Atos Medicals - Questions, Answers and Support

[Libertad]

and I asked a consultant the other day about the type of treatment you're having and it can stay in system for 3-6 months. Was a bit disappointed to hear that

I'll deal with that after I get past the initial 48 weeks.
Starting in September Minnie, I'll keep you posted, thanks for thinking of me.

 

[Libertad]

Here's some references which show that stress can have a detrimental effect on chemotherapy treatment - I hope they are useful to you:
http://erc.endocrinology-journals.org/content/13/Supplement_1/S115.full

http://researchnews.osu.edu/archive/doxheart.htm

http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA302434

Thanks equationgirl, really appreciate that. I might print off a copy of the pertinent parts and include them with the ESA50 just to show them I mean business.

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

I'll deal with that after I get past the initial 48 weeks.
Starting in September Minnie, I'll keep you posted, thanks for thinking of me.

Good luck with it. Hope you don't get too many side-effects

 

[equationgirl]

Thanks equationgirl, really appreciate that. I might print off a copy of the pertinent parts and include them with the ESA50 just to show them I mean business.

You're welcome, Libertad, just shout if there's anything else. Out of interest, will your treatment be in tablet form or IV?

 

[equationgirl]

I'll deal with that after I get past the initial 48 weeks.
Starting in September Minnie, I'll keep you posted, thanks for thinking of me.

I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for you, Libertad.

 

[Libertad]

You're welcome, Libertad, just shout if there's anything else. Out of interest, will your treatment be in tablet form or IV?

Both. Very complicated and time-robbing tablet regime and self administered shots. At least I'll be at home for it. Its got to be worth it to get my life back.
What I don't need is having to attend a WCA or being forced into doing unpaid work, both of which I'm physically and mentally incapable of doing.

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Both. Very complicated and time-robbing tablet regime and self administered shots. At least I'll be at home for it. Its got to be worth it to get my life back.
What I don't need is having to attend a WCA or being forced into doing unpaid work, both of which I'm physically and mentally incapable of doing.

Remember to list anaemia as a side-effect

 

[Libertad]

Remember to list anaemia as a side-effect

The thing is Minnie that I'm having to fill in my ESA50 now, with the symptoms and problems that I have at the moment, ie before treatment. What I'm particularly worried about is being called in for a WCA just as treatment has started.
It's almost as if ATOS have planned it like this.

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

The thing is Minnie that I'm having to fill in my ESA50 now, with the symptoms and problems that I have at the moment, ie before treatment. What I'm particularly worried about is being called in for a WCA just as treatment has started.
It's almost as if ATOS have planned it like this.

Yeah, see your point, but if you've had side effects before, it's worth mentioning that you'd had them with treatment and are about to have same treatment again

Probably won't do any good, but by the time your appeal comes, you may be anaemic then

 

[Libertad]

I take your point, I went anaemic on both of the last two treatment cycles but battled through it avoiding any reduction in meds but I really paid for it. I had post viral fatigue for eight months the first time and I'm still not clear of it after the second, but keep that to yourself eh Minnie, don't want to have treatment held back.
The real bastards psychologically, are the Ribas; mood swings, uncontrollable rages and all that, must make an effort to channel that energy.

 

[culder]

I wish I knew how to help Libertad and Celt.

Even though I've won my appeal, the whole thing is still there in my head and I don't seriously believe that I won't have to go through it all again.

 

[equationgirl]

I take your point, I went anaemic on both of the last two treatment cycles but battled through it avoiding any reduction in meds but I really paid for it. I had post viral fatigue for eight months the first time and I'm still not clear of it after the second, but keep that to yourself eh Minnie, don't want to have treatment held back.
The real bastards psychologically, are the Ribas; mood swings, uncontrollable rages and all that, must make an effort to channel that energy.

I think you should include details of the treatment, and the side effects you had last treatment cycle.

I asked about the method of delivery as in the Dispatches programme about Atos, the Atos trainer said the tablet therapy was disregarded but IV meant points were awarded. Plus, by the time the WCA comes around, you may very well have started the treatment and be experiencing side effects. Do you have a date for treatment starting?

 

[equationgirl]

I wish I knew how to help Libertad and Celt.

Even though I've won my appeal, the whole thing is still there in my head and I don't seriously believe that I won't have to go through it all again.

By posting you are supporting and therefore helping people on this thread which, as Violent Panda pointed out to me, is more than 99% of the population are doing.

It is not in your head - you would not have won your appeal otherwise.

You do what you can, when you can, however you can.

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

I had post viral fatigue for eight months the first time and I'm still not clear of it after the second, but keep that to yourself eh Minnie,

You are aware that this is public aren't you?

 

[Libertad]

I think you should include details of the treatment, and the side effects you had last treatment cycle.

I asked about the method of delivery as in the Dispatches programme about Atos, the Atos trainer said the tablet therapy was disregarded but IV meant points were awarded. Plus, by the time the WCA comes around, you may very well have started the treatment and be experiencing side effects. Do you have a date for treatment starting?

