Hi,

A work friend called me earlier tonight to tell me he is going to take time off work for radiation and chemo. He's sick from the treatments and will stop work in another day or few.
He can't just take his sick time. He will need us to take over for him.


The rest of the team would ordinarily pick up the slack.
BUT I cannot pick up any more work. Crap.

I don't know what to tell the team.
One of the guys seems willing to kind of take over and and do most of the planning for how this is going to work. I am going to let him. But I might be expected to do my share.

My share?


I live nearby (sort of) to the friend and might offer to help with things like picking up his son from school. But I can't see doing more work.
I'm months behind on my work already.

M.

Thats a difficult one Mari. But you know, if you tell them firmly and nicely they may understand. Of course you know the situation best.
Do they know that you are not well?

Isis,
They might know from observation, but I have not told them so.
M.

it sounds like you don't want to tell them.

do you know why you don't want to?

i had suggested taking a medical leave some time ago. i think your strong sense of duty would probably prevent you from doing so at this point. i still wonder if you can do something in terms of medical certification to lighten your work load.

not sure how it would work. short/long term disability for a couple weeks and then authorization to go back "part time." or, the docs might be able to do a part time restriction for health reasons to begin with.

can you investigate this with HR? do you trust them?

what about your employer's insurance? they will know all/any certification procedures and can direct you precisely. the number to contact them will be on the back of your insurance card.

i am not sure you wanted suggestions on how to get out of things but rather perhaps on how to get into them.

i am not sure i know what to tell you in that regard.

you have said you have been feeling better... so maybe there is some hope you will be "ok" with the new situation.

well one thing i can surely do is send you some cyber-hugs.

((((((((((((( Mari ))))))))))))))

~ waves ~

I met a young woman at my pdoc's clinic a few months ago. She also has Bipolar. One of their many questions to me (the veteran patient ) was how the young lady would explain her condition to her colleagues.
It suddenly occured to me that before my own dx I didn't know the word Setrilline. As far as I know very few people do.
So I suggested that she casually mentions to her colleagues that she has a problem with her setrilline levels.

The conversation would possibly go as follows:
- What is Setrilline?
- Its a hormone. Mine fluctuates and sometimes makes me moody. Like people with high blood pressure or hyper acidity, I need to take some medications and watch how I approach stress.

She is with a large advertising agency. I speak with her sometimes, and so far it seems to have worked for her. She is all of twenty-four. Her mother monitors her medications.

Mari

I have no clue how to help you with this problem. I do think offering
to help with the personel things is good.

But I also think it would be a good idea, especially if they are going to
expect you to take on more responsibilities if you explain what is going
on with you.

But I do understand how hard this is going to be for you. Hoping you
come up with some ideas.

Donna