Guest guest Posted August 20, 2002 Report Share Posted August 20, 2002 Well, wouldn't you know, here is the email that I thought was erased. This one has a little more info on FMLA. I, too, am a nurse (RN), and went through such hell with my implants and the resulting health problems. I was on chronic pain meds and was just so depressed about everything. I was always calling in to work sick because I hurt too much to work a 12 hr day, or even an 8 hr day. And maybe that was a blessing in disguise, because then I never put my patients at risk. From July 2000 to Nov 2000, I worked maybe a total of 4 days. I look back now and am amazed how I made it. And I'm also so lucky that I wasn't fired from my job. Luckily, I had a manager that knew I was having severe health problems, and she gave me the benefit of the doubt. But it's very possible that anywhere else would have fired me in no time at all. However, working 4 days in a period of 4 months made it VERY difficult financially to succeed. I was in such a rut, that I broke down and asked some friends I worked with for money to help pay my rent. I also had a best friend at the time who paid for my groceries and rx's. Otherwise, I would have been homeless and starving. I didn't have any money saved up, and because I had been dx'd with lupus in 1997, the local Lupus Foundation provided me with some money, and I actually went to the county aid dept and asked for help with rent. It was awful, and to this day, I can't believe I was in such a place. It was horrible and demeaning. But when you're single and have no other source of income coming in, what do you do? You do what you have to do to survive. Some suggestions I have for you are: Use FMLA in order to save your job. Going out under FMLA will hold your job for 12 wks. While you won't be getting paid, it does allow you some time to get better without having to worry about losing your job. Look at community resources such as the county or state to get funds for rent or help in paying bills. If you have been dx'd with any type of chronic illness, there are often local chapters that can and will provide financial assistance. When I looked to the lupus foundation of my state, they provided me with what they could, and all I had to do in return was join the lupus foundation (it was a complimentary membership) and write a letter to the foundation stating how grateful I was to have rec'd the funds. If you have any good friends who know your situation, see if you can borrow money from them with the intention of paying them back eventually. Be honest with them and let them know that you won't be able to pay them back for at least a yr, but if you can sooner, you will. Also, under FMLA, there are certain categories which enable you to work, but your employer has to allow you certain accomodations. For instance, I had my rheumy fill out a FMLA form stating that I had a "serious health condition". A serious health condition under FMLA means and illness, injury, impairment, or physical or mental condition that involves one of the following: a) Hospital Care: inpatient care in a hospital, hospice, or redidential medical care facility, including any period of incapacity or subsequent treatment in connection with or consequent to such inpatient care. Absence Plus Treatment: a period of incapacity of more than three consecutive calendar days that involves: --Treatment two or more times by a health care provider by a nurse or physician's assistant under direct supervision of a healthcare provider, or by a provider of health care services under orders of, or on referral by, a health care provider; or --Treatment by a health care provider on at least one occasion which results in a regiment of continuing treatment under the supervision of the health care provider. c) Pregnancy d) Chronic Conditions Requiring Treatment: A chronic condition which: --Requires periodic visits for treatment by a health care provider, or by a nurse or physician's assistant under the direct supervision of a health care provider; --Continues over an extended period of time; and --May cause episodic rather than a continuing period of incapacity. e) Permanent/Long term Conditions Requiring Supervision: A period of incapacity which is permanent or long term due to a condition for which treatment may not be effective. The employee or family member must be under the continuing supervision of , but need not be receiving active treatment by, a health care provider. f) Multiple Treatments (Non-Chronic Conditions): ANy period of absence to receive multiple treatments (including any period of recovery therefrom) by a health care provider or by a provider of health care services under orders of, or on referral by, a health care provider, either for restorative surgery after an accident or other injury, or for a condition that would likely result in a period of incapacity of more than three consecutive calendar days in the absence of medical intervention or treatment. (*above taken from "Certification of Health Care Provider, Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, Form B*) My rheumy filled it out, with the date commenced, probable duration of condition (chronic), and then there is a question which asks whether it will be necessary for the employee to work intermittently or to work less than full schedule as a result of the condition. The form then goes on to ask what meds/treatment is being provided, anticipated duration and frequency of incapacity, and also asks if it is necessary fo rthe employee to be absent from work for treatment. I'm sure if you're an RN, you are familiar