Dealing w/ PMDD and work issue?

Hello- I've been dealing with PMDD symptoms on and off for the last year. There are sometimes that I can handle the symptoms and 'life.' But in the past 6 months the symptoms have gotten worse and I've needed to take off work 3days to a week to rest and take of myself once a month when the PMDD episodes occur. (I've also been on and off SSRIs which made me so much worse, so I was off for almost 2 weeks then.) I've been honest with my manager (she) about what is going and explained that my medications have been switched around, etc. (My manager does not know I see a therapist.) I'm a nurse at a hospital, I've been in my current position for 3 yrs (I've worked at the hospital 5.5yrs.) One of my doctor's has filled out a form for HR so the 'sick time' is not counted against me, and that I needed to be off for medical reasons. (HR has not notified me that I need to correct my 'call in's' and my doctor's form was approved my HR.) I understand that my 'call in's' have become more frequent and I feel horrible when I have to call in for the PMDD, I have expressed this to my manager as well.
I'm worried because I stopped taking the birth control pill 3 months ago and now my cycle is different (I stopped it to decrease the heart palpatations); so I don't know exactly when I will have the PMDD episodes. I told my manager about this and said that I have tried to work my schedule around it as much as possible as she requested me to do.(we make our own schedules at work as long as there's coverage.) Recently, my manager expressed that for the next schedule she doesn't know if she can have me taking some time off, and why wouldn't the issue be corrected by then. (I wanted to take off four days one week and three days another week b/c I don't know when I will have my cycle. I also explained this to my manager again; after she said 'why won't the issue be corrected by then?') I understand she is concerned about coverage b/c we do have a few ppl going on vacations, leaving, etc in the next month or two.
I'm not sure how to handle this. I am going back to the psychatrist and gyno docs in the next two weeks, I told my manager I will let her know what the doctors' say in regards to my treatment plan. I'm just not sure how to handle this with my manager? and now besides the PMDD symptoms I'm worrying about work.

work is so important, it's as if we are workers first and people second sometimes ~! of course you are righ to worry, and it sounds like you are doing everything you should be doing,,, i just hope you manage to get past this with your job and your health intact.. best wishes.. Gus

I would like to reply, but Im suddenly under siege by ovarian pain (mittleschmertz) and have to go lie down with a heating pad. i jus want to say that there are people in your corner who understand what you are going through, so when u feel like yr under the gun and people dont understand, know many of us are trying to negotiate and maintain our dignity whilst knowing that those around us do not realize how very much we care and are conscientious about our work ethic. Gotta go..........

Update: I did talk to my manager again and she seemed alot more understanding this time. I got the new schedule and she did take me off most of the days I requested for the 'pmdd' issue.

Hi,

I am also being treated for pmdd (and depression).
You might want to contact your human resources office and get fmla paperwork. This is the Family Medical Leave Act that Clinton signed into law. There are certain categories or conditions in which you are covered if you need to take time off, meaning these absences cannot be held against you by your supervisor.

My doctor updates the paperwork every few months. Right now, I am entitled for up to 3 days per month for when I am having a bad time with pmdd. And I use it too. My supervisor is a jerk and he actually called the fmla coordinator at the post office and tried to argue with her about my protected leave.

However, most supervisors realize this is a national law and respect it as such.

Good luck.

Laurie

Hi,

(just joined today.)
My heart goes out to you because I also have pmdd as well as depression.

You might want to go to your human resources manager and get some fmla paperwork to have your doctor fill out. The Family Medical Leave Act protects employees for certain health conditions. The leave you use is protected, meaning your supervisor cannot hold it against you.

I brought the paperwork in during an appt. and my doctor and I both discuss the questions on the form and decide what is best. The paperwork gets updated once every 6 months, I believe.

My supervisor is a jerk and actually contacted the fmla coordinator at the post office and tried to challenge my fmla.

However, I would think most managers know fmla is a federal law and would respect it as such.

Good luck.

Laurie

Thanks for your reply!

I do fill out the FMLA form whenever I am off for the PMDD/anxiety issue and it has been approved by HR.

I did speak with my manager, I think she understands a little more. I feel bad because I don't want to pick up extra hours now when I am dealing with the PMDD stuff, and she's asked me several times to come in extra. I emailed her and explained at this time I can't pick up extra hours because I have the medical issues going on.

Just want to tell you I am still here with you and still very much suffering. I hope you are working things out. There has been no change in my midmonth excruciating pain and no pills or drugs help. Drs. dont know what to do. Since I am not working I am not having to fight your fight, which I am glad to hear you have worked out...although it will always feel a little tense or anxious probably??? Im continuing to look for specialists. If you here of any that specialize in Mittleschmertz (midmonth pain) please let me know basic ob/gyn just do routine ultra sounds blah blah.....I found above myself!!!!! Good Luck! Sophia Flying.

The website http://pmdd.factsforhealth.org/ helped me when I was discussing my symptoms with the doctor. The gyno referred me to a female psychatrist, but I didn't feel comfortable with that doctor, I felt that she didn't think my emotional complaints were reasons to call her, etc. I actually started seeing a male psychatrist, and I like him alot. He listens to my symptoms and wasn't just looking for a pill to put me on. He also listened to my husband when he came with me to the apointments. I think it helped to have someone who knows how you been emotinally and can give another perspective.
Hope the website helps ya!

Because of my work hours being reduced, I am currently not covered under fmla. You need to have worked so many hours to be eligible. And I am short 12 hours. However, the fmla coordinator says it isn't as simple as working 12 more hours. The work hours are computed in a way I don't quite understand. And she says I need to check with my supervisor.

Last month I worked thru pmdd. But I don't know if I can do this every month.

Yes, it is so confusing how they figure out the FMLA forms. My assistant manager did tell me about an 'intermittent FMLA,' which basically is a form the doctor fills out every month to verify to HR that the patient is recieving treatment for the problem on record and there may be times the patient will have to be off for treatments or symptoms. It's interesting because HR never informed me about the form, my manager had the idea. and they make the damn forms so confusing that the doctors don't even understand them at times.

It's unfortunate, but work has to go on and can't do that with employees that can't be counted on to show up when they're scheduled to.

I would see if you can get creative and find another, additional nurse that can start a 50/50 share with you and is willing to come in when you cannot, at the last moment, and work 100% for the two of you, if necessary. I'm talking about two people working one job, so the 100% would be only one full-time schedule, not two; you would have the priority spot of showing up and/or calling her to show up in your stead if you could not make it that shift.

Or, I would take a leave of absence until I did have the illness under control or could work around it in a reliable manner. I don't think any accommodation laws can work if you are unable to even meet the accommodations.

It would be awesome if that was an option, but our HR department does not do that.
and I think one of the main reasons why my manager was not as supportive at first was there were many other call in's at the sametime and we are already short a few positions. There has been a little bit of a turn-over in my department recently.
My manager has gotten more understanding since I explained that I also have a medical condition that the allergist is treating that could be causing the PMDD symptoms to be worse. I've talked to HR about that, and so far they have been cooperating. and i've talked to my manager that I am not comfortable with picking up extra hours right now.

It makes me mad though that I am actually off work for a medical reason, but it's ok that multiply people call in (or request off) b/c they are hungover (since they basically advertised they were going out partying over the weekend.)

and Since I am now being treated for a medical condition along with the PMDD, I have started to feel a little better. I've tried to schedule myself at work by only working 2 days in a row at a time; so far it's been working out; and it allows me time to rest in between.