Okay so what do I do now ???

Okay so I have been off work on disability because of a back injury that subsequently required 2 back surgeries to repair. I just got a call from the disability rehab specialist and she is coming to see me next week to discuss how to setup return to work. I attended my orientation August 18th/14 and have been in contact with the clinic and know that my chart is still being triaged by the clinic nurse. I don't even know if I'm going to be eligible for surgery because my BMI is only 37.6. I do have low risk co-morbities (mild sleep apnea, DDD, depression and urinary issues) but I'm not sure they are going to be accepted under the OHIP guidelines. My question is do I still discuss this with the rehab specialist ?? Do I tell her I'm looking to have WLS which is in part due to my back. There are areas in my back that are still damaged but not severe enough to warrant surgical intervention at this time, they fear my weight will increase my risk of further injury to these areas?? I'm wondering if I should just stay off work and have the surgery then return or if I should return and then go off again for the surgery ?? I have been off for nearly 2 years because of this injury and I don't want to go back and then in 2,3,4 months have to take more time off. Not to mention that they have put me on an attendance program due to the lost time at work, they put me on Step 2 of a Step 4 program and they are going to put me on Step 3 I believe when I return even though I have provided doctors notes on a consistent bases to support my time off !! I lost time before I went off for the nearly 2 years due to the back injury being improperly diagnosed as a strain and when I returned to work it cause my disc to completely herniate.  I'm so frustrated and confused I don't know what to do ???

Sorry you are in this situation, but you may not have a choice but to go back to work. If the rehab specialist feels you are ok to return to work, you pretty much have to go back, or be out of a job. Also WLS is elective surgery. Its your decision to have. Your BMI is low compared to most and the only real co-morbity that you have is mild sleep apnea. Are you being treated for sleep apnea, using CPAP?  The others are not something that they will probably consider as they are not weight related. You can certainly discuss it with the rehab specialist, but at this point in time, you dont know if you will be accepted for surgery, and if you are it could be upto 1-1 1/2 years away depending on your clinic. It takes alot more than 2-4 months to get surgery. But what worries me if you decline going back to work if they feel you should, you could loose your job, benefits ect. Have you considered maybe trying the non-surgical Weight loss program? I wish you luck and hope it all works out for you.

I'm on an appointment wait list for next year to get CPAP we only have 1 doctor in my area that does it. Oh please don't get me wrong I want to go back to work I love my job I'm just afraid of being reprimanded when I need time off for the surgery.

Hmmm... this is kind of a tricky situation, since insurance is involved with a long-term absence. I know how careful one has to be in answering their questions - being completely honest yet reserved.

Frankly, it could be quite some time (like over a year) for a surgery date to come up for you. If you are well enough to work now, then YES, you should be working. Your willingness to return to the work force now that you are better and able will go a long way in your favour - with the insurance companys willingness to support you and more importantly, with your employer seeing you as a capable, dedicated employee.

Your hope to have weight loss surgery really doesn't have anything to do with the reason you are currently away from work at all. I cant say for sure, but I really cant imagine that they would be supportive of you waiting to return, on their dime, if and when you complete an unrelated surgery.

Sorry, not meaning to sound negative. I am also off work due to illness and planning a return, so I certainly can relate to what you may be feeling. At this point, your focus really should be on getting back to your job. Your employers support of you in the months ahead with respect to having WLS sort of depends on it.

Karen

P.S. Please excuse the lack of punctuation - my laptop hates me. lol

Thank Karen you are basically thinking exactly on the same lines as me. I'm planning on returning to work with their help and direction. I'm just afraid that if this process ends up speeding up and I need to request more time off sooner rather than later, I'm going to get reprimanded and placed on Step 4 which puts my job at risk. It is all so frustrating. I just want to do what is right for me and my employer but it's not as simple as it sounds sadly. Thanks though :-)

I don't think there is any harm in mentioning to the health specialist that you are pursuing WLS through OHIP (meaning it is a covered, necessary surgery). I would. And if they are interested, I would casually mention the appointments that you will have to attend to become healthy, which should be their ultimate goal along with yours.

It is sad that you are returning already being on Step 3 - that would be discouraging to me and a little daunting. Like, Be well, or else, in a way. I have played out all kinds of negative ways my return to work could go, trust me. lol I really feel for you - in some ways I feel much the same. Returning to work after a long absence, while warranted, still makes you think about other peoples perception of you. Almost like I didn't deserve to be off. Crazy things go through my head sometimes. Returning to work is stressful!

Chat with me anytime about this. I think we are on the same page in many ways.

K.

Thank you Karen you really do seem to get where I'm coming from and how stressful this all is. I love my job and I want to return but sometimes it just seems so overwhelming.

Overwhelming is exactly the right word. Me too. xo