I went back to work as feeling so much better and my manager has put me on a disaplinary for being off with PA. He said said its not an on going illness even though ive been told I'll need inj for rest of my life
I wish I'd given another med3 and taken longer off.
feel angry and disturbed by this.
meeting is fri 1pm
Hi Catherine, I'm so sorry that your boss has given you this additional stress.
Firstly, are you in a union? If so, contact them for advice, they are very good with things like this.
Secondly are you a member of the Pernicious Anaemia Society? If not, I would suggest that you join. It's a one off fee of £20 and they are very good at providing support to people with PA who have employment issues.
I downloaded something from their members area called "PA and Employment Issues" and gave it to my boss. It was about employing someone with PA and how the condition is lifelong and how it can affect you in the workplace. I would definitely join and print this out and take it to your meeting on Friday.
All the best x
I will join and print off now. Thank you
Wow, that's horrible. It doesn't seem legal. I'm afraid I don't have anything to offer better than the sources already here, but your manager is just not right.
Over on Thyroid UK people often recommend ACAS.
Not sure how much use, but it is a respected source.
Tell your manager pernicious means deadly! How is that not an illness? How awful for you. Good advice about the union and PAS. Good luck!
Secondchance is right, Pernicious anemia is deadly ( I know first hand as it has almost killed me twice!!) It is also a genetic condition and it has been listed in a least 1 of my family member's death certificate.
When I was first diagnosed in Jan 10 I tried too find out as much as I could about the condition. Wikipedia has a good, clear and easy to understand description of the condition and how it effects people. But no two people who has the condition is effected in exactly the same way as everyone is different.
It has taken a long time for my family to fully understand exactly how the condition effects me and how best too deal with it. I now also wear a medical awareness tag on a chain when I'm out just in case I should have a funny turn. It states what I suffer from, what medications I take and allergies to medications. Most people are now aware of my condition and how it effects me and have been very supportive.
Good luck for Friday, I still can't believe that you are been put through this as well as having to deal with everything that pernicious anemia does. Can the CAB help you at all? If possible don't go alone and record everything is said so that you have a record of it should you need too take things further.
Ast strawberry dream says - contact union if you are a member - and contact the PAS
Worth getting hold of a copy of the company's disciplinary procedure and making sure you are familiar with it.
Health can be a grounds for dismisal if it makes you unable to carry out your duties and suitable adjustments can't be made but I think that the burden of proof in a tribunal hearing would be on the employer to ensure that they had done everything that they could, otherwise it becomes unfair dismissal.
Do you have a friend that you can take with you if you aren't a member of the union?
43 years ago I was told that I would be dead within three years if I didn't have four weekly B12 injections for P.A. I'm still "clivealive" at 74 and my next injection is on Monday - I guess they're still working.
Get you boss to Google Pernicious Anaemia symptoms and he'll see something like this:
Signs and Symptoms of Vitamin B12 Deficiency
Vitamin B12 deficiency may lead to nerve damage. This can cause tingling and numbness in your hands and feet, muscle weakness, and loss of reflexes. You also may feel unsteady, lose your balance, and have trouble walking. Vitamin B12 deficiency can cause weakened bones and may lead to hip fractures.
Severe vitamin B12 deficiency can cause neurological problems, such as confusion, dementia, depression, and memory loss.
Other symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency involve the digestive tract. These symptoms include nausea (feeling sick to your stomach) and vomiting, heartburn, abdominal bloating and gas, constipation or diarrhea, loss of appetite, and weight loss. An enlarged liver is another symptom.
A smooth, thick, red tongue also is a sign of vitamin B12 deficiency and pernicious anemia.
I was well blessed in having a Company that allowed me time off every four weeks to get my injections done at my surgery during the 27 years I worked for them and I hope that you too will get similar sympathy and support from your employers.
I'm sorry you have been treated so badly. Perhaps you should show him this as it could also apply to your manager.....ignorance.
TheyWorkForYou email alert:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking to address the problems associated with the late diagnosis of pernicious anaemia, in the light of the results of the survey published in the British Nursing Journal in April 2014.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how they propose to alert medical practitioners to the severe and irreversible nerve damage that can occur when pernicious anaemia is misdiagnosed. - Countess of Mar - Crossbench
Can a high B12 cause a racing heart for long periods of time?
Best place to get B12 & supplies
Please help a confused bean
Myocardial perfusion stress scan and dobutamine 
