Assessment tomorrow - a few questions

anxiousbird

Thanks all
yes @Adrian_Scope I understand that we can’t judge it based on how the assessment went, I was just worried because he hadn’t even received my additional evidence from DWP and neither did he go into detail about the effects my illness has on my daily life. Will ask for the report soon  

cupcake88

@anxiousbird did you mention bout your cbt therapy you have comming up and medications that your on ? You will get a text when your report is back so you can request the report but I got my back payment before I got my letter and report and with the post the way it is at the moment might take longer but you can always call pip in a few weeks to see what the decision is x 

anxiousbird

Hi @cupcake88
I can’t take medication anymore because of a fear of medicines now. I did mention about my CBT and secondary care services but he seemed quite confused about it (he said he couldn’t see that in my evidence and I kept telling him that the most recent bundle of evidence that I’ve sent to DWP hasn’t yet been received by him as it hasn’t been scanned into their system yet). For some reason every time I mentioned that I know he hasn’t received my extra evidence that I recently sent, he kept saying ‘no I have your evidence’. Kept confusing the evidence that I sent with my pip form with the extra evidence I’ve recently sent in. 

Ah well, will have to wait and see now. Glad the assessment is over at least ?

OverlyAnxious

anxiousbird said:

I can’t take medication anymore because of a fear of medicines now.

Not at all related to PIP but does your GP understand that?  Mine can't seem to get his head around it! 

I'm struggling with near constant nausea now (recent addition over the last couple of years) which is horrible for someone with OCD & emetophobia...yet my GP just want's to fill me with SSRIs...which are known for causing nausea.

anxiousbird

OverlyAnxious said:

anxiousbird said:

I can’t take medication anymore because of a fear of medicines now.

Not at all related to PIP but does your GP understand that?  Mine can't seem to get his head around it! 

I'm struggling with near constant nausea now (recent addition over the last couple of years) which is horrible for someone with OCD & emetophobia...yet my GP just want's to fill me with SSRIs...which are known for causing nausea.

No not really, I just stopped telling them that I don’t want medicines or that I don’t use them anymore and stopped asking for medicines as well. Therapist knows. I’ve got vomit phobia as well so I understand how you must feel. 

Are the SSRIs helping you at all? 

OverlyAnxious

anxiousbird said:

Are the SSRIs helping you at all? 

No...I haven't managed to get any in so far due to the fear of side effects!     I haven't been able to take any form of medication for nearly 20 years but only started trying to deal with Doctors again 5 years ago.  I've never found a GP that understands so far.  I had been managing the anxiety reasonably well until 2018 when several physical issues got worse, which then cause more anxiety and it spirals.  I'm really not convinced the nausea is linked to anxiety (for 90% of the time) though.  I'm not able to deal with therapists either (tried 3 CBT 3 times but only managed one or two sessions each time).  And obviously no chance of any physical medical examinations at hospital.  I'm clutching at straws now, hoping that once I've found a more suitable property to move to, the overall anxiety will drop, and if it is that causing the digestive issues then hopefully they'll drop as well.  If not, then I'm not sure what the next step is...the SSRIs could have catastrophic consequences for me so I'd have to be really desperate to risk them now.

anxiousbird

Aww I hope things do get better for you @OverlyAnxious . ? I can relate so much with you, although my problems only started about 8 years ago. 

Having a good and understanding GP is such a blessing! I used to have a very nice GP, but then I moved to another city and unfortunately up till now I haven’t found one that REALLY understands. 

Once I even got a massive attack AT the GPs and I was in the GPs office barely able to breathe or open my eyes, my mum was crying looking at me like that but the GP was so indifferent, so heartless really that she kept asking ‘okay yea so why have you booked a appointment today how can I help you’ etc. Needless to say, never saw that GP again! 

Rick753

Ideally I'd say that you want to find out whether your GP is part of the practice, or salaried by them, or simply a temporary contractor. My GP, who is excellent, is a practice partner and thus has a vested interest in holding onto patients, treating them well and retaining them, which is good for their business, which is what many modern GP practices are - they set up on their own and sell their services to the local NHS Care commissioning group, so they don't wan't bad reviews.

Good luck with your Pip claim.

anxiousbird

Thanks @Rick753  
How does one find out whether a particular GP is a partner? Can we just ask the receptionist or something? 

Rick753

Well, in my case the surgery has a website, and all the partners are listed first, then the salaried GPs, then any temps (locums).

So you could see if your GPs are online, I'd imagine most are these days.

If you know anyone in the locality who is registered there you could ask if there are GPs noted for kindness, empathy, etc. There usually are, and they are usually well booked-up!

anxiousbird

Thanks both of you! That’s very helpful to know  

anxiousbird

Hi all, just an update that I’ve received a text just now to say that DWP has received my written report now. I’m calling now to request a copy of the report. Any chance the customer service agent will be able to look through the report and tell me whether there’s any recommendation for an award or do I just have to wait to the report in the post? 

anxiousbird

Just going through my report from last time (when I got refused) and just realised the my assessor yesterday didn’t even ask anything about how many good or bad days I have and didn’t ask anything about dressing/undressing etc. At all! ?