I'M FREE!!!
I'm free of all the doctor's visits - I'm healed!! And even better, I'm free of my old job!! Let me start from while I was on medical leave...
My old employer has a policy for paid medical leave. As payroll processor, I saw firsthand the kind of payments that were made - and I know that they have paid people 100% for 6-8 weeks. So, since I've been there as long as the people I've seen them pay that way, I figured I would be treated the same. WRONG. I only got 100% for a few weeks and then I was knocked down to just a percentage of my pay. When I called HR to ask about it, I was told that I wasn't entitled to the 100% pay for as long as the other people. THEN I was informed, rudely, that FMLA rules don't apply to me (as far as being able to be off for up to 12 weeks and still have a job to return to) because my position is one that no one else is trained to fill - I took that as a threat to my job security. After that, I was chastised for "stringing" them along - they thought every week that I would be back the next week and then they would find out that I was going to be off for yet another week. I told them that wasn't true - that I had informed my boss and another HR representative that I would be out for an undetermined length of time. It wasn't my fault if they ASSUMED that length of time would only be a week.
Anyway - this horrible conversation happened on a Friday, and I felt sick all over again afterward because I was afraid I was going to loose my job when I got better. God was watching over me though....
The recruiter I had been working with before I fell ill called me and told me that a company I had previously expressed an interest in had an opening and they wanted to interview me. By this time, I knew that I was going to be returning to work after my next Dr visit AND I was afraid I'd be losing my job, so I agreed to meet with them. The meeting went well and they called me in for a 2nd interview the day of my doctor appointment. That meeting also went very well. When I went to the doctor, I was told I could return to work the next Tuesday. I informed my current employer the same day.
The next day, I received a phone call from my recruiter stating that the new company wanted to extend an offer of employment - he told me what they were offering, and I tentatively agreed verbally. The next morning, I received an official offer letter from them via e-mail. I signed the offer letter and wrote my resignation letter to my old employer. Then I went to the plant to deliver the letter personally. I was only giving them a week's notice, partly because I was so upset at how they had treated me and partly because the new employer wanted me to start 7-2-07. They accepted the letter and said that they wanted me to work the following week so I could complete a few tasks and train someone to handle my responsibilities.
However, when I arrived to work on Tuesday, I was summoned to HR before I even made it to my desk. When I got to HR, I was informed that they had decided to accept my resignation effective immediately. I was thrilled!! I didn't really want to go back to work for them anyway - I was only agreeing to do it so that I was so unprofessional as to quit without notice. I packed up my personal belongings and came home. I just wish they would have told me that Friday when I brought the letter in - it would have saved me some gas!
When I got home, I called my recruiter and told him the news. He then called my new employer and they asked if I could start the next day. So, I started my new job 3 business days sooner than planned.
And I love it!! The people are great - the company is strong - the job will be challenging yet do-able - the pay is much better. I am so happy!! My old job had me absolutely miserable for a very long time - it's great to finally be in a happy, stable environment!!
Showing posts with label Sick. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sick. Show all posts
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
Long Awaited Update
Sorry it's been so long since I last posted! I've just been so frustrated at the lack of answers that I haven't even wanted to bother with creating a post. Basically, the doctors still have no idea what's wrong with me. I am, however, either starting to feel better of growing used to feeling dizzy so much that I don't notice it as badly.
Last week my family doctor told me that they had decided they're not going to do any more tests that aren't already scheduled. She said that since they'd ruled out all the really bad stuff, they can't justify running more and more tests. Whatever - I AM going to get a second opinion when that UofM doctor returns from vacation next week. She also told me that I could go back to work, but she didn't want me driving yet, so I can only work from home for the next two weeks. But my employer vetoed that idea - they said I either come back to the office or stay out on medical leave, so I'm still on medical leave until further notice.
