Aa
Worried about work continuing
This is so complicated . . . the disorder, meds, working, employers and lack of understanding.
I just had to go off of my duragesic patch due to loss of benefits. That was the thing that made it possible to function well enough to work full time. Now I'm back to quick release/short acting drugs again. That means pain between med doses, and it's bad in the winter time. Cold weather kills me!! Rain too!! I have bosses that just don't get it. They don't like all the doctors appt's, me being 15 minutes late alot due to not being able to function in the mornings, blah, blah, blah . . . They don't get it when I'm soooo ready to go home at the end of the day. They know I need money for bills 'cause my husband is in school . Had to quit his painting career due to Severe Osteoporosis. (A man at 46 has that. Wierd, huh) High risk for fracture. Yes, we make quite a pair. : )
Anyway, I'm afraid this is going to mess up my ability to work. I applied for disability two years ago, before the patch, and was denied. I didn't fight it because the patch was so effective that I felt I could work. Now I don't think I can keep the hours up, and I'm making the majority of the income for our family of 5 right now.
What do you do about bosses who don't understand. They make jokes about my pain, and fibromyalgia. I laugh it off but it really hurts my feelings. If they could just feel this for one 24 hour period, they'd never do it again!!!
I don't talk much about it, they just will see me walking funny because of the pain, or they will see that I have a migraine, or whatever, and ask what's wrong. I tell them, "Just the usual aches and pains." They'll say, "We all have pains. You'll be fine." I don't know, it's so hard when people don't understand that this is soooo very REAL pain. I don't know how to handle this. If I talk to them about this, they'll think I'm whining. They really really like me working there, and I love my job. It's just this monkey on my back called Fibro/CFS. How do you deal with employers without them thinking you're crazy??!!
I just had to go off of my duragesic patch due to loss of benefits. That was the thing that made it possible to function well enough to work full time. Now I'm back to quick release/short acting drugs again. That means pain between med doses, and it's bad in the winter time. Cold weather kills me!! Rain too!! I have bosses that just don't get it. They don't like all the doctors appt's, me being 15 minutes late alot due to not being able to function in the mornings, blah, blah, blah . . . They don't get it when I'm soooo ready to go home at the end of the day. They know I need money for bills 'cause my husband is in school . Had to quit his painting career due to Severe Osteoporosis. (A man at 46 has that. Wierd, huh) High risk for fracture. Yes, we make quite a pair. : )
Anyway, I'm afraid this is going to mess up my ability to work. I applied for disability two years ago, before the patch, and was denied. I didn't fight it because the patch was so effective that I felt I could work. Now I don't think I can keep the hours up, and I'm making the majority of the income for our family of 5 right now.
What do you do about bosses who don't understand. They make jokes about my pain, and fibromyalgia. I laugh it off but it really hurts my feelings. If they could just feel this for one 24 hour period, they'd never do it again!!!
I don't talk much about it, they just will see me walking funny because of the pain, or they will see that I have a migraine, or whatever, and ask what's wrong. I tell them, "Just the usual aches and pains." They'll say, "We all have pains. You'll be fine." I don't know, it's so hard when people don't understand that this is soooo very REAL pain. I don't know how to handle this. If I talk to them about this, they'll think I'm whining. They really really like me working there, and I love my job. It's just this monkey on my back called Fibro/CFS. How do you deal with employers without them thinking you're crazy??!!
Where are you located? If you are in the US there are specific laws about those who have a disability. I have added some good information to the Health Pages about the Job Accommodation Network. In there you can find laws regarding your rights and what you can request of your employer.
Do you have an HR office where you are employed? If so, you can talk with them personally. Even if they are out of state, you can still contact them about your health. When your illness begins to effect your employment, you must enforce your rights because employers aren't always concerned or considerate. They may not like it, but they can't fire you because of it. You are entitled to time off, and you can request an accommodation be made for coming in later in the day as well as for doc. visits. Those who will joke about another persons illness, most likely aren't very compassionate about any type of health problems. Chances are, it hasn't impacted their lives yet.
Your physician can write a list of any type of restrictions he feels you may need and you can pass it on to your employer. These are accommodations protected under the ADA. You can also use Short Term Disabilty if your company provides it. If you intend to file for disab. again, keep seeing your physician so that your symptoms and treatments are documented. You should file for disab. the first day you become disabled (meaning the first day you can no longer work). Your disability should be one that is expected to last a year or longer.
It may be beneficial to sit down with your employer and update them on your actual condition and how it impacts your life. As long as they continue to make it seem trivial, you are going to feel anxious and stressed about it while working. You could google Fibromyalgia and print out anything you feel would help document your condition for them.
I know it's hard to work like this and I pray everything will go well for you in the future.
