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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 9/27/2010 Posts: 136 Location: Stockton on Tees, Cleveland
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Hi everyone. I am a teacher in Stockton on Tees and have been teaching in the same school for 18 years. Since being diagnosed two years ago I have had increasing amounts of time off work due to flare ups and the day to day struggle of managing RA. I have currently been off work since November 10th but as far as the local authority are concerned, I have been off for 100 days during this financial year and so I am now on half pay. I have managed to persuade the doctor to say that I may be fit for work provided a phased reintroduction takes place over 4 weeks. I know that I will find this really difficult as the medication makes me so tired and my RA nurse and consultant are still struggling to manage my pain. I am hoping to be able to go for early retirement due to ill health, but have been told by H R from the local authority and my union rep that this has become increasingly hard to get and that the Teachers Pension Fund will only agree to this if all avenues have been explored, so, as my union rep quite rightly pointed out, "can you still teach if you were in a wheel chair?" Of course the answer is yes, so I am having to go back to work next Tuesday. I am really apprehensive and although I am having a meeting with the head, H R and my union rep before I start, I feel that I really want to push for early retirement. I guess it is not fair to the students or the school if I am off more than I am in. Does anyone have any idea about this? or can anyone give me any advice. I sent for the booklets from NRAS about guides for employers but they have not arrived yet. I am on Enbrel, Leflunomide, meloxicam, tramadol and amitryptiline by the way. Any advice would be gratefully recieved Louise 
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/28/2009 Posts: 39
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Hi,
I'm sory to hear your story. RA makes things very difficult for people who are at work. I worked in IT, then thought to take on a PGCE thinking to make life easier for myself and I'm in the middle of my course and I'm not sure that my health is good enough to finish off.
I wish you good luck and I hope you get you're early retirement because I fully understand your situation.
Sorry if I don't have an answer for you.
Good luck
Linda
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 4/20/2010 Posts: 1,749 Location: Somerset
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Hello Louise
Sorry that things are not too good at the mo. Of course the worry regarding your
job will stress out the RA.
I do feel for you. I was off 7 half months and went back on a graded return
with a view of grad increasing my hours . My job was Manager in Insurance Broker
and which is a bery stressful job. I am now doing 12 hours and I cant see that
I have the engery , want or willingness. So I am also going through a period
as to what will happen to my post.
Take care Rose
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 1,689 Location: Durham
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Hi Louise, Sorry you are having such a tough time. I was a teacher too, in Durham, and I managed to retire early on health grounds some years ago. I`m told it is becoming harder now to "get out," and probably things have changed over the last few years. In my case, my GP was an absolute star - he actually wrote to my Headmaster to tell him exactly how things were, and he went into great detail with the forms which had to be filled in from Mowden Park. Perhaps you could teach in a wheelchair - but it`s not just a case of teaching, is it? At my school there were countless flights of stairs, and even though they gave me a downstairs classroom for a time, the staff-room and almost everything else were upstairs. Our school was badly designed - as the numbers kept growing bits were added on here, there and everywhere.Will someone do your marking for you when your wrists are bad? There is so much to consider apart from the actual teaching. Is your GP aware that you would like to retire? It may be worth having a chat with him/her to talk about it. I`m sorry I can`t be much help, as it`s a few years now since I retired, and I think things were maybe more straightforward then, although I do remember being told the same as you, about how hard it was. Hope things work out for you. Kathleen C x
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 8/30/2010 Posts: 507 Location: Gravesend
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Hi Louise , sorry to hear of your troubles... Early retirement on health grounds , as you are aware isn't really an issue for your employer , but an issue , as you state , for the Pension Fund Holder. They should have an outline, of their criteria for retirement on health grounds , and be able to tell you the impact on your pension if you retire early or remain in work but claim monies under any health schemes within that pension. Obviously this subject is in the news a lot at the moment with final year salaries and later retirement ages . One possible point of call is The Pensions Advisory Service .... Ill Health retirement-TPASThey also have a helpline which can answer questions on these matters ...0845 601 2923 and a helpline for women...0845 600 0806 both open 9 til 5 M-F I would try them as a first port of call but suspect that they will state you would need to get a list of "criteria for early retirement due to ill health" from you Pension provider.In any case they are definitely worth a call. It sound like your Union Rep is doing ok by you , but might be worth a call to the NRAS helpline to talk through "reasonable adjustment issues etc"and "Access to work" If you are not already receiving DLA , it could be worth considering looking at the eligibility for this . NRAS -DLA guideDisability Alliance-DLA factsheetLet us know how you got on and all the best Rich :)X "The difference between 'involvement' and 'commitment' is like an eggs-and-ham breakfast: the chicken was 'involved' - the pig was 'committed'."
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 2,237 Location: nr Southampton
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HI Louise
I have got early retirement on the grounds of ill health. I was 31 at the time. I am now 35.
We discussed the wheelchair thing with me too. My school were wonderfully supportive and they offered to adapt everything.
The bottom line, was in all honesty I was not "reliably well". Addressing the disability was one aspect- addressing uncontrollable fatigue, illness and progression was not do-able with some ramps and wider doorways.
I have to say, I miss teaching dreadfully. But I had to do it.
My consultant had to sign a declaration about it.
Jenni how to be a velvet bulldoser
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 9/27/2010 Posts: 136 Location: Stockton on Tees, Cleveland
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Thank you all for your advice. Jenni your post has given me great strength because I know now that retirement is possible. I go back on Tuesday and I suppose that at the meeting with the head, H R and my union rep, I will repeat my desire to retire. I agree with Jenni, I am utterly unreliable now, I dont know how I will feel from one day to the next.
