Genetic test result still to arrive. To othet members any ine heard of parachysmal paralysis. To a fellow member who was a dr can u tell me

[spook68]

How ohsas treated you my investigations are so slow i'mchasing up thinfs. I had a workplace assessment by ot.

[HarryB Administrator]

Hi spook68

I felt well supported by occupational health. Before submitting my retirement application I had also had a workplace assessment and arranged supporting reports from all of my neurologist, GP and neurorehabilitationist all of who supported my decision for retirement (these were slow in being done). Despite many tests, the cause of my ataxia which I have been diagnosed with 20 years is unknown so I didn't have to wait for the results of tests or investigations.

My story is slightly complicated. I actually self-referred to occ health while I was still working as I recognised I was really struggling. My colleagues, although I now know had been concerned about me for a while, didn't say anything up to this point as I could manage and was getting through my workload, albeit far less well. It was after I self referred that I had the workplace assessment and their recommendations of how my working life might be made easier were sent to my Clinical Director. She responded she couldn't do them as 'they didn't meet current service requirements.' They included reducing my hours as I was still working full time and really struggling with fatigue. I contacted my union and after a few months and for other reasons I ended up being off-sick from work with stress. While I was off I couldn't believe how much better I felt. Usually when I had annual leave I was desperate to get back to work after a while but that never happened this time. It was during this time I initiated the retirement process, fully supported by work, occ health, my union and my own doctors.

Best Wishes

Harriet

[spook68 in reply to HarryB]

Many thanks harryb I want to retire, but still work say asda etc, because I don't want to endanger patients and myself. Were ohsas sympathtic to you?

[HarryB Administrator]

Yes they were. Are they not being sympathetic to you?

[spook68 in reply to HarryB]

Not really they asked if I could take a sabbatical???!!!

Did u get disavility allowance sorry for askng a v personal question. Sorry bout my txt but going throu an attack

[HarryB Administrator]

I do get disability living allowance but am not eligible to claim Employment Support Allowance (ESA) because of my occupational pension.

Is your genetic test for a hereditary ataxia?

Harriet

[spook68 in reply to HarryB]

Hi again there's no-one else I large extended or close fam have any symptoms or gait or ms or any signs of ataxia.

[Tiggywinkles in reply to spook68]

My Ataxia is Friedreich's and there is no one else within my family that has it, so it may still be hereditary.

[Missile]

Hi Spook, I am in fairly similar situation and profession. I only started getting unwell this year, and am awaiting genetic tests. No-one in my family appears to have anything like this, but it looks like I have episodic ataxia. Managing to keep working at the moment but it really takes the stuffing out of me and the question of retiring due to ill health has reared its head. Good luck to you.

[spook68]

It's so draining and fatigue even on days off is major, I feek life on hold coz i'm chasing results from specialists taken in april and september ohsas not keen on ill health but I'm not giving my high standard of care do u feel the same about level of care?

[Missile]

Hi Spook, sorry re the delay, been busy giving care! I hate the waiting for tests and also get fatigued. Earlier in the year I thought I was going to have to throw it all in as speech was going mid afternoon surgery! Concentration was not great and I was constantly checking with my colleagues that I wasn't missing stuff and they hadn't ntoiced anything.Since I've been on Diamox, things are better, so am holding on for now, but it is a very stressful job we do and if you are not functioning well, it can compromise care. I really hope that ohsas come through, because I know what it's like when you're not feeling great.

Look after yourself, and feel free to chat on here anytime,

Missilex

[spook68]

Hi missile hope ur doing ok, thanks for your supportive words. Ohsas still want prog & diagnosis but I might still get out with ill health. My managers are great they have worked with me on the ward and know i'm a grafter they are worried about me, even hr are supportive, i've another meeting soon. I was at ohsas this week and finally she sees how fatigued I am coming out of an attack,will keep updates best wishes sheila

[spook68]

I'm not back in diamox as lft's remain abnorml, liver bx inconclusive hr meet today the sppa & ohsas are the ones to decide ill health retirement, redeployment mention but would b much lower grade. I could still b dismissed without any pension and only allowed benefits, but still have 3 yrs of mortgage. I've been in superannuation since 1987 i'm so undecided whether to go for redeplo any advice.