Hello Mari, I have problems with my hands and feet,wrists,ankles,hips,shoulders,neck and elbows. I also have Fibromyalgia. Both of these as we know cause a great deal of stiffness and pain but also fatigue and a feeling like having constant flu. I have problems washing and dressing although I have adapted many ways to help myself in the things I wear and use to take care of myself.I don't sleep well.I can't sit for long periods or stand for long periods, I need to lie down many times for relief. I don't go out often. Can't shop.I can cook a meal on some days taking most of the day to do it ready for my husband coming home.I manage to get by by taking my time because I can't sustain tasks. I also have calcific tendonitis of my right shoulder with adhesive capulitis. I had arthroscopic surgery for this in August which hasn't been successful and I am waiting for a date to repeat the surgery.Because of this I have very limited movement in this shoulder which is very debilitating. I also had major surgery to bypass a blocked artery in January. I also suffer with vertigo. A female nurse conducted the medical assessment she was very kind.I will recive ESA because of my national insurance stamps not means tested because my husband works, I will move onto the higher rate of ESA in June and the letter says that is until December but I don,t Know what happens after that. This means that I will have been on the lower assessment rate for 13 weeks befor I move on to the higher rate even though I have had the assessment and the results sooner than that. I have been recieving SSP for the 28 weeks previous to this. I have allreaady been to the interview at the Job centre plus and as Joanna says there are many interesting ideas to help me back to work but they were very helpful and keen to help me return to work when I am ready but they also said it must be suitable employment because it would be pointless starting a job and then having to go off sick again. I still have a job which is School Cook Supervisor so I would like to return to this if it does become possible. One thing I must say is that filling in the written assessment was distressing it was actually putting it all down on paper because even after 10 years of RA I like to believe that I'm OK. I have written this on here because it may be of help. I havn't seen the report so I don't know how many points I made. I am deaf in one ear. I hope this helps Mari.