This weekend Kelsey became ill and was vomiting a lot, so we spent the night at the ER with her Friday night/Saturday morning. The doctors gave her a shot for nausea and did an X-Ray of her abdomen. They said they saw some "glowing" spots in her bowels and that normal food doesn't glow,, so they wanted to know what she might have gotten into, such as paint chips or rocks or something. After some extensive questioning, Kelsey finally admitted that she had eaten her fingernail polish off, so the doctor said that was probably what had made her so ill.
NOT the case, though, as we found out the next night when I became ill too. Apparently we had both caught some sort of stomach bug. No worries - we're both doing fine from that now!
Last night I was back at urgent care with Kelsey. Her mother called me around 7pm and said that she had been bitten twice on the arm by a neighbor dog and that the neighbor refused to say if the dog was up on its shots or not. UGGG. That poor kid!!! So, I met her at Urgent Care and we saw a doctor. The wound wasn't too bad, it actually looked more like another child had bitten her than anything, I guess it was a really small dog. And her skin was barely even torn. The doctor gave Kelsey some antibiotics and sent her home. Kelsey taunted her mom as we left saying, "See? I told you I wouldn't get a shot, Mommy!!!" I'm just glad she was okay and it was nothing too serious. I hope those people learn to keep their stupid dog chained up though...
Today I went to the hospital for the Tilt Table Test that was ordered weeks ago and took forever to get in for. It was miserable, being strapped to a table in an upright position for 20 minutes at a time (twice) while they checked my blood pressure a million and one times. I couldn't even move to itch, I felt like a prisoner, and it made me really anxious. In the end, they found nothing. What a waste of time...but my doctor will say "At least we can rule heart problems out now".
Whatever, I just want some answers. I want to get back to my normal life and stop being trapped in my own home all the time!! At least I've got a loving husband, wonderful step-daughter, lovable dog and great friends and family! I don't know what I'd do otherwise!!!
Last week my family doctor told me that they had decided they're not going to do any more tests that aren't already scheduled. She said that since they'd ruled out all the really bad stuff, they can't justify running more and more tests. Whatever - I AM going to get a second opinion when that UofM doctor returns from vacation next week. She also told me that I could go back to work, but she didn't want me driving yet, so I can only work from home for the next two weeks. But my employer vetoed that idea - they said I either come back to the office or stay out on medical leave, so I'm still on medical leave until further notice.
This weekend Kelsey became ill and was vomiting a lot, so we spent the night at the ER with her Friday night/Saturday morning. The doctors gave her a shot for nausea and did an X-Ray of her abdomen. They said they saw some "glowing" spots in her bowels and that normal food doesn't glow,, so they wanted to know what she might have gotten into, such as paint chips or rocks or something. After some extensive questioning, Kelsey finally admitted that she had eaten her fingernail polish off, so the doctor said that was probably what had made her so ill.
NOT the case, though, as we found out the next night when I became ill too. Apparently we had both caught some sort of stomach bug. No worries - we're both doing fine from that now!
Last night I was back at urgent care with Kelsey. Her mother called me around 7pm and said that she had been bitten twice on the arm by a neighbor dog and that the neighbor refused to say if the dog was up on its shots or not. UGGG. That poor kid!!! So, I met her at Urgent Care and we saw a doctor. The wound wasn't too bad, it actually looked more like another child had bitten her than anything, I guess it was a really small dog. And her skin was barely even torn. The doctor gave Kelsey some antibiotics and sent her home. Kelsey taunted her mom as we left saying, "See? I told you I wouldn't get a shot, Mommy!!!" I'm just glad she was okay and it was nothing too serious. I hope those people learn to keep their stupid dog chained up though...
Today I went to the hospital for the Tilt Table Test that was ordered weeks ago and took forever to get in for. It was miserable, being strapped to a table in an upright position for 20 minutes at a time (twice) while they checked my blood pressure a million and one times. I couldn't even move to itch, I felt like a prisoner, and it made me really anxious. In the end, they found nothing. What a waste of time...but my doctor will say "At least we can rule heart problems out now".
