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Title: episodic ch and finding work Post by catherinelane on Sep 16th, 2005, 8:52am hi there all would appreciate some oppinions on this little problem i have i was pf for over 2 years and had an emergency appendecectomy which triggered another cluster cycle which lasted a month i have seen a neuro who has given me a course of steroids and oxygen and imigran injections and thankfully am now only suffering the rare shaddow. now the question is do i go and find a job ?? and if i do do i declare my condition on my application??? which obviousley no one will employ me when they see that , or do i sign on for disability allowance which will also be a struggle because i could be pf for the next 10 years or the next week who knows, im getting a headache just stressing about the work or not situation. HELP!!!! |
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Title: Re: episodic ch and finding work Post by LeLimey on Sep 16th, 2005, 11:03am Catherine I prsonally wouldn't declare it although it is now recognised as a disability under UK legal precedents. There is info on a test case on OUCH UK where a guy was ruled as being unfavourably dismissed for having Clusters. If you need help finding the info send me an IM!! |
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Title: Re: episodic ch and finding work Post by ArCane on Sep 16th, 2005, 1:18pm I wouldn't tell anyone until you got the job and established a good relationship with your boss. Adminstrators when looking at applications would probably skip over you at seeing such a disorder. Show them you can work hard and then tell them. This is just my experience. Other people might have had better success with telling them outright. Its really all up to you. Sorry I couldnt be much help lol. |
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Title: Re: episodic ch and finding work Post by catherinelane on Sep 16th, 2005, 1:37pm i just dont want decieve anybody how can i sit there and say yes im hard working reliable and so on when i know at any moment i may not be those things, its catch 22, i either am honest declare it and risk not getting a job at all or not declare it and risk being sacked in a position for lying if the condition flares up again, and you practically have to be dead to get disability allowance so what do i do ???? |
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Title: Re: episodic ch and finding work Post by LeLimey on Sep 16th, 2005, 2:04pm Are you talking about disability living allowance or incapacity benefit? Incapacity benefit is payable if you have worked for a set amount of time within the last three years. DLA I don't think you would have much hope of getting as a episodic sufferer as its meant for people who have a permanent disability. There are temporary benefits you can get but you would need to talk to someone from the DHSS about that who knows more. How many episodes have you had within the last 3 years or five years or since you have been diagnosed? I would concentrate on that when applying for jobs rather than saying it could come back at any time! Also if you can say you have reasonable procedures in place such as O2 or imigran injections for example you can state quite reasonably that you have the condition under control. Be positive! You have alot to offer and CH isn't the end of the world, I know it feels like it sometimes though! Its a case of fighting back.. you can do it! :) |
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Title: Re: episodic ch and finding work Post by seasonalboomer on Sep 16th, 2005, 2:28pm you're not disabled, you have episodic cluster headaches. with focus and determination you can manage CH, and manage with them without having to worry so much that some employer will feel defrauded by your omission. if it becomes a problem later, worry about it then. but you won't find many employers fretting over whether they're really certain they can commit to your position for the long term. a job is a job and you'll feel a helluva a lot better if you got out there and took control of your life, instead of waiting for your next CH cycle. kick yourself in the butt and get going and don't allow yourself to make excuses. live life like you don't have clusters when you're not in cycle. |
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Title: Re: episodic ch and finding work Post by sandie99 on Sep 16th, 2005, 3:49pm Catherine, I don't know what is the common procedure with these things; are you supposed to tell about illnesses etc. I'm a student (MA) and I haven't told anyone at my uni about it. My ch has been behaving, so I don't see any reason to tell about it now. I will, if another bout begins and it will affect my work. It made my BA studies harder and once I told my professors about it, they were supportive in many ways. Best wishes & PF days, Sanna |
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Title: Re: episodic ch and finding work Post by catherinelane on Sep 18th, 2005, 9:02am mmmm all interesting stuff i have an interview for a job tommorow i wont say anything and work it out when i get another cycle and if i lose my job over it i will have to wait till the cycle finishes and get another job i suspose thats about all i can do ty all your input has been most helpfull to me XXXXXX |
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Title: Re: episodic ch and finding work Post by joey_the_grip on Sep 25th, 2005, 4:18am I have had to make career choices that allow me the flexibility I need to cope with my condition. I didn't tell employers about it until it became necessary. |
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Title: Re: episodic ch and finding work Post by BlueMeanie on Sep 26th, 2005, 7:55pm Shhhhhh. Keep it to yourself. I've switched jobs several times over the 26 years of CH's. Never had a problem. Luckily my cycles always started after I was there awhile. Once the cycle started, my employers have been very accomidating and let me do what I have to do. I don't think you'll ever get a job if you go telling them you can't work because of constant headaches. Good luck on your interview. |
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Title: Re: episodic ch and finding work Post by maffumatt on Sep 27th, 2005, 6:32pm get a job............. |
