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Absolutely fed up and going on the sick again

Posted , 4 users are following.

lesley73033
lesley73033

Some of you might have read my many posts about repeated hernias and the delay in getting my most recent one treated by the NHS.

I was off work for about 2 months in the summer because of the pain from it.  I eventually saw my surgeon in november who said there is a loop of bowel catching in it and that he would investigate and treat it before christmas.  I was referred to the hospital last Feb.  Anyhow, I returned to work on the basis that they'd be flexible about the type of work and my hours.

Today work changed my shifts at the last minute to doing work that has previously  aggravated my pain.  I spent xmas day in agony because of it.  Also I phoned the hospital only to be told that they don't know when I'll go in because they have had to cancel all of their operations for this week as they have no beds!  On the plus side, I must be near the top of the list as the secretary knew what I was being admitted for straight away.

However, I'm so depressed about the whole thing.  I could just sit down and cry.  I'm sick of the pain and can't stand the thought of doing those jobs again.  I emailed work about my concerns but got not reply at all!

0 likes, 8 replies

8 Replies

  • ted41159
    ted41159 lesley73033

    Posted

    Lesley I am really sorry to read that you are feeling so low.As if anxiety and pain aren't enough then you also have to come to terms with a change of job. Thankfully I am now retired but I remember myself being told a few times my job was changing and I was not happy at all.

    Yes on the positive side it does seem that you are at the top of the list for operations so lets hope it happens sooner rather than later.

    Without being party political the NHS is definitely in crisis and given my endoscopy cost privately £1600 you can see why.

    There will probably be people that disagree with me but if you do have sickness benefits at work I would suggest that you use them as clearly physically and mentally you are not fit for work.

    Keep your chin up as hopefully it will soon be over once you have had the op

    Ted

    • lesley73033
      lesley73033 ted41159

      Posted

      Thanks Ted.  Work aren't happy about my sickness record which is mainly down to these recurrent hernias.  I'm on a 2nd phase warning which is why I went back in November.

      It's not really a different job.  I'm a researcher and my work is varied, which is usually one of the things I like about it.  But there are some aspects of it that I can handle reasonably well at the minute and some I can't.  The change of jobs for wed and Thurs are areas that cause me pain and they know it.  One involves sitting at a desk and interviewing people on the phone.  This sounds a doddle and I wondered for ages why it hurt.  I realised that I'm constantly twisting between the phone and my pen and paper.  Not a great deal, but constantly and it must be that causing the aggravation.  On Thursday I'm working on a moving train and so obviously getting jarred about and have people pushing past and I just can't face either of these jobs.  

      I am due to see my works nurse on FrIday though and intend to tell her all of this.  I am considering getting the surgery done privately.  I told my surgeon that in November but then he said that I would get my op soon

    • ted41159
      ted41159 lesley73033

      Posted

      Thats ok Lesley. For my sins when I was working I was a Staff Rep for my union for a good few years. It didnt do me any favours actually but thats another story.So I represented many people in a similar situation to you.How things changed over the years was that where once upon a time if a person was not fit enough to do their particular job they would go off on sick leave. And as the years went on that gradually changed to them being asled to carry out different duties.I was opposed to that but without backing from the union, who in my opinion at the higher level are just in league with the company, I could do very little. However what has not changed is that the employer as a duty of care for the employee.So if I was you I would give what they propose a try and if you find it is affecting your health I would advise them that is the case and ask them to give you alternative work.

      If you can afford to go private all well and good but I bet it will be expensive.

      If it makes you feel better Lesley it makes my acid reflux problem seem very minor compared to yours.

      Regards

      Ted

       

    • lesley73033
      lesley73033 ted41159

      Posted

      Thanks again, Ted.  Last time I did telephone interviewing I had to go home after 4 hours.  I was bent double on public transport for half an hour and so glad to get home.  I last worked on the trains on 23rd and 24th Dec.  On 23rd I had to go home early with the pain again.  I was in 2 minds as to whether to go to work on xmas eve but I did and seemed to cope until I woke up in so much pain on xmas day.  My employers have known i have problems with working on public transport for over 6 months but still expect me to do it.

      I think I'll see how I feel tomorrow which, fortunately, is my day off.  And I agree.  We are rapidly going backwards in terms of employees rights nowadays.  My employers go through the motions and say all the right things and then nothing really changes.  There would be a lot of red faces if my hernia stranglated as a result of it.

      I think I just got my hopes up about the surgery date.  I should have known better

    • michelle15212
      michelle15212 ted41159

      Posted

      Leslie,

      You should have FMLA leave also. CHeck that out at work. I believe it is 60 days/year. I had it and it came in handy with my son years ago. i know what your going through with the pains of hernias. I can't stand it and just wish these doctors knew how to fix it. going on 5 years now with a gallbladder removal and 3 incisional repairs and it is ripped again. Going in for a hide a scan on Wednesday. Just don't know what to do anymore.

       

  • nezra
    nezra lesley73033

    Posted

    Hi Lesley sounds like your having a rubbish time at the minute, have you asked your gp for a fit for work note which states you can only do lighter duties. A letter (usually at a cost) can also be done by your gp that he advises you work less hours. This of course can be done if only you think it won't cause issues with your employers. Employees have rights of course  but employers can find ways round to dismissing if they feel it affects them too much. Hopefully yours aren't like this. Hope this helps if only a little 

    Happy new year

    Here's to a better one 

    Nez 

    • lesley73033
      lesley73033 nezra

      Posted

      Thanks, Nezra.  My work's nurse has told my employers that the  nature of my work and my working hours should be flexible enough for me to cope.  The were at first.  Then I had a meeting with HR who asked how  was coping and I told them that I was managing the work I was being given as I could work at my own pace and have breaks when I needed.  I wasn't getting quite as much done but I wasn't far off.  After that meeting everything changed and they started giving me the jobs that make my hernia worse.

      I didn't think I'd need a doctors note because of the advice that the nurse gave my employers but ght phone for an appointment tomorrow

    • nezra
      nezra lesley73033

      Posted

      No harm in asking I say. To be fair I would expect a gp's say so may hold more fort than a nurse. Would the nurse not be slightly more for your employers benefit than yourself. 

      Worth a try anyway

      Good luck 

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