Whatever, I just want some answers. I want to get back to my normal life and stop being trapped in my own home all the time!! At least I've got a loving husband, wonderful step-daughter, lovable dog and great friends and family! I don't know what I'd do otherwise!!!
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Some Weight Off, Some Worry On
So, I went to that appointment with the different doctor this morning. It went fairly well, I suppose. There was some good news: I'm 17 pounds lighter than I was 2 weeks ago!! Woot!!
Other than that, they still don;t really know what the problem is. The doctor suggested that perhaps it's a virus that has stuck around for a long time. The she suggested maybe I should increase my salt and caffeine intake...WOW!! Never heard a doctor suggest THAT one before, LMAO!! Apparently, she thinks that will help raise my blood pressure and as a result decrease the dizziness. I hate salt and all I drink is water really, but I guess a Coke a day won't hurt, and I'll eat some pretzels for the salt. We'll see what happens. She also wants me to do a tilt table test, for real this time, so I put in a call to schedule that and I'm waiting for a return call. I'm off work for at least another week.
After we came home, the doctor called and said that the results of the 24 hour Holter Monitor had just been faxed to her. She said that it looks like there are times where my heart skips a beat, so she referred my to a cardiologist and made an appointment for me - that will be tomorrow. The doctor says she doesn't think this is too serious, but she wants to have me see the cardiologist to make sure. I have to admit, this is scary.
That's all the news for today. I'm tired, so I'm going to lie down and read my book and munch on pretzels. I'll write more tomorrow evening after the appointment.
Other than that, they still don;t really know what the problem is. The doctor suggested that perhaps it's a virus that has stuck around for a long time. The she suggested maybe I should increase my salt and caffeine intake...WOW!! Never heard a doctor suggest THAT one before, LMAO!! Apparently, she thinks that will help raise my blood pressure and as a result decrease the dizziness. I hate salt and all I drink is water really, but I guess a Coke a day won't hurt, and I'll eat some pretzels for the salt. We'll see what happens. She also wants me to do a tilt table test, for real this time, so I put in a call to schedule that and I'm waiting for a return call. I'm off work for at least another week.
After we came home, the doctor called and said that the results of the 24 hour Holter Monitor had just been faxed to her. She said that it looks like there are times where my heart skips a beat, so she referred my to a cardiologist and made an appointment for me - that will be tomorrow. The doctor says she doesn't think this is too serious, but she wants to have me see the cardiologist to make sure. I have to admit, this is scary.
That's all the news for today. I'm tired, so I'm going to lie down and read my book and munch on pretzels. I'll write more tomorrow evening after the appointment.
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Welcome to JOKEwood Healthcare Systems....
I had an appointment with my doctor at 4:15 this afternoon. Or so I thought....
We got to the clinic and Jim signed me in while I took a seat (still feeling really dizzy when standing/walking). About 15 minutes later, we heard them call my name. But they weren't calling for me to go back, they were calling so the receptionists could talk to us. They proceeded to inform us that there was no appointment for me in their computer system, and it was the girl who had scheduled the appointment who was telling us this!
Kids in the waiting room were running all over screaming, my head was pounding. Then they say they'll see what they can do to try to get me in. I told them that I need to be seen, it's be over a week since I saw the doctor last, my symptoms are still persisting, I still haven't gotten t test results from my hospital stay on 5-10 through 5-12, and I turned in paperwork to the clinic last Wednesday that they assured me would be filled out by today since it is already past due to my employer. I also mentioned that if I don't have that paperwork turned in t my employer by tomorrow morning, I stand a chance of being fired. Let me see what I can do, the lady says, and then she disappears and never comes back.
