Living with BAM

We want to hear from you: please tell us about your experience of the online community.

Tigger67

Hi, I have a condition called Bile Acid Malabsorption and I was diagnosed about 18 months ago.  I also have osteoporosis in the spine and osteopenia in the hip and neck.

I am finding it very difficult to cope with day to day living with having severe stomach cramps, urgently needing the toilet, terrible fatigue and joint pain.

I have recently had to reduce the hours that I work because I was so exhausted but I would be very interested to here from any fellow IBD sufferers to know what help, diet recommendations and benefits I could claim to hopefully make my life easier.

Thank you 🙂

poppy123456

For benefits, you can use a benefits calculator to check entitlement to Universal Credit. As it's a means tested benefit, if you live with a partner you claim as a couple and your joint circumstances will be taken into consideration. If you have savings/capital of more than £16,000 you're excluded from claiming. https://www.entitledto.co.uk/benefits-calculator/Intro/Home?cid=537996ba-693c-4724-946d-d7f0e0a056cc

If your earnings are less than £16 x NMW/Week you can report a health condition, supported by a fit note within 7 days of that. This will then start the work capability assessment process off and you should be referred within 29 days. If you earn more than this then a referral can't be made unless you're recieving a disability benefit such as PIP or DLA. https://www.gov.uk/health-conditions-disability-universal-credit

There's also Personal Independence Payment (PIP) it's not means tested so other income/savings/capital do not affect the amount you maybe entitled to. It's not about your ability to work, or a diagnosis. It's how those conditions affect you against the 12 PIP activities. You can read more information here. https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/pip/

https://pipinfo.net/

For your health conditions, i'd advise you to speak to your GP.