IrishRose_03
Junior Member
Oregon. I worked for a company going on 7 years. I have Systemic Lupus and Fibromyalgia, which the company was aware of when I was hired. In the past I have been taken off work by the MD, for a period 5 weeks when I flared, an MD note was sufficient in the past. 9-1-05 a new ED made a new attendance policy, which no longer would differentiate between excused and unexcused absences. Which I was concerned about, as I saw no accomodations for my illness as flares happen & I had some oral surgery scheduled, that concerned me. In October I did flare after having all of my upper teeth removed for a denture. I had to take 3 days off with a MD note submitted to employer. Then I again had to take 3 days off due to a second oral surgery and terrible pain, unable to work on pain meds, as I'm a nurse. I've been a nurse going on 16 years. Never written up or fired in my nursing career. In December, MD. took me off of work due to extreme muscle and joint pain related to Lupus and FMS, which had been triggered by the dental work. Lupus has to do with the immune system, and when a flare is triggered, my immune system is out of control and works against me.Upon coming back to work received a write up with 2 entries on it in regards to my absences. I didn't agree and verbalized this to my DNS and also the ED. I didn't sign write up, as I totally disagreed with it, because I was ill and had been under the care of My MD, and actually still in a flare and submitted notes from my MD in regards to absences each time. Being that my illnesses were flaring I was concerned because more absences were surely going to happen until the flare was under control. I was placed on steroids, pain medication and medication for stress and anxiety was increased by the MD. I contacted a corporate employee in regards to the attendance policy and verbalized my concerns that it didn't have accomodations for my disabilities. I was flaring and it wasn't getting better, but I continued to try to work and did up until my MD decided I had to stop working in order to hopefully get the flare under control. Corporate asked if they could use my name when speaking to ED, which I felt was fine, since my record was clear other that current attendance and was in good standing with company. I had requested LOA, was denied due to staffing in Jan. Dec. vacation, denied, due to staffing. In January again I missed a few days due to my illnesses, submitted MD excuse. I had to have echocardiogram done due to irregular heart rate and chest pains, employer aware. I needed to take care of myself before I could be a Nurse to anyone else. I felt no reason to not let her address the situation using my name. Again wrote up for absences, with treat of suspension. Well, 17 days after taking with corporate employee I was terminated. My MD. pulled me off of work on 2-1, I had FMLA forms to be completed by specialist I was to see on 2-22, which DNS was aware of. MD. notes and labs to verify my Lupus was indeed flaring was submitted to employer.
I have filed forms with BOLI. I don't want to let this company do this to anyone else. I have had a very difficult time for over a month. Almost lost my rented mobile home, have got behind on all my bills, lost my medical insurance 11 days after being terminated. Have been unable to get needed medications, without the help of my daughter. Lost the use of the medical clinic I went to due to No insurance now. This is so wrong and I would like to know what else I can do to assure this won't happen to another person with known disabilities.. I'm having more problems with the Lupus and Fibromyalgia now than when I was taken off work.
IrishRose_03@hotmail.com
I have filed forms with BOLI. I don't want to let this company do this to anyone else. I have had a very difficult time for over a month. Almost lost my rented mobile home, have got behind on all my bills, lost my medical insurance 11 days after being terminated. Have been unable to get needed medications, without the help of my daughter. Lost the use of the medical clinic I went to due to No insurance now. This is so wrong and I would like to know what else I can do to assure this won't happen to another person with known disabilities.. I'm having more problems with the Lupus and Fibromyalgia now than when I was taken off work.
IrishRose_03@hotmail.com
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