Sick and Working

[Captsteve]

For some reason I never told a lot of people I had Parkinson's except when I had to. I was in law enforcement for 15 years. I was a sergeant when I was dx, Well liked by my troops. guessing. ;lol When I finally retired I was quite bitter because the people I did tell use it against me. I was getting wrote up by my supervisor for sick usage. I couldn't get transferred off midnight shift for no reason. The straw that broke the camel's back is when I got a poor evaluation, mostly for sick time.. All because I was not part of the click, Supervisors were suppose to come down hard on troops that use a lot of sick time. Why, I don't know government bs. My feeling was if you had the time use it when needed. When, I first got promoted they stuck me with this butt kissing sergeant ill call Dick Smith. We had this kid on our squad 21 or 22 yo. Just out of the academy, To the life of me I can't remember his name. It was so long ago I am ashamed of that. He was sick for months . He said gall stones. He would come in every night sicker then a dog. pale and sweating. So I would send him home early a lot . Sgt Dick would get upset and tell me he faking , I know it,. I didn't really care what Sgt Dick thought. I didn't like him when I was a troop and I really didn't like him now plus I figured it was a fluke that I got promoted anyway. So I figured I wouldn't be a Sgt for long. I had to drive by this kids house to make sure he was home when he did called in sick. Finally . it all stopped one day. you would think he passed his stone. Nope he decided to die on us instead. So Sgt Dick I said. I know I am new to this whole Sgt thing but i guess he wasn't faking, so who are we going to write up now. .

So here I am years later still stuck on midnight shift in a similar situation as this young deputy. which force me into an early retirement which a simple transfer would have fixed for a while. My whole point to this story is people who come down with an illness are not protected. Maybe our social security system wouldn't be so strained if the work places cared just a little more,, took some responsibility.or we are better protected by the government in case someone does come down with an illness.

[aggiebiker]

I understand what you are going through. I've been in law enforcement for almost 20 years. I was with one agency for 12 years and worked myself up to Sergeant only to get laid off a year and a half later. Afterwards I started noticing odd symptoms and met with my GP. He sent me to a neurologist and less than two weeks later I was diagnosed with Young Onset PD.

I am still currently working as my symptoms are being handled with meds (for now). I am taking Stalevo, Azilect and COQ10 but I wonder how long it will be before that doesn't work anymore.

I have told no one about my PD, with the exception of family and one or two close friends. I have decided that when it's time for me to leave, I'm going to leave on MY terms and not theirs.

Hang in their brother...just wanted you to know someone out there understands what you're going through.