crohn's not recognised as an illness

have been assessed by medical personel employed by the government who have decided in 10 mins of conversation that i'm having them on. I should be able to work because i drag myself out of bed everyday and practically crawl 2 minutes round the corner to take my children to school. Ive had this disease for 18 years and never asked for help before but im wishing i hadn't now. The biggest insult is being told i'm not ill when i suffer through life everyday in pain and embarrassment. To top it off have since beeen diagnosed with IBD as well as crohn's/colitis and severe panick attacks. I'd give anything to wake up one day pain free and say right i'm fit for work lets go but i'm not and need help which i cant get. Thought this system was there to help people who had nowhere else to turn but apparently a silly little thing like bowel disease shouldn't be getting in the way of going to work no matter what your GP and specialist advise. The point system is always right and everyone else is exaggerating. I feel so alone and devostated. I need help. Any kind of help and nobody will listen. I didn't ask to have crohn's/colitis or IBD. I didn't ask to be a poorly mum and have my children miss out on what a fit and able mum would give and do for them.

thank you for your kind words. Yes very recent. I have a doctors note stating i am unfit to work and still i have been refused help because the assessment conclusion out ranks any doctors notes and now i have to appeal which i didn't think id have to do with all the health problems i suffer. The unfair thing is that half of my problems i explained in my assessment were not written into the report and therefore not considered. I've had bowel trouble for many years and never asked for help and at a time i really need it im refused it. All due to a ten minute interview with a stranger who asked a few questions and didn't even examine me. I feel let down yet i still have to deal with pain, "accidents" and sleeping through exhaustion on a daily basis. It's so fustrating. I'll appeal and if needed i'll appeal again. I have no choice. I have two children who i have sole responsibility for but who look after mum and eachother. Amazing little people they are. I will speak to my GP and Specialist asap and thank you again for your concern and advise

Hi Casey, twice I have posted some links/info that I think could help you but for some bizzare reason I keep losing this page. As Ides as said what country are you in and what benefit have you been denied( I thought maybe UK cause you refer to GP but I may be wrong) If this is the case just say and I will post up some links for you that may be of some use(have lost the will to try again right now, especially as I don't know if relevant to your country)
Whenever I see anything remotely useful about health/disability benefits in the UK I save them lol(just in case)

Good guess:)

I don't know what benefit you are appealing so some info may not be relevant.
Have you read all the info on the Crohn's and Colitis UK site, there is some pretty good stuff there
http://www.nacc.org.uk/content/services/dla.asp
They also have a number that you can contact for one to one advice on claims/benefits/appeals

0845 130 2233 to make an appointment for one of our volunteers to ring you. If your application has been turned down our volunteers can also help you in your decision to appeal and what the process involves.

This next link although very simple is quite effective at helping you to describe any pain

http://www.ssdanswers.com/2010/03/01/knowing-how-to-describe-pain-in-a-disability-case/

I know they are all a bit hit and miss but even the tiniest thing can help. I think that generally people tend to be a bit vague (or indeed embarassed) to graphically detail their problems or tend to simplify them when the opposite is needed.
eg you can say that you suffer with pain but the link above can expand that one sentence into a more detailed explanation and I guess if you can carry that level of thinking through to all the questions.......... and don't be embarrassed!
If you have time try the Crohn's and Colitis helpline/website, lots of specific advice there to Crohns and Colitis.

I know they say it is difficult to get benefits in the UK for IBD but I do know several that get HRM, HRC etc
Good Luck to you