Colin-work

[Guest guest]

Hi Colin:

I was reading your posts about work, and thought I'd put in my two cents.

I have had cp for about 3 1/2 years now (boy time sure flys when you're having

fun!!!) and at that time I was working on my sixth year at my previous job.

They were very understanding at that onset of my illness. And they continued to

be sympathetic at least to the point of not firing me. However, in May of this

year they finally were able to use the excuse of budget cuts to get rid of me.

During my exit interview I said to my supervisor, it's because of my sickness

isn't it. Of course she said no, that would be a big no no, but I definitely

had senority, and abilities whereby they could have let my backup go, and keep

me. But their sympathy had run out, and it's actually turned out to be a good

thing, because I am much happier at my new job. Just making less money, but the

less stress is worth it.

The only issue at hand is, though they know I have a chronic illess, my new

employer doesn't know what it is, or how it affects me. I did have to take a

sick day last Friday as I was having one of those fun, vomiting, nausea,

terrible pain days, and even after all my pain medication, was not able to get

to work. So, my first sick day, and I've only been here a month. I pray that

this won't become a habit.

But to my point....I still feel that I need to have some further work to try to

resolve some of my pain, like maybe progressive stenting or something along

those lines. However, that would entail me taking time off from work, and how

can I do that???? My new job as a real estate paralegal is quite busy, and I

average 5-7 settlements a week, and if I'm not here, there's really nobody to do

my work. So, the only solution I can come up with is to try to build up some

time, and then hopefully I will have some more credibility, and can take a

couple of weeks off and still have a job to come back to.

Sometimes, and this is where you come in, I think I should have waited between

jobs, and spent that time pursuing these procedures and/or doctor's appointments

to buy myself a year or so of more pain free time. As it is now, I live on

opiods to get through each and every day. So, if you can afford it, maybe it

would be worthwhile to use this time, and not go back to work until you have a

definite dx, or at least have exhausted all tests. Of course, this is just my

opinion, for what it's worth. Good luck, and more pain free time for you!

Robin