Hello,
I wanted to know if anyone here has gone on a leave from work due to their MC? I have had MC since July 2017 and am finding it more and more difficult to get through a full day at work. My symptoms always seem to be changing - right now, I am worse in the afternoons after lunch. I feel extremely weak, nauseous and just want to go home and take a nap. I went to my HR dept at work and they recommended an intermittent leave where I would go home only when I felt too sick to stay the entire day. I have plenty of time built up at my job and would be able to do this.
The issue I have is that I have been to 3 gastro docs and am now on my fourth. I see him for the first time on Monday. I do not think that I should even ask him to sign this paperwork as he has not been treating me. Has anyone been through anything similar? Should I go to the last doc that I had been seeing to see if he would sign of on the paperwork for me? I really am at my wits end because I have been pushing and pushing myself at work, trying to make myself feel better and it is just exhausting me. I just don't feel that I can work full time right now.
Thank you for any input -
INTERMITTENT WORK LEAVE - DOCTORS
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
Yes, a number of members have taken leaves when they were reacting. MC is covered by the Americans With Disabilities act, as amended, so that if you are unable to work long-term (or permanently), you should qualify for a Social Security Disability Insurance claim.
Tex
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Hi Tex.tex wrote:Yes, a number of members have taken leaves when they were reacting. MC is covered by the Americans With Disabilities act, as amended, so that if you are unable to work long-term (or permanently), you should qualify for a Social Security Disability Insurance claim.
Tex
Am I reading that right ... that "microscopic colitis" specifically has been added to the American with Disabilities Act? I didn't know that - what great news - we're actually getting some recognition that this disease can and is disabling!
It's probably incredibly difficult to get approved for disability (or at least that's what I've heard from the few people in my life who have tried for various reasons) but then again you do see a LOT of people collecting disability so who knows?
The last time I was flaring badly I asked my doc if he could write me a note to get me out of work for a few weeks or a month so I wouldn't have the additional stress of trying to get there and function under pressure, but he said he couldn't do that because my case IS managable with medications. I'm trying to do it without medications but apparently if there is a drug or drugs you can be taking but choose not to, you won't qualify.
Anyway, didn't realize ADA had added MC - sad that we need to be on that list but great news and a step forward for us.
Sue
Sue
Diagnosed November 2004, Used Asacol and Lialda, sometimes worked, sometimes made it worse. Entocort always works but hate it. Remission only lasts 3-6 months and then back on Entocort. Enterolab test July 2017, now gluten free. Time will tell!
Diagnosed November 2004, Used Asacol and Lialda, sometimes worked, sometimes made it worse. Entocort always works but hate it. Remission only lasts 3-6 months and then back on Entocort. Enterolab test July 2017, now gluten free. Time will tell!
Well, last year I ended up taking 10 weeks off work due to MC. I have a ton of EIB (extended illness bank hours) built up, but it's not all that easy to access it....
The problem comes with the "Third Party Administrators" who deal with this for your company. I dealt with a company called Sedgwick and they are nothing but unhelpful at every turn. And my coworkers would tell you the same thing.
They refused to pay me for the last week I was off in October despite the dr's notes from PCP and GI doc. I even appealed the denial and the denial "was upheld". I requested to know who reviewed this and to have them call me and they never did, just a call saying it was denied. I think it's sort of like dealing with the IRS, there is no arguing with them.
My denial letter stated what I did for a living (Physical Therapist in a hospital) and why it wasn't possible for me to safely be doing my job when I needed to get to a toilet in a minute or have diarrhea all over myself!!! I don't sit at a desk with an empty bathroom 10 feet away from me! And I told them that, didn't make a difference. From the notes they said I had gained back 3# (wow, up to 103# from my normal 123#...) and that the cholestyramine SHOULD be controlling the diarrhea. Huh, wow, really??? Forget about the urgency issue...