Maybe she could tell just how livid I was and she was afraid...several other nurses stopped by before the head nurse finally came and told us that they can schedule me to see a DIFFERENT doctor from the clinic tomorrow morning. I asked how that's supposed to work, since my doctor as been the only one seeing me since 5-3 and she knows what's going on with me. They said, "We'll just have this doctor take fresh look at your case." Really.... Why then, could you not have scheduled me to see this other doctor sooner? Why did I have to wait a full week to see "my" doctor, only to find out no one ever put me in the system and now I have to see someone new anyway?
These people are running a circus in there. I don't think they know their heads from a hole in the ground. All I know for sure is that as soon as that ER doctor I saw at U of M returns from her two week vacation, I'm changing doctors. I'm sick of this, and getting stressed out like this sure isn't helping my situation any.
I also know that I am going to find out who I need to speak to in order to file a complaint, and I might even see about notifying someone at a higher level than just the clinic about this. This is no way to treat a person, especially someone who's been ill for three weeks and still doesn't know what's wrong with her.
I could just scream right now....AAAARRRRRGGGGGHHHHHHHH!!!!! I think I'm going to need to be committed to an insane asylum.
We got to the clinic and Jim signed me in while I took a seat (still feeling really dizzy when standing/walking). About 15 minutes later, we heard them call my name. But they weren't calling for me to go back, they were calling so the receptionists could talk to us. They proceeded to inform us that there was no appointment for me in their computer system, and it was the girl who had scheduled the appointment who was telling us this!
Kids in the waiting room were running all over screaming, my head was pounding. Then they say they'll see what they can do to try to get me in. I told them that I need to be seen, it's be over a week since I saw the doctor last, my symptoms are still persisting, I still haven't gotten t test results from my hospital stay on 5-10 through 5-12, and I turned in paperwork to the clinic last Wednesday that they assured me would be filled out by today since it is already past due to my employer. I also mentioned that if I don't have that paperwork turned in t my employer by tomorrow morning, I stand a chance of being fired. Let me see what I can do, the lady says, and then she disappears and never comes back.
Maybe she could tell just how livid I was and she was afraid...several other nurses stopped by before the head nurse finally came and told us that they can schedule me to see a DIFFERENT doctor from the clinic tomorrow morning. I asked how that's supposed to work, since my doctor as been the only one seeing me since 5-3 and she knows what's going on with me. They said, "We'll just have this doctor take fresh look at your case." Really.... Why then, could you not have scheduled me to see this other doctor sooner? Why did I have to wait a full week to see "my" doctor, only to find out no one ever put me in the system and now I have to see someone new anyway?
These people are running a circus in there. I don't think they know their heads from a hole in the ground. All I know for sure is that as soon as that ER doctor I saw at U of M returns from her two week vacation, I'm changing doctors. I'm sick of this, and getting stressed out like this sure isn't helping my situation any.
I also know that I am going to find out who I need to speak to in order to file a complaint, and I might even see about notifying someone at a higher level than just the clinic about this. This is no way to treat a person, especially someone who's been ill for three weeks and still doesn't know what's wrong with her.
I could just scream right now....AAAARRRRRGGGGGHHHHHHHH!!!!! I think I'm going to need to be committed to an insane asylum.
Monday, May 14, 2007
Heart Monitor
I just got back from the hospital and I have a heart monitor on now that I have to wear for 24 hours.
Man were they mad in the cardiology department.....for one thing, I should have had an appointment rather than the hospital telling me to come in whenever I felt like it Monday. For two, they should have put the monitor on me before I left Saturday instead of telling me there were none available when there were. For three, the EKG tech said they never should have released me with how bad I looked and how I was walking and out of breath. She was SOOO mad. She took down the names of the doctors and nurses that released me Saturday and she said she's going to have it investigated.
Jim says he's calling MCare to have me added to his insurance (we chose mine after the wedding because it's cheaper and I'd never had any problems with the associated doctors before) so he can take me out to U of M and get some additional opinions and hopefully some answers.
This is getting ridiculous.
