Problems at work, how to cope?
Kate
Hashi-toxicosis is the combo thing.... I don't know what to believe.
But, I can tell you what I did when I (thought I was) was on the hypo side
of things! I woke up a little early, made a cup of strong coffee, put it in
an insulated cup and took a brisk 15-20 minute walk every morning to wake
myself and my digestive system (yeah, right...) up. At the time, I was
panicked about gaining weight. I was losing anyway, thanks to no appetite.
I also took brief naps (10-20 minutes) at lunch either in my car or after
driving home to be in a more comfortable place. I didn't worry about what
other people thought I did at lunchtime, I guess because that helped me not
be tired at work. Of course, at the time, I had a very low-intensity,
low-pressure job.... which was ideal for me then!
By the way, in my experience, hyper is definitely easier to deal with than
hypo.... I wonder if most thyroid people would agree???? From the
beginning, my thyroid was monitored WAY before I had any problems that got
too severe. I was really lucky to have a doctor (allergist) insist I see a
specialist for my enlarged thyroid almost 2 years ago.
stc...@tso.tso.org
ben diagnosed and begun treatment (I was just diagnosed last week and began
taking Synthroid a week ago). For the past two years I have been in training
at work as a mainframe computer programmer. I could not have chosen something
more difficult for someone who was about to experience a total lack of ability
to retain information and to concentrate!
How do other people deal with work when you suddenly feel like you're going
to keel over (dizziness) or you are so tired you could lie down on the floor
right there and take a nap? Or someone is trying to explain a task to you
and you are having trouble concentrating on what they are saying?
There are two days this year (before I was diagnosed) where my dizziness got
so bad I had to go home and just sleep the rest of the day, and felt better
the next day. At the time I thought I must have just caught a bug but always
wondered why I never got the rest of the cold or flu symptoms; now I realize
it must have been the hypothyroid condition!
I have told my manager, and he's very understanding, but does anyone have any
suggestions for dealing with coworkers? Do you tell them that you have this
condition (I told one person and she said, "oh, doesn't that just make you a
little tired?" (in other words, "what's the big deal"? Or do you just let
them think you are daydreaming (staring off into space trying not to be
dizzy) or just really slow and stupid?
I can't remember what it was like to be 'normal' but I know that I have worked
harder the past few years and made less progress, so it's been very
frustrating. It's also kept me from progressing in my current job, and thus
from getting decent raises, etc.
Thanks for any ideas, stories of your experiences, hints on things to eat or
do that can help you stay awake, etc.
Pam S.
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Marcia L. Albert
your work that you can put on hold for a few months till you get stabalized?
Just looking at options here.
I was extremely fortunate to have been out on a work injury leave (in 97) when
my hypothyroidism hit with full force. When I was at that point...I just
couldn't understand how/why this was happening to me at such a critical
turning point in my career (in my first job after a mid-life career
change--big change too). Then....1 1/2 years later...I realized that it was a
case of perfect timing. Sometimes we end up in places that we couldn't have
planned so perfectly...guess there was a reason I had the work injury...and it
was so coincidental that the dead thyroid reared it's ugly head at the same time.
When I had the Graves in 91...golly I think I only missed one day of
work...and I, my work suffered greatly. It got harder and harder to deal with
my co-workers cause they could care less about my health...they were too
business like and had a mission to complete...you know survival of the fittest
types. It was miserable. And I was laid off from that job 8 months after the
RAI (it wasn't a very nice departure).
Not everyone's co-workers are like that though..and I hope your's are understanding.
Since my experiences with thyroid disease...I have given up being a
martyr...I'm not suggesting that you are...but I was. Had to work through
anything and everything. No more. Life is too short.
I do know folks who have gone on "stress disability" for thyroid disease
(which I should have done, but my HMO doctor talked me out of it..the idiot).
Wish I had more suggestions...but all I know is that everytime I landed in one
place when I wanted to be somewhere else...it was later that I was able to see
the value in it all. Pray for guidance.
Best Wishes....Marcia
nOFuTuRe
>I would like to hear how other people handle problems at work, once they have
>ben diagnosed and begun treatment (I was just diagnosed last week and began
>taking Synthroid a week ago). For the past two years I have been in training
>at work as a mainframe computer programmer. I could not have chosen something
>more difficult for someone who was about to experience a total lack of ability
>to retain information and to concentrate!
The past few years as my symptoms worsened, I had a very tough time at
work. I was in charge of the building maintenance of a large high
school and every day was a challenge to stay awake and alert. I would
often fall asleep in my office, and even driving my car. Thank God I
never got into an accident. The worst part of all of this was the
doctors telling me there was nothing wrong with me, including my
thyroid. Well, since starting taking thyroid hormone back in July, I
have my life and my mind back...no more passing out and struggling at
work. Once you get your dosage where it should be, you should have no
more problems at work.
Good luck.
