A need a good statement or I have failed my course

[KatyMac]

Help me

I have:
To attach to form PT39

Although I have always had a certain amount of joint pain, over the period from Christmas I realised I hadn?t had a day when I hadn?t taken multiple painkillers; this escalated rapidly and I saw the GP (16th Feb) who ordered blood tests (24th Feb) and changed my pain medication.
I discussed the results at an appointment on 4th March, and my medication was changed again. On 15th March I saw the GP again and he referred me to a rheumatologist who I will see on 7th April.

My symptoms include severe joint pain in multiple joints, long bone pain, and lack of power in my hands & feet. The problems with my hands are causing difficulties with typing and writing. The pain is causing concentration difficulties and distraction.

The medication is causing some disorientation, inability to concentrate and some memory issues.

I apologise for the form being late; however the disorientation and distraction along with the pain (which seems to be in the front of my mind constantly) have not made clear thinking possible.

Rewrite:
Although I have always had a certain amount of joint pain, over the period from Christmas I realised I hadn?t had a day when I hadn?t taken multiple painkillers; this escalated rapidly and I saw the GP (16th Feb) who ordered blood tests (24th Feb) and changed my pain medication.

I discussed the results at an appointment on 4th March, and my medication was changed again. On 15th March I saw the GP again he has proposed reactive arthritis as a diagnosis and he referred me to a rheumatologist who I will see on 7th April. However this diagnosis may change as my brother has been diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis for some years now.

My symptoms include severe joint pain in multiple joints, long bone pain, and lack of power in my hands & feet. The problems with my hands are causing difficulties with typing and writing. The pain is causing concentration difficulties and distraction.

The medication is causing some disorientation, inability to concentrate and some memory issues. I am somewhat weepy and reacting to things quite badly I am hoping this is due to the medication.

In addition I am having counselling as I already have several long-term conditions and this is a further one.

I apologise for the form being late; however the disorientation and distraction along with the pain (which seems to be in the front of my mind constantly) have not made clear thinking possible.

I wouldn't start with although.

'Having experienced a certain level of joint pain (can you say what this is due to?) since xxxx/over a long period of time I have recently a deterioration in my condition. From xxxx to xxxx I was taking painkillers on a daily basis and symptoms showed no improvement.

Then...

Although I have always had a certain amount of joint pain, over the period from Christmas I realised I hadn?t had a day when I hadn?t taken multiple painkillers; this escalated rapidly and I saw the GP (16th Feb) who ordered blood tests (24th Feb) and changed my pain medication.

I discussed the results at an appointment on 4th March, and my medication was changed again. On 15th March I saw the GP again he has proposed reactive arthritis as a diagnosis and he referred me to a rheumatologist who I will see on 7th April. However this diagnosis may change as my brother has been diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis for some years now.

My symptoms include severe joint pain in multiple joints, long bone pain, and lack of power in my hands & feet. The problems with my hands are causing difficulties with typing and writing. The pain is causing concentration difficulties and distraction.

The medication is causing some disorientation, inability to concentrate and some memory issues.

Would then suggest.... I hope this is a temporary state if affairs while I adjust to this medication however I am finding it difficult to cope with the demands of daily life (which include - give details of other mitigating circumstances) as well as the additional demands of this course. This means I have not been able to devote my full attention to my studies.

I wluld suggest giving more details if you're going to put this in: In addition I am having counselling as I already have several long-term conditions and this is a further one

Then your final apology for the lateness is fine.

recently experienced a deterioration

Actually I just noticed a repetition between the last sentence of my first paragraph and just after the beginning of the second. Maybe just go straight to seeing the GP.

Or say that 'Although I am accustomed, to an extent, to dealing with chronic joint pain I felt this had escalated rapidly and was concerned about the amount of painkillers I was finding necessary in order to function so I saw the GP etc.'

Is this better?
Although I am accustomed, to an extent, to dealing with chronic joint pain (thought to be osteoarthritis) since my late teens, I felt this had escalated rapidly and was concerned about the amount of painkillers I was finding necessary in order to function so I saw the GP (16th Feb) who ordered blood tests (24th Feb) and changed my pain medication.

I discussed the results at an appointment on 4th March, and my medication was changed again. On 15th March I saw the GP again he has proposed reactive arthritis as a diagnosis and he referred me to a rheumatologist who I will see on 7th April. However this diagnosis may change as my brother has been diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis for some years now.

