can't start new job due to ill health

gardenia101

an9i77 wrote: »

Gardenia how long did it take to recover from your bleed? Did you just have to wait for the blood to clear?
The problem I have is that it has not stopped bleeding yet, so has got progressively worse over the last week, the hospital have not been very helpful but I'm going to see someone privately hopefully very soon to get some answers.

The first bleed was much larger & from memory it took approx 3 months before I was told that my vision wasn't going to get any better, but I wasn't told if there had been any subsequent bleeds into the same eye, or if I just had one massive bleed. I had a 5 month old, a husband away a lot of the time, & no family nearby so my memory is a bit hazy as I had no option but to just get on with life.

At first it seemed like someone had dripped oil into the centre of my vision, but years later I'm left with a grey fuzzy patch that I don't really see anymore as my brain has learnt to ignore it. The effects on vision are similar to those who suffer from Macular Degeneration. After my second, thankfully much smaller bleed in my other eye I had 3 Lucentis injections into my eye (not as horrific as it sounds) over 3 months & now I'm left with a small grey fuzzy spot & straight lines appear to have wiggles in them.

Unfortunately it is the kind of treatment that you only know has worked IF you don't get another bleed (which is a bit frustrating :mad:) so not like getting the "all clear". Again I think I felt my vision had stabilised after 3 months but this second bleed was definately only a single bleed.

Have you been offered any treatment?

Do they know why the bleed happened? In my case I'm very short sighted, so my retina is stretched over a larger area (think hyper inflated balloon) so it is more fragile than normal.

My vision is far more dependent on light levels than it was before, so you may find you get more problems in the dark. I hate winter nights as I just don't see things like rubbish bins until it is too late. And I've been known to walk into people.... You may not be affected though - all depends which bit of the retina is affected.

Have you tried asking the RNIB for advice - they were fantastic with me & they really know their stuff. They may be able to advise about your sick pay too. Good luck.

Feel free to PM me.

HB58

Ellejmorgan wrote: »

I don't think you can get ESA or HB as partner has property...

OP should be entitled to contributary ESA if enough NI contributons have been paid in the last few years.

an9i77

Thanks, I will pm you gardenia.

I've been working the past few years so hopefully can claim something IF I can't take this new job. My partner is planning to rent out his flat once it's sorted, but it needs some work so at the moment we don't have it as a source of income.
I'm still hoping I can work, or that my new employer may be willing to wait a few weeks (as it would take them at least that long to find someone else) , or they may want a medical report on me or something. So it's not a definite no yet, but I need to be aware that I may not be fit to work in time.
Such bad timing! The one time in my life I am seriously too ill to work, and just before I start a new job!!

an9i77

As my eye condition is related to a disability (diabetes) does anyone know if I can expect my employer to wait a certain time for me to join them as a 'reasonable adjustment?'. Obviously not forever, but if for example I said I would be fit to join them a month later or something, and they said no, could I potentially make a disability discrimination claim?

an9i77

Everyone, just an update - saw a vitreo retinal surgeon today privately and he can fix my eye - may have to start my job a week or so later but I'm sure they will understand. So hopefully will not be unemployed! So relieved!

HB58

That is very good news, thanks for letting us know!