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Title: Re: episodic ch and finding work Post by Jeepgun on Sep 28th, 2005, 6:55am I agree with Blue Meanie and Seasonal Boomer. If/when your cycle DOES roll around, treat it like you would if you were at work and had an ordinary tension headache. No one will be the wiser. Being candid is certainly laudable, but you can't eat "candid," and "candid" doesn't pay the bills. Good fortune to you. -Frank |
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Title: Re: episodic ch and finding work Post by JenniferD on Sep 29th, 2005, 12:15pm Just a thought- this is a health issue. I didn't think an employer could fire you over a disability (which it is, the way I see it). In the different jobs I've had, I did the same thing- didn't tell until the cycle started. One boss I had was a bitch over it: got madder than hell when I was in the hospital and threatened to fire me because I didn't show up for work. Guess she didn't get the memo that there's no FREAKIN PHONE IN THE ER. The other bosses have been very understanding, gave them this website (as well as co-workers who were kind enough to look this site up). Once they could see that its not some BS I was making up, they took me and my problem a little more seriously. I'd say, don't tell until its necessary, but definitely give them this website, or print out info from here so that they can understand what you are going thru and how it can affect your daily life. I'm in cycle now, taking vrap with minimal results, but am at work right now, and if things get really rough, its not a problem for me to leave. Good luck to you :) |
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Title: Re: episodic ch and finding work Post by E-Double on Sep 29th, 2005, 3:25pm You will have ups and downs. Just like everyone else in the world. WE are certainly not disabled. There are days that I have gotten hit upwards of 10x. Part of life. Work the hardest you can but do not consider yourself disabled especially being an episodic that will get repreive. Some of us who are chronic work are butts off without complaint. If you have to do it, no one will judge, that is your decision but my opinion is that you have to deal with this disorder and not let it rule your life! Be well and PF wishes!!!! E |
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Title: Re: episodic ch and finding work Post by catherinelane on Oct 5th, 2005, 7:32am I GOT THE JOB................ still feel the guilt of being a liar though that cant be helped unfortunatley.... |
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Title: Re: episodic ch and finding work Post by lionsound on Oct 5th, 2005, 7:53am on 10/05/05 at 07:32:56, catherinelane wrote:
[smiley=sayyes.gif] Congratulations!!! See? You got the job because (CH or no) you are capable of doing it! |
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Title: Re: episodic ch and finding work Post by Jeepgun on Oct 5th, 2005, 8:28am on 10/05/05 at 07:53:03, lionsound wrote:
BINGO!! Congratulations! |
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Title: Re: episodic ch and finding work Post by Phil L on Oct 5th, 2005, 8:32am Great job! No pun intended, of course................ |
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Title: Re: episodic ch and finding work Post by maffumatt on Oct 5th, 2005, 5:22pm Good job, never let CH controll your life............ |
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Title: Re: episodic ch and finding work Post by LadyElaine on Oct 6th, 2005, 9:05am Thats great you got the job ! Way to go. You did not really lie unless they asked on you if you had cluster headaches. You just did not volunteer the information. Some advice for when your cycle comes. I don't work now I am a stay at home grandma. When I did work and was in cycle. I explained what I had and told the boss that when I get hit I have to take a hour and deal with it, but I would make up the time. I worked hard when I was not in cycle and worked extra when I was. If I had to take a hour out of my day I gave up lunch and worked or stayed a hour late. If I was out of work a day I worked extra hard the next day. I guess that was my way of not letting clusters control my life. Plus the boss never said anything when I had to leave, he knew I would make up the time. That means a lot to a employer and it also means your not out of any money nor a job. |
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Title: Re: episodic ch and finding work Post by catherinelane on Oct 7th, 2005, 8:32am I JUST CAME INTO CYCLE AGAIN DAMN THIS THING.......just as things were going right too.....well at least i had a couple of weeks peace..... |
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Title: Re: episodic ch and finding work Post by Jeepgun on Oct 7th, 2005, 10:51am Hang tough, Catherine. "This too shall pass." I hope it's a short, mild cycle... [smiley=hug.gif] -Frank |
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Title: Re: episodic ch and finding work Post by BMoneeTheMoneeMan on Oct 9th, 2005, 3:32am JENNIFERD, HOW DARE YOU BE IN THE ER WHEN YOU ARE SCHEDULED TO WORK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! jk, Glad you got the job catherinelane. Thats great. I would just keep the O2 handy, keep your injections handy, and if you get hit, just go to the washroom and shoot up. Granted, if you are in the restroom for 20 to 30 minutes, its not the most ideal, but its better than pounding your head on the desk right in front of everyone. People would be calling priests and exorcists. PF wishes. Live to live, dont live to anticipate pain. BMonee |
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Title: Re: episodic ch and finding work Post by catherinelane on Oct 13th, 2005, 4:49pm can you immagine a priest comming into work to exersise my demons ...............hey maybee its a new cure??? he he |
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Title: Re: episodic ch and finding work Post by Jeepgun on Oct 14th, 2005, 7:41am If they call the priests, it's bad enough, but it's certainly got to be a better ride than some of the trepanation skulls from 1-2 centuries ago! PFDAN's, -Swiss-Cheese Head ;;D |
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