Anyone ever been unable to work due to a medical condition?

srabiee

I haven't mentioned this yet on the forums, but I had to resign from my sysadmin job of 4.5 years on May 30th of this year due to a medical condition that essentially appeared out of nowhere. I'm only 34 and relatively healthy up to this point, but one evening in May I was sitting on the couch watching TV with my gf and all of a sudden I got vertigo and blacked out for a few seconds without warning. Ever since that night, I have had severe dizziness and headaches on a daily basis. It's bad enough to where I don't feel safe operating a motor vehicle (I haven't driven in 4 months), and the lightheaded feeling gives me bad malaise. Some days I feel so bad I cannot even stand long enough to take a shower. I spend a lot of time laying on the couch because of this.

I took two weeks of unpaid leave off from work, but I wasn't getting any better and because the company staffs less than 50 employees, they were not obligated under FMLA to permit me to take an extended medical leave of absence. It was basically show up to work on Monday morning or tender my resignation, which I did.

I am still eligible for unemployment because I resigned due to a medical condition, but I cannot begin drawing benefits until I am able to start actively looking for work. Which I cannot at this time.

As far as my condition, I was referred by my family doctor to a neurologist. They performed a CAT scan which was clear, and an MRI which found a cyst on my brain. The neurologist isn't convinced that the cyst is related to my symptoms.

I am leaving tomorrow for Cleveland, OH. I am being referred to two specialists there, so hopefully I will be able to get a proper diagnosis and finally find out what's wrong with me. I've never experienced anything debilitating like this before.

On a positive note, being unemployed at home every day allowed me to complete my WGU degree a few months early, and also to work on certs. I'm getting into the new MCSE stuff now, which I'm excited about.

Having something like this happen has really made me appreciate being healthy. On extremely rare days, the headaches and dizziness aren't too bad and I feel like a million bucks and I'm literally whistling around the house.

On the other hand though, I'm a little pissed and bitter that here I am finally with my BS degree and all of these higher-end certs, and I can't even work now. Because of some strange illness that no doctor up to this point can even diagnose. My neurologist has no sense of urgency when it comes to my condition, and told me that I'm the first patient he's ever had that couldn't work because of headaches and dizziness. Which made me feel kind of like a pussy. But the fact is, I'm in bad shape, I'm not gonna lie. The first month I was afraid I was going to die soon.

My gf works full time, but other than that I've been depending on my savings account. Thank God I was smart enough to save up these past 4 years. We have a 17 month old daughter. Because of our income issue, we were eligible for CHIP insurance for my daughter through the state. Again, thank God. I'm on COBRA insurance so I'm still covered for the next 3 years if necessary. Without that I'd be completely and utterly screwed.

Anyways, have any of you guys gone through any unexpected medical hardships that prevented you from working, and how did you cope and get through it?

Bokeh

Sorry to hear about the health issues. I assume you're going to Cleveland Clinic? Fantastic medical facility. You will get great care there.

srabiee

Yep, Cleveland Clinic. I have an appointment in the dizziness center Tuesday, and an appointment in the headache center on Wednesday. Driving up in the morning and staying in a hotel overnight. I'm hopeful that I can finally get the proper treatment there.

My brother developed a rare condition a few years back called phantosmia that really caused a lot of problems for him. He dropped out of college for a year because of it and became hateful and antisocial. Took 2 years to diagnose him after a doctor recommended a specialist in Nebraska. He had surgery on his olfactory nerve and now he's cured.

Thanks for the feedback on Cleveland Clinic. I didn't know anything about them except that it seems to be a huge facility. Now I'm even more hopeful that the doctors there will be able to diagnose me properly.

tprice5

Tough luck, man. Keep us posted.

+1 for sympathy.

mokaiba

Yes, I broke several vertebrae, injured hands, knees, and neck when I was in the military. It was bad enough that they discharged me and I was unemployed for two years. I couldn't work so I used the time to get an associates degree at a local community college and lived off the GI bill/left over pell grant/loans I got during that time (plus the measly $250/month the gov't gives me for causing me to become injured). I was recovered enough by the time I got the degree to start working full-time again (albeit, still in pain, but needed income to survive).

