Occupational Health assessments for Endometriosis feel useless

[CheckeredFuture]

Hi, I have ongoing endometriosis (have a coil and have had 2 laporoscopies but the endo keeps returning). The pain I experience isn't dependent on my cycle, it will come and go without warning, sometimes mild, other times strong. My manager at work knows about my condition and is understanding and supportive - I work from home when my pain is mild, and call in sick when it's severe. When I have pain the only relief is to lie down - I finding sitting in a chair and wearing tight clothes very uncomfortable - so, when working from home, I do so from my bed, as it's the only way I can be comfortable. My manager recommended that I do an occupational health assessment, so that they can get my needs logged more officially with HR, and I can ask them to recommend any equipment that would make me more comfortable. The equipment I felt that I needed most was an orthopaedic cushion and a fully adjustable desk platform to use from my bed (I even did some research and found some recommended models of both), but then when I finally had the OH assessment (it took forever, but that's another story!), they only focused on my desk space and office chair, and politely ignored every attempt I made for them to focus on what I'd need whilst sitting in bed. In their report they said that they could not condone or encourage working from a bed, due to certain health & safety regulations (that they did not cite, so I don't know how to check), so they would not offer any recommendations for equipment to help me do so. I've been incredibly angry and upset about this ever since - instead of listening to me and what I need, they've now made it MORE difficult for me to ask my employer to purchase the items I want, the combined price of which costs less than one orthopaedic chair!

Has anyone else dealt with this sort of situation? If there are such H&S regulations in place they feel incredibly gendered to me, as those of us with ovaries are far more likely to need to make ourselves comfortable in this way. The argument that working from a bed is bad for me is also incredibly frustrating as working from a chair all day is also bad, yet we're still forced to do that!?

Anyway, apologies for the long post, but any advice/support would be very much appreciated - this situation has been causing me enormous stress for months and, as many of us know, stress only makes the endo pain worse!

[Endosufferer1]

Well, you should say it's not for your bed but rather for your chair.How old are you?

Which surgery did you do (excision)? Did they remove you appendix (lesions can hidden within the appendix)? Do you take pills to stop your periods? Do you follow the specific diet for endo? Do you take natural remedies? What are your symptoms?

[CheckeredFuture in reply to Endosufferer1]

When I have pain I cannot sit comfortably in a chair, so that won't work - that's the whole point. I'd rather not spend ages spilling every detail about my medical history and experience right now, especially as it's not actually relevant to the issue I was posting about.

[Endowarrior1807]

I struggle on a chair sometimes as well and sometimes need to lie down and work the best I can whilst lying.

OH recommended I get a table, kind of like a tray but stronger with small legs so I can work whilst lying

It’s like I’m lying down with or without the bed table so it wasn’t about work condoning me working from bed

[Cats1311]

Sorry to hear you’re going through this. Just wanted to say I have the exact same experience! Especially with the working from bed situation! I have other health conditions (I’ve had 2 new knees at age 20 &21) and they’re always focused on that! Endometriosis is never taken seriously when I’ve had previous OH appointments. I actually have one face to face tomorrow and I’m 4 weeks post laparoscopy so we shall see tomorrow if they take it seriously or not! Again sorry no advice but know you’re not alone and sometimes OH is helpful other times not so much it’s odd how much they will put into desk and chair at work when I only normally work 1 day a week in the office but won’t think about at home whatsoever!