When is time to call it quits?

[Slinky]

And - as far as lab tests: if you are consistently borderline "normal" - high or low - it is something to watch closely in addition to symptoms. Sometimes instinct is worth more than lab results. The GOOD doctors recognize this.

[timeforchange]

You don't say what blood work was done at the request of the SD... did they do tests for other fatigue causing triggers such as thyroid, B12, D3 levels, magnesium levels? TSH and D3, especially, can bring on a lot of the symptoms you are describing. Furthermore, having a doctor say things are 'normal' and not knowing what the actual numbers are doesn't mean that is so.... For example, labs score D3 levels as 'normal' when in the range of 30-100 when the latest research now shows optimal sleep and benefits come from a narrow range of 60-80. TSH is normally scored as normal anywhere up to 4; whereas the American Thyroid Association recommends a 'normal' range at .5 - 2.5. So....if you have copies of all your blood work results, and you did, in fact, have these done.....check the scores. If you didn't have those test done....ask for them to be sure you are in the optimal ranges. If you had them done and are outside the normal ranges, you should get the supplementation needed.

Should clarify the chain of events. Before seeing my SD, I went to my GP and we discussed the fact that nothing from the SD was working, aside from the CPAP giving some support. GP did say she wanted to test the thyroid and she said my insurance would cover everything and "while we were at it, we would check the liver", I paid extra out of pocket for that test - even though not really related. Just to get a known base on everything. When I went back in for the blood test the Nurse practioner was a bit livid at the tests being run and was drilling me on why the doctor had wanted so much tested and why she wanted the liver tested. Funny, I never saw that NP again and she no longer works there:)

I don't have the tests results after they called back from the DM. However, it was another complete blood test and it showed I had actually lowered my cholesterol and my vitamin D was higher (of course it was the summer). I am not sure about the TSH I can probably call the nurse and get that info. However, I probably need to get the results from the stress tests I took several years ago. They said there was some sort of leak, but was normal and just needed to watch it (there is that long term memory loss:))

[angcor580]

Hi there! I read your post and had to comment since I work at a Disability office at a big company. You should definitely apply for FMLA so that you have time off to get your health back on track. I think it would be good for you to get some rest. Make me wonder if you are really passionate about your job. I know dealing with a stressful job along with health concerns is not easy. If you had great job performance evaluations over the years, then the company will have a hard time explaining why they let you go. Thankfully I am passionate about my job otherwise my untreated OSA would get in the way. I hope that you find all the solutions!

[timeforchange]

Hi there! I read your post and had to comment since I work at a Disability office at a big company. You should definitely apply for FMLA so that you have time off to get your health back on track. I think it would be good for you to get some rest. Make me wonder if you are really passionate about your job. I know dealing with a stressful job along with health concerns is not easy. If you had great job performance evaluations over the years, then the company will have a hard time explaining why they let you go. Thankfully I am passionate about my job otherwise my untreated OSA would get in the way. I hope that you find all the solutions!

I love my job and have known most of my co-workers for over 20 years. I find it hard to justify FMLA, perhaps that is what a discussion with my doc would do, but I also have STD which if I could do would be better has it provides at least some income to help pay the bills. FMLA as I understand would have to be offset anyway with no additional benefits.

Guess I just need that punch to go to the doc.. Mostly the reason for my post, was to see how others actually had or started that conversation. After working for more than 10 years on my pain and 4-6 on OSA, guess what I am feeling is just exhaustion - or just need a break that a long vacation can not provide. Maybe that is what I need to tell the doc after all:)

[RoxanneY]

You may be miserable, but do not leave the job without having another one. If you quit, you will not be entitled to unemployment.
If you quit, you make it easy for the company. Hang in a little longer because if lay offs are in the air, you will probably be on the list. You have everything to lose if you quit and everything to gain if you wait it out. Don;t let your emotions rule this decision.

[avi123]

[quote="timeforchange"]
Questions:

1) Could you present the above to your employer and ask for a more appropriate job?
2) I don't think that your current ailments would qualify you to any Disabilities by the Social Security b/c you could do simpler work.
3) Do you have a wife to help with income?
4) How close are you to Soc Sec?

[timeforchange]

You may be miserable, but do not leave the job without having another one. If you quit, you will not be entitled to unemployment.
If you quit, you make it easy for the company. Hang in a little longer because if lay offs are in the air, you will probably be on the list. You have everything to lose if you quit and everything to gain if you wait it out. Don;t let your emotions rule this decision.

Oh no...They are going to have to throw me out. That is for sure. I may consider temp leave or SDT or even LDT if that is the case. But never quit:)

[timeforchange]

Questions:

1) Could you present the above to your employer and ask for a more appropriate job?
2) I don't think that your current ailments would qualify you to any Disabilities by the Social Security b/c you could do simpler work.
3) Do you have a wife to help with income?
4) How close are you to Soc Sec?

#1 Possibly... I am looking into some possibilities. But, I don't think I want to approach until after I have looked into all options.
#2. I don't think I would qualify for SSD either, but not looking or considering that route.
#3 No. Divorced due to undiagnosed OSA.... Unreal, she was a nurse manager:(
#4 A looooong way away. At least 12 years or more, if congress doesn't mess me up.

[timeforchange]

I probably need to point out that over the past year I have been working at home to turn what has also been my lifelong hobby into either a second income or small business. For obvious reasons and legal concerns I just have not taken the step to make this into income producing or a business. The hobby reduces my computer time by probably 60% and does not require being behind a desk and even gets me outside when I can.

However within probably the past 6 months, I come home and due very little if anything on my hobby. I generally spend Sat/Sun doing things and now I am so tired I loose interest and usually just sit and watch TV ar fall asleep. I know I am not supposed to, but almost like I need to crash.

