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Understanding Chewing/Swallowing food ESA
- craig3474
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I had jaw cancer and had to have a 13 hour operation to remove my jaw bone and rebuild it with hip bone, and then under go chemotherapy.
Its left me with huge problems regarding my speech, eating and chewing because i now have a limit on how wide i can open my mouth, my jaw constantly aches when chewing. I often have to have to stop eating because of the dis comfort
If this descriptor applies to myself, would I be considered to be put into the support group?
I have expressed my difficulties in the past, but they have either give me in adequate points to which i appealed or put me in work related group. Is there any point in me noting this again?
Thanks in advance
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- Gordon
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Welcome to the forum.
In case you are not aware, your real name appears to be showing in the forum, if you want to change this then follow the instructions in the following FAQ
My full name is showing, how can I stop it?
I think the simple answer is that if you don't include the information then they cannot consider it.
The SG is not points based, you need to meet on or more of the SG specific Descriptors,
From your brief explanation of your problems SG Descriptor 16(b) would seem to apply.
Cannot chew or swallow food or drink without repeatedly stopping, experiencing
breathlessness or severe discomfort
Gordon
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- craig3474
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Ive always explained the trouble and discomfort i have speaking, drooling, eating and chewing on my questionaiire form, but its never makes no difference to them, ill give it another go, many thanks Gordon
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- Gordon
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CCJ wrote: Hi Gordon, thanks for the advice,
Ive always explained the trouble and discomfort i have speaking, drooling, eating and chewing on my questionaiire form, but its never makes no difference to them, ill give it another go, many thanks Gordon
The requirement is that you experience "severe discomfort", I can't give you a definition of what this means, I think it reasonable to assume that is more than the "significant discomfort that ESA usually uses and that it is less than "severe pain", but it is for you to make the case that this is how you are effected.
Gordon
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- Bearer
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If "discomfort" has its ordinary meaning, then-
1. it includes the full range of lower level pain from "it doesn't hurt but I'm aware of it most of the time" via "it's not a pain, just sore" to "yes it hurts, but it's not a bad pain."
2. it also encompasses several more symptoms than pain.
I think the guidance to the HCP/functional assessors describes a person with symptoms after a jaw op for cancer as an example of someone qualifying for Support Group on this descriptor.
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- Gordon
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Bearer wrote: I thought the "or" meant that severe discomfort was one of three options, another one being "repeatedly stopping", as in this case. I guess someone with a clinical jaw problem might have to stop repeatedly for a range of reasons.
If "discomfort" has its ordinary meaning, then-
1. it includes the full range of lower level pain from "it doesn't hurt but I'm aware of it most of the time" via "it's not a pain, just sore" to "yes it hurts, but it's not a bad pain."
2. it also encompasses several more symptoms than pain.
I think the guidance to the HCP/functional assessors describes a person with symptoms after a jaw op for cancer as an example of someone qualifying for Support Group on this descriptor.
It is one of three options, however, CCJ specifically mentioned "discomfort" in there reply which is why I responded that the requirement was "severe discomfort".
These are phrases used in the legislation, so whilst I do not disagree with your definition of "discomfort", it is not the phrase used and defines something that is less than the requirement being tested.
Gordon
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