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Silverwing86
17th October 2006, 06:38 AM
Hi all,

We're not happy campers at the moment I'm afraid :( ...

Quick recap:

OH is main applicant, IT, 125 points, no job offer, no points claimed for me on either education or work experience.

I do not work at present because I have been retraining (study) after getting the diagnosis of Fibromyalgia end 2004, and realising that some serious changes were needed in my life if I was to be able to continue working succesfully long term.

I have had this condition for at least 18 years without knowing it, despite this I worked pretty much consistently up until 2002 (when I was forced to realise that I really couldn't continue in my old profession any more), and also managed to "better" myself along the way.

We submitted our ITA in March this year and made sure to preemptively add a reassuring letter from both my GP and Rheumatologist concerning my Fibromyalgia. We suspected that they would ask for it and this way hoped to save time later on in the process.

We were quickly allocated a Visa Officer, more information was required concerning my condition, we supplied new, more detailed, letters from both my GP and said Rheumatologist.

After a long wait, we found out that the information sent back to the Visa Officer concerning our situation was so ambiguous that she could not make a decision based on that. She went back to them for clarification and in the meantime I supplied a letter from another specialist and one from myself to further clarify the situation. We were told it would take 2 - 3 weeks before we received a decision.

This was beginning of September, then.... lo and behold, less than a week later, we received an invitation for interview in Amsterdam on October 6th ! No reference to the medical situation was made.

Interview went well, we were told they wouldn't be denying us (!), but we would hear a definite decision on PR vs WTR (as is the procedure) within 2 - 3 weeks. She did mention that she found no conclusion on the medical situation in the file and said she would ask our VO to let us know officially what the outcome is.

We heard nothing. Today I saw on a(nother) forum that some applicants who went for interview on the same day had already received their decision. Slightly worried I decided to call our VO to ask what the status is on our medical situation.

She told me that the Medical Assessor(s) had come back with a lot of information but nothing clear enough for her to make a decision on (again !) ! She sent it back again asking for clarification on October 1st, but has received no response as yet.

Now we have to wait till Friday, if she hasn't had my medical back by then she said she would contact us. She was very apologetic and sounded embarassed at the whole situation.

Anyone on this forum have any experience with Fibromyalgia or similar condition ?? I have to admit I'm feeling pretty low at the moment and don't know what more we could do to convince them there's nothing to worry about.

Apologies for the long post :uhoh, guess I just had to get it out of my system ...

Silverwing86
22nd October 2006, 03:25 AM
Just an update (not that there seems to be a lot of interest, I sincerely hope my post wasn't upsetting/insulting/ anything, in any way, to anyone, because that certainly wasn't my intention :confused:. Doesn't help boost a shy posters' confidence :o, too long ?? Or perhaps I put in the wrong place ??).

I called our VO today since the silence was deafening, but apparently the medicals haven't been returned to her by the Medical Assessor(s) yet (sent in October 1st), so we have to wait some more :uhoh. Unfortunately she couldn't specify exactly when we would be hearing anything so in limbo now...

Silver

Ana&Steve
22nd October 2006, 05:41 AM
I didn't post before because, while I know someone with Fibromyalgia, (she's a really neat person, btw!) I had nothing intelligent to give you on the subject. That may be the case with others as well. Good thing you updated, maybe someone with answers will come along!
I can offer sympathy and support, if you'll have it; I know what a grindingly painful, irritating, and frustrating disease Fibromyalgia is, and I know what a grindingly painful, irritating, and frustrating process it is, dealing with random people on phones, who you know if you could just get the right one, you could have the answers you need, but you have to wait for someone else to do their job before you can finish yours- arrrgg :( . I hope you get good news, and don't be shy to seek help and comfort; as a newbie I can report many friendly and supportive experiances on this site!
Ana

gil
22nd October 2006, 06:02 AM
Hello Slverwing86,
Welcome to the forum. I'm afraid I know nothing about fibromyalgia so can't help with that, but would like to welcome you to the forum and wish you all the best, do let us know how you get on,
Gil

K&CS
22nd October 2006, 07:16 AM
Hi Silverwing86

I've only just seen your post now - it caught my attention as I have a friend with the condition. As Ana above has said, I know how painful and exhausting it can be, although it sounds like you cope pretty well. The fact that you have been able to continue as normal for so long should stand you in good stead. I too have a medical condition, but my consultant sent a letter to NZIS saying that I kept good health and had never missed a day's work from it, and I was fine.