For you though, have they checked sugar levels and blood pressure during a fasted state?

tprice5

mokaiba wrote: »

(plus the measly $250/month the gov't gives me for causing me to become injured).

$250 for the rest of your life? How'd the accident happen?

mokaiba

tprice5 wrote: »

$250 for the rest of your life? How'd the accident happen?

yes, the rest of my life, plus it can increase if I file the paperwork, but as stated in other threads, money not important to me so I haven't pressed the issue with the VA yet.

Accident involved other soldiers dropping ****, 500lb+ pounds of medical equipment (xray and mri machine components), and it falling on me.

Bokeh

Cleveland Clinic is HUGE. They have their own zip code, lol. Plus their own fire/police departments. They are numero uno in the world for heart care for over 20 yrs in a row. If anyone can find out what is wrong, its the folks there and all their departments. Good luck!

RomBUS

To answer your question, No.

I sympathize with you and your medical condition and hope you can get past whatever you're experiencing. Best of luck on your journey!

deth1k

get your "middle" ear checked. Had ear infection with similar symptoms and weeks worth of anti-biotic's did it for me.

Good luck

jvrlopez

I was out for a week because of a pulled back/muscle.

stryder144

I have never experienced a long term illness before, but I truly hope and pray that the doctors will be able to narrow down the problem. I've had vertigo before, just a couple of times, and know how scary that can be. Be safe and keep us posted. We're all rooting for you!

elTorito

Sorry to hear about your condition. I know all too well how frustrating it can be dealing with the uncertainty. Let's hope the specialists will be able to help you.

Me, I've had to stop working for about 5 months due to cancer. This was more than 5 years ago, and I wasn't working in IT back then. It may well have been my disease that made me decide to change careers. My line of thought was: heck, if I can survive cancer, surely, I can survive being on the helpdesk

As for coping... just take it one day at a time. There are things in life that you have absolutely no control over, so it's not worth getting worked up about it. It seems you're doing quite well anyway, spending your time wisely on keeping your knowledge up-to-date. If your condition allows, try to remain physically active. For me, it worked wonders to keep my spirits up and to speed up my recovery.

datacomboss

God bless

NightShade03

This is an interesting thread and one that I bet many people experience. Sorry to hear about your health issues, but know that you aren't alone. As for me, yes I been unable to work at times. I have VERY serious IBS which can manifest itself in the form of a simple stomach ache to blackouts/severe dehydration (which makes me bed ridden for 48 hours at a clip). It is definitely something that I have to actively work at every day. Luckily I have a flexible job that allows me to work from home and reshuffle meetings if necessary, but I've had instances where I had to cancel on customers before unexpectedly.

I have been reading about a few others (outside this forum) that began freelancing because of health issues. Basically they started off moonlighting to build their own businesses in order to eventually quit their job and do their own thing. This is definitely not for everyone, but I will say there are plenty of benefits for those with health challenges. You can set your own schedule, take time off as needed, work from bed/couch (although this isn't healthy either long term), etc. Point being that it is something that can really help those with medical issues if needed.

Heero

BTW, this can be a good example of why disability insurance can be very helpful. Kinda the same deal with life insurance. A decent term life insurance policy can be well worth it if you have dependents.

coffeeluvr

I had a friend that developed Meniere's disease; which is an inner ear disorder that affects balance and hearing. He had to quit his job too. The Cleveland Clinic is on of the best. I wish you all the best.

