Medical Leave with TSH 110

[Hypo212]

My employer is trying to fight me on Short Term Disability b/c she thinks I should be able to work with TSH level 110 and myalgia.  

Im just curious.....2 yrs ago my dr insisted he put me on medical leave when my tsh was at 24.  Now it is at 110 and a new dr. has put me on medical leave (short term disability).  Im with a new employer,too, but I guess I was just wondering if its common to work with such high TSH levels....My cognitive skills are off, I spend all day sleeping or laying on the couch. Running ONE errand exhausts me.  My memory is shot. My focus is shot.

I cant imagine the kind of work people produce in an office with such high TSH.  My brain is so off.  Im doing really weird things like after I pour a drink, sometimes I open the cabinet to put the milk or orange juice back instead of putting it in the fridge or Ill be throwing some things out and Ill accidentally think Im also throwing out a glass (instead of putting the glass in the sink).   I simply am not functioning very well to say the least. And now my employer is going to fight me on this.

Had anyone had experiences with taking short term disability with elevated TSH levels?

Thank you so much for your response and taking the time to read this.  I know it wasnt 100% clear, but i hope you got the main point. :)

[Hypo212]

No.....no hr dept. My boss is the owner of the company, and I am her "right hand girl" aka Office Manager.  We run a service with independent contractors.

So unfortunately, everything goes directly to her.

C thank you for your advice as well.  Im an emotional wreck having felt so alone in all of this.  no one realizing how hard it is to even get up off the couch to go pee, b/c im just so lazy and tired.  My boyfriend is a fitness trainer and nutritionist....he tells me everyday to do cardio...I just cant do it. Im so exhausted I cant do anything. This is not living.

So now I have to try and be logical with what could possibly turn into a bigger situation.  I hope I can collect b/c my bank is going down to zero very fast with no income. I want to wake up from this nightmare.

[Totie]

She can not go against your doctor's statements or recommendations.

Do you have a human resource person? Most companies have one, they are the ones you deal with conerning these issues. I met with our human resource person face to face when I handed in my medical paperwork. Your HR person is the one who would be in contact with your doctor and insurance. Unless your boss runs the whole show, she has not right to tell you any thing. You do have rights, and YOU CAN get a lawyer.

Do you have an employee hand book? Can you meet with your HR person?

[Hypo212]

Yes, my dr filled out the forms and i faxed them to my boss.  Shes made up some fibs and false facts and provided them to the insurance agent.  Shes trying very hard to get out of paying me.

The forms indicate tsh>100 severe hypothyroid and myalgia. Return to work date january, 2, 2010.

She's not a bad boss, she's a  bad person in general.  Probably the most vindictive, spiteful, manipulative person i have ever encountered in my 31 yrs of life. She will do whatever she can to get out of this....and she'll probably appeal this and make me see another dr for a second opinion bla bla bla.  

Im just distraught.  I was reading medical things about my condition and just started to cry, knowing i feel so horribly crappy and yet im being accused of fraud and stealing tax dollars.  its a horrible feeling on top of a horrible feeling.

[Totie]

Did your doctor not fill out any paper work for you?  Your doctor should have filled out forms that dictates your unability to work at the moment.

Did the doctor recommend you not work at this time, is so, your employer can not argue the point..

[Hypo212]

ugh, well im employed by a real jerk who thinks im lying about my condition and that its not severe.  She thinks i should be able to work.  Its uneccessary stress and is throwing my sleeping patterns off b/c it makes me anxious and stressed.  

[Totie]

I guess each employer is different. When I had hyper/graves and hit thyroid storm I was put on Short Term Disability, my company though was very kind, and they adjusted the days to where the STD would kick in quicker for me. (15yrs ago). I finally ended up with TT, all good now.

This last year I have had to use Family Medical Leave Act; to protect my job. (surgeries) This was not in any way related to thyroid issues. I used up about 11 weeks of it.

I believe it all comes down to what type of people you are employed by....

[dawnangela]

Totally know what you mean, my TSH was 144 and it is very debilitating to say the least, good luck to you with the disability bit..Its a bit different here in Australia, Ive been off work now three months and will prob not look at going back till nxt year.. I dont Qualify here for disability with my hubby bringing in a Wage.. dawn x

[Smilerdeb]

With a TSH that hugh...I doubt whether ANYONE could function.
Mine only has to go over 4.00 and I am totally disfunctional.
I cannot comment on the diability issue as I'm not in USA but I do hope that your Doc/Endo has you on meds to get the TSH down as fast as possible.
Dont try to be super human.
When it comes to thyroid issues..that is just impossible and asking for trouble.
Stand your ground and also tell your Boss that the added stress from him/her isnt helping your levels either.

[Hypo212]

sorry.... i forgot to mention i am in New York State.

[stella5349]

Thyroid disease is dibilating - but hard to get noticed.

I could not get it and lost my job. I was unable to work for 4 years and had no compensation