I'm going to end up losing my job

[jobstuff24]

And I can't afford to

I have a new medical condition that is causing severe pain, as in 9/10, screaming/moaning/can't function pain
I'm on the max pain relief which isn't working
It's unpredictable so I could have pain once every few months or once every week
An operation will help but the waiting list isn't small and I'm waiting for hospital to have an MDT meeting

wtf do I do? I can't even go private as it needs two different types of surgeons
I'm exhausted, I'm sick of being in so much pain

Are you employed? Why do you think you will lose your job?

Ask for a referral to occupational health who should be able to advise.

this they are there to help you.

Poor you, it sounds miserable ❤️ Agree with PP, talk to occupational health and HR and explain your concerns.

Could you possibly take a loan out for private care?

Sorry you’re having to cope with this.

That sounds horrible Is your employer a large company or not?
Are you a memeber of a union?

I'm employed FT, same job for 9 years
I've been seen by occupational health who said I must be in agony and I'm doing my absolute best and it will be improved massively by the operation but I'm at the mercy of NHS wait times

It's the amount of sickness I'm having due to the pain. This morning I've taken paracetamol naproxen and oramorph and I'm at about a 7/10 but can't work because I'm vocalising pain still and rolling around

Huge employer
No to union

No, they originally sent me to a private hospital (via NHS) who won't touch me

Op, why won’t the private hospital touch you?
The only thing they won’t do is emergency care-which yours obviously isn’t or you wouldn’t be going on an NHS waiting list.

You wouldn’t be sacked for being diagnosed with a medical condition-you can however be effectively “sacked” on the grounds that you are no longer capable of performing your duties (but it takes a long time to get to that point these days)

If an op will fix it, and it’s not a permanent thing, the chances of you being sacked for it are very slim. Work have to first liaise with occ health and make reasonable adjustments.

I understand you don’t want to disclose your condition, but have you checked if it falls under disability? This would provide you with more protection

Yes it does fall under it and I have another condition I disclosed at interview when I started that does as well
I need a colorectal surgeon and a specialist gynae surgeon plus possible a urology (can't think of the word) one
The private hospital doesn't have a colorectal one

Ring Acas for advice it’s free.

People can be let go with a disability or medical condition as long as the correct procedure is followed. It takes longer and reasonable adjustments have to be made if it does fall under this to try and keep them in employment.

I understand you need an operation but is there any physiotherapy to help with your condition?

Happy to disclose

I have stage 4 endo, adenomyosis, endo on my bowel, 2 x endometriomas one of which is nearly 10cm
My ovaries are kissing as they're tied together with scar tissue
Deep infiltrating endo

The best advice I can give, is be as honest as you can with your line manager, and request to be referred to occ health. Employers have a duty of care to make reasonable adjustments-and with you saying an op will mostly fix the issue you have, it is technically a “short term” medical issue as opposed to lifelong. If all you need is time off when it hits the hardest, then it’s safe to assume you are very capable of doing your job when you feel well, which as you’ve stated could possibly be for months at a time sometimes.
I don’t believe this is grounds for dismissal under medical reasons. Usually medical dismissal is when someone is no longer capable of doing the job they are employed to do.

Op, you have enough on your plate right now, your priority is to get well, but keep your employers updated every step of the way

Ah, op, I don’t know if you are aware, but severe endo, such as yours, falls under the disability act. Your employers would have a very hard time sacking you.
And you’re right, an op would heal the majority of your issues, and your on the pathway now, speak to occ health.

Find our which NHS surgeons work at the NHS hospital you would be going to who also does private and pay to see them. They can sometimes refer back through the NHS and if they feel your case is dire since your pain has escalated and pain killers is not working sometimes you can enter the waiting list as an urgent case.

I've been incredibly open with them, shared my MRI results etc, let them view my OH health report and so on

It's a front facing job so I can't sort of hide and take an hour off to manage pain, I'm either in or not

Generally in pain most days but I only take days off (it's usually 1 day or half a day) when the pain is so bad that I'm having to breathe through it or yell

I can't afford to, I'm on min wage but also I need the specialist endometriosis centre as possibly 3 surgeons in theatre for me (which would be extortionate privately)

Is there any option to move into a different job with the same employer where you can work from home while you wait for your operation?

No, they wouldn’t. If you are deemed incapable of doing the job, you can be dismissed. It doesn’t matter if you are disabled or not.

I knew it was endo as soon as you described the pain.
I have endometriosis and adenomyosis and totally understand what you are going through.
Sadly, I lost my work a month ago as I couldn't carry on but was self employed so I'm stuffed. It's bloody hard.
The NHS needs to get it's arse in gear regarding women's healthcare. I've been on a waitlist for surgery since April, they've told me it's at least 12 more months to wait.

Do you have any options for WFH?

I've been quoted £15k for my op, ridiculous isn't it?

My dad used to be a partner in a vets and they had an employee who was ill with back pain and needed an operation.

NHS waiting lists were so long they actually paid for her to have the operation privately. You say you’ve been there 9 years so you must be a valued employee.

I don’t think this is something you can ask though but if you are on sick leave and they want you back they may do it. I suppose it depends who your employer is and how replaceable you are etc.

Sending sympathies, I also have the same conditions and have had a couple of ops now. Would you be better getting signed off work? It doesnt sound like you should be working and suffering the way you are, I know stress doesnt help mine so could this also be impacting you? I appreciate how difficult that would be not knowing when youd be back/able to have the op but is part of the problem hitting trigger points due to being off and then coming back etc?

I do WFH but I'm on the phone at a desk all day
It's slightly eased now but at the point I go off sick I'm on all fours yelling or panting

I can't afford to be on SSP

Just spoken to the endo nurse and sobbed at her, the MDT meeting is Wednesday next week and she's going to emphasise how much pain I'm in