Guest guest Posted March 11, 2004 Report Share Posted March 11, 2004 The last 2 years I was in the USAF, I worked under a cloud. I was accused of being a malingerer. I had previously worked long hours to do my job and was always ahead of schedule. When I came down with RA, no one correctly diagnosed it. I went through periods where I was greatly depressed because I couldn't think straight for a long time. I had periods days where I just lost the day. I had a really good boss who understood that I wasn't malingering but he didn't stick up for me with the other people I served with. He was understanding behind closed doors and talked with my doctors. We were all confused because no one knew what was wrong. I was held on because I had over 18 years of active duty time and my enlistment wasn't up till I was at the 20 year mark. They would have had a tough time trying to put me out. I didn't have any respect from them though. I have been retired now for 2 years and know that what I experienced way back when was the fog you get - I don't think it was a fibro fog but a RA fog. I had a lot of pain but my joints hadn't started to deteriorate yet so they didn't think I had RA - although I had the RA factor in my blood. They put me on lots of drugs that messed me up. Once I was correctly diagnosed and started on Remicade the fog lifted. I can now participate mentally in conversations but am glad that I don't have to put up with people in a job market. I don't think too highly of people who I worked with but then what can you do when you are diagnosed correctly and are in a high end job. God bless, Althea Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 12, 2004 Report Share Posted March 12, 2004 Althea's story sounds similar to mine. I've always been a dedicated, thorough worker. I hate mistakes, and I hate people who don't give it their all. In the past year or so, I feel like I'm always off, I've made mistakes that I am angry with myself about, and I have been doing less work than I used to. I work in a dotor's lab, and I can't afford mistakes. Luckily, so far, none have been serious, but I know the fatigue is doing me in. I decided I had to cut my hours on my own, because I need to recoup. My boss, is young, not 30 yet, and doesn't have a clue. He had a talk with me about not working hard enough, and making too many mistakes. Then he told me maybe I should get counseling, because it wasn't like me. He did agree to shortening the hours, but then said, " boy, I don't want to start getting old. " (He's an idiot). Trying to tell him that RA is not a diseae of aging, is hopeless. My coworkers range in their responses from a young one who said, " don't start milking it " , to pity, " oh I feel so sorry for you when you limp like that " , to the ones who are self absorbed, " oh are you sore, well let me tell you about me, I have a sore tailbone, so I got a doctor's excuse, so I don't have to sit for long, " There are a few who understand. One lady also has RA. Now she understands. Another is telling me I should look into a handicap parking sticker. (then of course there's the ones who, like my family, figure it's my own fault because I am overweight). So, even in a medical facility, understanding is not forth coming. I don't want pity, I don't want be treated like I'm sluffing off. I want understanding. Actually, this group is where I come to get understanding, and thought lots of times, I just read everyone's stories and lay back, I feel like this is the one place people know what the hell is going on. Noreen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 12, 2004 Report Share Posted March 12, 2004 " ....but then said, " boy, I don't want to start getting old. " (He's an idiot). Trying to tell him that RA is not a disease of aging, is hopeless.... " Does this ever sound familiar! I had a young boss (his mother was director of this small business...a paramedic service) who was just around 30 or so who did not understand why I moved so slow and all (FMS and constant fatigue)and was prone to make an occasional mistake and as in your case nothing that was serious. For a time, it seemed like anything that went wrong in the office, the accusation would go directly to me (until we lost the so-called office manager) and I would have to prove I was not the one who did it. He used that remark on me several times when I was called into his office to discuss the latest thing in the office to go wrong. I worked there from 1/97 until 10/99 and during that time he began to have a few things go wrong health-wise for him. He was a big advocate of healthy eating, exercise, and all that goes with it and was surprised when the health issues came up. All the gang that worked there before the new owners took over still get together and also, he lives in my neighborhood so I see him from time to time. He has admitted to me both privately and in public that he should never have been so judge-mental about health problems. He is now nearly 36 and is becoming a father for the first time this month.....boy will he have another awakening (starting with several times during the night) as I don't care what shape you are in when a baby joins the household...your life is never the same....physically and emotionally. Jan =^..^= Noreen Saukko <nsaukko@...> wrote: Althea's story sounds similar to mine. I've always been a dedicated, thorough worker. I hate mistakes, and I hate people who don't give it their all. In the past year or so, I feel like I'm always off, I've made mistakes that I am angry with myself about, and I have been doing less work than I used to. I work in a dotor's lab, and I can't afford mistakes. Luckily, so far, none have been serious, but I know the fatigue is doing me in. I decided I had to cut my hours on my own, because I need to recoup. My boss, is young, not 30 yet, and doesn't have a clue. He had a talk with me about not working hard enough, and making too many mistakes. Then he told me maybe I should get counseling, because it wasn't like me. He did agree to shortening the hours, but then said, " boy, I don't want to start getting old. " (He's an idiot). Trying to tell him that RA is not a diseae of aging, is hopeless. My coworkers range in their responses from a young one who said, " don't start milking it " , to pity, " oh I feel so sorry for you when you limp like that " , to the ones who are self absorbed, " oh are you sore, well let me tell you about me, I have a sore tailbone, so I got a doctor's excuse, so I don't have to sit for long, " There are a few who understand. One lady also has RA. Now she understands. Another is telling me I should look into a handicap parking sticker. (then of course there's the ones who, like my family, figure it's my own fault because I am overweight). So, even in a medical facility, understanding is not forth coming. I don't want pity, I don't want be treated like I'm sluffing off. I want understanding. Actually, this group is where I come to get understanding, and thought lots of times, I just read everyone's stories and lay back, I feel like this is the one place people know what the hell is going on. Noreen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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