OK...I have the time now to write...my husband works at a private country club in Chicago, IL and is an Executive Sous Chef which is he is second in command right under the Head Chef so he is a Manager. The company has probably over 100 employees with kitchen staff, servers, HR and office people. We have been going to the RA Dr. for about 3 months now, did TONS of testing including an ultrasound to make sure he didn't have liver damage or gall stones-his liver reading were high after every blood test, even after no drinking for 2 weeks and more blood work, still high. SO this past Tuesday they finally gave him Plaquinil and he will have to take Enbrel injections as soon as we get it approved by my insurance. The dr/ said some Insurances will not cover it if you don't try the Methatrexate first but he can't take it with his high liver readings.
EVERY time we went to the doctor he gave them copies of EVERYTHING including Rx's. They have it all...WELL, I got the whole scoop last night. Chef calls my hubby to say he doesn't have to come in, it's slow, take the day to get a letter stating what you have, limitations and bring it in tomorrow. No problem...so then he calls around 1:30 pm and leaves a msg. on our phone "Paul, I have not recieved any papers yet and if I don't get them by today you will not get paid for today." So now my hubby is pissed...he didn't ask for the day off, he would have went in. So he calls Chef and boy let me tell you! This man starts saying that my husband has been lying about going to the Dr.!! Can you believe it? So we forged all those documents is what he thinks! He said my husband is disrespectful-OK whatever buddy! he is always "yes sir" and all of that! They got into a big fight and so he calls the General Manager and she was speechless the whole time or said "really?" like she could not believe her ears. She said that my hubby has always been straight forward and given all his documentation and she doesn't believe he is faking it. SO they are supposed to have a meeting today. The Dr. also believes that a workmans comp injury at this job to his knee triggered the dormant RA! She said a major trauma to the body or a major emotional trauma can trigger it. my hubby has always been healthy, never any problems until after his knee injury. We just want to cover ourselves legally, he is currently interviewing with the Hilton hotel in Chicago so hopefully he will have a new job soon. I will add that he has gone into work even with flare ups and in very much pain. He only called off once in the beginning when we didn't know what was going on. He brought in a Dr. note, he always does. This is such a nightmare, he works 17 hours some days there and gets only 1 day off a week. He gets no sleep and the stress....well, you have read! It's so bad there.
Thank all of you for the advice and I will keep you posted...I can't wait to hear what happens in the meeting!
I hope you are able to get this all straightened out soon. The stress of all this is certainly not going to help. Hopefully something good comes from this meeting today.
Kelly
I AM SO SORRY ABOUT ALL YOU ARE GOING THROUGH!!!! Make sure you document everything and if you have these people on the phone or in a meeting inform them you want to record what is being said. This way they can't go back on their word. this is what is so hard about having ra, pa, and so forth, people don't understand ths pain you are going through, the exhaustion, the fustration of not being able to do your job. Let us know what happens. memeI beleive meme said it best. Documentations.
When all else is done and your husband is not being supported by those in highter offices, whom know that he was and still is a dependablee worker, even with the trauma of RA. It is time to put all documentations in the hands of a good lawyer who specializes in work place ethics for people with disabilities.
I hope today's meeting turns out well for your husbands and your sake.
God bless you both.
So sorry to hear about the trouble your husband is going through. Part of the problem is that RA can be so invisible. I agree with the others in suggesting that you document all your doctor visits. I ask for a summary of each visit which I keep in a big ziplock bag.It helps when I have to see a new doctor, or even a specialist, to be able to have all the reports from the other doctors in one spot. It also helps when you have to document things for employment, or heaven forbid, a lawyer.