Hi
I am 33 year old ""brittle"" asthmatic my asthma by definition is not under control despite lots of treatment including daily oral seroids, theophylline and lots of other stuff. The last 12 months has been really hard I have had several ITU admissions including one in the summer that lasted over a week and one in february where I was ventilated for 24 hours and kept on HDU for 3 days before 7 days on the resp ward - So all of this has affected me at work. I love my job. I am a teacher I work with 5 and 6 year olds, at the moment I have a fulltime contract which I really can't do. I have been of work since my last attack at the end of february and I really want to go back, but I am not sure if I can physically do it. My GP has recommended that I work part time, I have a occupational health apppointment in April. I am worried about it. I am worried firstly that they will say there is nothing wrong with me and that I have to go back to work full time and the other situation I am worried about is the complete opposite to this, that they will say I can't work again. In either situation i don't know what I will do. I know it seems silly to be worried like this but I just cant help it. I have to say my employer has not been the most sympathetic to my situation but I really love my job!
Hi Honey
It doesn't seem silly to be worried at all! Have you spoken to your hospital consultant or nurse about how you feel about working full time? The occupational health dr I see always liases with my GP, consultant and sometimes respiratory nurse before making decisions. If your GP is already recommending part time hours then they'll have to at least consider it. If things don't go how you'd like, are you part of a union? My union have been amazing and saved my job when my employer/occ health decided I couldn't return to work.
I hope it works out well for you xx