Adrenal Insufficiency Support Group

Just when I thought it was safe to go back in the water. I am being laid off from my job that I have been devoted to for 9 years. They just told us we would be able to start working from our homes and I was so excited, but now I guess February was a very bad month and they offered me to go from week to week to see if I would still be working each month or take a lay off starting on Monday and collect unemployment. They said it should only be until March 11, but they aren't sure depends on when the cash flow gets better, so I am going to file for unemployment. I have a garnishment against my paycheck for a medical bill that is about half paid off, so not sure how that is going to pan out. I sobbed hysterically when I found out and just about put myself into a crisis. I couldn't breathe and started throwing up and I was up all night last night> I have never been fired or laid off before, so I guess I don't know how to react. So I will use this time to get better and hope they call me back soon. How much can one person take I wonder?

Oh and the real downer is I have been there the longest yet they are laying me off because of my illness. Such is life

Hi Teri,

I know how upsetting this kind of thing can be, I'm so glad you didn't go into full-blown crisis. But I worry about you! I do think there is a positive side to everything - you can certainly use this time to heal. And it's on the government payroll so to speak with unemployment. But still, it doesn't seem fair they laid you off because of illness when you had seniority and can still do the job.

I'm so glad you're home and doing somewhat better.

Deb

Oh Teri... I'm not even sure if there is anything I can say to help you. Agreed, the time off will give you a better chance to heal, so that is the silver lining. You have had so much on your plate; more than any one person should be expected to deal with. I will pray that your health is restored and that you are able to get your job back soon (or better yet, an even better one that you can work from home).

Please keep us posted. Hugs, Lorna

Hi Teri, I'm new to the group. From the responses on this posting, it sounds as though you've been through more than I can imagine. I, too, lost my beloved job due to illness. Got the call the day I came home from a week in hospital from my first surgery a few months into 2010. I was soooo ill, never expected my illness would last this long, LOVED my career - and cried my eyes out for days. You have my empathy, and I just wanted to send you a note of support. So glad you didn't go into full blown crisis. While it's a bad feeling when one has never been laid off or fired, I have to wonder if it's even worse when the cause is health related. My similar loss of job was almost a year ago, and I still hurt when I think about it. I didn't know at the time just how bad my health had been and the progression it would take. I thought I'd be back at work after surgery. I see you're a senior member, so I probably can't offer anything you don't already know. Please pace yourself and try not to let the worry and loss make your health worse. Know that you're in thoughts and prayers, and keep on caring for and loving yourself.

i'm so very sorry that you've had to deal with all of this. our sense of self worth (and our sense of hope, really) is so tied in with our ability to work. it's very difficult to come to terms with the loss of a job---especially when it wasn't something we chose to have happen. being sick while having to cope with this major change makes it even more difficult. it's been a year since i left my job due to illness. initially it felt like jumping out of an airplane without a parachute. now it feels ok. doors close. doors open. what felt like the end of a huge part of my identity was also the beginning of something wonderful. i will keep you in my prayers as you move forward on this journey. satnam

Oh Teri! What bloody morons those people are! Let them have the job...you get better and find something better. They don't deserve you. Screw them! (Can I say that? Or is Deb going to edit my post?)

Teri,

Sorry to hear the news!

Knowing that about ten percent of the country is also experiencing the same thing may cushion the blow somewhat, but it's always personal and right now...not theory.

To quote Cynthia: "bloody morons"...

Oh you guys are so wonderful. When I read all of these responses I laughed and I cried. We did the cortisol blood test and the morning was 1.3 (normal is 6 - 25) and evening was 10.6 (normal is 4 - 14) So I called the Mayo doctor and he said well at least I know you are absorbing and then he said (GET THIS BO why don't you keep at the same strength but spread it out take 30 in a.m. 10 at noon and 10 before 6 p.m. Our Bob is a genuis isn't he? So now I am unable to taper down because I am using it up to fast. They think it is either because I was on such a high dose of Dex before that my body just is used to that or because of the steroids I used all of my life for asthma. I have to do a 24 hour urine collection in a week and a half where they will the test the cortisol levels there and then decide what to do. If I can't taper down then I don't know what they will do for me. I am a bit scared by all of this. I do feel better on the HC I have to say on the days that I have good mornings it is after I have had my 30 mg of HC then it goes down hill from there. The only time my swelling goes down is when I stay in bed all day with my feet up. Can't do that all the time, it's just not in me. It doesn't go all the way down, just gets a bit better. Most of the time I look like the good year blimp. I have gained back all the weight and then some since my emergency gastric bypass. Doc says at least 25 pounds is fluid, don't know what the rest is. I am keeping my calorie intake to 1200 to 1400 calories a day.

I got the info from a paper Teri.. At one stage too I was going to pop 5mg pills 6-8 times a day using time spacing to regulate the curve. (eg 6:00, 6:30, 7:30, 9:00, 11:00, 13:30, 15:30, 18:00)

Single pill events though are easier to make scientific measurements over. Reducing the variables increases the accuracy..

Bob