Man were they mad in the cardiology department.....for one thing, I should have had an appointment rather than the hospital telling me to come in whenever I felt like it Monday. For two, they should have put the monitor on me before I left Saturday instead of telling me there were none available when there were. For three, the EKG tech said they never should have released me with how bad I looked and how I was walking and out of breath. She was SOOO mad. She took down the names of the doctors and nurses that released me Saturday and she said she's going to have it investigated.
Jim says he's calling MCare to have me added to his insurance (we chose mine after the wedding because it's cheaper and I'd never had any problems with the associated doctors before) so he can take me out to U of M and get some additional opinions and hopefully some answers.
This is getting ridiculous.
Sunday, May 13, 2007
Home Sweet Home
Well, the doctors still don't have any idea what's wrong with me, but they sent me home yesterday evening anyway. I guess I was just wasting space in their eyes since I'm not critically ill.
Tomorrow I have to go back to the hospital and they're going to put me on a heart monitor to wear at home for 24 hours - they think I may be having irregular heart beats when I stand, causing my blood pressure to change and me to then feel dizzy. After that's done they also want to have me do a Tilt Table test. The doctor asked if I'd ever heard of that before and I said "Yeah, I saw it on House once." She started laughing and said that was probably the worst example possible - it would be nothing like that.
It's nice to be home instead of being in that dumpy hospital room with the mean night nurse who didn't know how to start an IV. Yet at the same time, I'm going stir crazy here at home. There's so much stuff I want to do that I can't. I REALLY want to get outside and plant my flowers for this year, but I can't do that. I get worn out just going out to the backyard to sit on the swing for a while! And today I fell in my bedroom - I didn't get hurt, but it scared Jim pretty badly. He hates going to work at night an leaving me alone. I'm so thankful that I have such a wonderful, caring husband!
Okay - I need to get off here. I'll let you know when I know more. Hope all is well with all of you!!
Tomorrow I have to go back to the hospital and they're going to put me on a heart monitor to wear at home for 24 hours - they think I may be having irregular heart beats when I stand, causing my blood pressure to change and me to then feel dizzy. After that's done they also want to have me do a Tilt Table test. The doctor asked if I'd ever heard of that before and I said "Yeah, I saw it on House once." She started laughing and said that was probably the worst example possible - it would be nothing like that.
It's nice to be home instead of being in that dumpy hospital room with the mean night nurse who didn't know how to start an IV. Yet at the same time, I'm going stir crazy here at home. There's so much stuff I want to do that I can't. I REALLY want to get outside and plant my flowers for this year, but I can't do that. I get worn out just going out to the backyard to sit on the swing for a while! And today I fell in my bedroom - I didn't get hurt, but it scared Jim pretty badly. He hates going to work at night an leaving me alone. I'm so thankful that I have such a wonderful, caring husband!
Okay - I need to get off here. I'll let you know when I know more. Hope all is well with all of you!!
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Hospital
Well, the doctors still don't have any idea what's wrong with me, so today they decided that running the tests would go a lot more quickly if they put me in the hospital.
I just got to my room about an hour and a half ago. The best part is that they have wireless Internet access and I have the laptop with me. So even though I don't feel like doing a lot of typing, I can still check my e-mails and play some games to help pass the time.
Hopefully they'll figure out what's wrong with me soon! My thanks to everyone for the well wishes and prayers!!
I just got to my room about an hour and a half ago. The best part is that they have wireless Internet access and I have the laptop with me. So even though I don't feel like doing a lot of typing, I can still check my e-mails and play some games to help pass the time.
Hopefully they'll figure out what's wrong with me soon! My thanks to everyone for the well wishes and prayers!!
Friday, May 4, 2007
Request for more writing
So, Melanie has commented that it's time for me to write some more. I couldn't agree more, I still have a lot left to write about. However, I want to first start by explaining why I haven't been writing.
To start with, the first few week days of every month are hogged by my job. This is the time when we close the books, and doing so usually consists of a 50-60 hour work week. So I usually don't feel up to doing anything but going straight to bed during this week.