I hope everything goes well but should the decision be unfavourable, then I really think you have grounds to contest.

Sorry not to be able to help you more, but please let us know what the decision is! All the very best of luck.

Kate x

marcia
22nd October 2006, 07:35 AM
Sorry I can't help with your problems but wanted to say welcome to the forum and good luck!

Silverwing86
22nd October 2006, 12:39 PM
Wow, thanx guys/gals, what a great response (boosted my posting confidence no end) !

Although I was looking for experiences of others to learn from, we do realise that we have no choice but wait (and gently push INZ sothat they don't 'forget' about us too easily :p ). Hence I guess sympathy and support was exactly what I was looking for (warm, fuzzy feeling inside, I never knew that's what it feels like :clap) and you were all kind enough to provide it. Thank you so much, it is much appreciated !

It is proving to be a trying process, especially since we really can't think what else we can do to convince INZ that I have an acceptable standard of health. Although I do have pain throughout my body 24/7, I'm not on any medication or ongoing treatment and don't expect to be in the future. As I tried to explain to them, the pain I can live with, it was the not knowing for all those years that messed me up ! Now that I do know and have dealt with it, I'm ready to move on. Hence the retraining...

In fact, part of the reason for our decision is the favourable effect we hope the move will have on me. Other than the obvious fact of a better climate, the different lifestyle and improved chances for me on the jobmarket (tired of hearing I'm either overqualified and will get bored, errr... can't I decide for myself whether I wish to be bored or not ?!? Or I don't have enought specific experience for whatever it is I'm going for. Never thought a change of profession would be this impossible !) should improve my outlook no end.

I have heard/read of others with Fibro who came through okay. I've been thinking that perhaps if I'd been working or had children, this might not have been so much of an issue, but as explained, the jobthing wasn't working out and I guess making a baby post haste isn't really a wise option either LOL.

After all the letters we have supplied which haven't seemed to convince them one way or another that I have an acceptable standard of health, I've played with the idea of just making a recording of myself performing a haka ! What do you think, would that convince them that I'm by no means debilitated in any way :laugh ??

My apologies, getting a bit silly here, I'll stop. This has also become a very long post, apologies for that as well :o. I'm just thankful for all your responses. As someone who finds it hard to ask for help (recognise that in others with Fibro ??), even in the form of a post on a forum, it's great to feel the rewards it can bring. Again, thankyou all !

I will keep you updated.

Silver

Ana&Steve
22nd October 2006, 01:37 PM
I've played with the idea of just making a recording of myself performing a haka!
Silver

:laugh Go for it!
Ana

gil
22nd October 2006, 06:51 PM
Hi Sliverwing, what are you retraining in and from? (just interested!)

Gil

Silverwing86
23rd October 2006, 03:16 AM
Hi Ana,
I think I might just do that if things take much longer, I guess I'd better start practicing then... If I do end up doing it, I'll be sure to post it here ;-)

Hi Gil,
Thanks for your interest. I started out after school as a Receptionist and worked my way up to Office Manager. For the past 2 years I have been retraining to become an Internet Programmer.

Part of my training was a PHP (scripting) course and a Master Class PHP to follow up. Unfortunately writing script from scratch turned out to be less than successful for me and I realised my heart is more into the design aspect, so I changed courses and did an extensive Photoshop training instead.

I also plan to do courses for 'paper' design (Illustrator, InDesign) so that I could also be employed in advertising/publishing.

Silver

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