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I just feel broken........

Wed, 12/08/2004 - 11:25
Everything feels broken my brain, and especially my spirit.  I have been off work since the end of August, not by choice, but because my employer told me to stay off untill the Dr. released me to drive. Well after seing her last monday, she still says no driving, but I can work ( which at this point is all I really want anyway). I called my boss and told him my driving was still restricted, but since I work for a big company he thought they could find something and would talk to his boss. So last Tue my boss calls me to say his boss doesn't want me back at all till I can drive, because it would would be too much hassle finding me a position, working w/ customers yada yada. So after 9 years of hard work my employer turned their back on me.  I called my Dr. in tears and said you have to release me to drive, my employer won;t let me work, I'm not going to be able to pay my bills, I'm going to lose everything. She tells me that they have to let me work because of the americans w/ disablities act, and she would fax my boss a letter. She also told me to contact the Epilepsy foudation, but why would I do that I don't have epilepsy. Then she says well, we have been conservative w/ labeling you w/ epilepsy, because we haven't pinpointed the area of your brain that your seizures are originating. great So work is still on hold NOONE will return my calls not management , not HR.noone. I have been diagnosed with epilepsy and......Went to see another nuerologist Monday about my seizures and to get a sleep study done and this one tells me my neck is too thick. Which doesn't have much to do w/ my venting, but it hurt my feelings. I feel like I am stuck between a rock and a hard place. I got a call yesterday telling me if I didn't return to work by January I would be terminated, that all I'm trying to do is get back to work , but my management is blocking me, I think they think I am too much of a liability.  I really don't know what to do.  I used to be an intelligent person, but the Topamax has shot that all all to heck.  I just want to go to sleep and wake up in a different life.

Comments

RE: I just feel broken........

Submitted by Samantha on Fri, 2004-12-03 - 21:09
I just  posted my first letter here ten minutes ago.  Your doctor is right -- your employers absolutely cannot terminate you for your medical condition.  If I were you I would get in contact with a representative with the ADA immediately and get a lawyer.  Hang in there!

RE: RE: I just feel broken........

Submitted by 38benny on Sat, 2004-12-04 - 11:02

I've been there.  And it is frustrating to say the least.  The first company told me if I couldn't work in the deli <when I was diagnosed>that they had no place for me - a copy of the ADA ACT and I took them on and they were forced to see things my way <making my life miserable along the way>. But I picked myself up went to the next job and things worked fine until I had to move <mistake on my part>. The next company I worked for started out wonderful until the seizures increased... then managements attitude also changed for the worse... I told them after working for them for 3 years that I was going to have surgery <the VNS>. Rumours went buzzing around the store that I was actually on vacation with my family in NYS<I lived in Va at the time>! No one believed me or my <ex>husband that I was actually recovering from the surgery at home ... yada yada... until I got sick of their backstabbing rumours and brought them the hospital bill for over $20,000.  I then divorced my husband came back to NY  and had even more problems with employers.  I went back to the "nice"employer I stated above and they turned into jerks... firing me over the Christmas holiday but then hiring me back the day after Christmas <for 3 days!> They said its b/c I was holiday help... No I wasn't - I was fulltime and they knew it. The last job - the boss said he understood about the seizures - his wife had them.  Understand my foot... after promoting me ... I had 3 on the job ... and a kidney infection that kept me out of work for 2 weeks... he fired me... realizing he couldn't he had to hire me back... but made my life hell.  I moved with my fiancee <now husband> to Long Island and until now never looked back... So when I say your not alone - trust me - your not... You've got a whole circle of friends here.

sorry about the book - JoAnne

I've been there.  And it is frustrating to say the least.  The first company told me if I couldn't work in the deli <when I was diagnosed>that they had no place for me - a copy of the ADA ACT and I took them on and they were forced to see things my way <making my life miserable along the way>. But I picked myself up went to the next job and things worked fine until I had to move <mistake on my part>. The next company I worked for started out wonderful until the seizures increased... then managements attitude also changed for the worse... I told them after working for them for 3 years that I was going to have surgery <the VNS>. Rumours went buzzing around the store that I was actually on vacation with my family in NYS<I lived in Va at the time>! No one believed me or my <ex>husband that I was actually recovering from the surgery at home ... yada yada... until I got sick of their backstabbing rumours and brought them the hospital bill for over $20,000.  I then divorced my husband came back to NY  and had even more problems with employers.  I went back to the "nice"employer I stated above and they turned into jerks... firing me over the Christmas holiday but then hiring me back the day after Christmas <for 3 days!> They said its b/c I was holiday help... No I wasn't - I was fulltime and they knew it. The last job - the boss said he understood about the seizures - his wife had them.  Understand my foot... after promoting me ... I had 3 on the job ... and a kidney infection that kept me out of work for 2 weeks... he fired me... realizing he couldn't he had to hire me back... but made my life hell.  I moved with my fiancee <now husband> to Long Island and until now never looked back... So when I say your not alone - trust me - your not... You've got a whole circle of friends here.

sorry about the book - JoAnne

RE: I just feel broken........

Submitted by Belinda on Mon, 2004-12-06 - 10:44
You wouldn't be taken Topamax and seeing neurologist if you didn't have epilepsy.WHat do you think is unprovoked seizures?If you have more than one it's epilepsy or can be called a seizure disorder same thing.No you can't drive when your having seizures.You have to go a certain amount of time seizure free.I take Topamax 700MG a day probably be going up to 800MG dec.13.It's been more 40 years for me.I also take Klonopin 2 MG Tegretol 1000MG day. Belinda

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