How to get through a week at work

[mrskiki]

Has anyone had any useful accommodations made in their working conditions at all when trying to get their hypothyroid/ Hashis under control that have helped? I'm doing my best to get my dose increases vitamins sorted etc but my manager wants to see an improvement in my health back to normal over next 3 weeks as part of the HR process and ive just got my increase to 75mg levo, so not there yet. Worst part is mornings and fatigue/slowness/sore throat/dry swollen eyes to deal with. It's a large open plan office.

[Jazzw]

Aww, Mrskiki—I bet your response to your manager (muttered under your breath!) was “You want to see an improvement to my health? Me too! Me too!”

Hypothyroidism is so often trivialised as being easily fixed by taking a little white pill every day. And while sometimes it is that simple, this support forum would not exist if it was always that simple.

What sort of work do you do—is it admin/manual labour/standing up/sitting down?

I think your manager probably needs to know that a “temporary” disability may still count as a disability under the Equality Act 2010 and that it’s acceptable to consider whether any reasonable adjustments can be made to your job— to the hours you work and/or to the tasks you undertake. You probably haven’t thought of this as a temporary disability—many people don’t!—but while your dosage is being calibrated you aren’t at full speed. Literally, when you have an under active thyroid. markvanderpump.co.uk/blog/p...

So. Is it likely you might be able to ask to start later in the day (and potentially finish a bit later, depending on how it goes or even work reduced hours for a while)? Is it possible to ask for a change of duties that isn’t quite so physically (or indeed cognitively) demanding? I think so many people just don’t understand what it’s like to have a wonky thyroid. Energy levels are reduced and you can feel like you have a brain full of fog!

[mrskiki in reply to Jazzw]

Thanks for that link, no I hadn't looked at it in that way. It's more thinking than physical so I'm lucky I'm not on my feet all day and don't have it as bad as some, but my head does feel like treacle if I have to rush in the mornings. And yes, the one thing I did ask for that would help was to continue do a few hours remotely in the quiet of home on a morning especially calls, to give me time to balance myself and eat properly but they won't allow that now. Ironic as many of the company are still working at home and by making me get to my desk on a morning my productivity will decrease further.

[Jazzw in reply to mrskiki]

How big an employer is it? Do you have an occupational health department?

Managers can get some strange bees in bonnets about this stuff… You’re not “cured”—not yet anyway.

[mrskiki in reply to Jazzw]

Thanks there is an OH, ( v large company). I waded through web pages and they say you need to be clear what you need from them. Perhaps a recliner? 🤣

A bit wary of the formal departments involvement too, everyone just thinks it's a case of going to bed early and getting up early, and making your food to take with you before leaving etc etc if only it was that simple. It used to be, but not now ...

[Jazzw in reply to mrskiki]

LOL. 😂

Well. One of Occ Health’s roles is to advise on “temporary or permanent changes to the work or workplace (‘reasonable adjustments’) to enable someone with a physical or mental health condition or disability to work effectively and safely”.

Or rather it should be… So if your manager is at a bit of a loss as to whether they can accommodate your needs, they should be able to get advice from Occ Health.

I fear your manager might be a bit out of their depth given that statement about wanting to see an improvement in your health, as though that’s something you can produce out of a hat. If only, eh?

Make sure they understand it could take a bit longer than 3 weeks for you to be back to normal. It’s a balancing act, absolutely—trying to be reasonable about what you can do at the moment and still get paid and their need to get the work done. (Which is obviously where Occ Health could come in, to advise your manager on what’s reasonable).

cipd.co.uk/Export/ToPdf?pat...

[mrskiki in reply to Jazzw]

Thanks, I've explained a few times, and I'm now thinking that this has made them think oh no, can't we get a working replacement, we've worn this one out. I think I will go and get some proper advice like you say to cover all angles.

[Jazzw]

Just to add—remember that lots of people know absolutely nothing about hypothyroidism! Many don’t even realised that the treatment is likely to be life long, and they certainly don’t realise that it can take quite a long time to get the dosing of levothyroxine right for the individual. Sometimes it can take a year or more (I know, don’t panic—it may not, but you need to know that it could (and so does your manager).

So don’t be afraid to gently “educate” your manager on the symptoms (you never know when you might be doing a future colleague a big favour when you do this!). 🙂

[59Blue]

When my thyroid packed up, acutely following an adverse drug reaction with a TSH over 120 I was off work for a few weeks while I had various tests and started treatment. After 6 weeks I met with OH and arranged a phased return to work - short days for a couple of months until I felt more able. I hated being at home as it made me feel more useless and some normality helped me mentally. After 18 weeks of treatment and the third dose increase I felt much better and went back full time. I’m in an office based job and my colleagues were very understanding - perhaps because they seen the very rapid and huge weight gain etc that I’d experienced before I was signed off sick.

[mrskiki in reply to 59Blue]

You've done well that sounded like quite a trauma to bounce back from. Understand the weight thing. Thank goodness I don't need a uniform, I would have gone through 10 sizes by now. I live in hope that I may deflate a bit eventually, though the elastic and flat shoes are here to stay now.

