It's been 3wks now since my interview for ESA. Still haven't heard anything. Basically the interview was just a doctor looking through the form i'd filled in and putting the answers in to a computer. I think I have been quite naive. I told the truth and only concerntrated on the conditions i think make it difficult for me to work. I didn't think my other medical problems were relevant.An example bieng i have a stomach ulcer which i take daily meds for, it isn't pleasant but it hardly constitutes as a reason for bieng unable to work! I seems asthough all they are interessed in is how many conditions you have and how many meds you take, especially of the pain killing type. In the question that asked about consiousness i wrote reems about how cataplexy, sleep paralysis and sleep attacks blight my daily life only for the doctor to look at that question and ask ''look do you have epilepsy'' to which i replied ''no'','' do you have a heart condition'' to which i replied ''no'' and he said ''well you should have just put no then.'' So all of the hours i spent filling in the form and about how c and n affect my life were transfered on to a computer in mostly yes and no answers, with no actual mention of the conditions and this is what the person deciding my claim will see. I don't really have a lot of advice only to say write a list of your medical problems and any operations including dates as they want to know everything. Having a memory like a sieve due to struggling to stay awake i left out half of the information that may have helped my claim. They also ask you trick questions about the information you have given and i was so tired i didn't really notice until later that day after a snooze. Luckily because i told the truth about everything i didn't slip up on these questions but if your appointment is at a time when youre not at your most alert it could be easy to just nod along to some of the statements the doctor makes just to get it over with in order to fufil the urge to sleep! Something to bear in mind! I think apperance counts for a lot too, i was brought up to put on your best clothes and to look smart and well turned out to visit a doctor. I took a hair brush along with me to disguise the fact i fell asleep in the car on the way there, made sure i covered up the dark circles under my eyes and wiped away the sleepy dust. Looking back i think i did myself an injustice i should have just allowed him to see how i usually look. Its agood job i havent got dyed hair or manicured nails he probably would have wondered how i could have managed to find the time or energy to do it! Fingers crossed i get a decision soon not holding out much hope of a good one though.

Thanks for the link, will check it out. I received a decision today reguarding my application for ESA. I was turned down yet again. After reading about other people with severe narcolepsy and cataplexy i was hardly suprised. However i was shocked to learn i scored 0 points and it was decided that i did not have a limited capacity to work, despite bieng dismissed on medical grounds from my job and still bieng signed off by my doctor. To add insult to injury i went to a work placement interview last week arranged by an agency that helps people with a limited capacity to work, get work experience to see if they are able. It was for a trial as a cleaner in a supermarket, only to be told their insurance would not cover me because of the n and c. It seems everyone except the government thinks im difficult to employ lol. I have to laugh otherwise i'd cry. I don't know how i'm expected to live on fresh air.