I hope you have a better experience than I did. I have also paid or Long Term Disability insurance thru work for years, and looking at that paperwork you would need to be off for 5 months before that would kick in....
Laine
The problem comes with the "Third Party Administrators" who deal with this for your company. I dealt with a company called Sedgwick and they are nothing but unhelpful at every turn. And my coworkers would tell you the same thing.
They refused to pay me for the last week I was off in October despite the dr's notes from PCP and GI doc. I even appealed the denial and the denial "was upheld". I requested to know who reviewed this and to have them call me and they never did, just a call saying it was denied. I think it's sort of like dealing with the IRS, there is no arguing with them.
My denial letter stated what I did for a living (Physical Therapist in a hospital) and why it wasn't possible for me to safely be doing my job when I needed to get to a toilet in a minute or have diarrhea all over myself!!! I don't sit at a desk with an empty bathroom 10 feet away from me! And I told them that, didn't make a difference. From the notes they said I had gained back 3# (wow, up to 103# from my normal 123#...) and that the cholestyramine SHOULD be controlling the diarrhea. Huh, wow, really??? Forget about the urgency issue...
I hope you have a better experience than I did. I have also paid or Long Term Disability insurance thru work for years, and looking at that paperwork you would need to be off for 5 months before that would kick in....
Laine
"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are"-Teddy Roosevelt
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Gabes-Apg
- Emperor Penguin
- Posts: 8332
- Joined: Mon Dec 21, 2009 3:12 pm
- Location: Hunter Valley NSW Australia
My experience with this issue, albeit in a different country
I have dealt with govt welfare system (attained temporary partial disability) along with private income insurance claim
include the whole body symptoms of MC in the forms, ensure they are in your patient notes with doctors and any medical practitioner seen etc being; fatigue, joint pain, loss of concentration, brain fog, interrupted sleep, nutrient deficiencies etc
in regards to medications - to play the game of this situation I have taken scripts from the doctors and had scripts filled but not always taken the medication this way it is not interpreted that I am refusing treatment. (this may not be cost effective with things like budenside)
A friend of mine with Crohns had medical assessment with govt welfare officer, to reiterate digestion issues, she ate wrong foods night before on purpose, during appointment she had bad bad gas and had to make a dash to the toilet. They approved her claim straight away!!
In my journey with this stuff I have dropped the pride, and allowed myself to be totally vulnerable to the situation, ie rather than be super woman, I showed the weaker side of my emotions and mental impact of a bad day with these health issues. Explained that having to adjust my work wardrobe so that I could wear nappies on bad days, having to get out of bed at 4am so all the pooping is done before i go to work, etc. One explanation i have used to help 'oustiders' understand - i ask them if they have ever had travellers diarrhea, where they spend all day on the toilet, sweating and feel near death. try having that for weeks/months on end, that is a bad MC flare. This helps them to understand the intensity.
hope this helps
I have dealt with govt welfare system (attained temporary partial disability) along with private income insurance claim
include the whole body symptoms of MC in the forms, ensure they are in your patient notes with doctors and any medical practitioner seen etc being; fatigue, joint pain, loss of concentration, brain fog, interrupted sleep, nutrient deficiencies etc
in regards to medications - to play the game of this situation I have taken scripts from the doctors and had scripts filled but not always taken the medication this way it is not interpreted that I am refusing treatment. (this may not be cost effective with things like budenside)
A friend of mine with Crohns had medical assessment with govt welfare officer, to reiterate digestion issues, she ate wrong foods night before on purpose, during appointment she had bad bad gas and had to make a dash to the toilet. They approved her claim straight away!!
