ME Sufferer and stuck not knowing what to do now

layanna_jade

Hi All

I suffer with ME and have done so for the last 15 years. The last place I worked at pretty much worked me into the ground (was working as a manager and having to work up to 50-70 hours per week due to senior management pressure and the financial situation the company was in).

The stress and pressure finally got to me and I was making silly mistakes and was told by my boss that I needed to shape up or get demoted. I then decided enough was enough and resigned (heat of the moment tbh but didn't have the mental capacity to fight them).

I was out of work for about 5 months and finally thought I was getting back on my feet so took a job as a telesales agent for a small manufacturing firm in November. I've quickly realised that my health isn't as good as I thought and working 5 days a week is killing me. As the office is so small, bugs get transferred around really easily and I invariably end up getting them as I have this week (really bad cold leaving me with no energy to do basic things like cooking).

I approached my manager with what I thought was a reasonable request to reduce my hours down to 4 days a week so that I can better manage my ME (I've been open and honest with them from the start about my condition) and have bascially been told that they only employ full time people.

Now I've been off sick since Wednesday (am aware that sickness record probably looks bad as I also suffer with migraines so have had also had time off for that too - again, manager is fully aware of treatments I've received and discussions I've had with my doctor about it).

The thought of going back into work today is filling me with dread and my anxiety levels are through the roof so feel sick at the thought of going back.

I really don't know where to go from here at the moment as I can't get an appt with my doctor until the 16th March.

Does anyone have any advice?

robpw2

try to stick with the job and see if you can find a part-time job
meanwhile see your dr and get a sick note so at least it will cover you for a bit

if you resign they may not automatically give you any benefits thought im not sure how the esa works but i would suggest that you dont make any rash descisions as you dont want to be out of work for 5 months again

layanna_jade

Thanks

I don't want to resign from the position as I know that it would put me in a very difficult situation re benefits.

I've just called in and spoken to my manager and he was very rude on the phone so have a horrible feeling that when I go back on Monday, then they'll be handing me my notice

hjb123

I know just how you feel, Ive had ME for the over 5 years now, had been working flat out in retail management and thats how it started. Have been out of work now for almost 5 years - my contract was terminated after being off for 6 months, I didnt have any problems with benefits. If your work does give you notice just see your doctor next week - would they perhaps backdate the sicknote for a week?

I have been studying a bit distance learning while being off and have just started volunteering, only one half day per week at the moment but thought it was a good way to get back into work

I too suffer with migraines which can be quite crippling and having ME it takes longer to get over them

Hope it all works out, feel free to PM me if you like

Misshomme

Could you reduce the hours in the day? I had a similar problem to yours. I was under a lot of stress and had a lot of migraines. I took a lot of sick leave and the company started being a bit awkward about it even though I took a sick note in. I had to work a full week and felt awful. I started researching migraine cures and found that magnesium is supposed to help. It's not done much for my migraines yet, but my other stress symptoms clear up when I remember to take it every day. I heard garlic is supposed to clear ME up.