Re: Looking for Short Term Disabilty advice

[Guest guest]

,

I went through the very same problems, covering almost three years before I

finally went on short term company disability. That was followed by long term

company disability and now Social Security disability.

You really need to talk to HR quick as you can. Make sure your supervisor

knows where you are going as to the disability issue. In my case I was a

manager of a major program with a number of direct reports. I had to take time

off

at odd times and with little notice much like what you describe. My boss was

also good about it, but as I found out later, he also started looking around

for my replacement. As you said the overall mission comes first with many

managers. I must say the last six months at work was hellish at best.

I was given time off for NIH trials and other related PA events and

treatments, but I soon used up all my sick time and all my leave time. I then

talked

to the HR Director, he worked out a deal that gave me short term disability

for the days I had missed due to the PA. That was a help but I was still having

trouble getting to work, making and keeping schedules, completing business

travel, and generally trying to run my end of the business. I finally gave up,

applied for the remaining days of sort term disability and worked on the long

term disability paperwork. All my Doc's were supportive so the paperwork went

through with no problem. I was replaced (still got my bonus for that year!),

went home and tried to figure out what came next.

Make sure you keep copies of any and all paperwork related to your problems.

You need to read the disability polices/procedures of your company and follow

them to the letter. Don't make the mistake I did that " management will

support me. " I found out in the nick of time that I had to take care of myself

in

order to be able to take care of my family.

Best of luck, Bob.

[Guest guest]

,

I was a HR Manager, so as you can imagine, I too had your dilemma. But, my

manager started noticing the pain, limping, and loss of cognitive effectiveness.

He too let me come and go as my health needed, but the other managers in the

office were really getting catty about it. (I was the only one on salary).

I wrote a note to my Dr about what was going on, and how I was feeling, and

how it was affecting my work performance. He said I needed to be off on

permanent disability - I am 56 and he said it was time for me to start fighting

for

my health and not any one elses business. So - he wrote a disability note and

took me off work for 1 month - this allowed me to file for state disability,

check into social security and inform all that needed to know that I was not

coming back to work due to illness - my Dr. followed up with a note state my

health would not allow me to return. I could have taken FMLA for 12 weeks and

then quit, but I felt that it was unfair to the owner of the company - who was

a personal friend of mine. It was as painless as possible to ease into

medical retirement.

Hope this helps,

Gentle hugs,

Carol M. in CA

[Guest guest]

,

Your message could have been written by me. The only difference is that I

do not have short or long term disability. My husband and I have talked

long and hard about my options and have decided that I need to quit, file

for SSA disability, and file for bankruptcy. We cannot live on his salary

alone, but cannot continue our current lifestyle without my salary. I also

suffer from PA, Fibro, and Depression. Please let me know how you make out.

I wish you all the best.

Sue

[Guest guest]

,

I don't know if this will be much help for you but I thought I would share the

info anyway. I myself have PA and fibro (from what I understand CFS and fibro

are the same thing) so I know well the symptoms you are describing. You don't

mention any of the meds your on but I noticed that you mentioned that you are

only taking NSAIDS for the pain, have you ever considered pain medication? From

my personal experience that when I do take my pain medication that it actually

increases my energy level and helps me think clearly. From what I can tell when

I am in pain all my energy is sucked up trying to struggle through it and think

clearly, but when I take my pain meds I can use my energy for what I need to not

trying to control the pain. I have found that taking pain meds does not make me

tired or impaired when driving, though it has taken me a while to find the right

combination. I have discussed this with others who go to pain management

clinics like I do, and others who are on medication for chronic pain that the

medication somewhat acts differently in people who are in alot of pain as

opposed to those who are taking strong pain meds for short term pain control.

Does any of this make sense? Maybe take short term disability to get ahold of

the disease process and get your pain under control and after that you may find

that you are able to function at nearly the level you were before this all

happened. I sure hope this all works out for you and that you get some relief

soon.

Axelrod