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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 4/20/2010 Posts: 1,749 Location: Somerset
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Hello all, As I advised I have been off 6 weeks from my Management / Sales full time sales job. This is following very stressful work which has caused a big flare of the old RA and caused my BP to be high (176/110) - i was started on 1 BP tablet and no diff and another additional one introduced last week . My rhummy nurse will not start me on a new drug Leflum (was last yr on metho) un till me BP is good. So on naprox,amytri for the RA. So have been in a bad way. My boss, although very nice, is coming to do a work home visit due to length of time been off. I am soo very nervous and not looking forward to it. I under there should be an OT assessment before I return and this should be a professional and not my area manager. As been off 6 weeks already and that I work for a large well known Company , I do feel that everything is at a slow pace. Although I should not be saying this but - I really worry now about ever returning to work - and do I want to ... (nervy tum)My Rhummy nurse says I still need to rest and to even consider going back to work i need to feel 120% . As a lot to do wioth RA is not seen as it 'swellings' not sure he will understand. Any advice on how to handle the next 2 days with my rhummy nurse and the Big Boss would be great. A nervous Rose
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 1,110 Location: London
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Hi Rose, i am no expert, but I worked in a special needs school, and the head teacher used to do this when staff had been off for around 8 weeks. Its basically (as far as I know from my school) a kind of interview to see if they can assist you to return to work. Also a referral (maybe) to occupational health. The OH team are very good at explaining to bosses (who usually have no real idea of us in the real world!!) how it is regarding illnesses/mobility etc. Dont be too worried, they cant fire you, or force you to come back before you are well. You have the support of the nurse, and I'm sure your gp would agree and the OT etc. Dont feel pressured or let him/her make you feel guilty about not being able to work at the moment. Good luck, hoppefully someone else who knows lots more will be on soon x x BARBARA
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/4/2009 Posts: 336
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Hello Rose, sorry I can't offer advice. I'm having a meeting at my home on Monday with the Attendance Manager and my Area Manager. In the letter it said that I could have a Union rep or a collegue with me and not to feel worried by this it's just that it can be helpful to me. I have been worrying about the meeting too. Perhaps we can swap information after. Glenys.
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 4/20/2010 Posts: 1,749 Location: Somerset
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Thank you Barbara for your words of encouragement , you do feel pressurised unfortunatley though. As a Manager there are changes going on in the office by way of staff which are not good. I try not to let themn get at me but today I saw my 3 girls and they moaning and groaning and all the will in the world I try and pacify them - but then it is me who is stressed. I could do without having any contact at all- then you feel mean when you are their Manager. oh well ...... now my blood prressure is 137 / 101 so it has gone up again - so now I presume I cannot start the leflun ! ! ! ! ! !
Glenys - sorry you in similar positiion to me - How long have you been off ! I would be pleased to "compare notes" . Although not nice I feel that to share your problems does help. I have only joined NRAS 3 weeks and so far I do feel that I have friends and am not the only 1 .
Thank you
Rose
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 1,740
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Hi Rose ,at onset of RA was off work 5 weeks and let them bully me back into returning was not a big company small private firm so i wish you well sound good idea meeting and ask for OT referral,until your on medication and bp gone down shouldnt think work advisable go with what rheumy nurse says hun they know there stuff. hope it lowers soon,try take easy not easy to be un anxious but talking sure does hep calm things. melly cuddly cats make my world seem so much more fun
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/4/2009 Posts: 2,127 Location: Thornton Cleveleys
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Hi Rose Excellent info from Barbara. This will almost certainly be 'a requirement' by your employer to visit absent staff after a number of weeks illness. If they didn't they would probably be accused of not caring about their employees! I'm sure you don't need to worry. At the end of the day you cannot return until you have the medical go ahead and you are actually fit to work. I know where you are coming from on the management side. I had 60 staff when I went off with RA and so many visited or phoned but they do tend to bring the 'office' and all it's problems with them  Just shows what a good manager you are though that they feel able to do this! It's good that they keep in touch and keep you in the loop. As regards the Leflunomide, your blood pressure will need to come down before that can be started as it can itself cause raised blood pressure. Isn't there an alternative treatment they could try whilst they are trying to get the bp down? Feel sure there must be something that would help you. Good luck Rose and Glenys for the visits. Hope they go well for both of you Lyn x
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 872
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Hi Rose,
Just wondering if you have a workplace policy about home visits. If so, could any of your colleagues pass you a copy? I can empathise with you feeling nervous - this is the last thing you need with raised blood pressure.
