Went to work today!

[jamlws]

Well I made it thru the day. My back and my legs don't hurt as bad as they did when I first worked a few weeks ago so I am thankful for that.
Since I am back to work everyone thinks I am better now which isn't true at all. Another person just came back also from foot surgery and she is doing so much better. I really wish I was too and I kept having to tell people I am not better yet. The thing that bugs me most is when people that come thru my line tell me to smile and I know I can't cause it would cause so much more pain. I had a CSM (a person above the cashiers)  tell me to smile at the the people I was checking out. when you don't deal with chronic pain and don't know how much it hurts me to smile it is easy to just say smile. It is like they are watching me.  I had a guy tell me I would be so much prettier if I would smile all the time. I can't. I was checking out this couple and they had one of those storage tubs, well i was moving it around to find the bar code and he also moved it on me and hit me right in the face on my bad side, I had to step away from them cause I was tearing up. He said he was so sorry and hopes he didn't hurt me to bad. Yesterday I got my hair cut and I didn't tell the lady about my face and she hit me right below my eye, I cried and she kept saying I am so sorry I had no clue, it wasn't her fault, I should of told her. I shouldn't have to worry about this stuff. I protect my face as much as I can but sometimes things happen.
I am off tomorrow and then have to work again on Monday. Then I am going to talk to my manager about Tuesday, if he don't let me have it off then I will call off, I have to get this pain under control. My manager isnt a nice person and has questioned my health problems in the past. They do know when I am on meds in order to please everyone and freaking smile I have to take them at work, they do understand that. But I move around alot at work and the moving hurts me also. I just want to be able to go to work without having to worry about getting into trouble cause I am not talking much to people or smiling!! Hubby got to spend some alone time with the kids he took them for lunch when I was at work, he said it was really nice, since I haven't been working he got a 2nd job so he don't see them that much anymore. My kids was happy to spend the time with him also.
Thanks for listening to my vent.
Jamie

[Totie]

My opinion, you have two choices. You can be upfront with the CSM about your appointment & risk being denied, or you can call in sick. Too me I would just call in. I would not ask about time off & if denied then call in sick, they would know.

[jayman920]

Jaime,
I have to agree with the others. I am a general manager with Home Depot, if someone would ask for a day off for a dr appt, my first question is, when did you know about it, if they said for a while i would not grant the time off, now if they called out after i said no, well they are on the s**t list. Think about it, you have knowm about the appoitment for a long time.

I would just call out, or if you can go in and tell them you are sick and leave.

I wish you good luck at your appt, dont asked for any narcs if they say we will try this explain that you will try it but in the past you have with little results. You dont want them to think you are a seeker, thats all you need now. I think the block will work an you should be fine with otc meds.

Again good luck :)

[Totie]

Our company prefers seven day notice on appointments or any days off. They do make acceptions on unplanned dr.appts, like for your kids, or some kind of illness that just came up (something that has to be seen by your dr.).

I don't like when someone tells me 1 day before there time off is needed (except dire "couldn't help it situtations) that they won't be in. It requires finding time for me to cover for that person or get behind on my actual job duties. I don't mind doing it, but give me plenty of notice so I can plan the scheduled lunches & who is covering.

Is there anyway you can switch hours with anyone?

[sandee1818]

I would advise that you let your manager know in advance about appointments as soon as you can. When you get your next appointment let them know then or soon after that you will need that day off. This cuts down on the confusion and will keep you from getting wrote up.
As am employer I know I really hate it when someone lets me know at the latest possible moment that they can't come in.

I am glad to see that you made it thru your shift:)

[jamlws]

My manager wasn't there today, I was going to talk to him today but he was off. The next time I work is Monday so I am hoping he is there. I am not aloud to talk about work off the clock, I will try to call him tomorrow and see if he will talk to me if he is working. When I had my surgery I had a great manager. He asked me how much time I needed off and took me off. I really loved him but he went to another store.
Work was ok, since I am only working 4 hours at a time I can make it thru the day. I will only work 4 hours at a time that is all I can do. I will work 20 hours a week.
Thanks
Jamie

[geminigirl1963]

Congrats on not only making it TO work, but also for making it through the day.  I'm sure it had to have been really tough.

What I would suggest when you have a CSM or someone else telling you to smile at the customers, simply tell them that you would, but you have a medial condition that makes it very painful to do so. Being upfront and honest with them will not only help them to understand why you don't always have a smile on your face, but it will also help them to understand (and maybe be able to explain to others) how difficult it is for you sometimes just to be there while in severe pain.

I'd also suggest that when you talk to your manager about your doc appointment - instead of ASKING for the time off, simply tell her that you MUST have that time off - you have a doctor's appointment that you have been waiting a LONG time for and you simply cannot miss it or reschedule it.  Give her as much advance notice as you possibly can so that she has a chance to find someone to cover your shift - a much better choice, I feel, than calling off at the last minute.  Also if you were to ASK your manager for the time off and she declines to give it to you and then you call off for that day, it could definitely go negatively against you at work.

Sending lots of good thoughts and prayers your way in hopes that the appointmetn goes GREAT on Tuesday!  Between now and then, get as much rest as you can and try not to worry.  Be sure to keep us posted!

[designgyrl]

It's going to be great, can't wait for you to get some good news and some help for your mouth.  How was work?

[jamlws]

Thanks. Yea will tell them, we got new CSMs while I was gone so they know nothing about me. Only one of them do and she is a good friend. 2 more days is all I keep telling myself well 3 but on the 3rd I see the dr at 9am.
Thanks
Jamie

[designgyrl]

Jamie, hang in there, just two more days and time for some answers.  Good job going to work and making it through.  One day at a time, remember that!

[mummy3too]

2 more days.... only 2 more days!  

Jamie, You should have explained your situation to your manager today - so they would have stayed off your case regarding 'smiling'!

It's hard enough to have pain and smile - but when your pain in made worse when you smile... there is no way you can fake smiles all day.

counting the hours with you....

Mum