equationgirl
Respect my existence or expect my resistance
I signed it too, fucking stupid idea. Wankers.
Atos Medicals - Questions, Answers and Support
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equationgirl
Respect my existence or expect my resistance
Signed.
I had an appointment with A4E yesterday and was told that if I have a diagnosis of ME instead of CFS I would get DLA as well.
As ME and CFS are the same thing why would the DWP treat them differently? (are are they just being thick as normal)
I suspect they are just being thick as normal.
Signed.
I had an appointment with A4E yesterday and was told that if I have a diagnosis of ME instead of CFS I would get DLA as well.
As ME and CFS are the same thing why would the DWP treat them differently? (are are they just being thick as normal)
Strictly speaking, the DWP are being thick. However, AFAIK these days ME tends to be more widely accepted as fitting the Ramsey diagnosis (more physical stuff wrong) and CFS as fitting the Oxford diagnosis (closer to "it's all in your head") as espoused by Simon benighted Wessely et al. But there's politics behind this too. In some areas, even consultants haven't been allowed to write M.E. and have to put CFS instead.
In any fucking case, the diagnosis you're given ought to be irrelevant, even according to the DWP's own rules. DLA is granted according to how you are affected/impaired, not by the labels you have or haven't got.
Bakunin
I am Noodle's bitch.
I thought DLA was granted depending on whether or not they could legally get away with refusing it.
Unfortunately for the bean-counters the Tribunal Service seems to be independently minded.
It should be. In practice it seems to be granted to the fewest people possible while the DWP crosses its collective fingers that enough of the rest will just give up instead of even trying to appeal.
WouldBe
Dislicksick
I have seen the Ramsey criteria before and I don't meet them either. Although it could explain one of the symptoms that the expert neurologist said couldn't be explained by CFS and he couldn't explain what might be causing that symptom.Not looked at the Ramsey diagnosis but I don't meet the Oxford diagnosis so I must have ME.
Got a copy of my recent med notes yesterday. Above neurologist says my GP could refer me to every neurologist in the country and I might get a "spurious diagnosis of organic desease" but it won't be from him. Sounds like he's either very woried or has an ego the size of Jupiter.
The prof of neurology who my GP wrote to and said MRI was the gold standard for diagnosing MS actually went on to suggest neurologists in the are who are specialists in MS that I could be refered to. Yet according to my GP there's no point.
Letter from specialist in CFS advising my GP on pain relief states opiates won't work on CFS and gabapentin won't work on physical damage. So it's funny how the gabapentin isn't having any effect (I'm on 1800mg daily atm) yet there has already been an improvement since my GP put me on prescription co-codamol.
equationgirl
Respect my existence or expect my resistance
I have seen the Ramsey criteria before and I don't meet them either. Although it could explain one of the symptoms that the expert neurologist said couldn't be explained by CFS and he couldn't explain what might be causing that symptom.
Got a copy of my recent med notes yesterday. Above neurologist says my GP could refer me to every neurologist in the country and I might get a "spurious diagnosis of organic desease" but it won't be from him. Sounds like he's either very woried or has an ego the size of Jupiter.
The prof of neurology who my GP wrote to and said MRI was the gold standard for diagnosing MS actually went on to suggest neurologists in the are who are specialists in MS that I could be refered to. Yet according to my GP there's no point.
Letter from specialist in CFS advising my GP on pain relief states opiates won't work on CFS and gabapentin won't work on physical damage. So it's funny how the gabapentin isn't having any effect (I'm on 1800mg daily atm) yet there has already been an improvement since my GP put me on prescription co-codamol.
1800mg of gabapentin is a big dose, if it's having no effect have they thought of giving pregabalin (Lyrica) a go instead? It's supposed to be more effective on damaged nerves than gabapentin.
equationgirl
Respect my existence or expect my resistance
And your GP is a foaming gibberer (copyright Frances Lengel) WouldBe
WouldBe
Dislicksick
1800mg is the max dose for peripheral nerve pain but I've been told to keep increasing it by 100mg per week.
Pregabalin costs more than gabapentin so I might have problems getting them to change to pregabalin.
If pregabalin is more effective on nerve damage they probably won't want to put me on that as if it works it will suggest that I do have an "organic disease" and that I'm not "imagining it". As a junior doctor told me years ago "the PCT don't like paying for MS treatment so I won't get a diagnosis" so I suspect they won't go down that route.
equationgirl
Respect my existence or expect my resistance
1800mg is the max dose for peripheral nerve pain but I've been told to keep increasing it by 100mg per week.
Pregabalin costs more than gabapentin so I might have problems getting them to change to pregabalin.
If pregabalin is more effective on nerve damage they probably won't want to put me on that as if it works it will suggest that I do have an "organic disease" and that I'm not "imagining it". As a junior doctor told me years ago "the PCT don't like paying for MS treatment so I won't get a diagnosis" so I suspect they won't go down that route.
