not alone and hope you can get this resolved soon.
My own Doctor have no need for advocate now helps and assists me with anything I can suggest. I also try and help myself much as I can. Often consult her on information, advice I found on alternatives for my mental health and other things I have.
Looking at well being, diet, lifestyle. It helps to be educated and try to learn about your conditions and illness.
Then I know going right direction and tell her that if I need and want anything. After all you are in my opinion a contract with your Doctor. All helps them if you help yourself and they can see that. They then can be more forthcoming to assist .
Hope that helps.
Take care
@thespiceman
SCOPE Volunteer Award Engaging Communities 2019
Mental Health advice, guidance and information to all members
Nutrition, Diet, Wellbeing, Addiction.
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That's not even going into the extreme fatigue and pain I suffer. I rely on tramadol and can't cope without it even though I am very careful with its use. Im actually made to feel guilty if I'm having a good day because it messes with my head....frustrating.
Luckily after all that I'm now under 4 different specialists, at 3 different hospitals.
I'd suggest to keep going, call, get family to call, take doctors letters, file complaints etc. If you still got nowhere then change doctors, but that should do something, especially if you file a complaint.
Spiderman well have been known to be a super hero to some on this forum. So I have been told. lol
All I can add thank you for support. Since been clean eleven years. All I can say here as a brother no matter what the addiction is we need to support each other. Help and advice and most of importantly following some one.
I know people had have all sorts of addictions mainly the big three I call them. Alcohol, drugs, and gambling. Always meeting those like myself or just starting out.
So small steps all the time. Am here to listen and be supportive.
All I can add hope you find some one to assist you . Like I said something to consider an advocate. What ever you do you are a valuable member of this community.
Take care
@thespiceman
SCOPE Volunteer Award Engaging Communities 2019
Mental Health advice, guidance and information to all members
Nutrition, Diet, Wellbeing, Addiction.
Recipes
I realise FM is a grey area however if my GP is prescribing me Tramadol for the pain the last few years, the condition gets brushed under the carpet. When I have appointment at the GP I feel I'm dealing with a stranger because my GP is never there for consultation. Only time he shown an interest was when I was working at M&S when I was on duty twice he approached me and started asking questions about how I was coping. As if I could discuss it while I was running a food checkout at the time. I was so desperately struggling to cope and eventually said no to an extended period after my contract had expired. Nothing was offered to suit my criteria as a permanent position because of my needs. Remploy washed their hands of me and told me to be careful what I say because they have a relationship with M&S. They put their needs before mine. I was a wreck without support. I only thank my lucky stars I eventually stumbled across a sympathetic listener in an ESA MEDICAL review who was appalled by how I had been treated previously.....
I could go on...
Thanks for the post and support.😉
To explain myself clearer I had written a letter of request to my GP so that I could clarify the fact my disability prevents me from working due to I'll health from my Typ 1 diabetes fibromyalgia and arthritis among other stuff. The Dr's Secretary rang me and stated they were not prepared to write I had a disability because the Dr said I had an accumal amount of ailments. They said it wasn't their responsibility to write such a letter. I mentioned the 2010 act but it made no difference. I'm waiting for the Surgery senior Dr (my actual GP who is never available)to come back from his holidays to discuss with him. All they have done is triggered of my anxieties which usually leads to depression and sleepless nights of worrying and questioning my own integrity.
Its difficult, I understand why venues etc have to see proof of disability but since there’s no such thing as being “registered disabled” it’s hard to prove.
social work are worth having a conversation with.
The stadium didn't accept my ESA Support group letter. I have since requested a copy of my medical report from last April that put me in to esa support group.It has more details that might support me.🤔
I do wonder why people are always careful with certain medications and suffer more than they need to because of it. If you aren't coping then take what you need to do so and argue with the doctor later if that's the only way they will listen. Far better to argue with the doctor than saving it up until you lose all hope and take everything in sight. Careful usage gives the impression that you might not really need something but never take too much deliberately to make a point, only what is really needed. The point to make to the GP is that if you are given enough you might cope with work, if not you must be disabled as you cannot work. Unfortunately GP's love throwing Tramadol at problems and then warning people (even frightening them) not to use too much.
TK
i have enough problems without throwing an opiate addiction into the mix. Additionally, I can’t function with tramadol to the point that it means I have a lesser quality of life with less pain and tramadol than with more pain and no tramadol.
I spent a while being treated for cancer and when it looked like the next step was palliative care, I was very clear that being myself was more important than being in no pain.
People make decisions based on their experiences and circumstances; I’m 30 and if I started on the morphine or tramadol I was offered, what was my next step? So i take cocodomol and know that if I need it in the future there are other options.
I am a Type 1 amongst other things, and it really is not a life changer. I'm 70 and use needles etc. OK it is hard to control sometimes but you learn to live with it.
To be honest I have never disclosed my diabetic issue on any DWP claim form for benefits - it's just requires a bit of self control and adaption.
As for Chronic Pain, with help from opiates it can be controlled so as not to really infringe on having a reasonable level of life.
In my opinion people sometimes allow their issues to take over instead of thinking themselves lucky as there are 1,000's of others having worse difficulties.
TK
All the time I have and am ill I continue to press and look for alternatives and consider my research .