Perhaps, try and think about it also from your benefit / perspective too - maybe make a list of questions you want to ask them. For example if you might want to consider home working in the future, so could they do a risk assessment to determine if this may be possible (...if this was something you might consider of course)
As a manager myself I know it's completely different when it's you in the middle of things but most importantly remember what the rheumy nurse said - that is the advice to bear in mind the most, and make sure you have planned a treat for when they've gone so you have something nice to look forward to when its all over,
Will be thinking of you and Glenys too, please let us know how things are,
Take care
With Love from Liz xx
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 3,157 Location: Huddersfield
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Good luck Rose and Glenys!
Love, Doreen xx
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/4/2009 Posts: 336
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Thankyou all for your good wishes. I am jotting down some questions to ask although I imagine they will have an agenda to follow because they have proceedures for most things. Rose, I've been off work for 9 months,not just because of the RA and Fibromyalgia, I've had arthroscopic surgery to release my right shoulder and major surgery to bypass a blocked artery in my pelvis in January. My work has not bothered me much because after surgery they say time for recovery is self limiting but of course this can't go on for ever. I think you and I are about the same age, 56. I enjoy my job when I am well but it has been getting harder and harder these past 4 years. I am still not ready to give it up yet so I wonder what they are going to say to me. All the best for tomorrow, just think how much better you will feel when it's over. x
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 216
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so how did it go? Hope you are just resting and getting better this weekend, Lxx Always be aware that what you do might hurt others........and if it could, do nothing without careful consideration of the consequences
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 4/20/2010 Posts: 1,749 Location: Somerset
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Hello All,
Sorry late in letting you know how I got on . It has been my Grand daughter 6th birthday tea today, so been hectic but all quiet now - bless
Firstly yesterday my Rhummy nurse was not available but I have today managed to speak with her. Situation is that to go on the leflum my BP has to be normal. Even after taking 2 diff BP tablets it si still not good enough to start. Booked me to see Specialist Registrar next Wed. She will do a report and they will suggest another medicationPossibly could be TNF (i think she said ) but hey will find out next Wed. Appart I will have to be 'council' for this drug though .
With ref to home visit. It was my Area Manager he sat with me for nearly hour and a half and even bought me a bouquet of flowers. Bless.
HR produced a form of about 5 pages, whic he completed with me asking anything from, my name, to medication on, can they help me, do I intend to come back, the all important monetary and holidays. I had holiday booked before I went off sick so it has been agreed that I will be noted as holiday(rather than sick) so that it will not effect my Company Sick Pay.
It also agreed that I would not visit my office and speak with the staff as with all the will in the world they start to moan and groan about different things and in turn this upsets me and I try to appease them and then guess what -it effects my blood pressure.
Thank you all and glenys you will have a similar meeting I should imagine. x
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 3,157 Location: Huddersfield
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Hi Rose, Glad it went well, enjoy the flowers! With the anti-tnf drugs, you have to have 2 assessments where they check your joints for pain and swelling, that is the DAS score and there is a link to information about it on the NRAS home page. Blood results are also taken into account and if you pass you do not usually have to wait long to get onto the drugs. Good luck with it, and Happy Birthday to your Granddaughter!
Love, Doreen xx
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 1,740
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Hello Rose glad went well what kind manager flowers to,filled in form thats great. good tip re not to visit your work so as keep bp down. wish you well for wed and for anti tnf. take care. melly cuddly cats make my world seem so much more fun
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 3,006 Location: Timperley
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Glad to hear it went well, Rose.
Will be keeping everything crossed for you on Monday, Glenys.
Love Jeanxx
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/4/2009 Posts: 336
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Hello Rose,thanks for letting us know about your home visit it sounded as if it went well thank goodness and quite benifitial. It's good news too about getting your treatment sorted, hope it is sorted quickly for you. I bet that you had a wonderful time at the birthday party, the grandchildren are so precious aren't they. I have asked a friend to be with me on Monday. Glenys.x Thanks Jean x
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 872
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Glad went well Rose and your company sound supportive and quite understanding. Flowers were a nice touch, if that happened to me I would be quite surprised! Hope you more relaxed now and able to see some good results with BP ~ will be thinking of you on Wednseday, Thinking of you too Glenys on Monday, take care both, love Liz xxxxx
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 1,081
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I'm glad it went well for you Rose and it seemed to be beneficial. I do hope you manage to get your blood pressure under control so that you can get underway with new treatment.
Will be thinking of you tomorrow Glenys.
Julie
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/4/2009 Posts: 1,524 Location: W. Yorkshire
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Sounds to have gone very well Rose! YES I'VE CHANGED, PAIN DOES THAT TO PEOPLE.
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 4/20/2010 Posts: 1,749 Location: Somerset
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Hello All
Thank you all so much for your thoughts and kind wishes. Will carry on the saga after Wednesday.
Good luck Glynys x
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 3,006 Location: Timperley
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How did it go, Glenys? xxxx
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