ESA assessment due...
Is it at all possible for a doctor, optician, or more importantly an ESA ATOS assessment nurse to tell from an eye examination whether I am genuinely suffering double or blurred vision.
Now I'm not trying to con my way to benefits. As some on here know I DO have a genuine problem that prevents me from working, and strictly speaking I should have been getting them for ages already. I have applied for ESA again after the failed attempt last year when in spite of falling over, wobbling and shaking the ESA nurse felt I was fit enough to work. Mind you then I wasn't properly diagnosed and because of what the diagnosis was I opted to collect my work pension early in case I didn't make the proper age and have been living off that.
Now as anyone who saw the Panorama programme last week will know, you virtually have to be clinically dead to pass their assesment, and I don't want to suffer that again if I can help it.
I genuinely do suffer from various problems as a result of my problem (slow growing brain tumour) and these have got worse over time. Things like intermittent double and blurred vision, mildly oppresive headaches, general weakness, unsteady on my feet, sudden dizzy spells, shaking spells meaning at times I can't write or use a keyboard. Probably the main and most constant thing is I can't walk very far now - in fact I'm using a mobility scooter outside.
The thing is, these affects only get to me the more I physically do. To look at me when I do little, you'd swear there is nothing much wrong with me, but on bad days and within as little as ten minutes I can become useless. Not always though, as I have good days and bad days but bad outnumber the good lately. The thing is I have learned the hard way you need to lay it on thick to get anywhere, and as such I don't want to risk some wannabe doctor who works for a private firm where it rumoured no-one passes, spoiling things again. I'm lucky in that I have two neurologists and a neuro surgeon (plus internet evidence) to back up my claims. I'm also lucky in that I have got wise to some of the strokes they pull and am now forewarned.
There is a good chance that when they come round to assess me (I've already been told it will be a home visit) I will actually suffer one or more of the things mentioned, but the testing of eyesight worries me in case they can determine when tested that I am not actually suffering too much at that time. Other than that most of the other things are either my word only (as I say backed up by doctors and web evidence) or, like the walking and shaking, obvious.
As I said I am not trying to con anyone here. This problem means I can't work and all I want is to ensure I get what I should be entitled to.