ATOS Employment Support Medical 13th June

Well the day for my medical is tomorrow..I can honestly say I am sick with anxiety over every aspect of this.

I have a 40 min drive, which will do me in..then the medical itself.

I have already misplaced my letter and my medical notes seemed to have managed to jumble themselves into a senseless mess I can no longer fathom.

I think the best thing is to write myself a list and work my way through it so I don't forget any vital evidence.

I feel completely overwhelmed and will be glad when the end of tomorrow comes and it is over.

Keep your fingers crossed for me that I actually make the appointment etc..with my sense of direction and the anxiety already high..well..anything could happen and I may end up in Wales.

Hopefully I will have a funny story out of it, if nothing else.

Am girding my loins

Jane
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Oh sweetie - I do feel for you - I am not sure they realise the about of stress these stupid interviews cause. All they need to do is look at doctor records!

I do hope you manage to get there and more importantly manage to get back - OK might be via Wales - but hey its nice countryside there

Provided you have supplied details of your Gp and neurologist they will have made contact to begin to gather the medical evidence from those who know you.
The assessment staff will do their best to make the process as stress free as possible. Take your proof of ID and letter requesting your attendance with you to show the security grunts on the front desks. Once they know you should be there they are mostly very helpful [for example they allowed me to leave the building and move my car then return when accompanying another person as an informal advocate]

Take your drugs.
Take your headache diary back as far as you have kept it so they can see the patterns of your headaches and work out what would be reasonable to expect you to be able to do.
ESA is awarded at different levels depending on how hard your disability/illness would make it for you to be able to secure work.

Good luck.

Thanks Katie..I had one for Incapacity not long ago which was a bit of a farce. Once the Doc saw my horners syndrome she just rushed through everything and was really nice. I got through no problem that time.

I have someone meeting me there as I know I will get 'stuck' and 'fuddled' after about 10 mins of questions. It drives me mad as I can see the words and they just don't come out. I understand it's part of my condition but I look such a dunder head...it's very embarrassing as I was so sharp and pragmatic etc before.

Ah well..gulp..medications list is ready and have the addresses of the neuro and gastro team to hand.

Thanks for the advice.

Jane
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Jane- take the actual drugs in their boxes not simply a list- there is something about taking all the drugs you have to take out when you go out and dumping them all over the table they have that seems to speed things along.

Have to admit since my GP saw in me with Horners I have not had any problems with getting repeats of sumatriptain auto-injectors. Might be good if the flamming thing may oblige for your ESA interview although I would not wish the pain it usually heralds on you. Good luck.

My Horners is odd in that it's a permanent feature..she spotted it straight away and asked me.

It went well I think as at one point she was prompting me to help me explain.

'SO these drugs will give you problems/side effect etc'..that kind of thing.. Took a long time and I cried a teensey bit..but I really think she tried very hard to get a full picture of the problems.

Just have to wait and see now

About 2 weeks.

Thanks
Jane
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whoo hooo - you made it back

I am pleased it went well and fingers crossed for the correct result.

I've only just seen this. Sounds quite positive - really hope you get a good result out of it. In any case, you must be so relieved it's over!

I cannot tell you how relieved I feel (though I realise I am still awaiting the decision).

It was much more talking and less a 'ticking box' exercise than I had the last time they did this. My Mum came with me and said she would be surprised if they tried to move me into work at this stage.

She did all the mobility testing and I was quite shocked that I couldn't lift my bended left knee whilst in a sitting position...OK with leg straight out..but not bended..how odds that.? She seemed amused I was surprised at this. WHen asked about it I laughed, shrugged and said it was probably one of my weird, random, symptoms LMAO.

I never ceases to amaze me how fascinated doctors are with my horners syndrome. I was once asked to be a ''stooge' to help train the students at the headache clinic because I was a rarity in that it is a reliably present feature.

I dunno I am feeling less confident now I am home but boy it feels good to get it out of the way and it was interesting to see her eyes almost pop out when she saw my list of medications. I honestly don't think she could have done anymore to make it as easy an experience as possible.

Thanks for the support everyone it really helps.

Jane
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PS even managed a quick play date with the kids after school today..quite an achievement.

I am so pleased it went well for you and that it is now out the way

Just seen this Jane Glad its all over... Why do they keep putting us through it Im sure id be the first to tell everyone if they had found a miracle cure!!!!
Lotsa Love and hugs