I am curious about who else has had to take short-term disability for this. I am currently off work. I am in I.T. support for a very complex accounting/purchasing/inventory system and cannot work due to the side effects of the meds. I am in the process of changing from Neurontin to Tegretol and don't have the mental capacity to do my job (and many day to day things). My husband won't let me drive - which is probably a good thing. How long can I expect to be off work? Do STD insurance companies seem to cover this for very long? We cannot afford for me to be unemployed but I would be crushed if I was forced to go back and was fired. I wonder how this will play out and it causes me to worry every day.

Debbie

Hi Debbie,
I live in California, and here, the state disability lasts as long as a year, as long as they are kept up to date with the doctor's work-release notice. Regarding your company, they may only cover you for 6 months, at a fraction of your salary, if at all. If you are out 6 months, you should probably start the application process for long term disability through the federal government. I do not know where you live, and it may be very different in your state, and with your company. I am currently in the process of applying for long term disabilty. I would advise you to contact your company's HR department, they can walk you through all of this.

best of luck, I know this all can be scary.
MLN

Thank you for your reply. I have it covered with my company. I just had gotten a letter from the insurance company to have the doctor give them an update and it "freaked me out". I do want to go back to work but just don't know if I can. I hadn't seen anything about folks not working so wondered who else was off. Thank you again so much for your words of encouragement and good luck to you with the LTD process.

Debbie

Debbie, I just want to wish you luck and give you one of these

Thank you! I needed that.