In my journey with this stuff I have dropped the pride, and allowed myself to be totally vulnerable to the situation, ie rather than be super woman, I showed the weaker side of my emotions and mental impact of a bad day with these health issues. Explained that having to adjust my work wardrobe so that I could wear nappies on bad days, having to get out of bed at 4am so all the pooping is done before i go to work, etc. One explanation i have used to help 'oustiders' understand - i ask them if they have ever had travellers diarrhea, where they spend all day on the toilet, sweating and feel near death. try having that for weeks/months on end, that is a bad MC flare. This helps them to understand the intensity.
hope this helps
Gabes Ryan
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
Sue,
Yes, as in all SSDI claims, It helps to hire an attorney who specializes in SSDI claims. MC is not named in the law (nor is any other disease), but according to the terms, the act (as amended) does cover the disease. This is quoted from pages 186 and 187 in the book (Microscopic Colitis). Parts are from the actual law, with my comments in red thrown in here and there. Read it carefully.
32. Department of justice. (2009). Americans with disabilities act of 1990, as ammended. Title 42 — The public health and welfare. Chapter 126 — Equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities. Sec. 12102. Definition of disability. Retrieved from http://www.ada.gov/pubs/adastatute08.htm
Tex
Yes, as in all SSDI claims, It helps to hire an attorney who specializes in SSDI claims. MC is not named in the law (nor is any other disease), but according to the terms, the act (as amended) does cover the disease. This is quoted from pages 186 and 187 in the book (Microscopic Colitis). Parts are from the actual law, with my comments in red thrown in here and there. Read it carefully.
Reference 32 from the quote:According to the amended Act, “disability” is defined as:32
The term "disability" means, with respect to an individual
(A) a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities of such individual;
(B) a record of such an impairment; or
(C) being regarded as having such an impairment (as described in paragraph (3)). (section 12102)
Also, from the Act, “Major Life Activities” are defined as:
(A) In general
For purposes of paragraph (1), major life activities include, but are not limited to, caring for oneself, performing manual tasks, seeing, hearing, eating, sleeping, walking, standing, lifting, bending, speaking, breathing, learning, reading, concentrating, thinking, communicating, and working.
(B) Major bodily functions
For purposes of paragraph (1), a major life activity also includes the operation of a major bodily function, including but not limited to, functions of the immune system, normal cell growth, digestive, bowel, bladder, neurological, brain, respiratory, circulatory, endocrine, and reproductive functions.
(3) Regarded as having such an impairment
For purposes of paragraph (1)(C):
(A) An individual meets the requirement of “being regarded as having such an impairment” if the individual establishes that he or she has been subjected to an action prohibited under this chapter because of an actual or perceived physical or mental impairment whether or not the impairment limits or is perceived to limit a major life activity.
(B) Paragraph (1)(C) shall not apply to impairments that are transitory and minor. A transitory impairment is an impairment with an actual or expected duration of 6 months or less. (section 12102)
Note a very important phrase in the revised act that implies that even if an applicant is successfully treating a qualifying condition, that does not disqualify them from the benefits provided therein. In other words, symptoms do not have to be evident, in order to qualify under the Act:
(i) The determination of whether an impairment substantially limits a major life activity shall be made without regard to the ameliorative effects of mitigating measures such as
(I) medication, medical supplies, equipment, or appliances, low-vision devices (which do not include ordinary eyeglasses or contact lenses), prosthetics including limbs and devices, hearing aids and cochlear implants or other implantable hearing devices, mobility devices, or oxygen therapy equipment and supplies; (section 12102)
32. Department of justice. (2009). Americans with disabilities act of 1990, as ammended. Title 42 — The public health and welfare. Chapter 126 — Equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities. Sec. 12102. Definition of disability. Retrieved from http://www.ada.gov/pubs/adastatute08.htm
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Thank you everyone for your input!
Gabes- I have been trying to be "superwoman" at work, trying to hide the situation but cannot do it any longer. I truly believe that all the days that I have felt so horribly ill, and just sat there pretending to be fine, has put so much stress on my body and I just can't work at that pace anymore. Some of my co-workers do notice the problem, as I have lost a significant amount of weight and was tiny to begin with. I will do as you suggest and explain all of the symptoms to this new doctor - in detail! I just wasn't sure if he will sign off on it because I am a new patient, but I will surely try. My problem is that I have to be more forceful with these doctors, I tend to be laid back and quiet when telling them my symptoms, and they seem to think it's not bothering me as much as it truly is. I honestly don't know how I make it through my work days.
