Taking a long time to get over it. And work issue

[Krissy43]

Hi all I'm new in here.... I have had asthma most of my life but the last couple of years have been bad... I keep getting recurrent chest infection......

25nov 2018 I was rushed into hospital from our local walk in centre... the was attack I have ever had... I was put in HDU under the care of intensive care because there were no bed up in ITU... I was on so many meds anyway a week later I was aloud home... i was signed from the 27th nov untill the 22dec... which then I had two weeks holiday as I work in a scho.... I went back to work after the Xmas holidays... after a week and half back at work I was told I had to be out in the playground for a while which turned out to be 3 hours with only a 20 min stint inside...

I was so cold it was a bitter day.. by the time I got home I was in tears the pain in my joints I couldn't breath I was sooo cold everything hurt... the next day I went back into work chest hurting struggerling to breath... told them I can't be outside... I didn't last the day at work my breathing was getting bad... went to doctors who said I yet again had a chest infection and exacerbation of my asthma...

I'm struggerling I can't walk without getting out of breath.. I'm fine while I'm sitting but the min I walk it's hard... I have now been off 3 weeks (this week is week 3) and signed off till the 11 Feb... work are startng to get funny with me... we have new head teacher that doesn't really know us... she doesn't understand that it can take me a while to get over it...

How do I make them understand this... what can I do... I love my job i dont want to lose it or leave... I just need to get my self back to where I was... any advise would be great.. sorry for the long post...

[Shellc]

Have u tried taking some extra vitamins , Especially vitamin d , u may need as much as 5000 iu per day , take with k2 mk 7, magnesium is also very good for airways . I started doing this a year ago and have only had a couple of minor chest infections

[Krissy43 in reply to Shellc]

I have low b12 low iron low folic acid.. a test showed that my bowel doesn't absorb vitamins very well but I will give anything ago.. do you know the cheapest place to get them?

[Shellc in reply to Krissy43]

I use a company called iherb and shop around on amazon looking fir the most natural of them , Iherb is good fir vit d but keep your purchase under 15 pounds

[Hidden]

Practical advise speak to citizen advise..see if they can give advise as I think there is a need for reasonable adjustment.

You have rights speak to citizen advise please.

My work.did not get it either but did have to acknowledge that asthma can come under disability thus had to make reasonable adjustments to my working condition.

[Krissy43 in reply to Hidden]

I joined a union the other weekend to back me up... I'm not sure back to the 11th feb.. so will see what they do.. the still have not got occupational health in which I asked for back in Nov...

[Hidden in reply to Krissy43]

Glad you have joined union as they will take the pressure off you. Keep clear records of events dates times who when

I think employers need educating. Let us know how you get on please. Good luck

[Krissy43 in reply to Hidden]

Yeah I am keeping records.. taking pictures of sick notes.. and text messages from staff pestering me for updates and that...

[Hidden in reply to Krissy43]

Brilliant have you had response from union...and most importantly please please look after you.

[hb1977]

Hi,

I've been in a similar situation with asthma related absences and can suggest the following:

union advice was invaluable

occupational health were supportive

It's definitely worth asking to have your asthma looked after by a respiratory consultant if you are not already.

Good luck!

[Hidden in reply to hb1977]

Hi hope you are well now

[hb1977 in reply to Hidden]

This week is not a good week but being managed by a respiratory consultant did make a major difference to the number of exacerbations I was experiencing!

[Hidden in reply to hb1977]

Oh dear this weather does not help glad you have consultant hope you go from strength to strength

[Krissy43 in reply to Hidden]

Yeah been under them for 3 years.... got dropped of the list for 17 months as my consultant was ill... in Dec I got put under the top consultant so hopefully will now get sorted..

[Krissy43 in reply to hb1977]

Thank you.. I have been asking for occupational health since Feb... hoping they will be sorted when I go back... I fed up if them thinking I'm making it up or what ever... I hate being this ill.... this year has been the worst for me with this 23 chest infection in the last 12 month... just had enough of it now