Elaine128
07-02-13, 12:30
Hi I was a lurker some years ago and now I'm back. My story is a little long but I'll try to keep it as brief as I can.
Back in 2001 I developed problems with balance, the main symptom of this is severe dizzy spells. I was referred to a specialist Balance Centre, by which time, I think, I had developed agoraphobia as I never went out alone. I mentioned it to my consultant and he said when the balance symptoms went the agoraphobia would too which, by and large it did.
In 2002 I lost my full-time job due to not being able to actually get to work let alone perform when I got there and I was unemployed until 2010 when I got a temporary job with the NHS. In 2011, due to budget cuts, my contract was terminated and I've been unemployed ever since. I don't deal very well with unemployment and find dealing with the Job Centre and my work programme provider (A4E) incredibly stressful but I was just about coping.
Last Friday I was at my voluntary work when the dreaded dizzy spell came over me again. I managed to get home and and eventually they stopped. I tried to carry on as normal over the weekend. However on Friday I had the worst period of dizziness that I have ever had. I spent around five hours laying on the floor while everything around me spun. I couldn't even move my head let alone stand up. So off I trot to my GP on Tuesday and he diagnosed an inner ear infection and gave me tablets to help with the dizziness. He said that hopefully we have caught it earlier enough and it won't develop like it did last time.
However this has now made me terrified. If the dizziness doesn't go I'm back on Employment Support Allowance which I absolutely dread. I don't think I can cope with the medicals any more (even though during the last period I passed all except one which I won on appeal) as you seem to have to be nearly dead before they will pay sickness benefits these days.
I am 46 years old and live on my own. My mum has been brilliant but she is in her 70s and I don't like to put on her too much. I do have siblings but they all have their own lives and don't seem interested in my problems. This is another think that panics me. My mum is old and isn't going to be around for ever - how am I going to cope then (although I have coped on my own for a number of years now). I know this makes me sound pathetic but that's how I feel and I can't help it.
I've just forced myself to go out for a little walk (having not been out of the house since Tuesday) and I realise that I am probably blowing this out of all proportion but hey, that is the nature of the beast.
So there it is - my story. I hope I haven't bored you to death!
Back in 2001 I developed problems with balance, the main symptom of this is severe dizzy spells. I was referred to a specialist Balance Centre, by which time, I think, I had developed agoraphobia as I never went out alone. I mentioned it to my consultant and he said when the balance symptoms went the agoraphobia would too which, by and large it did.
In 2002 I lost my full-time job due to not being able to actually get to work let alone perform when I got there and I was unemployed until 2010 when I got a temporary job with the NHS. In 2011, due to budget cuts, my contract was terminated and I've been unemployed ever since. I don't deal very well with unemployment and find dealing with the Job Centre and my work programme provider (A4E) incredibly stressful but I was just about coping.
Last Friday I was at my voluntary work when the dreaded dizzy spell came over me again. I managed to get home and and eventually they stopped. I tried to carry on as normal over the weekend. However on Friday I had the worst period of dizziness that I have ever had. I spent around five hours laying on the floor while everything around me spun. I couldn't even move my head let alone stand up. So off I trot to my GP on Tuesday and he diagnosed an inner ear infection and gave me tablets to help with the dizziness. He said that hopefully we have caught it earlier enough and it won't develop like it did last time.
However this has now made me terrified. If the dizziness doesn't go I'm back on Employment Support Allowance which I absolutely dread. I don't think I can cope with the medicals any more (even though during the last period I passed all except one which I won on appeal) as you seem to have to be nearly dead before they will pay sickness benefits these days.
I am 46 years old and live on my own. My mum has been brilliant but she is in her 70s and I don't like to put on her too much. I do have siblings but they all have their own lives and don't seem interested in my problems. This is another think that panics me. My mum is old and isn't going to be around for ever - how am I going to cope then (although I have coped on my own for a number of years now). I know this makes me sound pathetic but that's how I feel and I can't help it.
I've just forced myself to go out for a little walk (having not been out of the house since Tuesday) and I realise that I am probably blowing this out of all proportion but hey, that is the nature of the beast.
So there it is - my story. I hope I haven't bored you to death!