Well it's not an MS treatment specifically and it is a non-generic drug, about £100 per month for 300mg/day, but there is no way you should be recommended to continually up your daily dose from the maximum dose. Could it be worth a shot? They must agree that you have nerve pain if you're getting gabapentin and co-codamol anyway.
equationgirl
Respect my existence or expect my resistance
The dreaded Atos brown envelope has landed. Against the set two year limit recommended by the Tribunal Service at my last appeal, I'm being re-assessed for the third time. This, after less than a year. I despair.
For the love of ......
Is it worth writing in the first instance with a copy of the Tribunal Service letter stating that? Send it off straight away if you can?
Libertad
Sparking up a rollie in the Reichstag
The dreaded Atos brown envelope has landed. Against the set two year limit recommended by the Tribunal Service at my last appeal, I'm being re-assessed for the third time. This, after less than a year. I despair.
ffs
WouldBe
Dislicksick
From why I can gather the PCT don't like paying for interferon. My GP has agreed with me that it would be up to a neurologist as to wether I'm suitable for interferon any way. I beleive I've progressed to secondary progressive MS as I don't appear to have relapses any more just gradually going down hill and the interferon is supposed to stop / reduce the relapses so wouldn't be applicable in my case.
I have other long standing problems like my knees that cause pain and have very noticable crepitus (which suggests to me that it's 1 not imaginary and 2 it's not caused by nerve problems) that hasn't been looked at or treated in nearly 20 years
. I also have recurrent back problems (I've put my back out 3 times in the last 6 weeks ). I understand that back problems are a neurological problem yet no one has even so much as physically examined my back let alone done any other tests in the 15 years I've been having problems but according to the neurologists I have no neurological problems and definately don't have any organic disease that's causing my problems.
Bakunin
I am Noodle's bitch.
Would ATOS's LiMA Version 2 Technical Manual be of interest to anybody?
http://issuu.com/atosvictims/docs/lima-v2-technical-manual
http://issuu.com/atosvictims/docs/lima-v2-technical-manual
UhOhSeven
Your mum
Full instructions on this page panpete:
http://blog.atoshealthcare.com/2012/12/how-to-request-an-audio-recorded-assessment/
http://blog.atoshealthcare.com/2012/12/how-to-request-an-audio-recorded-assessment/
panpete
Blokes name, birds body.
Hi Thanks
When should I contact Atos to arrange a recorded assessment, bearing in mind my form does not have to be back till 28th june?
Will it go against me, or will it benefit me?
Thanks
panpete
Blokes name, birds body.
ffs!The dreaded Atos brown envelope has landed. Against the set two year limit recommended by the Tribunal Service at my last appeal, I'm being re-assessed for the third time. This, after less than a year. I despair.
UhOhSeven
Your mum
Well, you can't organise to record it until you know when it is, so I would say as soon as you have your appointment letter (giving you date, time and location of interview) you should phone up about the recording.
So you've got ages yet -- you haven't even sent the form off!
It can't count against you. If anything, it should concentrate the ATOS employee's mind to know they will be recorded, so it should work (subtly) in your favour.
equationgirl
Respect my existence or expect my resistance
panpete, previous experience on this thread has shown that claimants often need to repeatedly check that the wishes for a recording assessment have been noted by atos. You may wish to include a short note stating that you wish to have the assessment recorded in with your form when you return it. Be prepared to phone up and check that your request has been noted when you get your assessment letter and again the week before the assessment. It does not count against you as every claimant has the right to be recorded.
spirals
Something uber witty here.
I asked during every phone call I had with them (atleast 4) and they 'forgot' to pass that onto the place where I was interviewed so I would send them a letter asking for it to be recorded and perhaps even tell them you have recorded the call when/if you ask for it to be recorded!
equationgirl
Respect my existence or expect my resistance
Basically, I don't think you can ask too many times.
panpete
Blokes name, birds body.
WOW
I didn't expect that I would have to ask more than once but it seems I do :O
Can I ask another question please, if I repeatedly telephone Atos, are they going to think I am more capable on the telephone than I really am, cos I sometimes avoid making calls as telephone sometimes is difficult for me as I have been known to go to pieces?
I didn't expect that I would have to ask more than once but it seems I do :O
Can I ask another question please, if I repeatedly telephone Atos, are they going to think I am more capable on the telephone than I really am, cos I sometimes avoid making calls as telephone sometimes is difficult for me as I have been known to go to pieces?
I wouldn't put it past them. You only have to read through this thread to see what utter cunts they are.
The dreaded Atos brown envelope has landed. Against the set two year limit recommended by the Tribunal Service at my last appeal, I'm being re-assessed for the third time. This, after less than a year. I despair.
Bloody hell!
The very best of luck to both of you. And WouldBe too. And everyone else mired in the quagmire that is ATOS.
That said, there is some justice: ATOS have decided that IDS is unfit for work.
equationgirl
Respect my existence or expect my resistance
Oh don't worry about going to pieces on the phone! If anything that will show you ARE NOT able to cope in an everyday environment, much less a normal work environment.
panpete
Blokes name, birds body.
I'm not worried about going to pieces on the phone, but I am worried that if I don;t end up going to pieces, atos will make a note that I can deal with the telephone, when I cannot reliably
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