I was diagnosed with Atypical Trigeminal Neuralgia in September. I graduated from college only a 15 months before that. I had only been working at my job for 3 months before I was incapacitated by ATN. I was out for 6 weeks. When I went back I thought I was 100% ( or at least as good as I'll ever be again), but what happened was a series of events that made me unable to work 40 hours a week. After 2 weeks of working only part time, they let me go. I have now been looking for jobs. I feel as good as I will ever feel, but I have very little and increadibly choppy experience in this economy.
I am feeling better, although not perfect, but what do I tell potential employers. I have been saying I am better. I don't tell them what I have, just say I was sick and let go because of it. But what do I say when I am employed by them? How do I handle work and a life with ATN together? Please help! I want to work. I am a smart young woman who was ambitious. Now I just want a halfway normal life. Please help me.
Similar here - got my Masters Social Work 2009 -- economy crashed no jobs -- Oct 2010 Oral surgeon gave me TN1
I was working in child protection - very stressful job - stress makes TN worse - I was trying meds, but couldn't drive kids around or write court documents..... I left for medical reasons - and told future employers very vague that I had to take a year off work to get healed. I've also stated that I took some time off working to volunteer which was true.
I spent 10 months researching MVD and it's been a year Oct. 2012. All better now - but won't last forever.
You don't have to say you were let go - tell them it was mutal, or you doctor told you to take time off, Try to find a job with flexibility, low stress and that's all you can hope for
Keep Posting!
You don’t have to say what you have or even if you are sick. I believe this is one of the no no questions for employers to ask about prospective employees in an interview. Somebody please correct me if I have my information wrong on that. It is a hard thing too balance work and life in general with illness, but you learn as go what your limitations are. Try to find work that is going to be less stressful and low key. As for answering why you left your last job say it was mutal or not a good fit. I’m sorry that you’re having to go through this, and I wish I had better advice. Be easy on your self.
Knowing the industry might help get more specific tips.
I would be honest about everything because there are probably going to be more incidents down the road. Getting hired and let go multiple times is worse than not getting the job at all on your resume.
Or you could simply say that your previous position wasn't a good fit, but you're confident that you can excel with company X.
This is just what I've experienced over the years, so take it with a grain of salt: I don't think I could be a 40 hour a week employee and deal with TN. My solution was to start my own business so that I could delegate to employees during bad times, but maybe in your industry there is a call for consultants or something similar? That way you would have an active resume if you decide to go to work full-time down the road.
Oh, Carolanne. How very, very distressing and so youg. I have TN but it affected my work so seriously that I have to be "boarded" as we say her is SA. But I had at least been working for 30 years in the same profession. It would have been impossible for me to carry on working with the TN. And when I come across people who do work with any form of TN I just wonder how they do it.
I can't give you any suggestions about work but I want to put my arms around you and give a huge hug which if it was in my power to do so I would tell this dreadful malady to go away.
Be very strong. But perhaps you can find a neuro who can give you meds that will enable you to work.
Lots of love.
dsm
Carolanne and KC
I know exactly how you guys feel. I was 26 when I had to go on permanent disability. I'm the health field. I had to go on temporary disability over 4 times before I was "laid off". My meds were making me very foggy and I started making mistakes. The day I almost made a mistake that could have seriously hurt or even cost someone's life was the last day I worked. It was a very hard decision but it was even becoming unsafe for me to drive. My neurologist even had my driver's license suspended because of how out of it I was. I couldn't drive for 2 years! My life was a mess. I wish I could give you suggestions on work. I can only tell you that I tried SO MANY therapies and medications to try to help and nothing helped me until I had my MVD almost 4 weeks ago. I know this is extremely soon, but for the first time since I stopped working I feel like there's hope and I might be able to work again soon. Be 100%.
I hope you find a job that is flexible and your TN gets under control. Carolanne, is your job the type that you can telecommute on bad days? Maybe that's an option.
I am in similar boat. I was diagnosed with TN in February. My plan was to take a year off to spend with my son born March 2011.
My previous field was management and was wanting to get back into that on a temporary basis until I finished my masters in microbiology.
However, talking is one of my biggest triggers and the medications I’m on make me so spacey.
I’ve been trying to think of ways to get back out there, but I’m afraid I’ll be terminated.
