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I started a new job several months ago, after moving to Florida last year. Job is going well and they like the work I am doing, however I now have a health issue. I have crippling pain in my upper right abdomen when sitting up or standing for any length of time. In fact it has gotten so bad, it hurts all the time now, but obviously much worse when sitting or standing. The only way I get any partial relief at all is lying down with my hands/arms over my head for hours at a time. All kinds of tests are being done, but no conclusive results. It may be a nerve issue, although I doubt it by the way it feels. It appears like I may have a long road ahead of tests and doctor guesses.
So what happens with my job and employer? I am out with a doctor's note for tests this week, but what then? If they can't find the issue medically and I can't sit up or stand up without pain building until I pass out....what happens with my job and income? I have Aflac disability insurance I pay for myself which starts after 30 days, but not even sure if I would get that as they cannot yet identify the issue.....although the doctors are working hard at it.
So what happens job/employer/financial wise when one cannot physically work, yet cannot identify the actual cause?
I have Aflac disability insurance I pay for myself
You are very smart to have purchased this policy.
I too purchased my own policy through the IEEE when I was very young at rates were cheap. I still get the cheap rate. I have this even though I have DI through my employer. However, since I have had several jobs, some of the employers didn't offer DI. Also, my DI is any type of work, not my normal work (engineering). Meaning they can't say, "OK, you can't work in engineering but you can flip burgers so you're not disabled."
Your question is probably simply answered by calling Aflac.
I don't think I am disabled.....yet anyway. It is just that the pain gets so bad I cannot be upright or sitting. Not too many jobs available for people laying down. I tried to push through the pain the other day and thought I was going to have to call an ambulance it was so bad. The long term is uncertain enough, but the short term....while the docs are trying to figure out what is up....is what I am wondering about job wise and compensation wise.
IDK what is wrong with you, but has your primary at least sent you to a specialist? My husband went through a period of time where we all thought he had a tumor or cancer because he went from a healthy guy who never missed work to not being able to do anything at all (for almost two months!). Couldn't shower on his own, watch TV, drive, NOTHING. Long story short after fighting the doctor to see a neurologist it took no time at all to discover he has MS. His primary kept shrugging it off as vertigo and I kept insisting it was neurological.
Did they check for gallstones? Crohns? Do you eat a lot of fatty foods? It sounds like it could be gastroinestinal, maybe you should see a gastrointestinologist.
You may have a disability and your work may, or may be required to accommodate. Talk to your state's protection and advocacy/disability org
PLease learn the laws before you quote them. REASONABLE accommodations. Guessing having an employee who can only lay down is not going to be seen as a reasonable accommodation.
Now, that said, disability is an option for OP. But, I would continue to work with your doctor and your employer and not borrow trouble before you need to. Wait for a diagnosis before you envision yourself jobless and laying down all day!
Do you work for an employer that is large enough that you are covered by FMLA?
If so, then if you formally request to use it, you will have up to 12 weeks leave (paid, unpaid, or a combination depending on whether you have PTO, STD, etc) without losing your job.
Depending on the type of job you have, you may be able to use the FMLA on an intermittent basis.
It doesn't sound like you are at a point where you know that you have a medical condition that would require you to request reasonable accommodations at work, and hopefully you won't. But if you get to that point, an excellent resource is JAN: Job Accommodation Network - they have lots of information on their site as well as a 1-800 # where you can speak to someone confidentially to advise you on how to proceed.
I started a new job several months ago, after moving to Florida last year. Job is going well and they like the work I am doing, however I now have a health issue. I have crippling pain in my upper right abdomen when sitting up or standing for any length of time. In fact it has gotten so bad, it hurts all the time now, but obviously much worse when sitting or standing. The only way I get any partial relief at all is lying down with my hands/arms over my head for hours at a time. All kinds of tests are being done, but no conclusive results. It may be a nerve issue, although I doubt it by the way it feels. It appears like I may have a long road ahead of tests and doctor guesses.
So what happens with my job and employer? I am out with a doctor's note for tests this week, but what then? If they can't find the issue medically and I can't sit up or stand up without pain building until I pass out....what happens with my job and income? I have Aflac disability insurance I pay for myself which starts after 30 days, but not even sure if I would get that as they cannot yet identify the issue.....although the doctors are working hard at it.
So what happens job/employer/financial wise when one cannot physically work, yet cannot identify the actual cause?
You really need to check with your employer has no one here knows really. If you can not do the work likely in time your let go and have to file for disability.
I would discuss this with the employer first and provide any documentation from your physicians. Your health is more important than the job - if you cannot function, inform the employer politely and provide anything you have. If you have an sort of long term disability coverage, you will likely need it. If you get fired, I would consult an attorney with knowledge of the field.
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