Hammer80

Your first neurologist is an idiot, trust me fire him and get another one. I am not going to go into my medical history but I have to take medication for the rest of my life and no its not diabetes (my body body does not produce a certain chemical). Any doctor that behaves so indifferent and says such a stupid things will never treat you seriously. You are working with a limited time frame regarding your insurance go to someone that feels the same type of urgency that you do. It took me 4 years before I finally found a doctor that put me on right medication and I been fine ever since.

lsud00d

I'm really sorry to hear about your sudden-onset medical disorder, and the frustration of getting assistance/diagnosis up to this point. One of my siblings has been battling various health issues for many years and she is truly a motivation because even though she has her bad days, she still keeps on chugging. It honestly keeps me in check when I even *think* about complaining in most situations.

Cheers to better and expedited health

N2IT

Sorry to hear about your illness and struggles. I have gone through similar problems with my neck. I was born with a generic defect in my neck and overtime it has become so freaking painful. I manage the pain through a upper cervical specialist, Chiropracter x 10.

She has been a life saver. I struggled with this for 4 years before finally finding someone who could actually help.

Nafe92014

I know how you feel man. I was born 14 weeks early and have a hearing impairment and ADHD because of it. Most people who I have worked with in the last 13 months that I've started gaining experience say that I am better at communicating in person rather than on the phone. Yet, this is something I've had since Day 1, and people won't let it be an obstacle in my IT career.

srabiee

I'm back home now. I got an official diagnosis. I have NDPH syndrome, which stands for New Daily Persistent Headache. The doctors at Cleveland Clinic told me it's a rare disorder but they treat a lot of people there with NDPH. Basically you get a headache one day and it never goes away. Some days it can be more intense than others (like a light dimmer switch), but it's never completely gone. The doctor in the headache center told me that some people do experience periods of remission that can last for months or even years, and then the NDPH symptoms return. But he said that a lot of NDPH sufferers don't have the remitting form of the syndrome and basically are in pain every day for the rest of their lives. He said that NDPH is the most difficult type of headache to treat because it's so resistant to medication. He said that they can try different types of medication to hopefully find something that works, but he doesn't want me to get my hopes up that they can simply prescribe something to "fix" this problem.

They are sending me for another MRI and an MRV with contrast. He wants to rule out the tiny possibility that I have a blockage in the veins in my brain. After that, we are going to start on medication to try to alleviate some of the symptoms.

They also want to schedule me to see a psychologist that specializes in headache disorders. The doctor said that there is a significant suicide rate amongst NDPH sufferers, and that it's important to treat mental symptoms as well. I told him I have anxiety but I'm not depressed, but I would attend.

The bottom line is they said they would do everything they can for me to assist me in getting on with my life, but he wants me to be prepared for the possibility that I'm going to live the rest of my life with a never-ending headache and lightheadedness.

I applied for SSDI disability yesterday. I don't know what else to do right now.

srabiee

An update on my situation:

Don't have much of an update really. The 2nd MRI and MRV I had last year were both clear. I stopped going to the local neurologist that I had been seeing because he wouldn't do anything to treat my condition. Basically he knew of the condition but didn't know anything about it. He just kept telling me to take Excedrin, which only helps like 20%, if at all. I couldn't go back to Cleveland Clinic unfortunately because COBRA insurance through by former employer became prohibitively expensive and I had to drop it and go with a different plan.

I do have a referral to a new neurologist in my state who is about 1 hour away. My appointment is on April 29th. I don't know anything about this doctor, so I just have to cross my fingers and hope he/she knows about this condition and how to treat it. At the very least, hopefully they can refer me to someone in my state that has experience treating this condition. It's been nearly 1 year since I came down with this and I'm still at square one. I'm coping much better with the headaches and lightheadedness, basically because I've gotten so used to it. The first 3 months were hell though.

In the meantime, I re-enrolled to WGU to pursue the MS: IT Management degree. I got bored working on Microsoft certs after I finished the BS degree and needed a change of pace.

I will update again after the new neurologist appointment.

kurosaki00

Have you tried Colorado? I hear they have some good medicine over there for pain... In all serious business I have not been unable to work because a long term illness. My SO has a auto immune condition, I know (not first hand) it can be challenging and make you struggle, but keep at it man! Dont give up, keep going for your goals!

