There seems to be quite a few of us struggling with holding down our jobs while struggling with TN. My TN reared it's head 3.5 years ago after a questionable r/c and during a protracted stressful work situation with abusive management. Since it was not safe to discuss health issues I struggled to figure out what was wrong on my own, every day walking around with my hand covering my painful left jaw. I put in for a lesser status position (demotion) to try to cope but found myself a target in the process.
Last week, I decided to roll the dice and tell my GM about my TN in hopes he could understand my daily concerns. Recently they put me in a position where I am running 4 registers at once in an environment that resembles a retail environment on Black Friday for several hours a day. People are agitated, annoyed and hostile and it would be impossible for any one person to do what is expected. So far, I have been able to do this but cannot continue long term. My suspicion is that the HR clerk is trying to push me out as I am a very long term associate (28 yrs) with a great deal of varied experience but once you have health problems.....
I am very nervous about my next terrible bout of pain and how I will handle it. Dealing with throngs of people while in pain is not something I can handle. So, in that way, I am scared. I tried to convey that to my manager and I believe they are going to use the information against me. Last summer after my injury at work and p/t, stress and pain escalated and I had a terrible flare up of my TN. All that led me here....yay!
Finding this group has actually empowered me quite a bit. It gave me the strength to even have that conversation with my manager and also led me to start considering a procedure if I am a candidate. Last summer I was trying to run from my pain...desperate to prevent it. In a strange way, I am walking into my pain now. Does that make any sense at all??
So, KC, yes I need a new, better neuro - started researching and found a couple locally that are on my ins. plan. Next week have a follow-up with my so-so neuro . I am considering taking FMLA paperwork for the office to fill out to protect my job. (I want to protect my job because I am considering MVD surgery and currently have excellent insurance).
A procedure? Yes, see above.
New med change? I think so...not sure what. Gabapentin helping but getting quite a bit of weight gain and some sluggishness from the dose increase (although I think it is helping me "chill" with the stress some). I also have had some terrible headaches and stabbing pain behind my ear.
Disability info? If I find I cannot do my job, I might have to look into that.
Shadow2 - I understand what your going through. It’s awful! So many people struggle with chronic conditions that make it difficult to work. I’ve been off work since mid December. I know I’ll need to return to work soon and the stress is eating me alive. I have such difficulties with medication side-effects, and working with the pain is horrible.
I hope your employer will be able to work with you on this. Good luck & let us know what happens
I have watched them run off 2 employees with cancer so I don't hold much hope. One day, those individuals(in mgmt & esp. HR) will be answering to God how they have treated people who are at their most vulnerable state. In the interim, I will probably be needing help in the near future how to access my short term disability if necessary. For now, I am still strong, trying to prepare for the next struggle.
It's tragically funny. My position before was essentially accounting and I stepped down due to stress/pain and hoping to be able to function better. I stepped right into a fire that has already burned and leaves me very vulnerable. Which is why I so need someone in my corner.
Last year I was ready to quit and live off of my 401k until I get settled into a new job. My work husband quit due to the environment (not sick, just sick of harassment). We were a team and when I stepped down, he quit a few months later. I didn't realize how much of a support system he was.
Kim, is your employer working with you on health leave?