5 replies to this topic

[caroline]

I feel like my brain is just mushy and I can no longer think clearly, and I know that I must stop working. I have a great job, but it involves an hour drive morning and evening, and my meds are just not keeping me alert enough to drive home. I have had several near misses, and am just no longer willing to put other folks in jepoardy. I know that I can get up to a 12 week leave, right? I have some leave time, and I have a disability policy that I pay the premimuns on, and have for several years. My doctor is wonderful, and I know he will fill in the FMLA request and the disability, but what do I ask for? I know I am acting like a moron, but I never did anything like this before, and I do not know the procedure. Do I tell my boss that I need a leave to mange systems, or get my meds straightened out? I would like to take off, and just sleep a month or so, and go back to work, but I realize this is probably going to be a lifetime management problem. When I asked for the accomadations, I filled out the form and my doctor signed; however, I do not think I can do that with the FMLA form. Anyone who has experience with these types of issue, please tell me what to expect. Thanks so much.

[amazingracie28]

I really don't know much about FMLA, but I just wanted to offer some moral support if nothing else. I know there are lots of people on here who have had some sort of experience with FMLA so you should be able to get some information. Are you trying to keep your employer from finding out about it right away? If not maybe you could talk with your human resources dept and see what they require as far as the paperwork and what it needs to say. The only reason I throw that out there is I seem to remember a post awhile back from someone who had trouble b/c their employer said the paperwork didn't specify something or other that it should have. Also, have you tried searching FMLA on here to see if there are any prior posts? Boy, I'm just a well of suggestions today...lol... Hang in there as best you can and I really hope someone out there can give you better suggestions than mine!!!

[caroline]

Thank you for the reply, and somehow, support always seems to help. I think that I start thinking I am the only person who deals with this daily, and after reading these post-I get back into the real world! Then I can stop feeling sorry for myself and start organizing my thoughts (yeah right)! I did realize that no, I am not trying to keep my need for a leave secret. That the wording on the FMLA will be the responsibility of the physician-most likely a staff member who does this sort of thing all the time, but I can make a list of my most troublesome symptoms and that will help with the justification. Anything that is new to me is always stressful on many levels.

[Saraiah]

I feel like my brain is just mushy and I can no longer think clearly, and I know that I must stop working. I have a great job, but it involves an hour drive morning and evening, and my meds are just not keeping me alert enough to drive home. I have had several near misses, and am just no longer willing to put other folks in jepoardy. I know that I can get up to a 12 week leave, right? I have some leave time, and I have a disability policy that I pay the premimuns on, and have for several years. My doctor is wonderful, and I know he will fill in the FMLA request and the disability, but what do I ask for? I know I am acting like a moron, but I never did anything like this before, and I do not know the procedure. Do I tell my boss that I need a leave to mange systems, or get my meds straightened out? I would like to take off, and just sleep a month or so, and go back to work, but I realize this is probably going to be a lifetime management problem. When I asked for the accomadations, I filled out the form and my doctor signed; however, I do not think I can do that with the FMLA form. Anyone who has experience with these types of issue, please tell me what to expect. Thanks so much.

Hi Caroline,

I went out on FMLA at various points for various reasons, so have some experience with what you are facing. I'm glad you figured out what to ask for on FMLA. My experience has always been that it's better to be truthful when I've HAD to tell my employer something about my "disability," in part because if necessary things will stand up in court well. The employer knowing that things will stand up in court well is the best insurance against ending up in court.

As long as your employer meets certain conditions (a minimum number of employees within your geographical area, etc.), you are indeed able to get either 12 weeks off for your own health care, OR the equivalent of 12 weeks worth of leave while working part time to attend doctor's appointments, or EVEN to work a 4-6 hour day and leave before your fatigue gets so bad that you can't drive safely. So you have lots of options.

Actually, once again, your doctor fills out the FMLA form and signs it, and that's it. It's good if you can try to work out a plan to either decrease your fatigue when you need to drive, find a carpool, work a different schedule, telecommute, or whatever, so that you can say to your employer that once your FMLA leave is over, you'll have ameliorated the problem.

The biggest problem that I faced each time was working things out with my employer so that they didn't feel totally left in the lurch. Having a full-time employee disappear for several months tends to put a lot of strain on the employer, so they like it if you have a plan for minimizing the strain they'll feel.

I'll be glad to post further if you find you've got more questions as you go. Good luck!!

Saraiah

[caroline]

My employer is the State of Tennessee; I even work for the Division of Intellectual Disabilities Services. The reason, I hesitate is my co-workers who, are wonderful folks and my taking a leave will cause them to work much harder. If I have to quit, the state is just freezing positions and not filling; so, they would not get relief that way. I hate the thoughts of letting folks down, but it would be much worse if I run over some defenseless person when I am driving while sleeping. The fact that I am almost 61, and planned to retire next year anyway does not alleviate the guilt either! Thanks for the support-I just felt so hopeless when I first wrote, and now am more upbeat!

[Saraiah]

My employer is the State of Tennessee; I even work for the Division of Intellectual Disabilities Services. The reason, I hesitate is my co-workers who, are wonderful folks and my taking a leave will cause them to work much harder. If I have to quit, the state is just freezing positions and not filling; so, they would not get relief that way. I hate the thoughts of letting folks down, but it would be much worse if I run over some defenseless person when I am driving while sleeping. The fact that I am almost 61, and planned to retire next year anyway does not alleviate the guilt either! Thanks for the support-I just felt so hopeless when I first wrote, and now am more upbeat!

Hey Caroline - I worked for an agency serving people with disabilities, but it didn't prevent them from acting badly when my health got into trouble. But from everything I hear, the government agencies tend to be much better about this. I agree with you that the first order of business is to prevent you from accidentally killing or maiming yourself and anyone else on the road (I've unfortunately had to give up driving, at least temporarily, due to microsleeps while driving). Just remember that you can be creative with how to use the FMLA time, in both taking care of yourself, and with whatever time/resources are left, also taking care of your co-workers and supervisors.

Saraiah