Do you have an HR office where you are employed? If so, you can talk with them personally. Even if they are out of state, you can still contact them about your health. When your illness begins to effect your employment, you must enforce your rights because employers aren't always concerned or considerate. They may not like it, but they can't fire you because of it. You are entitled to time off, and you can request an accommodation be made for coming in later in the day as well as for doc. visits. Those who will joke about another persons illness, most likely aren't very compassionate about any type of health problems. Chances are, it hasn't impacted their lives yet.
Your physician can write a list of any type of restrictions he feels you may need and you can pass it on to your employer. These are accommodations protected under the ADA. You can also use Short Term Disabilty if your company provides it. If you intend to file for disab. again, keep seeing your physician so that your symptoms and treatments are documented. You should file for disab. the first day you become disabled (meaning the first day you can no longer work). Your disability should be one that is expected to last a year or longer.
It may be beneficial to sit down with your employer and update them on your actual condition and how it impacts your life. As long as they continue to make it seem trivial, you are going to feel anxious and stressed about it while working. You could google Fibromyalgia and print out anything you feel would help document your condition for them.
I know it's hard to work like this and I pray everything will go well for you in the future.
I live in MI and I actually stumbled across that info today about employees rights. I work for a very small ad company. We only have 15 employees. No health benefits or anything.
You know, when you said they must have never been impacted by health issues, I used to think that too, until shortly after I started working there, I found out my one bosses sister died of breast cancer 3 years ago. Maybe this seems trivial cause I'm not terminal. Sometimes I'm not sure whats worse. Then maybe a cure would be found a little quicker. Anyway, he just figures, "What's a little pain?" is my assumption.
I don't know. They were pretty nice today. I was 45 minutes late cause I couldn't get the pain under control this morning to get ready. Without that patch, it's not going to be easy. Today was bad. It's only 30 degrees today and suppose to be 20 degrees tomorrow. That isn't good. They didn't say anything and were very nice to me. I've been crying alot because I feel like I'm going backwards.
I feel dumb right now. Like I'm being whiney. I'll stop now. I want to be encouraging, not discouraging. Thanks everyone.
You know, when you said they must have never been impacted by health issues, I used to think that too, until shortly after I started working there, I found out my one bosses sister died of breast cancer 3 years ago. Maybe this seems trivial cause I'm not terminal. Sometimes I'm not sure whats worse. Then maybe a cure would be found a little quicker. Anyway, he just figures, "What's a little pain?" is my assumption.
I don't know. They were pretty nice today. I was 45 minutes late cause I couldn't get the pain under control this morning to get ready. Without that patch, it's not going to be easy. Today was bad. It's only 30 degrees today and suppose to be 20 degrees tomorrow. That isn't good. They didn't say anything and were very nice to me. I've been crying alot because I feel like I'm going backwards.
I feel dumb right now. Like I'm being whiney. I'll stop now. I want to be encouraging, not discouraging. Thanks everyone.
Even though it's a small company, you still would qualify for the ADA and EEOC guidelines. No benefits so you won't have any short or long term disab. to cover should you need to be out. You also qualify for the FMLA, which offers up to 12 wks. of leave with job security...but they do not have to pay you for the time you are off.
I think there is a lot to what you said about it not being terminal, so therefore, it can't be that bad. I got that same reaction when I was out on disability with an injury. I was terminated, yet a manager there was out a year with leukemia and everyone catered to him. He had no fear of losing his job. He is the one who let me go and somehow, in my mind, I felt he had justified his position as "she went through nothing compared to what I did." I do not miss the office politics at all.
You aren't being whiney at all. I totally see your position and can relate. That is why I encourage you to know what your rights are so you can use them should you need to. Should you ever get down and can't work, file for disab. right away so you won't have a long period with no income.
I know how difficult it is for you and I hope that the meds. you are on now will help. There is a patch called Lidoderm, which is not addictive. Something like that might help you get through the day. Hopefully, they will come up with a medication that will actually treat the fibro...not just its symptoms.
Take care.
I think there is a lot to what you said about it not being terminal, so therefore, it can't be that bad. I got that same reaction when I was out on disability with an injury. I was terminated, yet a manager there was out a year with leukemia and everyone catered to him. He had no fear of losing his job. He is the one who let me go and somehow, in my mind, I felt he had justified his position as "she went through nothing compared to what I did." I do not miss the office politics at all.
You aren't being whiney at all. I totally see your position and can relate. That is why I encourage you to know what your rights are so you can use them should you need to. Should you ever get down and can't work, file for disab. right away so you won't have a long period with no income.
I know how difficult it is for you and I hope that the meds. you are on now will help. There is a patch called Lidoderm, which is not addictive. Something like that might help you get through the day. Hopefully, they will come up with a medication that will actually treat the fibro...not just its symptoms.
Take care.
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Fibromyalgia Community
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Condoms are the most effective way to prevent HIV and STDs.
PrEP is used by people with high risk to prevent HIV infection.