To top that off, I became ill Wednesday. While I was at work, I started feeling extremely hot, weak and dizzy. I went to the nurses station and she took my temperature - no fever. So why was I so uncontrollably hot??? I wound up leaving work "early", after 9 hours rather than 12, and going to urgent care. A co-worker had to drive me because I was too dizzy.
The doctors at urgent care couldn't figure out what was wrong with me either. They verified that my temperature wasn't elevated, my blood sugar level was good, and my blood pressure wasn't too bad (it was elevated, but most likely a result of my severe discomfort), and I'm not pregnant. So they wrote me a script for an anti-dizziness medicine and told me to stay home from work the next day and follow up with my family doctor.
Stay home from work?!? During month end close?? Are they crazy??? I thought for sure that my boss would have a fit. But he didn't - he told me to do what I needed in order to get myself back to a healthy state. WOW!! That's the first boss I've ever had there who said something humane like that!!!
Thursday I went to my family doctor - again it was determined that my vital signs were normal. She then told me that she wanted to run a battery of blood tests and for me to stay home from work for the next week and follow up with her again next Thursday. So that's what I'm doing.
I'm patiently waiting to hear the results of the blood tests, and if they don't show anything unusual, I'm going to request an MRI. I have plenty of TIME to write now, but I'm not really feeling up to sitting up and writing too much. We rented a bunch of movies and got me some books and a word search magazine to keep me busy. I'm going crazy wanting to go outside, so Jim just went to the store and bought me one of those swing/hammock things to put in the backyard - I think some fresh air will do me some good! But I can't move around too much, I have to hold on to Jim or the furniture or the walls when I walk through the house or I topple over like a new born fawn (ie - Bambi at the beginning of the movie).
Well, there you have it - I'll write more when I'm either feeling better or I know more about why I feel this way!!
To start with, the first few week days of every month are hogged by my job. This is the time when we close the books, and doing so usually consists of a 50-60 hour work week. So I usually don't feel up to doing anything but going straight to bed during this week.
To top that off, I became ill Wednesday. While I was at work, I started feeling extremely hot, weak and dizzy. I went to the nurses station and she took my temperature - no fever. So why was I so uncontrollably hot??? I wound up leaving work "early", after 9 hours rather than 12, and going to urgent care. A co-worker had to drive me because I was too dizzy.
The doctors at urgent care couldn't figure out what was wrong with me either. They verified that my temperature wasn't elevated, my blood sugar level was good, and my blood pressure wasn't too bad (it was elevated, but most likely a result of my severe discomfort), and I'm not pregnant. So they wrote me a script for an anti-dizziness medicine and told me to stay home from work the next day and follow up with my family doctor.
Stay home from work?!? During month end close?? Are they crazy??? I thought for sure that my boss would have a fit. But he didn't - he told me to do what I needed in order to get myself back to a healthy state. WOW!! That's the first boss I've ever had there who said something humane like that!!!
Thursday I went to my family doctor - again it was determined that my vital signs were normal. She then told me that she wanted to run a battery of blood tests and for me to stay home from work for the next week and follow up with her again next Thursday. So that's what I'm doing.
I'm patiently waiting to hear the results of the blood tests, and if they don't show anything unusual, I'm going to request an MRI. I have plenty of TIME to write now, but I'm not really feeling up to sitting up and writing too much. We rented a bunch of movies and got me some books and a word search magazine to keep me busy. I'm going crazy wanting to go outside, so Jim just went to the store and bought me one of those swing/hammock things to put in the backyard - I think some fresh air will do me some good! But I can't move around too much, I have to hold on to Jim or the furniture or the walls when I walk through the house or I topple over like a new born fawn (ie - Bambi at the beginning of the movie).
Well, there you have it - I'll write more when I'm either feeling better or I know more about why I feel this way!!
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