[bllauben]

On Wens night (about 11:30pm), I walked about a mile home after dropping the husband's car off at the mechanics. Came home huffing and puffing like a 90 year old smoker. Thought if I got some sleep, I would feel better.

Woke up the next morning. Shortness of breath. My next plan of action: take a Zyrtec, an Aleve and drink some coffee. Went to work. Meds did not help. Called the doctor to make an appointment (this was about 11am). He called me back about ten minutes later. Told me to go straight to the ER. The husband calls me 5 minutes later. Tells me to drop everything at work and come home so he can take me to the ER (our apartment is halfway between where I work and the ER).

My coworker throws a fit. Cries (literally and in the middle of the store) because she has to run the cash register. Refuses to cover me. Gives me a huge attitude. I try to tell her that I cannot breathe. Refuses to listen to me and tells me to go back on the cash register and to do my work. Ended up calling the manager who laughs at my coworker's response. She gets someone else to cover me.

I make it home. I am getting dizzy because I cannot breathe. Joe (the husband) drives me to the ER. I get lectured at there for not coming in sooner. Turns out it was an asthma attack. They had to give me a double strength breathing treatment to stop it. Not allowed out of my apartment until Monday. The doctor thinks it was the combination of allergies, the heat and the humidity.

I am so disappointed in my coworker (21 years old) because 1) I thought she was a friend and 2) I thought she was mature and could act like a reasonable adult. Is that too much to expect?

Also disappointed that my manager would even laugh at her response. My manager is the one who told me to call my coworker and not to pass out at work. She's the one who gave me the okay to leave. So, why would she not have said something to my coworker? My coworker did not want anyone covering me because it would mean that she would get pulled off of her project (stocking the food shelves) to cover their department (exactly what she had told me after she told me to go do my work).

Am I over reacting or was my coworker out of line? It's not like I did not try to go to work or anything. I tried. I tried to do my work. It just hurt and was very difficult for me to breathe.

Thoughts?
--Beth

[protector1973]

selfish world we have all made for ourselves, excluding me. im not selfish

[bllauben]

Originally Posted by protector1973

selfish world we have all made for ourselves, excluding me. im not selfish

I'm trying to be reasonable about this. I just cannot help but feel disappointed by her reaction. I mean, if it were the sniffles, I would have waited until after my shift. I tried to complete my shift also. But this was a bit more serious. The attack lasted 13/14 hours before the breathing treatment stopped it.

I don't know. I thought I knew her. I just am disappointed that she was being selfish about it all. Thought she was my friend. Guess not.

Just glad my hubby was there to take me to the ER. Put a damper on his day off. Even took me out to dinner afterwards (nice walleyed dinner for me and a coconut chicken dinner for him). Parked by the door of the air conditioned resturant. After dinner, he dropped me off at the apartment and went to pick up my prescription.

--Beth

[bebop]

your coworker was way out of line! maybe the manager talked to her in private. let's hope so anyway. I hope you are feeling much better!

[unaluna]

Originally Posted by bllauben

My coworker throws a fit. Cries (literally and in the middle of the store) because she has to run the cash register. Refuses to cover me. Gives me a huge attitude. I try to tell her that I cannot breathe. Refuses to listen to me and tells me to go back on the cash register and to do my work. Ended up calling the manager who laughs at my coworker's response. She gets someone else to cover me.

I am so disappointed in my coworker (21 years old) because 1) I thought she was a friend and 2) I thought she was mature and could act like a reasonable adult. Is that too much to expect?

Also disappointed that my manager would even laugh at her response. My manager is the one who told me to call my coworker and not to pass out at work. She's the one who gave me the okay to leave. So, why would she not have said something to my coworker? My coworker did not want anyone covering me because it would mean that she would get pulled off of her project (stocking the food shelves) to cover their department (exactly what she had told me after she told me to go do my work).

Am I over reacting or was my coworker out of line? It's not like I did not try to go to work or anything. I tried. I tried to do my work. It just hurt and was very difficult for me to breathe.

Thoughts?
--Beth

You said it yourself, your coworker, at 21, is NOT mature. If she cried, it sounds like SHE was feeling overwhelmed also, so probably your manager did not want to make her feel worse by yelling at her. Good thing the manager was making the final decisions that night, and not the 21-year-old. Sounds like the manager was trying to find the best solution for all, the 21 yr old wanted the best solution for her, I don't think she grasped the severity of the situation at all. I once had to walk back into a younger woman's office where I was a temp programmer after she verbally threw me out and restate my case, because something had blown up and she needed to know. They should almost give us medals for what we go through?! Well, I guess in our conditions, we take it harder due to... eek... TRANSFERENCE! I felt like I was walking into the lion's den, and it was just this little blond haired girl (woman) with wire glasses, she looked like Macauley Culkin, who could be afraid of that? But she and I were never friends, and I hope you and your 21 yr old will be able to move past this. It would be a good lesson in work relations, and that is probably what the manager was trying to enable by not yelling at anybody. That is a good thing I have found about work - people usually have shorter memories than family.
-hankster

[whenwillitend]

It sounds like your coworker was scared to death of covering the cash register. But it really doesn't matter, she should be able to cover for you in an emergency, which this clearly was. I'm glad your manager agreed with that. And I'm glad you got an awesome hubby who took care of you! I hope you feel better.