Keep your fingers crossed for me on Tuesday and I will let you all know how I get on.
Louise
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/4/2009 Posts: 52 Location: northern ireland
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hello flw93
sorry to hear about your pension problems do you have a occuptional health dr i worked in the health srvices and got out no problems
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 3/4/2010
Posts: 576
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Fully understand how you feel Louise - just wanted to say "thinking of you". I'm beginning to wonder how long it is possible / sensible to continue teaching (English at a High school in Warrington). I had my back to work interview this week after 2.5 weeks off as I started Enbrel and dealt with a host of family dilemmas. The Head was utterly focussed on the fact that I am now on the 'right' treatment and should be plain sailing from here on in.
Good luck and let us know how you get on xx Ailsa
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 9/27/2010 Posts: 136 Location: Stockton on Tees, Cleveland
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Well this is it. In for my meeting with the Head, H R lady and my union rep tomorrow morning. Got that feeling of dread in my stomach, still, got to give it a go and hopefully this will help me to make my decision, keep working or retire. Send me positive vibes tomorrow please!!!
Louise
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 1/29/2010 Posts: 264
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Every positive vibe possible coming your way Louise, really hope it goes well tomorrow.
Love
Sheila
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 3,157 Location: Huddersfield
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Good luck for tomorrow Louise.
Love, Doreen xx
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/4/2009 Posts: 52 Location: northern ireland
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all the best for tomorrow flw93 
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 3/4/2010
Posts: 576
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Good luck today Louise. Hope you slept and you're not too nervous. Thinking of you xxx Ailsa
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/4/2009 Posts: 856
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Dear Louise I have just picked up on your post today I too am a teacher- but for a massive 31 yrs! I was diagnosed 3 yrs ago. Fortunately, my RA is relatively mild and controlled. I haven't has as much time off as you, although maybe I should have done as I frequently struggle in when I shouldn't and then spend the weekend in bed. As other have said- it's not just the mobility or the actual teaching- although I am begining to struggle with that as I'm nowhere near as enthusiastic, patient and dynamic as I used to be (could be age as well!  )The marking is taking its toll on my hands, fatigue means I don't get marking done quickly- resulting in a backlog, so i get into a vicious circle. We are a high flying school and the pace is relentless, even for healthy staff. Parents and sudents are quick to complain if teachers are even a little below par. Idecided to go part time last year- even though it was only day off it was helpful. I'm now considering stepping down as head of dept. In my personal case I've had other issues to deal with, not related directly to ra which have added to my problems. I have thought about taking a phased retirement but havent looked into it yet. It's so frustrating when you want to do what's best for everyone- but most of all for you- yet things are made so difficult these days.Things have changed so rapidly. I look forward to hearing how you got on Maria x ps given the fact that we're becoming an academy and with the new Englsh baccalaureat for KS4 and I teach drama I keep cynically thinking I wn't need to worry about retirement- I'l probably be made redundant anyway! 
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 9/27/2010 Posts: 136 Location: Stockton on Tees, Cleveland
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Hi everyone
Had my meeting this morning. I was very apprehensive which wasnt helped by the fact that my union rep phoned in sick leaving me with the H R person only. Anyway, the Head was marvelous, suggesting that a four week phased return would be good. I have to go in Thursday and Friday and Monday and Tuesday mornings with no teaching. He feels its best to get back into the stress of school life to see if i can cope with that. Then I am to have a meeting with him and my union rep on Tuesday to see how I feel and decide whether we will add in a couple of full days with no teaching, or continue with mornings and add in some teaching. It sounds like a plan to me. I was honest with him and said that I was going to try my best for the four weeks but that if I felt that I could not cope with it, then I would look to try to get early retirement due to ill health. He was very supportive and seemed to think that as I have a condition which will not get better, that I had a good chance of getting it. Anyway, lets see how things go. Thank you all for your support. It has been much appreciated. I will keep you informed as to how I get on.
Louise
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 11/20/2010 Posts: 244 Location: Cornwall
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Hi Louise,
Very brave of you to take on this meeting without your union rep there but sounds like it went OK for you? Hope you took good notes and you'll get everything in writing. Sorry to put a damper on things but sometimes the outcomes of a meeting can sometimes be different to the meeting itself, just a word of caution which may help in the future?
Good luck with your phased return.
Sara
x
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/4/2009 Posts: 856
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Hi Louise
Glad the meeting went well. These meetings are so stressful. Whenever I have to see the head I can't sleep and worry for ages. I have to agree with Sara though- and I too don't wish to be negative- make sure you get everything in writing especially as your union rep wasn't there. Unfortunately, even though I hate to say it, my Head appeared to be very helpful and supportive at first but experience proved the opposite so I never see him alone and without getting anything in writing.
Wishing you all the best- and fingers crossed for a postitive outcome for you.
Maria x
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 4/20/2010 Posts: 1,749 Location: Somerset
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Hello Louise
Glad your meeting went well. Fingers crossed that everything turns out for
the better. You need to think of YOU firstly and not work. I have had to teach
myself this over the past 12 months.
Good luck
Rose
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 8/25/2010 Posts: 1,289 Location: Buckinghamshire
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hi Louise,
hope that things now settle down for you job wise,
i'm sure you feel better now you've had your meeting and know what's what.
Suzanne x
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