[KarenCain]

I’ve been lucky. My occi health person knows and actually researched my condition. I get an additional 5 mins every hour as and when I need to take it which really helps with my fatigue x I’m now in a different job where I manage my own workload and I’m less restricted which is better but still struggling to get up.

[mrskiki in reply to KarenCain]

I've never been a morning person, so didn't have a good starting point. Employers prefer the larks to the owls I find, I think they appear more enthusiastic even if they go missing most of the day. I previously managed my own time and work for a number of years and found that much more productive than these new conditions that have come along at unfortunate timing.

[Msmustang1981]

I struggle to get through the week too. I asked for and received “work from home Wednesdays.” It helps me get through Monday and Tuesday knowing I have Wednesday coming up where I can take it slower and work at my own pace from home. Not every boss is as great as mine, but honestly the Wednesdays help so much and make it manageable. Worth an ask!

[mrskiki in reply to Msmustang1981]

That's good to know there is hope, I do feel flexibility in hours around morning is only thing that would work for me. I have been told no regular WFH routine allowed and they won't make an exception. There are exceptions in reality, some odd ones, just not for me. I wonder if it's because they now know my condition they don't trust me and want to see me sitting at a desk with my eyes open!

[ffranny]

Oh you poor thing I feel for you. I have had a life time of this too. Like having Chronic fatigue. Lockdown presented me with home working which was so easier to manage. Try to go for a hybrid maybe of days working from home? At least you can be more relaxed when working then. I dont think thats an unreasonable request but when I needed OH I didnt have understanding managers, the union helped me and OH supported adjustments to work. Wondering if Thyroid issues might have to become Chronic fatigue or ME in order to get the OH adjustments you need perhaps? Given that once on the doctors correct dose you are meant to be cured?

[mrskiki in reply to ffranny]

I know, they are braying how they support menopause so perhaps I should have said it's that? Not seen them actually really support it mind you, last person I remember was forced out the company so perhaps it's just to find out who to target? I want to go back to lockdown conditions for myself, although I was actually going in to work when I had to, they weren't, so I'm could organise myself and got my work done and had some sort of life. Lovely sunny day today, there will be light at the end of the tunnel, just need to get out of it!

[EebieJeebies]

I was surprised to read that some thyroid issues can be classed as a disability under the equality act. Apparently invisible conditions such as this that are managed long term by medication, the crux of eligibility is what the person would be like if they were NOT taking medication ie, would they then meet the definition in terms of their day to day struggles, It may be that there’s no blanket rule but down to individual cases… or a good legal person! 🤷‍♀️ 🧐

[EebieJeebies in reply to EebieJeebies]

the principle of judging the effect of a disability without aids, adaptions or medication is called the ‘deduced effect’ (or something like that)

[mrskiki in reply to EebieJeebies]

It's complex isn't it. But after a day in office, now I'm made to sit there all day, it's not totally invisible. I had to go to pharmacy to pick up prescription, didn't want to be seen, my eyes were disappeared. I had a comment at work a while back that I had let myself go. (Is 3-4 stone that noticeable) If I have to continue sitting there all day, I think I will have to leave as it's just too isolated and depressing. Being moved into a new office is probably just too much for me as people meet a me that even I don't recognise.

[EebieJeebies in reply to mrskiki]

smile and project friendly, positive regard, and it should be reflected back. If you feel your job doesn’t suit you anymore, you have nothing to lose in signing up for job site alerts to see what is available or if some training would help you into a new sector that would suit you more. In the meantime think about emailing OH to put on record that you now have a long term health disability and impairments arising from it are impacting you while your treatment levels are determined. Ask what their policy is in regards to supporting staff with disabilities. Focus too on your value, your experience, what you are good at. Make a case for what you want to achieve. You will get through this challenging chapter 💪

[mrskiki in reply to EebieJeebies]

Thanks, I forgot to take my lunch in in my morning stupor so silly me went on downhill spiral and journey of self pity as most people in other teams I called during the day had dogs barking and doorbells ringing. The new office air con is a bit worn out and I don't do well in hot stuffy environments. Went back to my old office and sat there a while, it was so much more airy so it's not just me having a hate of the new place. I really am OK to go in every day to do things that are needed it's just this sit in your desk at 10am business so I'm giving ohs a go, just waiting for referral. Feel so much better for the weekend.

[Jazzw in reply to mrskiki]

What lovely colleagues you have—not. “Let yourself go”??

Think it really wouldn’t hurt to think about finding a new job elsewhere. It doesn’t sound like your current role is doing you any favours at all.

Sending a hug x

[mrskiki in reply to Jazzw]

Yes, mortifying and I think he realised he put his foot in it. Male dominated tech environment, not the best communicators but generally well meaning. Thing is I was quite skinny before, I do work in covering it up as much as I can so I don't think he realised I had gained multiple stones and thought I'd just been on the pizzas and cake a bit. I'll see what ohs say and if I can get a few hours a week WFH for a few months. Once I'm a bit more stable I don't see me staying in this stuffy dusty office though, I do need a change.