Work - will they want me back?

[Shaunk7]

hello, first time poster here!

in Oct 22 I suffered a right basal ganglia hemmorage - icu for 9 days, then 2 months on hospital and then a further 2months in brain injury rehabilitation unit. I was 36 years old.

Since then, I’ve been full pay for 6monthes and I’m on the 50% pay through embloyer group income protection - which I’ve extended til state pension age.

they have signed to say they don’t want to talk to me until April 25- have to then complete a form.

What I want to know is - will they do all they can to get me back? The latest scan shows a big bleed, and my speech is still shaky. I’d be leading an internal comms team and can’t walk very far, and rhs is very weak.

thank you

[Hidden]

I would not worry about work, think about sorting yourself out and staying healthy. It's good you have 50% pay for now but brain injuries mess your life up and what you think may happen with going back to work may not be feasible, you may not be able to do what you do. Life however is an open book and you can adapt to living with whatever symptoms you have at the time. Life is for living not working, make the most of what you can get out of it.

[Shaunk7 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you - wise words!

[LouMaT]

My 21yr old son had a basal ganglia stroke after an assault last year. He had left side paralysis, and was in Neuro rehab for 5 weeks,then rehab at home. He was back at work in 5 months although his left hand doesn't function properly and his left kegs gets tired if he does to much walking. His work made special arrangements for him as he has to travel around London. He does have alot of time off for appointments, he also suffers with PTSD and bouts of anxiety and depression. His work have been really supportive, I think that any decent employer would make every effort to get you back to work in some capacity. I agree with It's good you can focus on your rehab until April, that will also give you time to decide what you want to do. All the best.

[Shaunk7 in reply to LouMaT]

Thank you - o hope your son gets better.

[Sentinel481]

So there are a few things going on.

The first thing I would suggest is to sort yourself. You don't want to make your health worse by not focussing on it and it should be a priority.

The fact that they aren't pro-actively trying to get rid of you, as evidenced by them signing you off rather than them challenging your current capability to work, is more positive than them chasing you about your capacity for the role and threatening you.

The thing to consider is whether you consider your job, via stress/blood pressure/pre-existing risk factors may have been a contributory factor to you illness. I would seek advice from medics and have an open discussion about your physical and mental health.

In terms of speech/walking etc. consider having a chat with medics about whether your condition is severe enough to come under the disability act which can give you a bit more support. Disability can be a temporary thing. However, you may want to consider with all that you have going on if you can do the job. I used to do a very stressful job but have had to consider what my body can now do over and above what I could do before my health declined.

But look after yourself first and foremost as you only have 1 life.

Rich

[Shaunk7 in reply to Sentinel481]

Thank you, that’s exactly how im feeling.

what im consodering is whether im well enough to return - and will there gip pay for me? It’s a high pressure environment, im not sure if I have the cognition to cope.