Had this last year with my mental health looking for easy solutions. Not all Doctors are open minded and we must remember that.
Many have and still not looked at alternatives. Looked at the wider spectrum of seeking the differences that certain aspects of health solutions can offer.
I am and have been an advocate of my herbs and spices . Looking for answers to every day misery of depression, anxiety.
The torment of addiction the residues of the only pain I have the physical and muscles. Aching every day.
There are so many things we can learn from the Orient, Chinese and Indian Medicine. Yet we as a community can choose and decide what is best for us.
I have recently spoken to my Doctor about my choices I make with regarding to some alternatives and is very open minded.
Use of one Spice I use. You have to understand this is for me and never say to anybody to try this but it helps me. Under SCOPE rules but it is helping.
Many of the medical profession are coming around to the ideas of looking at other cultures and their medicines. Usually because the medical profession are encountering those with that knowledge. Those areas of the country.
That have populations of the countries that use their own medicine and ideals. From Asia and beyond. Recall first time visit to a Chinese therapist and medicine consultant.
Consulted her because tired of taking over counter meds for pain relief. Harming my already damaged stomach through addiction and been sick every morning.
Has to be something else. Informative and stimulating.
Understanding the way the body works is important that in my opinion and we need to be aware of that.
Why I write a lot on health and others aspects of this called by my username and have advised my self that we have the knowledge and education to help our selves if we can.
Doctors are human and after all if we can use them for any injection of humanity and plead for some honesty. Ask them about solutions they may not have all the answers but we can guide them to find support for our troubles and be there to listen.
After all we go to the Doctors to soothe our brow and wish to be cured as we all know.
The end of a very long final point lol
Take care
@thespiceman
SCOPE Volunteer Award Engaging Communities 2019
Mental Health advice, guidance and information to all members
Nutrition, Diet, Wellbeing, Addiction.
Recipes
Most people witnessing a hypo believe the person has been drinking alcohol and avoid contact, or ask if the need more insulin. Maybe call it a disadvantaged life through illness? When in state of hypo, many diabetics cannot help themselves and need help straight away. Hypos can cause loss of muscle control and jerking so they cannot put foods and glucose in their mouths and can go into diabetic seizures, They are savage and can cause injuries on falling and death. In my books that is a disability. My son has broken bones in his feet, caused concussion and been on life support because of contracting the Nora virus. That is disabling. We eat a whole food, clean diet, he is hypo unaware and is a devoted dad and son.
Some go to A&E for a bump on the head, some deal with chronic pain and fatigue by becoming a recluse. Surely the purpose of this ‘supportive’ sight is about somewhere where we can talk freely and confident about that what concerns us is not open to judgement and criticism for those of you that believe you have all the answers, but keep them to themselves. Why not try sharing and offer suggestions with how you coped. We know how fortunate we all are.
I have an adopted family in the Philippines, I send £20 a weeek which gives massive support to my single mum and son. Her mother developed type 1 diabetes about a year ago. There is no free medical assistances for medication, they gave her 1 injection a week,
I talked to her, she said “in the Philippines when we get diabetes we know we have a few months left and we all die.” I sent a bit more for her meds, but it wasn’t enough, she became incontinent and virtually stopped eating, she died in February, she had become silent and was skin on bones. DKA and organ failure. My adopted daughter slipped into abject grief and depression.
I wanted to send her the equipment to keep her alive, but it is not allowed. Mae slipped into terrible depression,developed chronic pain and total exhaustion, she mourned for months. Oddly she gained a lot of weight, so I sent her money for a blood test, she was diagnosed with hypothyroidism and prescribed thyroxine. She is on the mend and. Recovering from her grief. Her granma died 2 years ago aged 91, her mother was 54. I will continue my support. Diabetes is 100% death because of poverty, Does that make poverty a disability?
I hope your not turning this in to a contest of who is the most disabled?
That would be quite sad wouldn't it.
I do think no one wants to be a centre of attention regarding their issues. We need to respect that view and opinion. Be aware of others plight and their sensitivity to their problems they have..
My concern is that having experienced and do understand and respect what you are going through
All I can add we as a community have various ailments, disabilities, illness, conditions that need to be addressed
Every one has an issue with the way there are treated by the medical profession.
Good or bad.
Sometimes can take over a post and hearing others points raised. Make an interesting forum. Another perspective.
I added because I do not like visiting my Doctors . Unless I can and have the need to go . Have my issues addressed and need to move on and use the Doctors. Not only for consultation but in agreement try to heal my self if I can. Ease the symptoms and pain. I am sure not alone with this.
Have and used alternative therapies and other ways. Using my knowledge . Gained from various qualifications and I have . I am on medication from the Doctors but use with her consent looking at ways to help me mentally and physically.
They can only do so much. Medication can help but it is yourself who knows what works . Your body and mind.
Hope that clears up anything I was saying.
Please take care
@thespiceman
SCOPE Volunteer Award Engaging Communities 2019
Mental Health advice, guidance and information to all members
Nutrition, Diet, Wellbeing, Addiction.
Recipes
I'm among thousands who suffer the same discriminate behaviour towards FM.
I'm currently Mr Grumps but try to be positive 🤔☺😁