Posted 13 August 2008 - 09:10 PM
I was in a similar boat earlier this year. Not as severe as yours, and I feel for you.
Start with your Psychiatrist. They are generally more versed in clinical pharmacology/multiple medications than other physicians.
Bring in a list of everything you're on, who has prescribed it, and what it's for.
Describe how you feel at work. Describe your mistakes and your hallucinations.
Tell your Psychiatrist that you know they have more training in pharmacology than other medical professionals, and you want to treat all of your conditions, but with the fewest medications possible and with the fewest side effects possible.
Tell him/her that you realize since you're on so many different things, making changes might take time and may be a shock to your system.
Because of this, you think the best approach would be to go on a short-term disability leave so you could focus 100% on your treatment regimen and getting into balance.
Ask if he/she agrees, and if he/she would be willing to handle the disability paperwork.
Many doctors will charge for FMLA/Disability paperwork, and this is not reimbursable by your health insurance company. It is well worth the $40 or so they may charge to fill out the forms.
Don't quit. And don't assume full disability right away. Approach it as a short-term disability leave where you are just taking enough time off to develop a cohesive treatment for your multiple medical conditions and get into balance. If your employer has a short-term disability benefit, you will at least get paid a portion of your salary while you're out, and still be able to continue your health benefits. If your leave stretches into a lengthy one, it will roll over into long-term disability in due time.
In order for your physicians to talk to each other, you will have to fill out a release form for each one that expressly allows each one to talk to the other. Try to work with one main physician (again, I'm recommending the Psychiatrist because of their expertise in medication management) and ask if he/she thinks they need to talk to any of your other providers. Sometimes just authorizing a release of your written medical records from one doc to the other is enough -- I find that they don't always have time to conference with each other.
If you take this approach, be sure to let your other physicians know that you have asked your Psychiatrist to confer with them and oversee your medications. Stress that this is in your best interest, in the interest of safety, and that you are relying on them to provide the Psychiatrist with their expert clinical knowledge about your condition. (I told my docs "look, I'm on so many drugs, I don't want to end up like Heath Ledger or in rehab.")
Good luck. The reason I said don't quit is because it can take up to 2 years to get approved for Social Security disability, and what are you going to live on in the meantime? Go short-term first and take baby steps.