Tex - thanks for the social security information - that does make me feel better. I mean this really can be a very disabling disease, it's just that some of these docs just think it's "a little diarrhea". They have no idea how it affects your every day life. Even well-meaning friends have asked me "Do you still have that? Something doesn't sound right - you better go to a different doctor!" They don't understand that it's a life long problem that may go into remission, but I will always have to watch my diet etc.
Gabes- I have been trying to be "superwoman" at work, trying to hide the situation but cannot do it any longer. I truly believe that all the days that I have felt so horribly ill, and just sat there pretending to be fine, has put so much stress on my body and I just can't work at that pace anymore. Some of my co-workers do notice the problem, as I have lost a significant amount of weight and was tiny to begin with. I will do as you suggest and explain all of the symptoms to this new doctor - in detail! I just wasn't sure if he will sign off on it because I am a new patient, but I will surely try. My problem is that I have to be more forceful with these doctors, I tend to be laid back and quiet when telling them my symptoms, and they seem to think it's not bothering me as much as it truly is. I honestly don't know how I make it through my work days.
Tex - thanks for the social security information - that does make me feel better. I mean this really can be a very disabling disease, it's just that some of these docs just think it's "a little diarrhea". They have no idea how it affects your every day life. Even well-meaning friends have asked me "Do you still have that? Something doesn't sound right - you better go to a different doctor!" They don't understand that it's a life long problem that may go into remission, but I will always have to watch my diet etc.
Thanks, Tex..... great information - so glad it's been amended. I hope to never have to use it but if I ever did I would definitely retain a lawyer. But actually, could anyone really survive financially on the big cut in income you'd need to take giving up your regular paycheck and taking what disability provides? I don't remember the number but I did look at what I'd get once and it would cause me to drastically change my way of living, possibly sell my house, etc. So going on disability should never be something we hope to do, but rather avoid whenever possible.
There are so many people who deserve to be and SHOULD be on disability who continue to struggle and work, but yet you see (too often) people who simply abuse the system and prefer to take the hand-out when they could very well find some line of work. Maybe I'm just being cynical, but my former neighbor went to so much trouble and effort to find ways NOT to work that he would create all kinds of fake ailments. And then he'd spend his free time golfing and playing basketball.
Sue
There are so many people who deserve to be and SHOULD be on disability who continue to struggle and work, but yet you see (too often) people who simply abuse the system and prefer to take the hand-out when they could very well find some line of work. Maybe I'm just being cynical, but my former neighbor went to so much trouble and effort to find ways NOT to work that he would create all kinds of fake ailments. And then he'd spend his free time golfing and playing basketball.
Sue
Sue
Diagnosed November 2004, Used Asacol and Lialda, sometimes worked, sometimes made it worse. Entocort always works but hate it. Remission only lasts 3-6 months and then back on Entocort. Enterolab test July 2017, now gluten free. Time will tell!
Diagnosed November 2004, Used Asacol and Lialda, sometimes worked, sometimes made it worse. Entocort always works but hate it. Remission only lasts 3-6 months and then back on Entocort. Enterolab test July 2017, now gluten free. Time will tell!
I found it helped to write out my symptoms and give the doctor a list in writing. I was taken more seriously.My problem is that I have to be more forceful with these doctors, I tend to be laid back and quiet when telling them my symptoms, and they seem to think it's not bothering me as much as it truly is
I think part of the problem is that as MCers we typically "look good" when we visit the doctor. Most of us are not morbidly obese or overweight like the vast majority of patients seen today.