What field are you in?
Also, you don’t have to say you were fired. Legally, your employer can only say why your position was and how long you worked there.
When asked you can say your were on medical leave, but this will prompt questions.
I would try to put your self in an employers shoes and think of what they make think based on your responses.
I’m sorry if I wasn’t much help, but I hope you find employment soon!
I'm worried about a similar situation. I was diagnosed in July and am in my last year of grad school. I'm getting my master's and license to teach Secondary English. This semester is my last instructional time before student teaching. The pain has interfered with my school work because we're still working out meds and what have you. So, at first the pain would cause me to miss a class or turn in homework late.
Then I started meds - which had their own set of problems. The side effects caused me to miss class and assignments. So, after 5 semesters of straight A's, this semester my grades will fall - not very much, I'll get some B's - but any drop in grades catches the attentions of HR people. They will and have the right to ask about my grades.
I want to tell them the truth, but I worry that they'll foresee missed days and not hire me. I could say, "I had a health issue to handle" or a "family matter" but those are all buzzwords of missed days in the HR world...what to say!
Carolanne, You're not alone here - I want to work!
I cannot imagine being in school with TN pain! You guys (and parents with TN) are extra special in my book.
Thanks, ihold! I call this my Job semester - as in the Bible guy. Not only do I have this funnes,, my parents are getting fairly nasty divorce and my cousin has decided we're all evil and not worthy of handling or seeing his daughter. I am two weeks away from surviving this term - I do it, I can handle anything. ANYTHING!
Sometimes i feel like I'm just using it as an excuse to get out of class or an assignment. But I know I'm not.
I was grumpy the other day and snippy with my family. My mom finally asked, "What's wrong with you?" I burst into tears saying that my face hurts and the meds are making me touching but I didn't want to say anything.
She hugged me, and said, "Honey, you don't have to be feel guilty for being in pain. You can't help it." I cried even harder of course. She's right, I was feeling guilty for the pain and for making those excuses. It was good to hear her say that.
ihold said:
I cannot imagine being in school with TN pain! You guys (and parents with TN) are extra special in my book.
The guilt can be very bad. I constantly feel bad that my husband and family have had to deal with all of this. Even though i’m the one in pain, they’re the ones that have had to miss things, take me to the Dr, spend nights in the ER, etc. They say that it’s ok and I’ve been fortunate that they are very understanding, but that doesn’t take away the feeling of guilt. Also, sometimes we neef to just cry out our frustration. I bet you felt a little better after talking to your mom and crying it out.
I totally get the feeling that I now have something in common with Job also. LoL Buy in the end of his tribulations things worked out. I hope that’s our case as well. 
I think Kari is right - employers can't delve into your personal life, but they can ask why you left your last job. They want to make sure they aren't hiring a slacker or anything.
You can always give your answer the ol' PR treatment - spin it a little. You don't have to lie, but you don't have to tell them the truth. If you vaguely say you had a health problem that exceeded their limited sick day policy, THEN they can't delve. They can't ask what you have or anything like that, at least I hope they can't! Plus you put the onus on your former employer that way, instead of on you.
Don't worry about if they call the former employer, the only thing they can do verify that you worked there, that's it - no referral or reasons why you left, that i know is illegal.
I think you feel bad, or dishonest about starting a job when you know you may have to take sick days for appointments or bad health days, maybe ask if there are options to work from home or if you can negotiate a "work until it's done" set-up. Instead of being required to be there 8 hours a day 5 days a week, some places will let their employees come at odd hours as long as their projects are completely.
Good luck!
I have a degree in Statistics. I have mainly been working for software companies.
I'm looking forward to reading the responses you get because I'm curious about the answer myself. I am hanging onto my employment but probably because I only work 60 hours a month.
So far my boss has been very understanding, we discussed the medications I am on and the MVD possibility in the future. She is having something done in her back for back pain so we kind of bonded over horrible pain. :)
I did have to miss a day last week because the Tegretol was making me really woozy and I was afraid to drive. However, a day at home isn't any better than a day at work really, because I have a 2-year-old.
I actually had a doctor in the ER recommend medical marijuana as a future treatment. He was annoyed that I declined, but I work for a federally funded program...even if I had a card, I'm pretty sure they could fire me.
I wish you luck in what you do!