Hi All,
A bit of background...
I was diagnosed in 2013 and have been able to continue working full time in a very stressful job. ( just about with a few crashes along the way)
I was also in an abusive relationship which I I ended in march this year, so I am now on my own with my two children.
I am in the middle of a huge crash and have been off sick for 6 weeks, with the usual exhaustion, pain, severe headaches, stomach issues, severe insomnia, and cognitive difficulties.
This is my worst crash since my initial one and i have no stamina at all I am struggling hugely and am now on anti depressants along with other medications.
I have been referred to a dr by work and they have said this is too see if I fit the criteria for ill health retirement?
So my question is has anyone been through this? And have any advice?
It would be such a relief financially if I could get this but it's so hard to make people even some drs understand
Any help much appreciated as I am stressing now as if I don't get it I can't imagine they will let me stay on even if I ask to reduce my hours, I would have thought they will sack me for medical inefficiency.
Sorry for the long post 😬 Any advice or information would be fantastic x
Sinto muito que você esteja passando por tudo isso. Seria difícil até mesmo para uma pessoa saudável. Para uma pessoa com ME/CFS, o estresse emocional pode causar um colapso, o que eu presumo ter acontecido no seu caso. Você mora no Reino Unido? Ainda está em contato com o médico que fez o diagnóstico inicial? Ele poderia escrever uma carta detalhando seus sintomas, sua dificuldade em trabalhar, etc.? Aqui nos EUA, consegui entrar no programa de benefício de invalidez do Seguro Social tendo meu médico escrever uma carta assim. Seria especialmente eficaz se você conseguisse que um especialista escrevesse a carta. Dessa forma, se o médico ao qual seu emprego o encaminhou não tiver conhecimento ou estiver geralmente desinformado sobre o ME/CFS, você poderia mostrar os resultados de um médico experiente na doença. Apenas algumas ideias, e não tenho certeza se se aplicam à sua situação.
Se você estiver no Reino Unido, não pode ser demitido por motivos médicos se for um funcionário em tempo integral. Todas as empresas devem pagar o salário durante a licença médica.
Aqui está meu conselho para você, pois também passei por isso e consegui superar. Assim que você entra pela porta, deite-se e não faça nada por 30 minutos — esse é um conselho do meu médico. Enquanto estava em casa, fiz muito pouco. Nos fins de semana, muitas vezes ficava na cama durante os dois dias para conservar energia para o trabalho. O ritmo é fundamental, pois você não pode continuar assim, senão vai colapsar — já passei por isso muitas vezes.
Para sair desse lugar terrível, acabei desistindo do trabalho e, após dois anos, estou me sentindo como meu velho eu novamente. Felizmente, tinha economias para fazer isso, mas siga meu conselho: continuar lutando não funciona. Eu tentei por cinco anos sem sucesso. O ritmo é a chave, como me disseram inúmeras vezes pelo meu médico.
I am not a medically trained person but I understand there is a connection between ME/CFS, Fibromyanlgia and Vitamin B12 Deficiency.
Would it be possible for you to have your serum B12 and Serum Folate levels checked if for nothing else but to eliminate them from the possible cause?
You don't say how old/young your children are but hopefully they are able to understand and help you as much as they can.
I have a 40 year old step-daughter who's had ME/CFS since High School and now has two children under six and finds it very hard going on her "bad days".
I wish you well.
Hi, you can be sacked in the uk for not being able to attend work, even if due to illness as this was the situation I was in. Luckily our company doctor suggested I be suitable for ill health retirement. I did get it and it was a huge financial and mental weight off my mind. Take as much evidence as you can, keep a diary etc and don't make out you are better than you are, which is so tempting. Good luck with it
I was told I couldn't get ill health because although I couldn't fulfil the role I had (teacher with management responsibilities) I could potentially do another job with less pay/responsibilities etc so they got rid of me instead.
Hi Jackie, Thank you for your advice, yes I'm in the uk, that's such a good idea!! I will ask my m.e doctor if he will write me a letter and hopefully I can take this to the dr work send me to, Thanks again sending you healing hugs xx
Hi wknight,Thank you for your reply, your right about soildering on! I have been doing this constantly and then when I became a single mum, having to do everything myself.. well I think it was inevitable 😞 I think I have to face the reality that I am just not able to do this job anymore but I would be able to manage just about if I could get ihr, but I would be in real trouble if they sack me For medical inefficiency 😖 Thanks again for the advice, think I needed the reality check and I don't think I can fight this anymore as I can't afford to get any worse as I need to look after my children.
Sending you healing hugs xxx
Hi Tea belly,
Thanks for your advice and I will try to get as much info as possible.
This gives me a little light at the end of the tunnel
Many thanks and sending healing hugs xx
Hi Clivealive,
Thank you for your reply.
My b12 was checked but it was 3 0r 4 months ago now so your idea has spurred me on and I will ask if it can be rechecked.
My children are 14yrs old and 7 years old so not too young but it's still a challenge! And I wish I could do more with them.
Thanks again x
Hi Mazpaz,
Thank you for replying 😊
I think my contract has two tiers, one not fit to work at all and one that you just can't do your current role, but your so right just thinking isn't good enough I think now it's becoming reality I need to research more and get my facts straight!
Thanks again sending you healing hugs xx
What medications are you on?
I'm on lyrica,co-codamol.tramadol, astorvastatin,toviaz,sertraline, lanzoprazol, & ratadine (sp?)
Lyrica. tramadol, astorvastatin, toviaz sertraline, loratadine and especially lansoprazole, can all have interactions and affect normal absorption of B12 via the stomach which may lead to a deficiency.
Your doctor should be aware of all these and if you read the leaflets that come with the tablets it may well be mentioned under "side effects". I know lansoprazole does as I'm on them too.
Please get your serum B12 and serum Folate levels checked by your doctor as the two work together.
WOW! How did I not know that! Thank you clivealive, I will certainly ask my dr to test for both! I had no idea, Thank you so much for sharing x sending healing hugs x