[sarabeth82]

Hi. I'm new to the board but I was wondering if anyone had any advice for me. I've been suffering from TN since 2004 and I've never had a problem with an employer where my absenteeism is a problem...until now. I had to call off twice since June (when I started) because being in pain everyday for about two weeks took a toll on me. Since I don't get any sick time until I am there for 6 months I got written up for excessive absteeism and was told if I kept missing work I could get terminated. Is there anything I can do to protect myself from losing a job? It's so frustrating because I go to work even when I have a horrible cold or flu and I can barely speak or I'm sick to my stomach because I know there are times when I can't control the fact that my pain has flared up and I have no option but to call off. It just makes the fact that I have this problem all the more depressing. Anyone else been in this situation?

Also, I've been on numerous meds since I was first diagnose (neurontin, tegretol, triliptal, topamax, elavil, lyrica, effexor, one i can't remember the name of, and now lamictal) and the one med that actually helped my doctor refuses to put me back on. I was on Topamax almost a year with very little pain. I was overweight to begin with and when I started losing weight my doctor said "oh you can afford to lose some, it's not a problem". Then when I finally get my appetite back and he notices that I'm even smaller (and still a lil over weight) he takes me off it. He now says that it didn't work so he won't put me back on, but he took me off it because of the weight loss. It was controlling the pain. How do I fight to get the medicine I know was helping me? Or is it a loss cause?

Thanks,
Sara

[jjlsongbird]

Is your doctor a neurologist? Have you tried getting a second opinion. Maybe he has a good reason for taking you off Topamax (something in your blood work?) but he isn't explaining it so it makes sense. You have a right to a thorough explanation that is understandable to you.

[ewizabeth]

Welcome to NeuroTalk Sarabeth!

I'm sorry for the pain you're having from TN and that it's causing you to miss work. I can understand how hard it must be when you're still in the probationary period for a new job. They should have some sort of exception allowance especially with the H1N1 flu going around. If somebody showed up with that, even the job trainers could get sick then what would they do?

About the Topamax, were you getting to the point that you were underweight? I agree you are owed an explanation of why you can't have it. Did you explain to the doctor that you might lose your job if you can't deal with the pain? And that the Topamax is the only one that was helping?

Good luck with everything and keep us posted.