Job at Risk Due to Absences - Fatigue/Mental Health

[Doddiedog]

Hi all,

I hope you're all having a non problematic day so far!

I've posted before, but just a bit of background... I was diagnosed with decompensated cirrhosis in August 2023 after I collapsed in my flat, I thought I'd just gad a tummy bug. I was malnourished and my HB was 35, which I'm told is quite low?? I've not had a drink since that day. I was in hospital for 2 weeks as I had complications after my 4 blood transfusions.

I work in finance, full time from home. I had a occupational health assessment who put me on a 4 week phased return. I'm through an agency so not getting paid was a worry but my work sorted it which was great.

In August last year, I was still decompensated after a year and my consultant said she thought it 'was time' given the prognosis if not having a transplant. So off I went to Edinburgh for my week assessment. On day 2 they told me ild not be going on the list as I was too healthy, but to finish the week anyway so I'd not need the full week again should things change.

My little pea brain wasn't equipped to cope with good news, and decided to short circuit and I had a wee psychotic episode lasting over a week which ended up with my neighbours calling the police as I was screaming in the garden thinking my ex husband was getting murdered in the shed 🙈 good times ....

Since then, my fatigue has been out of control and I've missed work due to sleeping in ( I mean I didn't wake up for the whole day). Along with that I've had brain fog and difficulty concentrating, meaning even when I'm not off, I'm not producing as fast as I should.

I was warned they were looking at their options and basically to shape up or ship out. Now this really helped with my Borderline Personality Disordercand concentration 😒

My consultant has prescribed me Rifaximin which she said should help with concentration 🤞 my agency set up another Occupational Health Assessment two days ago and his report says ill be at 50% less productive at least until the medicine kicks in. I think my boss wants me out anyway (not sure if it'd be the same reaction had it been a different illness), but is treading carefully due to me being classed as protected and disabled. Not that it matters since I'm an agency worker, even though I've been there 3 years.

Well that wasn't short at all sorry. I just wanted to know if anyone else had been through this with their work. It's a vicious cycle between the cirrhosis symptoms and depression/anxiety. I need this job to pay my mortgage but I'm worried so much about losing my job I can't concentrate on the work, which is the problem my work has 🙈 so yeah, just wondering if anyone else had torn their hair out over something similar?

WAKE UP!! 😂

Thanks for reading/listening,

Heather

[Nonapplicable]

It resonates, unfortunately. I am sorry to read all this. I am in a similar situation, though a bit more subtle from the employer's side. Even the part about sleeping through alarms and being in the role for 3 years rings a bell. Happy to share more, in private, if you'd like.

Fingers crossed with OH, remember that they are there to support YOU to do the best you can at work. It's the best opportunity to discuss any possible adjustments at work and for someone competent to request it for you, in writing.

[2022minks]

Due to you being diagnosed at decompensated stage you should be able to access financial gov support?? I can only say from my mums experience that liver disease increases your mental health problems. Would you consider trying to destress life with work if you can get benefit support, I know it's not any easy situation for you but you have so much to contend with your health do you have any family support around you. Stay positive and get some advice, citizens advice bureau may be a good place to start. Sending you much love xx

[QuietButBold]

The ACAS website says:

Discrimination at work

Discrimination and the Equality Act 2010

"Who is protected by discrimination law

The Equality Act 2010 protects the following people against discrimination:

- anyone who works for an employer

- contractors and self-employed people hired to personally do the work

- job applicants

- former workers"

acas.org.uk/discrimination-...