Hi just wanted to give back after once again getting great advice on here instantly .
If you are finding it increasingly difficult to do your job as I am . Then the worry of how you will pay your bills if you lose your job may be one of your stressors that is not helping .
I have been out of my mind re latter and feel slightly better today as I gain knowledge and support as following . So wanted to share ;
1.Please contact your union for advice now.
there is some stuff I have learnt from union . BUT Don't take my word for it as may have got some of this wrong . Can only terminate contract when at last stage of sickness . Will offer redeployment where U can be offered a job if becomes vacant over a window of about 3months .
But what made me feel better was I had been scared could lose my job and would have no income whilst applying for ill health retirement and so I thought I needed to apply now . Rather than spending time trying to get better so I could do the job I love . I am off sick for last week and trialling change of meds .
But apparently they have to pay U for 3 months after termination . So I would have time to apply and get outcome of application whilst being paid . Of course there is the worry I get turned down so.....
2. Apply now to pension dept in hospital for forecast of pension .
I asked for actuarial reduced pension . Which is pension you could get early . Nothing to do with illness . Its reduced . I am early 50s and I thought I had to be 60 to get my pension . So I was shocked and relieved as didn't think I would last that long . Hashi's being degenerative . So probably get worse and worse . I also got tier 1 and tier 2 forecasts . I am thinking through the pros and cons . For instance if take reduced pension and don't apply for ill health one . I could do agency work for NHS and be sure of work this way . But if get ill health pension . Can't do same role .SO can't be sure of another job in shop etc with sick record and Hashimoto's and would need a job .
3. Have to apply for guaranteed minimum pension test and PASS it before U can claim early ordinary pension
This can be done now by pension officer . Independent of whether U are going to take pension now . So I have asked for this now so I have one less hurdle to worry about .
4. Check info on union websites and nhsba websites etc re pensions .
5. When attending any h.r meetings and it says can have union rep there . Have them . I didn't and they were lovely to me in h.r . But now I think he may have been able to discuss my not going up a level of sickness or better work adjustments . Also I would not have worried so much for last week .
6.remember your health comes first . I felt guilty if I was off sick coz have" good" days and bad a.good days in that maybe I could work but as was pointed out to me . That is the nature of your illness . But if you come back in as son as U R well and then off again when ill . As I was doing . (As I was coming in before sick note ran out) . Then you are gonna go up sickness stages very quickly and U R out the door . If U still feel guilty ,as I do re the good days then think of the time your sick note is for as a time to make a plan to optimise your health . I am sing time to trial change of dosage . Something I dare not to do when in work . As sometimes makes me ill . Also I can trial change in exercise regime . Which can knacker me and threaten work stamina next day and so brain fog at work . Not good .i am already gluten free and eating lots more fruit veg and no obvious sugar I can also see if I am well all the time without work in my life . So I will know if it is actually the cause of still being symptomatic , and then make my life decisions from that . So by using this time productively for the good of the NHS in the long run . I feel calmer and can concentrate on getting well hopefully guilt free and financially less worried . I hope this helps someone
Dr Toft has retired. 
Nhs endo and latest blood test results 
Dr Peatfield has retired
