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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hello All

Thank you all so much for your thoughts and kind wishes. Will carry on the saga after Wednesday.

Good luck Glynys x