Second week of September.

 

[Libertad]

Thread hogging here, thanks for the support,night night thread.

 

[equationgirl]

Second week of September.

So about a month, then. I'd be surprised if they process your form and set a date for the WCA in that time, going by what others have said. That could work in your favour, so to speak, if you've started the treatment.

If you would like me to check the complete list of side effects for each med, let me know. It's worth highlighting on the form if you take 2 or more meds with side effects like nausea, vomiting, pain, fatigue, headaches etc, as the combination of meds can make the side effects worse - certain combinations amplify the side effects, basically.

 

[equationgirl]

Thread hogging here, thanks for the support,night night thread.

No, no, not hogging, it's what we're here for

Also, if you want to have a private discussion, set up a conversation and invite people to it. You can be more open then, if you want to.

 

[Frances Lengel]

I think you should include details of the treatment, and the side effects you had last treatment cycle.

Undoubtedly do this.

 

[Frankie Jack]

Thread hogging here, thanks for the support,night night thread.

No you're not Libertad. Please don't think that at all. *that's you told* xx

 

[Frankie Jack]

Appealing Employment Support Allowance Decisions pdf

Yey. Finally found this again. Saved it without renaming while in brainfart mode.

 

[Celt]

Thread hogging here, thanks for the support,night night thread.

I made the same or similar post a week ago, but have had some real help here and will take the next steps not quite as baffled, every new persons experience makes sense of the gravy?

I think I will get a nil or not enough points on the reading of the details, I sort of welcome the medical and if I go to tribunal, i go one step at a time.

I have the form in final draft mode, I went to see an ex colleague at MIND today with the draft, he has suggested some alterations.

I have been worried about submitting the fom, I find handwriting difficult and with a little encouragement have decided to go with the typewritten version with a clear index, I need to get it in the post tomorrow, photocopied or scanned first, so thats the plan.

Night fred.

 

[Celt]

I take your point, I went anaemic on both of the last two treatment cycles but battled through it avoiding any reduction in meds but I really paid for it. I had post viral fatigue for eight months the first time and I'm still not clear of it after the second, but keep that to yourself eh Minnie, don't want to have treatment held back.
The real bastards psychologically, are the Ribas; mood swings, uncontrollable rages and all that, must make an effort to channel that energy.

aren't you susceptible to infection during treatment? Would that be a reason you couldn't attend a medical? would a home medical be any easier?

 

[Frumious B.]

Yay, passed the medical and into the Support Group! Amazed. I have CFS/ME and depression and have been found fit for work by ATOS twice in the last few years. I signed up to benefitsandwork a couple of months ago and cottoned to lots of things I would never have worked out for myself. My ESA50, which I filled in, before joining b&w, was not persuasive and I had no-one to attend the medical with me, so WRAG was the best I was hoping for. Support Group feels like Olympic Gold! I've got a DLA claim in the works too...fingers crossed! Maybe I won't have to leave Brixton for somewhere cheaper. That's what I've been dreading.

 

[Frances Lengel]

Is that benefits & work worth a punt then?

 

[equationgirl]

Is that benefits & work worth a punt then?

Definitely, Minnie and VP+Greebo subscribe to it and find it's really helped. Have a look over the past few pages and Greebo was discussing it recently, iirc.

 

[Frankie Jack]

Yay, passed the medical and into the Support Group! Amazed. I have CFS/ME and depression and have been found fit for work by ATOS twice in the last few years. I signed up to benefitsandwork a couple of months ago and cottoned to lots of things I would never have worked out for myself. My ESA50, which I filled in, before joining b&w, was not persuasive and I had no-one to attend the medical with me, so WRAG was the best I was hoping for. Support Group feels like Olympic Gold! I've got a DLA claim in the works too...fingers crossed! Maybe I won't have to leave Brixton for somewhere cheaper. That's what I've been dreading.

Fantastic news..

 

[Frumious B.]

Is that benefits & work worth a punt then?

Have a look at this discussion too and PM me if you want some guides. http://www.urban75.net/forums/threa...-assessments-30-7.297008/page-4#post-11393746

 

[Frances Lengel]

Have a look at this discussion too and PM me if you want some guides. http://www.urban75.net/forums/threa...-assessments-30-7.297008/page-4#post-11393746

Cheers mate, what I'm going to do, though, is subscribe myself so all the information is at my disposal.

 

[equationgirl]

Yay, passed the medical and into the Support Group! Amazed. I have CFS/ME and depression and have been found fit for work by ATOS twice in the last few years. I signed up to benefitsandwork a couple of months ago and cottoned to lots of things I would never have worked out for myself. My ESA50, which I filled in, before joining b&w, was not persuasive and I had no-one to attend the medical with me, so WRAG was the best I was hoping for. Support Group feels like Olympic Gold! I've got a DLA claim in the works too...fingers crossed! Maybe I won't have to leave Brixton for somewhere cheaper. That's what I've been dreading.

Wonderful news - jolly well done