Fibromyalgia not an illness?

Our man in Havana

Well the idiots down the social welfare don't think it is an illness.

How does one go about proving it is an illness.

kevovek

Some form of doctors note should do the trick I reckon

Our man in Havana

That was tried. Doctor submitted a full report. Dept still says it is not an illness.

star-pants

Some people still feel there's not enough research (or proof) to support fibromyalgia, some deem it as something made up or in your head or a culmination of small issues.

I'm not entirely sure how you'd go about proving it as an illness though. It took years before I was diagnosed with it by rheumatology in Vincent's, and they kept trying to brush me off. One consultant even said 'sometimes we just get pain and we can't explain it'.

Is your full report just from a regular GP or is it from a specialist / consultant? Did the department provide you with any information as to how they class something as an illness?

Our man in Havana

The dept are very tight lipped on that kind of info. They do seem to be rejecting pretty much all claims without referring them to a doctor. They don't accept consultant reports at the application stage.

We have consultant reports to beat the band with. I guess we will get to beat them over their heads at the appeals hearing.

sunbeam

I don't know if this will be much help but the medical assessment protocols are now available on the Welfare.ie website, as well as the medical assessment guidelines for desk assessment for disability allowance, domilicilary care and carers allowance. Worryingly, the former seems to have been prepared by a team of management consultants in association with ATOS which is the subject of much controversy in the UK.

Our man in Havana

That would explain the rash of refusals as of late.

I bet the appeals office is very busy sorting out the mess being created in Longford.

Our man in Havana

Our man in Havana wrote: »

Well the idiots down the social welfare don't think it is an illness.

How does one go about proving it is an illness.

Depression is one of the conditions of Fibro, could you use depression as a stick to beat them with? get them to pay you because of depression?


Mind you depression is probably not recognised here either...:rolleyes:

Best of luck Our man in Havana

PeadarB

Check out this link from the DSP site.
http://www.welfare.ie/EN/OperationalGuidelines/Documents/Protocol6.pdf

Section 8 covers the Medical Assossors obligations in assessing the claimant with fibromyalgia. I wonder if they even know of their own assessment protocols.

What sections are building up the most overtime I wonder. It appears to be be most infectious cause of avoidable delays in the system - it always was down the years. Stopped additional staff being recruited and encouraged incumbents to look after their own little earners by way of increasing avoidable delays etc.

Our man in Havana

This claim was denied without a medical examination. So it was some civil servant that made the decision.

I have been informed that it is standard procedure to reject every claim and force you through the appeals system in the hope that some will give up and not fight.

Tania Stewart

The right doctor for a near-teen with multiple (chronic) ailments?

Hello there - I'm new on the forum. I'm not really sure how to even use the site, I just saw this old thread.

I'm wondering - is there anyone who would know of a good, thorough, empathetic and open-minded rheumatologist and/or " " gastroenterologist (or overall magic doctor !!)who could possibly help me with my 12 year old child? For the last few years - he's had practically constant physical wellness problems, to varying degrees - nausea, aches and pains, severe headache, tiredness. I'm stating the things in order of how problematic they are. He feels unwell a LOT and goes through phases of missing a lot of school. He has friends, likes sports, and WANTS to be feel up to going to school everyday. I'm only saying this because it's been suggested or sometimes assumed, sooo many times, by friends, family, the school, AND medical professionals, even some alternative types of treatment specialists - that he's either anxious and that also manifests itself physically, that he's imagining it somehow, or that he's exaggerating or even making it up either to get attention or to stay home from school, or because he's covering up some serious thing that is bothering him that he's too scared to tell me. Nobody ever gives much reason for thinking these things. Suggesting and reminding one of the psychological possibilities is actually a good thing, I know, but even when I explain how close my son and I are (it's just the two of us in our immediate family/household) and much we talk about everything, and how well I know him - a lot of times people STILL choose to dismiss that, as if they would of course know better than me!!! So far - I've at least come to the conclusion that he has hyper-sensitivity - he has an ADHD diagnosis, and it can co-incide with that, but whatever it does or doesn't have to do with - from everything I've read and heard, and experience with him everyday - most, if not all, of the signs seem to be there, signs of hypersensitivity. And I THINK that with a hypersensitive "base" if you will, a person is more prone to "unwellness" in every sense of the word. Also - I have an aunt with very bad fibromyalgia and a number of comorbid illnesses. Anyway - if anyone thinks they might be able to point me in the right direction, then please try . Thanks in advance, I guess!

missmelo

Tania Stewart wrote: »

The right doctor for a near-teen with multiple (chronic) ailments?

Hello there - I'm new on the forum. I'm not really sure how to even use the site, I just saw this old thread.

I'm wondering - is there anyone who would know of a good, thorough, empathetic and open-minded rheumatologist and/or " " gastroenterologist (or overall magic doctor !!)who could possibly help me with my 12 year old child? For the last few years - he's had practically constant physical wellness problems, to varying degrees - nausea, aches and pains, severe headache, tiredness. I'm stating the things in order of how problematic they are. He feels unwell a LOT and goes through phases of missing a lot of school. He has friends, likes sports, and WANTS to be feel up to going to school everyday. I'm only saying this because it's been suggested or sometimes assumed, sooo many times, by friends, family, the school, AND medical professionals, even some alternative types of treatment specialists - that he's either anxious and that also manifests itself physically, that he's imagining it somehow, or that he's exaggerating or even making it up either to get attention or to stay home from school, or because he's covering up some serious thing that is bothering him that he's too scared to tell me. Nobody ever gives much reason for thinking these things. Suggesting and reminding one of the psychological possibilities is actually a good thing, I know, but even when I explain how close my son and I are (it's just the two of us in our immediate family/household) and much we talk about everything, and how well I know him - a lot of times people STILL choose to dismiss that, as if they would of course know better than me!!! So far - I've at least come to the conclusion that he has hyper-sensitivity - he has an ADHD diagnosis, and it can co-incide with that, but whatever it does or doesn't have to do with - from everything I've read and heard, and experience with him everyday - most, if not all, of the signs seem to be there, signs of hypersensitivity. And I THINK that with a hypersensitive "base" if you will, a person is more prone to "unwellness" in every sense of the word. Also - I have an aunt with very bad fibromyalgia and a number of comorbid illnesses. Anyway - if anyone thinks they might be able to point me in the right direction, then please try . Thanks in advance, I guess!

Hi...im just wondering did you get any help at all for your son? My son is also adhd and very sensitive to illness but in fairness my lad has a very bad diet n brings alot of it on himself( he is grown now) and knows it all...im trying to get him to try homeopathy as medications only bring more side effects.

Graces7

Reading this makes my old heart ache for you.

I keep hoping that these things will improve

I have M.E and one newly trained GP had never heard of it, recently,then ten minutes later?"Oh you mean Chronic Fatigue."

They seem to have no idea of the stress they make us endure .

I was deeply thankful when I reached pension age as no one could deny or question my age

All wishes and strength to you.

fineso.mom

Why have you no access to a GP Grace? Could you get someone to drive you? or to pick up your prestriction?

Graces7

fineso.mom wrote: »

Why have you no access to a GP Grace? Could you get someone to drive you? or to pick up your prestriction?

looooooong story but nothing to do with distance etc. and It is being dealt with hopefully. At least partly because I am so limited with the M.E and they have no idea how serious it is .

So it has been put in official hands now.

and thank you!