My symptoms include severe joint pain in multiple joints, long bone pain, and lack of power in my hands & feet. The problems with my hands are causing difficulties with typing and writing. The pain is causing concentration difficulties and distraction.

The medication is causing some disorientation, inability to concentrate and some memory issues.

I hope this is a temporary state if affairs while I adjust to this medication and diagnosis however I am finding it difficult to cope with the demands of daily life (running a small nursery and caring for a husband and daughter who both have health issues) as well as the additional demands of this course. This means I have not been able to devote my full attention to my studies.

In addition I am having counselling as I already have several long-term conditions (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome & IBS)and this is a further one to balance with existing treatments.

I apologise for the form being late; however the disorientation and distraction along with the pain (which seems to be in the front of my mind constantly) have not made clear thinking possible.

Still wouldn't start with although. It has an apologetic air of making excuses and mitigating what you're saying rather than presenting a strong case.

You've also copied my typo - temporary state if affairs - which should be temporary state of affairs

First para:
I am accustomed, to an extent, to dealing with chronic joint pain (thought to be osteoarthritis) since my late teens, I felt this had escalated rapidly and was concerned about the amount of painkillers I was finding necessary in order to function so I saw the GP (16th Feb) who ordered blood tests (24th Feb) and changed my pain medication; I found this medication very difficult.

Typo corrected

I am accustomed, to an extent, to dealing with chronic joint pain (thought to be osteoarthritis) which I have been experiencing since my late teens, however recently I felt my pain levels had escalated rapidly and was concerned about the amount of painkillers I was finding necessary in order to function so I saw the GP (16th Feb), who ordered blood tests (24th Feb) and changed my pain medication; I found acclimatising to this medication very difficult.

Or possibly a blanket statement like 'This medication caused a number of difficult and unpleasant side effects.'

Any reference to problems with meds later in the statement should make it clear that it's your current medication from your most recent appointment which is causing any ongoing problems.

And finally I'd suggest that clear thinking is impossible, rather than clear thinking not being possible - it removes the possibility of the reader not weighting the negative.

Thanks; you are good at this

It's all the medication tbh but it was worse around the time of the TMA which was the first lot of meds

I have my DSA form to do next weekend

Ironically the OU is helping you write this as it's teaching me how to make pieces of writing better suited to their intended purpose at the moment.

But previous experience of working in HE tells me that you need to give as full a picture as possible whilst being as specific about what caused the most impact as possible.

I am accustomed, to an extent, to dealing with chronic joint pain (thought to be osteoarthritis) which I have been experiencing since my late teens, however recently I felt my pain levels had escalated rapidly and was concerned about the amount of painkillers I was finding necessary in order to function so I saw the GP (16th Feb), who ordered blood tests (24th Feb) and changed my pain medication; I found acclimatising to this medication very difficult and it caused a number of difficult and unpleasant side effects.

I discussed the results at an appointment on 4th March, and my medication was changed again. On 15th March I saw the GP again he has proposed reactive arthritis as a diagnosis and he referred me to a rheumatologist who I will see on 7th April. However this diagnosis may change as my brother has been diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis for some years now.

My symptoms include severe joint pain in multiple joints, long bone pain, and lack of power in my hands & feet. The problems with my hands are causing difficulties with typing and writing. The pain is causing concentration difficulties and distraction.

The medication is causing some disorientation, inability to concentrate and some memory issues.

I hope this is a temporary state of affairs while I adjust to this medication and diagnosis however I am finding it difficult to cope with the demands of daily life (running a small nursery and caring for a husband and daughter who both have health issues) as well as the additional demands of this course. This means I have not been able to devote my full attention to my studies.

In addition I am having counselling as I already have several long-term conditions (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome & IBS) and this is a further one to balance with existing treatments.

I apologise for the form being late; however the disorientation and distraction along with the pain (which seems to be in the front of my mind constantly) have made clear thinking is impossible.

On 15th March I saw the GP again; he has proposed reactive arthritis as a diagnosis and he referred me to a rheumatologist who I will see on 7th April.

Semi colon inserted.

Final sentence either 'made clear thinking impossible' or 'meant clear thinking is impossible'.

Thanks so much

Now if you would just do this for my EMA too?

Hmmm I might find the subject knowledge a bit of a barrier there!

Nah - you could fudge it (I'm sure)