Kent
AH
Thyroid disease is now covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act. I
had huge problems on my job too, and my company violated the ADA in their
treatment of me. All symptoms of hypo and my unfortunate overmedication (8
weeks of hyper symptoms followed by a detox and restart on meds) were
classified as a +ACI-psychological problem+ACI- and I was being set up for
termination after a 10 year perfect track record and multiple promotions.
My new boss wanted her own person and decided to pursue this avenue in
driving me out. She paid dearly for violating the ADA laws. I would
suggest that anyone with a work issue see an attorney and/or use the
internet to read up on your rights. The Family Leave Act is ideal for
anyone who needs time off to get used to meds or deal with medical issues.
I used short-term disability, because my company provided it. The bottom
line: your health is supposed to be your priority and the workplace doesn't
always acknowledge this.
This disease is very debilitating to some people and unfortunately, it is
generally explained to the public as a simple thing, easily cured with a
little pill+ACE-
Marcia L. Albert wrote in message +ADw-364CC80C.BA3706B1+AEA-earthlink.net+AD4-...
+AD4-Hi...I know you probably don't want to hear this...but is there any part of
+AD4-your work that you can put on hold for a few months till you get
stabalized?
+AD4-Just looking at options here.
+AD4-
+AD4-I was extremely fortunate to have been out on a work injury leave (in 97)
when
+AD4-my hypothyroidism hit with full force. When I was at that point...I just
+AD4-couldn't understand how/why this was happening to me at such a critical
+AD4-turning point in my career (in my first job after a mid-life career
+AD4-change--big change too). Then....1 1/2 years later...I realized that it
was a
+AD4-case of perfect timing. Sometimes we end up in places that we couldn't
have
+AD4-planned so perfectly...guess there was a reason I had the work injury...and
it
+AD4-was so coincidental that the dead thyroid reared it's ugly head at the same
time.
+AD4-
+AD4-When I had the Graves in 91...golly I think I only missed one day of
+AD4-work...and I, my work suffered greatly. It got harder and harder to deal
with
+AD4-my co-workers cause they could care less about my health...they were too
+AD4-business like and had a mission to complete...you know survival of the
fittest
+AD4-types. It was miserable. And I was laid off from that job 8 months after
the
+AD4-RAI (it wasn't a very nice departure).
+AD4-
+AD4-Not everyone's co-workers are like that though..and I hope your's are
understanding.
+AD4-
+AD4-Since my experiences with thyroid disease...I have given up being a
+AD4-martyr...I'm not suggesting that you are...but I was. Had to work through
+AD4-anything and everything. No more. Life is too short.
+AD4-
+AD4-I do know folks who have gone on +ACI-stress disability+ACI- for thyroid disease
+AD4-(which I should have done, but my HMO doctor talked me out of it..the
idiot).
+AD4-
+AD4-Wish I had more suggestions...but all I know is that everytime I landed in
one
+AD4-place when I wanted to be somewhere else...it was later that I was able to
see
+AD4-the value in it all. Pray for guidance.
+AD4-
+AD4-Best Wishes....Marcia
+AD4-
+AD4-stcelia+AEA-TSO.TSO.org wrote:
+AD4APg-
+AD4APg- I would like to hear how other people handle problems at work, once they
have
+AD4APg- ben diagnosed and begun treatment (I was just diagnosed last week and
began
+AD4APg- taking Synthroid a week ago). For the past two years I have been in
training
+AD4APg- at work as a mainframe computer programmer. I could not have chosen
something
+AD4APg- more difficult for someone who was about to experience a total lack of
ability
+AD4APg- to retain information and to concentrate+ACE-
+AD4APg-
+AD4APg- How do other people deal with work when you suddenly feel like you're
going
+AD4APg- to keel over (dizziness) or you are so tired you could lie down on the
floor
+AD4APg- right there and take a nap? Or someone is trying to explain a task to
you
+AD4APg- and you are having trouble concentrating on what they are saying?
+AD4APg-
+AD4APg- There are two days this year (before I was diagnosed) where my dizziness
got
+AD4APg- so bad I had to go home and just sleep the rest of the day, and felt
better
+AD4APg- the next day. At the time I thought I must have just caught a bug but
always
+AD4APg- wondered why I never got the rest of the cold or flu symptoms+ADs- now I
realize
+AD4APg- it must have been the hypothyroid condition+ACE-
+AD4APg-
+AD4APg- I have told my manager, and he's very understanding, but does anyone have
any
+AD4APg- suggestions for dealing with coworkers? Do you tell them that you have
this
+AD4APg- condition (I told one person and she said, +ACI-oh, doesn't that just make
you a
+AD4APg- little tired?+ACI- (in other words, +ACI-what's the big deal+ACI-? Or do you just
let
+AD4APg- them think you are daydreaming (staring off into space trying not to be
+AD4APg- dizzy) or just really slow and stupid?
