I tried to go back to work today after being off for 3 months. My pulmonary Dr wrote me back with permanent restrictions, such as avoid sick contacts and extra break time to use nebulizer and Smart Vest. My employer sent me back home saying that corporate has to discuss my restrictions and wait for someone to call me. Should I be worried? Has anyone else had problems with their employer? I can't help but worry, I need my job to pay my mortgage and the health insurance.
Dear Frog, I think that doesn't sound too encouraging and I would call my employer and tell him you've figured a way around those restrictions and that you will do your nebulizer treatment on your lunch hour. I hope u have a lunch hour. If you only have half an hour then I'd nebulize half a vial and eat lunch in the other 15 minutes. Can u wear the vest while you work and just turn it off when you finish the timing?
Not knowing what you do for your BX I would also right away get onto Vitamin C in large quantities and that will keep u clear of any bacteria floating around in the room at work. Also take the advice somebody just put out on COD LIVER OIL (read about that, I just did) and increase your supplements. I think they are one of the best ways to fight GETTING an infection. They won't help much once you get one probably except the Vit. C which helps build the immune system and can actually fight an infection if you take enough of it. Talk to the employer and see if he can not look at this as being a big negative on your record and try to keep the corporate people from worrying about it.
Tabatha
Creo que siempre debes cuidarte mucho. Debes descansar completamente en esta situación y volver al trabajo después de recuperarte por completo.
Thank you Tabatha for the advice. I only get a half hour lunch, but those are good ideas. Most of my work is standing/walking, but there is a small amount of paperwork I could do while using the vest. I'm going to add the cod liver oil today.
Thanks again for the input, I truly appreciate it.
Laurie
I don't know if you live in the states or the UK, but in the states, we have laws that protect the employee from discrimmination due to health reasons. They may not apply to your situation. I can see that your employer would have concerns that you wouldn't be able to do your work.
I would call your Human Resource department and talk to them about your rights as an employee and if an agreement can be reached. Talk to them in a nice way and you are just asking out of couriousity.
Forturnately, I had a desk job and my employer was very understanding. I was so geared to meet my deadlines, that there were times when I should have been at home in bed, but went to work. I'm retired now and able to take better care of myself.
Good luck, Beth
Frogwartz,
Yes, if you in US, they do have laws here. I worked with my treatments. I used my neb at work and my vest in am and pm prior to work and after. My employer had to find a place to do my neb treatment during the working hour and not on my lunch break. They had a sign that was posted outside my cubicle that said something like "germ free area" . There is also laws on not being penalized for missing work, it's called "Family Leave Act". You may or may not be paid under this law, read into it. I was lucky and was always paid. The form one fills out is usually good for a year. Ask your HR department about it. Take care.
No tengo experiencia directa, solo puedo decir que el Reino Unido también tiene (o al menos tenía) leyes muy protectoras. Cuando trabajaba como empleador, nuestro departamento de recursos humanos nos aconsejó que debíamos ser completamente acomodaticios con los empleados que tenían problemas de salud totalmente documentados, tanto en el trabajo como en cuanto a permitirles tomar largas bajas por enfermedad (incluso cuando teníamos fuertes dudas sobre la veracidad de las afirmaciones).
Mi consejo sería que empezaras a investigar sobre tus derechos laborales en Internet antes de entablar más discusiones con tu empleador. Sé amable, por supuesto, pero si hay más discusiones informales sobre el tema, intenta transmitirles de manera no confrontacional que estás "haciendo un poco de investigación por tu cuenta sobre cómo se manejan este tipo de problemas". No hables de leyes o abogados en esta etapa, pero en última instancia, si intentan despedirte sin la compensación adecuada, podría llegar a necesitar asesoramiento legal. Hay muchos empleados en el Reino Unido que están en baja por enfermedad permanente y reciben casi el salario completo (o al menos así era cuando yo era jefe).
Un poco de acomodación por tu parte en cuanto a los puntos discutidos anteriormente mostrará que eres razonable en lugar de un problema, pero no la extiendas tanto que se convierta en una sumisión y perjudicial para tu salud.
¡Mucha suerte!
Solo un pasajero. Sus derechos probablemente dependan en gran medida de la duración de su empleo y de cualquier término contractual que se aplique a su puesto. En la mayoría de los países civilizados, los empleadores no pueden despedir a personas que son empleados de largo plazo bajo contratos que cumplan con las leyes laborales relevantes, sin una compensación adecuada. Y así debería ser, a mi modo de ver (en su mayoría conservador, pero con tendencia socialdemócrata en cuestiones de red de seguridad).
Dear Frogwartz again,
I have two things: First I suggested the cod liver oil to you after reading it on one of Mary Ann's responses. It sounded good to me and I was going to take it but Mary Ann has just cautioned me in a private message and wanted me to pass this on to everyone because when she tried to write this herself her msg got moderated - so here is a caution for everyone from MARY ANN.
"I take back my suggestion for cod liver oil because I read a negative article on a website that said the ratio of Vit A to Vit D was too high and that was not good for us. Consequently, cod liver oil is not being recommended any longer acc. to that website. There was an original article on another site that recommended cod liver oil to people with lung issues and damaged lungs and that is how I came to use it for over 2 years. MARY ANN"
Apparently we should do our own good research on the subject.
And seondly, I wanted to say after reading Steve's suggestion here that it would appear he knows what he is talking about regarding reulations and so on and you might be in a larger company than I would have been. I worked in very small offices with a few people and offered my advice from the point of view that I could talk to the boss about such things and that in turn he could also talk to those higher up (in the same bldg) but with no regulations. I'm not in the UK. In turn I have also been the boss in the same company and so anyone with a problem that involved their health could come to me and tell me but always it was a sort of friendly situation with no regulations and so on. So I'm sorry If I might have given a confusing answer if that is not your situation.
It's obvious that you have to do your own research regarding some of the answers you're given here too. We are all different and have different experiences. I guess we just need more information at times.
Tabatha
My restrictions were finally approved by corporate. I will return to work next Tuesday with accommodations. I will be allowed time to use my Smart Vest, and I will be able to wear a mask and gloves to hopefully avoid sick contacts. I'm glad they were able to accommodate me but at the same time I am scared because each time I go back I end up horribly sick.
Frogwarz,
Great news that your company is willing to work with you.
don't get stressed out about getting sick (easier said than done), it will affect your health. Just keep eating healthy, take your meds, stay as germ free as possible (keep hand sanitizer handy and use often), and exercise when you can. Wearing a mask and gloves will help as well.
I worked for a hospital, finance dept, we had a co-worker with health issues that did a lot of filing. She always used surgerical deposable gloves when filing. Also, the cleaning people wouldn't dust around the computers, so I would take a bacteria cleaner and wipe my computer and desk weekly.
Keep us posted on how you are doing, Beth
Well, the first week back, working 10 hours a day, almost killed me. I had to sleep for the next three days just to recuperate. This is my second week and my throat is starting to hurt. I'm also beginning to cough more. It's more difficult to wear a mask for 10 hours than I thought it would be. My pulse ox starts dropping after a few hours. Hopefully it will get better.
Frogwartz,
So sorry to hear that you are not doing so well. I wish I had an answer for you.
Sounds like the job is not a good fit for you. Do you have any other options at the same company or another job opportunity?
Beth