1st warning for being sick

marybelle01

I have endometriosis and 99% certain diagnosis of adenomyosis. So loads of extreme sympathy because it is c**p. And with adenomyosis I have it at the extremest of the c**p end of the spectrum. I can tell you is definitely isn't classed as a disability.


I have no idea why you are having to wait for so long if you have a confirmed diagnosis or why you are being prescribed pain killers which are completely useless. If you are unable to take the pill (which is the standard and very effective treatment) then the two alternatives are the mirena coil, or medoxiprogesterone acetate. One is a minor process that takes all of five minutes and the others are prescription based (so the seconds it takes to write a prescription). Obviously all of these have a contraceptive effect too, so are not possible if you are trying to become pregnant, but if that is the case the GP should be referring on to a specialist as endo is a major contributor to infertility and any attempt to become pregnant will take additional support.


Mirena didn't work for me, and I am now too old to take the pill safely, but I have the medoxiprogesterone, and I can tell you that I am a very happy person - not a single symptom for over a decade.

Takeaway_Addict

clarryd wrote: »

I had the same condition when I was 29 but unfortunately had to have a hysterectomy and was off for 6 months so they should think themselves lucky you didn't have this condition years ago as that's what they did then.

But I am sure if you have a recognised condition confirmed by your GP/Specialist they couldn't do anything and you where covered.

Think about this logically, you are effectively saying an employee can be ill and the employer has to keep them employed, pay them SSP, pay them holiday etc forever...

There maybe a greater protection as stated if it falls under the equality act but its not a bulletproof vest.

If I were the OP I would be arguing for an adjustment under the EA for a shorter monitering period and an allowance of at least 1 sick period within this time.

marybelle01

Takeaway_Addict wrote: »

Think about this logically, you are effectively saying an employee can be ill and the employer has to keep them employed, pay them SSP, pay them holiday etc forever...

There maybe a greater protection as stated if it falls under the equality act but its not a bulletproof vest.

If I were the OP I would be arguing for an adjustment under the EA for a shorter monitering period and an allowance of at least 1 sick period within this time.

I am afraid that as I said, it wouldn't qualify under the EA (long term yes, as it is lifelong until menopause, and may even continue afterwards in rare cases; but it does not significantly impact on day to day ability to carry out normal activities - just a few days every month). But even so, allowing an employer is really kind and allows for an extra sick period or two, it simply wouldn't be enough. Depending on exact diagnosis and severity, it is going to happen for one - four/five days, and 12/13 times a year. Many employers wouldn't even permit that for a disability. Endo is horrible, but it is easily treatable. The most significant problem is that it has only been "discovered" in recent times.


Forty, even thirty, years ago you would have been hard pressed to find a single doctor who believed it existed. Twenty years ago is was still a disputed diagnosis. There are still doctors who don't think it exists, or don't realise the numbers of women who are potentially suffering from it because many of them (especially, but not exclusively, men) happen to think that painful periods are utterly normal and that women really just have to put up with them because it's a woman's lot in life. If men had to put up with even mild cramps once a month, I am convinced there would be a medical cure by now!


It is incredible that in this day and age a woman with such a diagnosis is waiting for treatment when treatments are readily and easily available within, at most, 24 hours.

AP007

marybelle01 wrote: »

I am afraid that as I said, it wouldn't qualify under the EA (long term yes, as it is lifelong until menopause, and may even continue afterwards in rare cases; but it does not significantly impact on day to day ability to carry out normal activities - just a few days every month). But even so, allowing an employer is really kind and allows for an extra sick period or two, it simply wouldn't be enough. Depending on exact diagnosis and severity, it is going to happen for one - four/five days, and 12/13 times a year. Many employers wouldn't even permit that for a disability. Endo is horrible, but it is easily treatable. The most significant problem is that it has only been "discovered" in recent times.


Forty, even thirty, years ago you would have been hard pressed to find a single doctor who believed it existed. Twenty years ago is was still a disputed diagnosis. There are still doctors who don't think it exists, or don't realise the numbers of women who are potentially suffering from it because many of them (especially, but not exclusively, men) happen to think that painful periods are utterly normal and that women really just have to put up with them because it's a woman's lot in life. If men had to put up with even mild cramps once a month, I am convinced there would be a medical cure by now!


It is incredible that in this day and age a woman with such a diagnosis is waiting for treatment when treatments are readily and easily available within, at most, 24 hours.

Some women don't even bother with the dr as its a waste of time.

SingleSue

I'm sure I used to rattle with all the pain killers and other treatment for my endometriosis but it allowed me to go into work albeit not feeling amazingly good and certainly not at the top of my game.

I was diagnosed (finally!) at age 20, had a total of 5 laparoscopies to try to keep the pain down/clear stuff and finally had a hysterectomy at age 31 (partly due to endometriosis but mainly due to several bouts of cancerous cells).

ShadowPuma

clarryd wrote: »

But I am sure if you have a recognised condition confirmed by your GP/Specialist they couldn't do anything and you where covered.

I have proven depression due to multiple factors. That didn't protect me from getting official warnings and didn't protect me from being dismissed for capability reasons last week.

Yep, they can do this.