Brandy -
You are so right - I think it's because it is somewhat of an "invisible disease" that we don't get taken seriously. I actually had a co-worker tell me that besides the fact that I lost weight - I don't look sick. I should come in looking more ragged - than people will take me more seriously!
The fact is that I do not want to go on disability - I am so worried just going out on an intermittent leave. I do worry constantly about my future now and not being able to handle a full time job. I carry the health insurance from my job and can't afford to lose that. But I know that I can't push myself if I do not feel good. I'm sure you know there are days when you just feel so bad that you can hardly get out of bed. Hopefully this will improve and I am hoping this next doc can offer some better guidance than the last three.
You are so right - I think it's because it is somewhat of an "invisible disease" that we don't get taken seriously. I actually had a co-worker tell me that besides the fact that I lost weight - I don't look sick. I should come in looking more ragged - than people will take me more seriously!
The fact is that I do not want to go on disability - I am so worried just going out on an intermittent leave. I do worry constantly about my future now and not being able to handle a full time job. I carry the health insurance from my job and can't afford to lose that. But I know that I can't push myself if I do not feel good. I'm sure you know there are days when you just feel so bad that you can hardly get out of bed. Hopefully this will improve and I am hoping this next doc can offer some better guidance than the last three.
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Gabes-Apg
- Emperor Penguin
- Posts: 8332
- Joined: Mon Dec 21, 2009 3:12 pm
- Location: Hunter Valley NSW Australia
For me a key thing I did in the first part of my MC healing journey was reduce my hours slightly.
Instead of 76 hours a fortnight, i worked 68.4 hours a fortnight (and took the reduction in pay) giving me a three day weekend once a fortnight. This allowed me to to get enough rest, time and energy to do housework / cook ups etc and still have 'relax' time on the weekends.
I was age 40 when diganosed. Single living alone, so there was a combo of stress a) sole income provider, have to be well enough to earn enough to pay the bills but b) have to look after myself, do the hunt and gather for ingredients, cook meals etc in a large capital city.
due to this, the other thing I did 12 months after diagnosis was move to smaller regional centre
Instead of 76 hours a fortnight, i worked 68.4 hours a fortnight (and took the reduction in pay) giving me a three day weekend once a fortnight. This allowed me to to get enough rest, time and energy to do housework / cook ups etc and still have 'relax' time on the weekends.
I was age 40 when diganosed. Single living alone, so there was a combo of stress a) sole income provider, have to be well enough to earn enough to pay the bills but b) have to look after myself, do the hunt and gather for ingredients, cook meals etc in a large capital city.
due to this, the other thing I did 12 months after diagnosis was move to smaller regional centre
Gabes Ryan
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
Gabes,
I work 75 hours every 2 weeks and I feel that it is too much for me right now. Like you were saying, between the housework and other daily chores, I am not giving myself enough time to rest. I was thinking of reducing to 60 or so. I am usually worse in the afternoons - at about 3:00 I start to fade away.
When my husband was going through his cancer treatments, I hardly took a day off from work. I was being a caregiver, taking care of the household by myself, helping my learning disabled daughter and caring for a sick mother. This is when I was diagnosed with MC, during the period where my husband was sick. I was so proud of myself for being so strong, but now I believe that all that time not taking care of myself has contributed to this.
I'm just hoping this new doc signs off on the paperwork!
I work 75 hours every 2 weeks and I feel that it is too much for me right now. Like you were saying, between the housework and other daily chores, I am not giving myself enough time to rest. I was thinking of reducing to 60 or so. I am usually worse in the afternoons - at about 3:00 I start to fade away.
When my husband was going through his cancer treatments, I hardly took a day off from work. I was being a caregiver, taking care of the household by myself, helping my learning disabled daughter and caring for a sick mother. This is when I was diagnosed with MC, during the period where my husband was sick. I was so proud of myself for being so strong, but now I believe that all that time not taking care of myself has contributed to this.
I'm just hoping this new doc signs off on the paperwork!