Narcolepsy Forum Posting

Posted by ExhaustedMom on February 01, 2002 at 15:08:48:

In Reply to: Re: important question posted by altheacoG on January 31, 2002 at 20:45:21:

Whew, ok, it'll be fine. No one has tried to take away my driver's license OR my nursing license- please don't worry! My doctor just had explained to me that he chooses not to label the N without C due to the involvement of not being able, 100% of the time, to operate a car, or in my case, a dialysis machine, without causing harm to others. And, in our wonderful profession, we also deal with the drug testing, etc., and even though we are being prescribed by a physician, can the workplace take any action about, for example, the Ritalin I take to function? This is all a grey area, and should not be a problem for the state licensing board because it's a physical condition that is being treatment by an MD, and the med allows me to function 200 times better than without it. He's just aware of how difficult these situations can be, and would rather not go the whole N route if I don't meet 100% of the criteria, C being the largest and most definitive of the symptoms. He won't report any of his patients to the DMV, although he will tell them that he doesn't feel they are well enough to drive at this point, but it's up to the individual to take that risk. I guess he feels likewise with the employment issue. It wouldn't be ok for a narcoleptic with poorly controlled C working with live wires any more than it would be ok for us to care for people if we felt we were jeopardizing their care. I, for one, would be the first one to step away from direct patient care if I thought I was not able to perform my duties. Tha's exactly why I do dialysis, because it keeps me moving all day, and being stimulated for me means being awake. As for your situation, if your doc will write you a medical necessity note stating what you need to have as far as scheduling, etc., if you work for a hospital, they have to show that they have attempted reasonable accomadations. If you need to stay full time, you can request days due to your sleep disorder. ALso, get FMLA papers in order. The FMLA can be taken in increments, where you feel you may need off, etc. They cannot count your absences against you with the FMLA in place, and my hospital HR told me that it can be retroactive for 6 months prior to the filing, and other absences can be cleared from disciplinary record, if the need be. Not clear on how it works for tardiness, but if you called in to tell them you'd be a little late, I believe that would cover you under there, too. Double check with your HR to be sure. Be upfront with your diagnosis and the medication regime and potential changes, etc., and how you may be affected. Submit the FMLA paperwork after your doc signs it, then put in a formal request for "reasonable accomadation" under the ADA, and request day shift hours, or whatever would be best for you, out of their shift options. In order to not be punished in court, the employer must show that they tried to accomadate you and work with your disability. How was your work record before the EDS got so bad? If the problems are just recently with the EDS and medication changes, you have a very valid reason for wanting to try to do what's best for your illness. Talk to HR and your MD. They can help you with a solution. In the meantime, don't worry about the whole license thing- just don't work if you feel impaired. Sleepy isn't the same as impaired.

Follow Ups:

• Re: important question altheacoG 16:25 2/01/02 (0)

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