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Hello!

I was diagnosed with UC in 2015. I left my job at 11 years in August 2016 to work for a company that had my dream job. I was In a senior in my position. I never had a bad review I was really good at what I did and people respected me . When I was hired at said company, I was six months pregnant (this wasn’t oops!), I did not disclose my health issues because 1 it’s unethical for them not to hire me, and 2, I was really hoping to get better. I could not predict the future Know what was to come. I got an increase in salary in about 40% more with more benefits as well. It was an offer I couldn’t refuse.

Shortly after I was hired I was in my third trimester. I have been in Remicade since I was diagnosed back in 2015. My OB/GYN and gastroenterologist made me go off Remicade for the baby sake. I was miserable every single day. I was begging to get induced early. I knew I was going to be induced on a certain day because I was a geriatric diabetic. I went In on a Monday night, got induced and did not have my baby until That Thursday. I was in labor so long I got sick and so did my baby and had to go to ICU. I knew right after delivery I was really sick. I got up to go to the bathroom and shit all over the bathroom floor. It was so disgusting and embarrassing I cleaned it up myself.

after I return home I just cried I felt awful. At the same time this is happening my sister is in ICU in a coma for a perforated colon and sepsis, so my parents were with her most of the time. They came to see me once at home but not when I had the baby or when I was in labor. I got really sick lost a lot of weight became very anemic. I tried prednisone and Remicade again but the Remicade did not work. That is when I made the decision to go to my surgeon and get the surgeries done. They told me they had to remove my entire colon and then the surgery several months later I could be hooked back up with a J pouch. 

fast forward to September of that year. I went back to work and did the best I could but got sick again and again and again. I was in and out of work for two or three months at a time from April 2018 to August 2018. I would get the flu because of a suppressed immune system and be sick for a week. During this time my boss would give me a little work to do or make me do inventory or clean the production room for months at a time. As I slowly start to become used to everything I stayed at work for another year steadily not missing more than one or two days every other month. I still is not getting the amount of work or the level of work that I was used to doing. I would get ignored by my team and my supervisor and I was just treated differently. I became so depressed and thought about finding another job but I thought I just wait it out and see if things got better. It didn’t and they fired me in January 2020. When I asked why they said it was due to performance and lack of confidence in me to do the work. I asked for specifics but they could not and would not provide them to me. They offered me a severance package for three months and a good one at that. I asked why they would provide a severance package to someone they fired and they just said they wanted me to find something that fits me better. I basically signed a contract so I could not sue them later on. I was crushed.

I would look for a job day after day from the end of February to August and because of Covid not a lot of companies are hiring. I became so depressed some days I wouldn’t even get out of bed. I have three young boys that don’t deserve this. My house is in shambles and I’m not one to like Clutter or filth, it stresses me out.

I lost my insurance and had to go without my medications. I had to sign up for government assistance for my family and me. It took three months to get approved for Cimzia, so I went without that or prednisone or my other medications that I am on (High blood pressure, diabetes and depression and anxiety meds). I also applied for unemployment and did not get excepted for a month and a half as well. 

Sometimes I can’t help but wonder if I was fired because of my health. I understand that an employee needs to be responsible and reliable. But I was back for a year with minimal time out and not given a chance like I should’ve been given to prove myself.

Currently, I been freelancing from home and it’s actually working out well because I have my bathroom right there, or if I feel sick I can just lay down. Funny though, the company I’m freelancing for respects me says I’m doing great and I’m rocking it.

Has anyone else experienced something like this? I’m not trying to feel sorry for myself. my family and friends really feel that I was let go because of my health. But I’m not sure what to think I can’t stop blaming myself. 

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First off, I am so sorry...you have really been dealt a rough hand of cards...and you appear to be a real fighter.

You do not sound like someone who sits back and allows life to happen...more of a take-charge person than a victim...so that may be why this hurts so hard.

I cannot guess what they were thinking and I am not sure of the laws where you live but you might be able to consult, online, a lawyer specialized in this sort of thing. If you decide to do so, make sure that they work on contingency and not up-front retainer. They will tell you if you have a case or not.

You may not wish to do it at all or even for the money but for the recognition that you were a good employee and that they illegally fired you for no good reason.

Back in 2017, after working for the same school/group of schools for years, my studies director refused me access to the toilet! Yup, she informed me that I was forbidden from using the staff washroom because something that I was putting in there was clogging it up weekly...and that I was leaving a bloody mess. (literally).

Except that I was a) long past menopause and b) not likely to be dumping 'stuff' in there. She knew that I had a medical condition (probably thought that I had a bag and was flushing it!) and she blamed me for the school's plumbing problems.

I worked Tues/Thurs at the school, 14hr days. I could not 'hold it'. I had 3hrs public transportation/day. I used the student toilet that didn't have sinks in stalls...a problem for a k poucher.

She was essentially condemning me to quit. I didn't . I fasted instead. I survived to the end of the school year. But the week before the new semester, I wrote a letter to the director asking him if I would be allowed to use the washroom this year. (Yes, very passive-aggressive).

He was shocked. I got 'rehired' and apologized to but was subtly pushed out anyway. The following year I was told that my contract wouldn't be renewed.

I could have sued but I had a better gig lined up...I should have sued but it isn't in my nature...I never win.  I honestly believe that you need to follow your gut and do what feels right..

Good luck no matter what...and do not allow them to destroy you from the inside out...

Sharon

skn69: I appreciate your feedback and support. It’s comforting to know that I am not alone, which is how I feel so often.
This is something a person doesn’t get or understand unless they have or are going through it.
There is nothing I can do now because I sign a contract for a severance package, it included a form that I cannot come back and sue them.
I felt I had really no choice at the time, either take the severance or have no income at all and absolutely no benefits for me or my family (I was the sole provider for the family). Having no insurance is terrifying. It took me several months to get on the state program to receive my medication. Thankfully for now I have insurance to cover my meds.
I believe things happen for a reason, what that is right now I am unsure.I used to try to be so positive, but with all that’s going on now it’s so hard!
I’m glad I found this forum to share my thought and feelings. It helps a lot. I’m learning a lot from other people too!

@JPouch_2016 posted:

Lauren of Emerald City: thank you for your continued support and wonderful words. I see your posts and they are very helpful for me! It’s always nice to hear someone with similar experiences.

You are welcome And omg! Thank-you for saying that!!! I thought about leaving the forum because some people on here can be very mean, but hearing people like you that are grateful for my advice and the fact that it helps you, is definitely worth me staying People like you make me want to stay and it keeps my staying So thank-you very much

I was just scrolling through some of your sad stories and it broke my heart.  You are all very brave.  I am sorry that your firms/schools treated you unfairly.  It’s good to look forward.  However, if any other member of our JPouch team/family gets treated like that at work, in anyway, or it happens to someone on this thread again please send me a private message.  I am not a lawyer, but I have been a businessman on Wall Street for 30 years.  Every state in the country has laws to protect our health issues.  Maintain written notes about your performance and harassment and firing.  If you are truly fired unfairly, a good lawyer would obliterate them.  None of us like to fight, but we need to protect our rights.  A large public firm could lose literally six or seven figures quite easily in court and would likely settle out of court.  We are not litigious folks - but we have rights.

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