+AD4APg-
+AD4APg- I can't remember what it was like to be 'normal' but I know that I have
worked
+AD4APg- harder the past few years and made less progress, so it's been very
+AD4APg- frustrating. It's also kept me from progressing in my current job, and
thus
+AD4APg- from getting decent raises, etc.
+AD4APg-
+AD4APg- Thanks for any ideas, stories of your experiences, hints on things to eat
or
+AD4APg- do that can help you stay awake, etc.
+AD4APg-
+AD4APg- Pam S.
+AD4APg-
+AD4APg- -----------+AD0APQ- Posted via Deja News, The Discussion Network +AD0APQ-----------
+AD4APg- http://www.dejanews.com/ Search, Read, Discuss, or Start Your Own
+AD4-
Kevin G. Rhoads
a
>little tired?" (in other words, "what's the big deal"? Or do you just let
>them think you are daydreaming (staring off into space trying not to be
been having many behavioral problems at school. After the Hashimoto's
was diagnosed, I heard someone in the nurse's office comment "oh,
so he takes his pill and everything is allright"
To which I responded, "little Freddie boke his leg, but they put a
cast on it yesterday, so he is allright and should be expected to
lead the pack in the foot races in gym today as he always has
before, .... right?" (Except I wasn't QUITE as fluent then, this one
has been polished a bit with re-use.) Then I went home and
wrote up a short summary of Hashi's for his teachers. I ran it
by our doctor, who approved.
In this note I pointed out that Hashimoto's is a LIFE-THREATENING
illness. Without treatment, it will normally progress through
myxedemia to a lingering, painful death. As it did for centuries
before any treatments were known. In this way it is no less
severe than juvenile onset diabetes. Unlike diabetes, where
the replacement hormone must be injected, Hashi's can be
treated with oral doses of hormone.
Just because we have relatively easy to administer replacement
hormones does not change the severity of the underlying disease.
And just like juvenile onset diabetes, where changes in eating habits,
life-style, or internal changes in the organs can change the requirements
for replacement, so does the various forms of thyroid disease expose
one to the problems that the dose you take today may not be the right
dose a few months from now, or next week, or even tomorrow.
So, we informed the teachers, Thomas has a life-threatening illness
which fortunately CAN be managed. But one which will require
constant vigilance about changing dose requirements throughout his
life. Vigilance which it would be nice if the MDs would take
care of, but that can NOT be depended upon -- too many do NOT.
So vigilance which Thomas must supply himself, for we will not be
there to watch over him for all his life.
SO although Thomas was only in 3rd grade, we were training him to
assume the management of his life-long life threatening disease, and
we expected the school to support and not to casually frustrate through
ignorant sayings, our efforts to teach Thomas how to manage his
health.
(Again, what I sent to the school back then was not as polished as that.)
It is unfortunate but common that people judge based solely on what they
CAN see. A one-legged person, with crutches, parks in a HP space,
nobody blinks. Take the same situation, but the person stepping out is
(apparently) whole (severe, crippling asthma is hard to see) and even
though the vehicle has the HP tags there will be disapproving frowns.
Hashi's and Grave's, neither leaves an easily visible trace that others
can SEE so trivially as does a missing arm or leg. And a lot of people
like to believe if they can't SEE the reason you have problems, then you
don't have problems you're just gold-bricking. There is little you can
do with that crew.
Find those who can be supportive, and try to enlist their aid in watching
over you for signs that your dosage is off. Tell them the dose
requirements
can shift. That you can't always tell when you are sliding into
zombie-land.
Your car may have a gas gauge, but you don't have a thyroid gauge!
If there are NO such people where you work, then maybe you should
think about moving to a new workplace.
--
Kevin G. Rhoads, Ph.D. (Yes there is life after CIH)
T_Rhoads@NO_SPAM.MSN.com
krhoads@NO_SPAM.cmpnetmail.com
Kevin G. Rhoads
OS/360, 026 and 029 keypunches, Cobol, Fortran
and PL/I.
I remember it well.
Nlf12
>over you for signs that your dosage is off. Tell them the dose
>requirements
>can shift. That you can't always tell
Thanks for a very supportive posting, Kevin - you said it - and very well -
stc...@tso.tso.org
original reply to reply to you with.... Since I posted the original question,
I wanted to say how much I appreciate all the helpful and supportive
responses I received! Thanks very much!
Unfortunately, in my current department, there really aren't any folks I
could rely on to help watch me and make sure I'm ok... but after asking the
question and getting some encouragement here and from other friends, I did go
to my manager and ask about working in another group (one that's more
interesting and less stressful). The company itself is pretty compassionate
when it comes to employees' health, and they make an effort to accomodate
employees for health reasons, when possible.
It's still hard now - I'm still finding myself fading off, foggy-headed,
sometimes almost immobile in my chair... but I do have a few more good hours a
day than I did before I was diagnosed. So far so good....
Thanks again, all, for your suggestions. It is much appreciated!
Pam
In article <19981117135314...@ng145.aol.com>,
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