PC509

Had a bad back and was out for a couple years off and on (3 surgeries including a fusion). I used the time to go to school and get some certifications. Like you, I wasn't really "down", I was just off work but continuing to learn and make myself better for when I regain employment. It helped a lot. I had updated skills and knowledge and my resume was a little more full.

NotHackingYou

Sorry to hear about this - it must be incredibly difficult. Hoping you can get some relief soon.

srabiee

I haven't updated this thread in awhile, so here goes:

I still have NDPH Syndrome and I still haven't found any meds that help with the symptoms. I'm coping ok most days, I've basically just gotten used to it and it's become part of my everyday existence. I'm beginning to forget what it felt like not to have a headache. I don't really think about it anymore, except on the days when I'm above a 5 on the pain scale. Luckily I don't have too many of those. My new neurologist wants to try prescribing something new the next time I see her.

About 2 months ago I started experiencing seizures at night, which began out of nowhere. First night it happened I thought I was dying. Some really scary s***. They happened several times per night and got progressively worse over the course of 3 weeks, to the point where I was suffering from insomnia because I couldn't get enough rest. My wife and I were terrified. The ER was no help. After 3 weeks they stopped on their own and I haven't had one since then. I saw a seizure specialist who sent me for another MRI and it came back clear. She is also scheduled me for a 3-day EEG but that hasn't happened yet. Who knows what that was all about, I just thank God that they went away and I've been free from them for over a month now.

The state denied both my SSDI claim and my appeal last year, and I had to hire an attorney to represent me in court. The problem is that it takes 18 ~ 24 months on average before I can actually go before a judge. My wife and I have been living off of her income and our savings account for over a year now, and we are running out of money. I don't really have any other choice at this point but to start working again. We have until roughly the end of the year and then we are basically broke.

Ok, enough of that, now for some good news. I have decided to leave WV and actively seek employment opportunities elsewhere. There are no IT jobs here, not even in the capitol city of Charleston, and the state economy completely sucks. My wife and I have been discussing this for over a year now, and I think we have finally decided on moving to Salt Lake City, UT. (We seriously considered the Denver area but housing costs are outrageous)

We are driving down to Dallas, TX at the end of the month to visit family, and then once we return to WV I am flying to SLC to apply for jobs and secure housing there. We are hoping to be packed up and out of WV within the next couple of months.

I'm just hoping for no more medical issues. I'm only 35 and have a family to support. Enough already!

scaredoftests

Have they checked for Meniere's disease?

digitheads

I thought I simply had a head cold, or flu or something like that, but it kept getting worse & worse, so on May 19, 2014 I walked into the emergency room to have myself checked out. what a nightmare that turned out to be. I was in the ICU within 15 minutes, had hoses, needles, more than you can count. turns out I had experienced acute pancreatic failure. my blood sugar was 816, immediately diagnosed with Diabetic Ketoacidosis. although I never went into a coma, I was in there for a week while they straightened me out at least to as close to normal as possible. when I was released, I had lost almost 40 pounds - almost all muscle mass. it was hard to do anything physical, stairs ? forget it... if you think this doesn't effect your work, think again. two weeks later I was terminated. florida being a "right to work" state, employers don't have to have a reason or excuse, but I know why...

its sucked ever since then - once employers find out about my medical condition, they drop me like a hot potato, I must have had a thousand interviews - to no avail.

it took me about a year to stabilize and I have put on most of the muscle mass I lost. although I can climb stairs and ladders again, it still sucks.

now I draw blood samples 3 to 5 times a day, I inject up to 8 times a day - but I am alive and I keep going...

srabiee

I mentioned it to multiple neurologists and they didn't seem to think so. It's textbook NDPH is what I was diagnosed with at Cleveland Clinic. The other neuros agree.

scaredoftests

Ugh, headaches every day? I get migraines, 3 days a month without fail, so I can sympathize. My doctor had put me on a betablocker that helped and I tried acupuncture for a while (helped a bit) and that also made me sleep better.