It has been almost a year since I was diagnoised with Graves Eye disease. Thyroid storm, thyroid removed in Jan 2012. I have gone through 12 weeks of infusions to stop the progess of bulging eyes. I went through 10 days of radiation on my eyes in July. Work has tried to help, but the stresses of mean ladies, working on reports with magnifiying glasses, coming home exhausted and with double vision does not help with healing. I did look into the FMLA but I don't think it is worth it since they will only let me have off here and there. I worked through my infusions and also my radiation. In 10 months I have called in sick twice. I have taken 7 days off in the last three weeks because I cannot face another day of stress, reports, mean co-workers. The funny thing is co-workers were supportive up until I finished radiation. To me it seems they were like enough is enough and then their true colors came out once again. There wasn't much of my workload they had to do, just working together. I have never seen so much animosity, petty behavior and back stabbing in the 20+ years I have worked. My thyroid levels are normal and have been for about three months, so that is not it. Going home and crying on a daily basis is not worth it.

My husband supports me 100% and we do have insurance, the loss of my income will not be a huge burden and we have done it once before on his income. I am looking at two if not three eye surgeries in the next 12 months also which will be more time missed.

I feel better just letting these thoughts out. I would love to tell corporate how things really are in the branch, very little team work, talking behind peoples back, backstabbing, a boss who doesn't do anything about it etc. But at the end of the day it doesn't matter. People can choose to be caddy and mean or not. I like myself when I look in the mirror (maybe not my eyes. I know I was a good worker and also a strong woman.

Just needed to vent - onto the next chapter.


Angela

Angela,

I'm so sorry it has come to this, but it sounds like you've made your decision and you will be at peace soon. I quit the job I was working at when I was diagnosed with Graves. We think that job had a lot to do with developing Graves (since I have no family history). My bosses were supportive for the first week but then they went right back to making fun of my tremors, brain fog, weight fluctuations, etc. I took a long weekend and decided I was quitting. I had saved up enough to live for three months without a job, but fortunately, I landed my dream job after six weeks. It made a world of a difference. I went from working at a PR agency to working PR in a hospital, and finally my medical issues were no big deal in comparison to my co-workers colorectal cancer and of course, our patients.

I firmly believe a healthy, supportive environment plays a huge role in how we handle medical problems, treatments, and subsequent recoveries. That environment is 24/7. So not only did I eliminate an unhealthy 9-5, but I broke up with my long-term but unfaithful boyfriend, I stopped associating with “friends” who cared about nothing but going out and getting blackout drunk, and I even took a little hiatus from my recently divorced parents, who focused more on trash-talking each other than worrying about their sick daughter who was 1,200 miles away and completely alone (I am on great terms with them three years later).

Women are awful to each other, especially at work. I left my dream job in February to move back to Massachusetts where I could be with family and friends again, and also getting my eye surgeries done. I am working a job (higher ed) that is not as bad as the agency, but creates immense stress. I did not hear from my co-workers once during my two-week recovery from OD. They don't realize how big a deal TED or Graves are, and while I love working in healthcare for other reasons, most people don't work in that industry unless they care about others.

I think you're doing the right thing. I'm not sure what you do, but maybe you could find a freelance, part-time, consulting job? Or maybe you can find a healthy environment still doing what you love? I was extremely worried about developing double vision after OD, and knew my job was at-risk because of it (I don't qualify for FMLA since I haven't been there a year yet), but my health always comes first. I'll need eyelid surgery in a few months and possibly one additional surgery, but now I can focus on finding a new job knowing that the worst of TED is behind me. I hope you're there soon, too.

On a side note, while getting into an emotional, heated discussion with corporate may not be wise, I'd consider sending them a letter letting them know you liked your job (if you did) but that the company might retain good employees longer if management curbed the unprofessional acts and attitudes related to yours and others' health, which is actually none of your co-workers' business!

I understand your challenge of work and the need to get out. I am sorry that you had unsupportive workers. I have noticed that people do want you to get on with it (as if you could). Some people have asked me if I should just get another doctor to fix it. They don't understand that the waiting is necessary when you are in the active phase.

While I didn't have unsupportive coworkers, my job last year as an Assistant Principal of a middle school was extremely stressful and I had to change. Going out on the schoolyard hurt my eyes. The challenges of discipline at the middle school was just too much. My school district was amazing in creating a job at the same level as a coordinator at the Central Office. It is still such a struggle dealing with this disease. In this new role, I am constantly presenting to groups of people and I have noticed that I am so conscious of my appearance. It used to be no problem for me to get up in front of people but now my confidence is shaken. I try to forget about my appearance and when I do, I can become myself again but it is fleeting. Going around the district, I am expected to enter classrooms and observe students, talk to them, etc. What is most devastating is that they are frightened of me. The outgoing students will ask me about my eyes and I can tell them I have a disease and that someday I can get better but I see the look on the student's faces and it pains me. I can retire this year although I intended to stay another one or two years. I still have active TED after almost two years and hope to be able to get surgery within this year but my TSI was 520 in July. The idea of retirement, even with a little less money than I had hoped for seems so pleasing because I could focus on my personal health. I imagine myself getting up and taking a walk as opposed to rushing around to get ready to face the day with this disease. I have some big decisions to make.

Barb

Thank you both. It is nice to have some one to relate to. I am sick to my stomach because I am going in tomorrow monring, giving my resignation, collecting my personal items and leaving.

I was a bathroom & kitchen designer for 20 years. Then four years ago because of the economoy I lost my job. I went back to school for two years, attempting to get a degree in radiology. I did not make clinicals and decided to go back into the work world. I was only working for four months when I was diagnoised.

Our lives have changed so much and my husband is extremely supportive so financially and emotionally I know this is the right thing to do. Part of me feels bad for not giving a two week notice yet it is what it is.

Today is a bad eye day - bulging swollen eyes and eye cramps. Now is the time to concentrate on my health. Thank you ladies very much!

Now to just get trhough today and tomorrow morning.

Angela

I'm thinking of you this morning. Let us know how it went.

I'm also thinking about you angelamercy. I work in an office full of ladies and in the beginning everyone asked why was I wearing sunglasses inside. I can imagine that behind my back they probably tear me up but I could care less because my work is seperate from my home life. I never mix the two. For the most part everyone just looks at me as the lady with the shades. I stare at a computer for most of the day and to be honest I wing it most of the time….Vision is often blurred but I make due because I have no other choice. If I stop working I'm finished….It make me sick to my stomach to think how mean those ladies were to you and it's a shame they don't realize that graves and thyroid eye disease can happen to them also.


I wish you all the best and I'm sure you are making the best choice for you.

Take Care