I haven't been on here for a little while (as hopefully you will have noticed) and I've been hidden away from everything and everyone again. I entitled my last post 'the worst week' but boy was I wrong. Things got much worse and I haven't been coping well at all.
I'm still in a lot of pain on a daily basis. Now, doing something on one day is regularly followed by a day of doing nothing. The pain and lack of energy mean I am house bound for a good 24hrs after any enjoyment. The sharp pains around my ovaries are agony and hurt like hell if I move my legs. Still. No matter how many tablets I take, the pain still shoots me down, usually when I am least expecting it. I can rest all day and the pain gets me or I can be busy all day and it gets me. I can't seem to win. Night time is the worst though. I just cannot get comfortable in bed at all now. Both hips ache with the pain and numbness and I spend a good portion of the night just trying to find a pain free position - let alone trying to switch off my mind. The twitching is now at another level too. I dread yawning because it makes my entire left side spasm. I woke during the night last week to find my whole face twitching too, which really wasn't fun. My chest has been hurting over the last few days as has my shoulder - all because of my diaphragm. And yeah, the wetting. The wetting is there all the time. It never let's up. If I'm not bleeding, I'm wetting. SOMEONE TAKE ME TO THE VETS AND GET ME PUT DOWN!!
My mind is a never ending roller coaster of incessant thoughts. It's keep me sad during the day, awake and worrying during the night. I just can't switch off. The higher dosage of Citalopram doesn't seem to have made any difference in my moods, though, I'm not as tearful. I think my body has ran out of tears for the time being though. I've spent most of the last 2 weeks just sobbing.
After a week of being more down than ever before, I received some great news through the post. Great meaning absolutely beyond f****** b******* (bleep bleep). Monday just gone, I received a letter from my lovely friends at the DWP (Department of Work and Pensions). Only a week or so after the last letter said I'd be getting around £2 more a week, this new letter said that basically, because I can lift my leg a few inches and lift a box I was never asked to lift, oh and because I can sit on my arse all day watching TV, I can work. Yes, you've got it - my ESA (Employment and Support Allowance) has now been stopped because I am 'fit for work'. I genuinely thought my assessment a few weeks back had gone well (for me). It was my first time out of the house since my operation, I still had stitches in and was still in recovery so things were very difficult. I was honest about everything, the same as I had been last time and told the lady exactly what I could and couldn't do. She saw what medication I was on and she saw the letters from the Prof. I couldn't have done any more to help my situation out. But the report I had back from the assessment states the exact opposite. In some parts it says I could do things (like pick up a cardboard box - which I wasn't even asked to do) and things I had stated in the assessment were written down as the complete opposite. The report basically says I'm a complete liar and I have no problems at all. Everything I said I had trouble with are mysteriously not on the report and things like my wetting problem - which you all know I have been suffering with for a good while now - are basically written off. I apparently don't wet enough to have to change clothes and I'm not having any treatment for it. Really? That's not what I said in the assessment. I had such a tough time with that assessment with it being my first time out and how much pain I was still in. I couldn't even find anything to wear because I couldn't have any leggings, skirts or trousers pulling tight on my tum. I had trouble walking in, trouble pulling out my chair, trouble opening the door getting out again. It's almost like the report is written about someone else. It hurts that someone would do that when you sit there, crying, and pouring your heart out. I am not a scab and if I could get back to work you all know I would. I am desperate to have that life back. I've worked bloody hard up until this all flared up last year and yet people think I am lying. This country really is amazing. Support those that lie but chuck those people out with the rubbish that need help the most. So now I have no money. I had my last payment last week. I have no way of paying any bills but I'm lucky enough to have Danny and my parents here to support me. Not that the DWP care. As far as they care, I can sort myself out. Well, thank you DWP. I am now up shite creek completely. No life, rubbish health and now no money. No money to even get the prescriptions I need.
I've been so very stressed out over everything. I really cannot see what I can do. I know I can appeal (another thing the DWP aren't moving their arses on - I called on Monday for the forms and they've still not arrived) but that's not only more stress, it's also going to put my family out again as someone will have to take time off work to take me over to Leicester for yet another assessment. I am just completely lost for words. I never thought someone could look at me and my situation and say there isn't anything wrong!... I blummin' wish!!!
So that's pretty much how the last few weeks have been. I've been in too much pain to really do anything. Just the odd wander around town. Not that I can afford anything now. I bought a record from the charity shop on Friday and felt guilty for 'wasting' £1.50 on that. The poor boy is having to spend his money on supporting both of us with food right now.
Well folks, that's my news. But you know, this blog and everything I've said above and ever before / felt / cried about / stressed about etc etc is a complete load of crap - according to the DWP of course.
S.
Sorry you're having such a hard time, I know how you feel about the shit DWP systems. It is completely failing those who genuinely cannot work, but those ballsy enough to buy crutches off ebay and lie through their back teeth get everything, because they know that genuinely sick people dont have the strength or energy to fight back. Please appeal, and dont give up. X
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing how many people you see limp in to the office for their assessments and yet practically skip out! It really makes me angry. Thank you for your support. xxx
DeleteReally sorry you are in this position. The way the sick and disabled are being treated by this govermnet is inhumane. Even their own figures say that only 1% of benefit claims are fraudulently made so why treat the other 99% like criminals too? Please appeal, and try the Citizens Advice Bureau, they will give you good advice. Good luck. X
ReplyDeleteThank you for your support and advice. I saw a programme on ATOS Healthcare not long ago and their job is to basically get everyone back to work... Obviously it doesn't matter what kind of situation you are in. It must be nice to work for them and pass judgement on people so easily... Or, maybe not! xxx
DeleteI'd encourage you to appeal that decision and to do it as soon as you can. Is there anyone from your local authority that you can speak to to start this? Some councils have a welfare rights service that you should be able to contact, failing that organisations like the Citizens Advice Bureau exist to help you with this sort of thing.
ReplyDeletePlease don't give up!
Thanks Michelle. I'm in the process of an appeal. I called as soon as I got the report through last week and they told me I'd need to fill in a form which they were sending me out that day... One week later, today I phoned asking where the form was... Turns out they never sent me the form and the call notes from last week said that the lady I spoke to had resolved my problem and no further action was required!! I now know that I don't need the form and as soon as I've been back to the doctors I can get all my paperwork sent off to them. It's so infuriating how little help you get when you need it (although the chap I spoke to today was very helpful, even amidst my anger. I just wish I had spoken to him last week!). My dad has also contacted our local MP and they are prepared to help me should I get rejected again. But thanks for the CAB suggestion. I'm going to kick some government butt this time! xxx
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