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Fibromyalgia and Prescription charges petition

Posted , 7 users are following.

SES
SES

Dear everyone xx

There is a new petition for those with fibromyalgia that feel it necessary to fight against prescription charges for those suffering with this awful disease.

I think this is really important to scrap prescription charges as there are many people who don't come under the small number of conditions that do get free prescriptions, even though we often need so many! Also not everyone can claim means tested benefits (incapacity benefit is not included as means tested). It's crazy that there are some people don't have to pay charges but can still work whilst many fibro patients are disabled, unable to work and need large quantities of prescriptions but have to pay.

I expect the government will respond with their usual line on prescription charges but again it is raising awareness for Firomyalgia.

The link below should take you too it.

http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/fibro1/

There isn't much time to sign up as it closes on 30th Nov 2008. It doesn't take long though to sign up so if its posted on the website and forum(?) and we encourage everyone to send out to friends and family i would imagine we can get alot more signatures on it. Ive just signed.

Kind regards

0 likes, 8 replies

8 Replies

  • alicia
    alicia

    Posted

    I will sign it for you and you have my sympathies but I don't rate your chances. Apparently - or so I was told - the free prescriptions are limited to conditions which would be life threatening without the treatment such as diabetes and hypothyroidism which do not seem serious but would render the patient into a coma state followed by demise if the medication was stopped.

    Apparently serious and severe pain and disability is not considered to be life threatening. It takes away your quality of life and productivity but it doesn't kill you. :roll:

  • Squires
    Squires

    Posted

    Hi Ses & Alicia

    I have signed the petition for you. I do think it is unfair that people with heart conditions and other serious illnesses do not get their prescriptions free. I am lucky or unlucky if you like as I do get mine free. Ever since I had my cancer of the thyroid I have always been exempt from paying for my prescriptions.

    Although yes I do have to have my thyroxine as without it I wouldn't be here. :cry: But a lot of the problems I have had I can see have been bought about from the fibro. The numerous water infections I have had prescriptions for, tablets I need for irritable bowel and bladder, also now the antidepressant to help sleep.

    I don't know whether heart patients have to pay for their prescriptions but if they do it is a disgrace as well. With Fibro as there are so many different things going on from this condition there should be free precriptions. I count myself as very lucky I do not have to pay for my prescription as I have about ten items on my repeat lol :cry:

    So I would like to see Fibro patients and everyone else with a chronic illness like my daughter with crohns should not have to pay. :lol:

    Well off my soap box now but glad I have signed the petition to help in some way.

    Love Tess x x

  • dianepaterson
    dianepaterson

    Posted

    hi di here

    i have signed i and i totally agree we should get it free i know of family members who claim everything off the state and are getting everything paid for them and there perfectly healthy so it really gets me angry..

    good luck everyone xx

  • paddy
    paddy

    Posted

    Hi Linda here,

    I will sign it too, but like Alicia I don`t give us much hope.

    I`m not sure about the life threatening thing though. My daughter has had diabetes for 16 yrs. and even for her it doesn`t cover everything. They only get what the nhs agrees to pay for. Things like blood testing kits they have to buy. You only get the test strips free. My husband was disabled when she was diagnosed and unable to work and we had to buy her kit!! She could quite easily have died years ago with out one!

    I could get on my soap box and go on about diabetes and all the extra costs which you can`t get on prescription anyway,all but I`ll spare you all that!! Also my husband had a heart attack and heart failure 11yrs ago (this has just reared its ugly head again) and he had to pay for his prescriptions until he was pension age. Despite being disabled and receiving DLA and Incapacity Benefit.

    I think the only thing we can do is buy a pre-payment certificate and we then get everything we need for three months for that one payment. It works out much cheaper if you have several things on repeat prescription.

    Sorry rant over

    Linda

  • Squires
    Squires

    Posted

    Hi Linda, Ses, Di & Everyone

    That is so unfair for your daughter and husband not to have what they need free. :cry: I sometimes feel guilty having my prescriptions free but would be silly to say no and not have a card. :cry: I wish there was a fair way for everybody and would willing give up my free medications if everyone could get them. :lol:

    Oh well we will have to see what happens with this petition. Would be good if it did work but don't think will hold my breath. :cry:

    Hope you are in not too much pain today Linda! How is Ray is he any better and good luck when you go see heart speciaist.

    Love Tess x x

  • SES
    SES

    Posted

    HI there All,

    Thanks for that xx, I am exempt myself due to having an underactive thyroid , but feel for those like you say Tess have other problems linked to FM such I IBS etc and so I just thought it would be an idea if we could get involved, I also personally agree that there is numerous conditions that should be exempt as like my in laws, my mother in law has Osteoporosis and my father in law has COPD and they are not exempt as they are on Incapacity benefit so for this reason just because they receive slightly more a week than other benefits???

    Thanks once again and please tell friends and family too xxxxxx :lol:

  • jo51414
    jo51414

    Posted

    I suffer everyday with cronic back and nerve damage after breaking my back 5years ago. I have fibromyalga and hypermobility. I think it is wrong I have to pay every month for my prescriptions. With out my pain killers I am not able to move. I never choose to have these problems but still I am victimised. Why do once to pay to live a semi normal life. When people who have opted to put poison into their veins like heroin get there drugs free. How is this fair. You can even get condoms from the doctors. They choose to have sex I never choose to be in constant pain everyday. I have had 3attempted suicides due to pain but yet everymonth I have to pay out 9 different prescriptions. IM not able to work my wife is medically retired as she has 4types of terminal cancer. Money is behind tight and to try to save money some days I do not take all my pain relief. This leaves me in agony but it means I have a couple of days extra left from my prescription. I think it is disgusting we should have to pay for treatment we have to have. The system is so wrong.
  • smarty
    smarty

    Posted

    Sorry to hear about the amount of pain you are suffering with your back. I wish you were able to get your prescriptions free. You are right about people choosing to take illegal drugs and have sex by choice. I am so sorry to hear about your wife having 4 different types of terminal cancer. I know how I felt with having thyroid cancer. You and your wife have been through so much together and by the sounds of it have had a lot to deal with. I hope your wife is doing well under the circumstances. Your pain must be so bad for u to want to end your life. Try and keep going but I no it is difficult when you are in pain constantly. I am lucky my pain is manageable. I am able to exercise to help with my pain. Although I have osteoarthritis as well. The exercise helps for both the fibro and arthritis. Not everyone can exercise as in your case with your back. Have you tried doing the pre payment certificate for your meds as it can work out cheaper. My daughter has done it in the past as she does not get free prescriptions and she has crohns disease and has worked out cheaper for you. Try and take one day at a time. My best wishes to you and your wife and all you are having to deal with. Sending you both a gentle hug.

    Tess

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