Wednesday, February 27, 2008

So, while I haven't given up altogether, I have decided to go on disability and try to just work three days a week for 15 hours.  I am meeting with a disability counselor who specializes in MS, as her husband has it, and she will help me with the process.  Surprisingly, it was my boss who referred her.  They are friends of my boss, and she put in a word for me to them.  I was able to finally go back to work today at the office, and the ladies there were SO supportive!  Apparently they had discussed me while I was gone and were thinking of ways to help make it easier for me to keep working.  One lady suggested moving the files down to the bottom two drawers of the huge file cabinet so I could perhaps sit in a chair and file if I needed to.  Also, my boss told me she was relieved that it was transcription that I was cutting back my hours on rather than being her assistant.  It really made my day to hear her say that.  I was afraid she would see this as an opportunity to "let me go" and hire someone else who can work more, or at least be able to be there every day that is scheduled.  When I have to take a day off, I make a point to make up my time later in the week.  My job is to just sort mail, route EOBs to doctors (we have 30 in our company), and post insurance payments when there is more than one doctor on the EOB.  My schedule is very flexible, but I still do need to try to get things done fairly quickly and manage my time well so that mail doesn't pile up and insurance checks don't just sit in my box.  Those doctors like their money!  lol  I guess my boss really likes my work.  I do give every ounce of energy I have to that job when I am there.  I go out of my way to get as much done as I can since I am only there ten hours a week.  I always try to make sure my time is spent wisely.  The ladies remark that I always come in with a huge smile and am always cheerful and joking.  That is one of the things my boss told me today that she likes about me.  I never complain.  Heck, complaining doesn't do a darned thing except annoy those around you.  So......I think my next hurdle is getting my PCP to agree to the disability.  He did mention short-term disability on Monday when I was in there, but that is like putting a band-aid on a gaping wound.  Plus I wouldn't be able to work at all if I was on that.  I spoke with his assistant this afternoon, and she will talk to him about it tonight and call me back in the morning and let me know what he says.  I already called my neurologist about it, but they don't handle disability exams....whatever that means...  My neuro was supposed to call me on Monday.  My PCP called him while I was there because I had been completely bedridden from Monday the 18th to this past Monday when my mom finally came and dragged me to his office.  It took two more days before I felt well enough to go back to work.  If I could just work part-time and get a supplemental income so I don't have to stress out about paying my bills, I would be fine.  My body simply cannot take any more of this full-time work.  While I did okay at work today, tonight I feel like I am 90 years old.  I can barely sit here to type this.  In fact, I am heading off to the ole recliner to veg in front of the TV for the rest of the evening.  I hope all of you are doing well tonight.  Sorry I couldn't read any journals tonight, I used up what was left of my energy on this one.  I will make a point to catch up as soon as possible.  I promise!Hugs.   ~Jlynn