All I can say my friend is I know EXACTLY where your coming from!! When you hopefully find out the answers please let all of us know cuz I'm so numb now from all the you know what I have dealt with in the past 10 years that they could gut me out like Mel Gibson in Braveheart and I would probably yell out "Hell this feels good!!!" (Am I not supposed to say that word??... I really need to read the rules ;-) )

Hey, Cynaroak, I got my information from my doctor, first, then went to HR. However, HR is there to help you. Is there anyone in HR that you know? If so, maybe start with them. A skilled HR person knows all the ins and outs and should be able to guide you. I hope all this works out soon. Too bad about the boss developing amnesia, I guess that's why they say, "Always get it in writing."

It is possible to get FMLA for Fibromyalgia. You do realize that FMLA is not paid time. I'd wait until you get the info from your doctor. Good luck and take care.

I would wait until you get a response from your request to continue to work at home.

I'm going to assume that your company is covered by FMLA, since you already seem to have done a bit of research. Be aware that there is a quirk in the law that allows companies to be covered, but some employees not to be eliglble - you must work in a location where there are 50 or more employees within a 75-mile radius in order to qualify, no matter the size of the company. I don't know how large your location is - just something to be aware of.

FMLA is a good possibility if (a) you're qualified, (b) your doctor will support you (which it sounds like he will), and (c) you can do without income when you take time off, as (as Fantod already mentioned) FMLA is not paid leave. Also be aware that the company, if it is their policy, can require you to use your paid leave when you take FMLA time, which can eat into your paid leave and leave you nothing to use when you want to take time off for holidays or other events.

For what it's worth, I'm a long-time HR professional, so if you have questions I can help with, feel free to ask.

I know someone that has FMLA for Fibromyalgia. Her Doctor signed the necessary papers that were required. I don't know if each Employer and or FMLA requirements are different but I would definitely ask and find out.

I agree with Peace 100%.
Wait to see if you are approved to work at home. IF that is denied then you'll take the necessary steps with HR to go on FMLA

I worked for a huge company! but worked in a satellite office which only had 10 people in th eoffice I worked in therefore I was not eligible for FMLA.
I was eligible for Short Term disability.(mine was 6 months, some are shorter, a friend of mine was only 3 months) I did that. which I used up and had to apply for Long Term disability.

Thank you so much...You guys ROCK! Yes we are eligible for FMLA - and the branch where I work is a "corporate" office so we have more than 50 employees here. I will wait to see what happens with the work from home request and then explore the FMLA approach if needed. I've already eaten into a chuck of my paid time this year with fatigue and migraines but I just want to be covered in case I need it!

Alrighty...got the faxed letter from the doctor this morning...uuummmm can I just say that I LOVED him before my fibro and now he is a ROCKSTAR!!! Everything was in there...from the pain related to temp fluctuations to the migraines to the risk of falling due to the hip and back pain, etc., etc., etc.! I sent the letter along with the packet from JAN for Fibro and Chronic Fatigue accommodation recommendations. So we'll see what happens...cross your fingers everyone!

Hi Cynaroark. I have accommodations at my job and I also have intermittent FMLA. In the beginning of my illness I was forced to take FMLA which ran right into my vacation time. Since you already have the possibility to continue working from home, I would wait too see how that turns out first.

If your request is denied then you can apply for intermittent FMLA. I am able to take off of work without penalty 4 times a month for flare-ups. Since FMLA is unpaid, I do have to use my sick days, in order to get paid. Once my sick days are used up I can still use my FMLA days, I just won't get paid for them. Having the intermittent FMLA has been a lifesaver for me on those days when I am hurting too bad or too exhausted to make it in.

I also have several accommodations such as an ergonomic chair, a typing dictation program, restrictions on walking up and down stairs repeatedly etc. My doctor was awesome in filling out the necessary paperwork as well. Best Wishes to you!

Well...here is the update...after I sent the copy of the letter from the Doctor and additional information on both Fibro and CFS I had to wait about 18 day for a decision from my boss. So here is her response:
"In regards to your request to work full time at home, the doctors note does not really state that the doctor is advising you to work only at home. However I do want to be flexible with you in order to meet you half way with business needs and also your health needs. I do understand that the weather in Columbus can vary in intensity and that it may cause a flare up to your Fibromyalgia. With that, I am ok if you wish to work from home on the days that you have symptoms / pain; or are feeling them come on due to weather change. All other days you would be working in the office. If you do need to go home, I expect you communicate this to me on email so that I am aware of where you are. Let us give this a try and see how things work.... I think the above agreement is quite fair, and have reviewed it with HR. Please let me know if you are ok with this modified plan and are on board with it?"

So a compromise...So far I've been "ok" working in the office - although I haven't really had a bad flare yet so we'll wait and see. Now that I have this in place I will probably go and talk to HR about FMLA...especially because my boss will not understand that although see has agreed to me working from home when having a difficult time she will NOT understand that I can't work at all if it is a major flare or so exhausted from CFS that I can't even get out of bed.

She also asked if there was any office equipment that would assist me. I sent information on a chair, a leg rest and requested the possibility of getting rid on the fluorescent light bulbs RIGHT ABOVE my desk so that I could then have lamps with soft lighting on my desk (since there are no offices open). But since it took 2 1/2 weeks for her to send me her decision of working from home I am guessing that a new chair should arrive around spring...lol!

I'm glad you got "official" approval to work at home when you need to.

I do think moving forward with the FMLA request for intermittent leave is a good thing - if it's approved, it will protect your job, in case she "forgets" again that you have a medical issue that sometimes makes it impossible for you to work.

Having that in place should also reinforce, in everyone's mind, that this is a real medical condition that requires some accommodations.

I just lost my admin assistant in a layoff a couple of weeks ago, and she was often my "accommodation" in terms of running up and down the stairs (no elevator) and other physical issues that are nearly impossible for me. I've had to fight to make my employers understand, as they don't "see" it because she did all the things I found difficult or impossible to do physically. I technically have a desk job, but we're a small company and in addition to HR, I wear other hats here, and she always helped with that. We're working it out, but it's been tricky, and they've been "prickly" about it.

Glad you're getting it worked out. If there is anything I can help with, feel free to PM me with specifics and I'll try to talk you through it.

There is always that nosey person who is jealous of you working from home. I have several of those at my work too. Thankfully, my boss is in total agreement with me working from home.

Good luck. I hope you are approved and things work out.

I ditto peace in terms of continuing with the FMLA process for an intermittent leave. It"s good that she has made some attempt to accommodate you; however, she only approved for you to work from home due to weather changes. We all know that fibro flare-ups occur for many reasons, not just from weather changes. Well it's nice that she tried to "meet you half way", but it's very clear that she does not comprehend that fibro flare-ups are caused by multiple factors. Best Wishes to you!

Peace - Thank you SO much for the offer and if I need you I'll be hitting you up!
Basket -yeah well my jealous little you-know-what can stick it in her you-know-where cause I got my approval...LOL. Besides like I mentioned before the head of the HR dept is here in my office and everyone here has been very supportive of my plight and since SHE is in California she doesn't "see" my daily struggles.
Cocoa -It is true that flares come in many ways...however living here in Ohio means that on any given day the weather is crappy...so blaming any flare on that (at least from her point of view) isn't really that out of the picture ;-)