[kteague]

Some people on this board are in the same line of work and found much of their ability to process complex information was regained after therapeutic cpap treatment. Everyone is different. I was not a programmer, but had a lot of database management type duties in my job. I had gotten to the point in my impairments that whether or not to continue working was no longer my choice. Maybe you do need a break from the physical stress of sitting at a computer all day so that you pain can be reduced. The thing that crosses my mind though is that when sleep isn't restorative for whatever reason, our pain levels can seem increased. I think I would first want to be sure that my sleep is optimal before making a life altering decision. Your sleepiness and fogginess makes me wonder if you might still have sleep quality issues. Verifying through your data would be a first step. If you are getting adequate hours of sleep and your data does looks good, consider if there could be other sleep disrupters, like meds or limb movements. At one point I had another sleep study while using my cpap as usual to see what else was going on. Even when my cpap treatment was going well, I still had disjointed thinking from my jumpy legs affecting my sleep quality.

If this is a job you would prefer to keep (for whatever reasons) it just seems a bit premature to let it go without knowing if you are really at your personal best for this point in your life. Of course you know your situation better than anyone, just saying that from the outside, I don't think you have quite enough info to make a fully informed decision.

[timeforchange]

Some people on this board are in the same line of work and found much of their ability to process complex information was regained after therapeutic cpap treatment. Everyone is different. I was not a programmer, but had a lot of database management type duties in my job. I had gotten to the point in my impairments that whether or not to continue working was no longer my choice. Maybe you do need a break from the physical stress of sitting at a computer all day so that you pain can be reduced. The thing that crosses my mind though is that when sleep isn't restorative for whatever reason, our pain levels can seem increased. I think I would first want to be sure that my sleep is optimal before making a life altering decision. Your sleepiness and fogginess makes me wonder if you might still have sleep quality issues. Verifying through your data would be a first step. If you are getting adequate hours of sleep and your data does looks good, consider if there could be other sleep disrupters, like meds or limb movements. At one point I had another sleep study while using my cpap as usual to see what else was going on. Even when my cpap treatment was going well, I still had disjointed thinking from my jumpy legs affecting my sleep quality.

If this is a job you would prefer to keep (for whatever reasons) it just seems a bit premature to let it go without knowing if you are really at your personal best for this point in your life. Of course you know your situation better than anyone, just saying that from the outside, I don't think you have quite enough info to make a fully informed decision.

My sleep numbers in my SD words are remarkable. He said there is nothing more that can be done with the CPAP therapy, he ever stated he wished he could get that with his other patients. I tend to agree with him, I don't think my tiredness is from any kind of problems with the CPAP.

I generally do not need much sleep, never have. 5-6 hours has always been plenty unless I am sick, I will generally wake up after 5-6 hours and can't get back to sleep.

You do raise a question on movement though. I have a c5-c6 fusion and get steroid shots every 3 months and in recovery, the nurses have asked me if I have restless leg syndrome. I mentioned to my SD and I think he was a little bothered that the nurses asked me, come to think of it he seemed a little intimidated. He blew it away as probably back pain from from laying down on my stomach for so long. I do get leg pain if I lay on my stomach for too long.

On a few occasions, I have started to sleep and have pretty much just jumped straight in the air. This was right when going to sleep. My Doc checked my heart as usual but said everythign was fine. But after the episode the other night i did some research and found out about sleep myoclonus. So you may be correct, there may be another underlying issue. I also know my ex-wife said I talked to her in my sleep. That got in big trouble as evidently I made promises in my sleep I did not keep:)

[timeforchange]

And I meant to followup. Perhaps based on my SD not wanting to dig deeper into other issues such as restless leg syndrome, I should search for another one. perhaps the third one will be perfect for me..

[JohnBFisher]

I have to agree it is best to stay in your job until you find the next job.

I did go out on LTD, but would not recommend it unless you have a very clear diagnosis and a doctor who recommends that you take it. That combination is rare. Even then the insurance company tends to put you through the wringer with various forms and procedures.

Much better to find another position where you will be happier. And yes, I do understand the stress of your situation. I went through about 15 years of layoffs. It was never easy. But focus on work and not all the internal, endless speculation. That helps make it easier to stay positive and focused on moving forward.

Hope that helps.

[timeforchange]

A followup. I went back to my GP and laid the groundwork that I had to do something now or start considering leaving work. Her response was review the cervical pain and see if there were other options before anything drastic was done. Not sure she fully understood I do not want more surgery. That being said I have since had Xrays and waiting for my MRI results. X-Rays showed damage to the disc above my fusion C5-C4 and bone spurs, I suspect the MRI will show more and probably result in the recommendation for surgery. So that is in works.

On the other end have also talked to my SD. He said he has run out of options he can do. He said only thing left is to do a day study and determine how sleepy I am in the day and look into other medications since Provogil and Nuvigil are not working.

At least he seemed to respond when I mentioned I was concerned my not getting the right amount of sleep could be affecting my muscles and neck pain. That seemed to trigger something and he said he understood what I was saying.

So still here, still working, still sleepy and still in pain...

[squid13]

I have had bone spurs removed from my neck 3 times and it's not all that bad. They go in from the front and try to make the incision in a crease or something like that so the scar doesn't show that bad. When those spurs start pressing on nerves it can cause all weird kinds of problems. Each time they go in they always fuse the disk so I'm pretty well fused in the neck but you soon learn how to compensate for it. Maybe that's your problem and when they get them removed it will clear up. In fact down here it's done as outpatient surgery, cervical collar and 6 weeks your good as new. Have a neurosurgeon do it.