with this form, although even though I knew about FMLA, I didn't know that it provided for these circumstances. So, if you are under the care of a doc, and he/she is willing to fill this out, this will allow you to get out of having to work a FT schedule, but rather, work when you feel you are able to, and that way you still get some money coming in. Unfortunately, it still doesn't solve the problem of no money coming in. Applying for disability can take a long time, and you may be denied. You can try it, though. Also, if you are unable to work at all, you can always apply for Medicaid, but from what I hear, that process is long and drawn out and very time consuming, and you really have to be able to prove to them that you can't work, aren't working, and have no money for food, rent, etc. It is really a very difficult situation to be in. If I hadn't been able to rely on friends, I don't know what I would have done. It took me 2 yrs to get past that period in my life. I did pay back those people who lent me money for rent, groceries, and rx's. But that whole time in my life still has me trying to recover financially. I am much better now health wise (explanted in Feb '01), and am working a FT job in PACU, plus working prn for & /Ethicon Endosurgery. But I estimate it will take another 2 yrs to recover financially, and that is if I work hard, and my health does not worsen. Look at community resources. They are out there, but I found that you really have to look for them. Work when you can. If you can work 2-3 days a wk, that's better than nothing. If you're working 10 or 12 hr days, talk to your supervisor and see if you can drop to 8's. At any rate, keep your chin up. You need to find docs in the community that can and will help you. Do you have any insurance? What about going to a clinic that uses a sliding scale? What state are you in? We have a list of docs in various states that are implant illness knowledgeable. Perhaps we can provide some names to you. Let me know if I can answer anymore of your questions. I've been there, so I know exactly what you're going through. Whatever I can do, please let me know. e Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 29, 2003 Report Share Posted July 29, 2003 It is my home town ! I am sending my story to them we will see what happens! They wrote me back and I think they really wanted someone with bacteria fungus in their implants, but I will write them anyhow. hugs C In , " *~Patty~* " <fdp@l...> wrote: > Ladies, please contact Mansi with your story. Their ears are open! If you > live in the Bay area, I hope you will consider letting her do a feature > story on you! (???????????) > ----- Original Message ----- > From: " Dave and Patty Faussett " > <mansi-bhatia@u...> > Sent: Tuesday, July 29, 2003 11:10 AM > Subject: Re: implants > > > > Hi Mansi, > > Thank you for your kind words. I am not actually in the Bay area. I am in > > Las Vegas. However, I do know a woman who was from San Francisco who got > > very sick from her implants, had an elevated ANA, got them out and got > > better, even having her ANA go back to normal, which supposedly never > > happens on its own. I hope she will write to you and I will write her > > myself to make sure she sends you her story. She got married and moved to > > Idaho, but she still has family in the Bay area, so maybe she will be > > interested in coming there to help with your story. > > > > I don't really know what was inside of my implants, if it was toxic mold > or > > not. I did not pay for Dr. Blais to do a full biological analysis of > them, > > as they were mishandled after explant, such that it would not really > provide > > me with proper information for legal purposes. It was enough to know that > > it was classified as mycoplasma bacteria, which gave me the proper > direction > > to try to pursue treatment, which I did through alternative means. > > > > I am quite certain that there are other women available who have had their > > implants analyzed and found to contain mold. It is a matter of them being > > willing to speak up. There are almost 300 women on our saline support > > group, / so I will again post > > your request, and hope that some of them will contact you. > > > > Thank you SO MUCH for taking an interest in this very important issue! > > Patty > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: <mansi-bhatia@u...> > > " Dave and Patty Faussett " <fdp3@c...> > > Sent: Tuesday, July 29, 2003 10:51 AM > > Subject: Re: implants > > > > > > > Dear Patty, > > > > > > Thank you so very much for your prompt response to my request. I am > sorry > > you > > > and your family had to go through such an ordeal for what was supposed > to > > bring > > > joy to you. > > > > > > From your letter it was not clear to me if your implants had the toxic > > mold. > > > When you quoted Dr. Blais, it seemed like there might have been a hint > of > > a > > > mold/fungus in your implants. Was that indeed the case? Also, could you > > please > > > let me know if you are located anywhere near the Bay Area? It would mean > > so > > > much to us to be able to get your story out to thousands of other women. > > > Although we started out researching this story as a one in a thousand > > cases, we > > > have begun to realize that there are a lot of women suffering because of > > these > > > saline implants. > > > > > > We really appreciate your sharing your story with us. > > > > > > Thank you, once again. > > > > > > Warm regards, > > > Mansi. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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