Shocked By DWP Fibromyalgia PDF on Here

Hi

I downloaded the Fibromyalgia.doc and I have heard how they 'perceive' fibromyalgia and while some of the stuff was OK, I was beyond shocked to find a sub-heading marked 'Malingering' and of course all the stuff about the biopsychosocial model which has been used in the US to deny disabled people their health insurance payouts. No wonder people with fibromyalgia get a raw deal.

I got my initial letter from the DWP today and I have fibromyalgia (as well as mental health - anxiety, social and agoraphobia etc) but so many of the symptoms of fibro are mental AS WELL as physical eg fatigue and cognitive skills just as many mental health problems are physical AS WELL eg IBS, breathing, palpitations. I just think this whole thing is a mockery and a sham. With their guidelines on fibromyalgia, if you state that is 'mental' they have got you in a bind by saying 'see, it's all in their heads' whereas if you say it is physical a lot of the descriptors won't apply so you'e in a no-win situation more than ever before.

I am incensed that there's a paragraph on malingering. Do they say that about all conditions or are people with fibromyalgia especially singled out to deny us our entitlements.

I feel as if I'm doomed before I even start.

Hi

I too have Fibromyalgia. Don't despair. I recently recieved an award which I felt to be fair. I found the guide and text on my condition, particularly malingering, to be insightful. It provided a useful 'heads-up' as to how some Decision Makers and medical experts might percieve my disability ...which helped me to make sure that I submitted overwhelming evidence and that I didn't leave any stone unturned. Had these sections not have been included in the guides, I am uncertain whether I would have made as big an effort as I did to ensure Decision Makers couldn't dismiss me as fabricating or exaggerating my condition.

Hi

When you realise that many doctors in the UK either don't recognise FMS or think it is all in the head then you can hardly wonder at it that the DWP are taking the same view, not that I am excusing it of course.

My own theory is that condtions like ME, CFS, and fibromyalgia are invisible condtions. there are no clinical tests like blood tests, x-rays etc and no definitve diagnosis. And because there is no cure as yet either doctors get frustrated and patients are told to go away and manage at home. The conditions can merely be managed and they are not "glamorous", they will win no prizes for curing the disease, unlike cancer or Alzheimers. All patients can do is to try and make the best of what life they have.

That said though don't lose hope. I have FMS, as well as several other conditions but fibro is my main one and I got into the support group, migrated over from IB to ESA with no medical. So it's not all gloom and doom. Take your time, read the guides thoroughly, draft out in rough what you intend to say. Give as much information about how your condition affects you on a daily basis and say if any of the medications you take have side-effects.

Fibro is a painful,debiltating and disabling condition and is recognised by many medical authorities (DWP included despite the blurb you have read). Until people have experienced it they have no idea. I am sure if the DWP had their way they would like stroke patients, those with heart disease and cancer to be so easily dismissed as well.

Many thanks madcatwoman and leed46 for your reassuring posts. Good advice, leed46, though I don't think I have overwhelming evidence. However my GP is completely supportive.

I agree, mcw, that fibro is an invisible condition like ME, MS, Lupus and a whole lot more. A member of my family has MS and there are a lot of overlaps though he has the progressive sort. It's my view from conversations with many others with fibro (and ME) that there are likely to be progressive and relapse-remitting forms of fibro (and ME). Yes, I'm just being migrated although I have been on IB for years for mental health and not fibro. I always thought mental health was viewed suspiciously by the DWP but not as much as fibro. I guess it just depends who you get, luck of the draw! It's good to know that you got into Support Group without a medical. What worries me is all the changes, new rules about mental vs physical and harder to appeal plus withdrawn legal aid funding.

Yes, heart disease, cancer and strokes have been dismissed by the DWP, that's very evident.

Hi, where did you find this .doc? I've done a search for it but come up with nothing. If someone could put a link up that would be great. Thanks! I had my medical to day and am now a touch worried