Help? Have I made myself sick or is it IC?

[wingirl1999]

Okay...I have either made myself sick or it's my IC flaring or both. I haven't gotten much sleep for two weeks and I've also been flaring for several days. I felt like I was burning up last night but refused to check my fever (didn't want to believe I had one when I wasn't "truly sick" as in the flu or something). Well I just checked it and I do have a fever. I've had a lot of pelvic pain yesterday and today in particular and lower back pain as well. Can IC cause a fever? I truly think it's that plus the exhaustion. Also, are any of you able to get a sort of general "excuse" from your Uro saying you may have to miss work due to the IC even if you don't actually go to the doctor? We all know that going to the doctor every time we flare doesn't really help. But my school district requires excuses and if you don't have them and use a bunch of sick days, you get reprimanded. Anyway, this is the first time I've felt like I had a fever with mine. I was wondering if any of your Uros do "checkup" cystoscopies after the first one or two that they use for diagnosis? I think I may need another one because I feel like mine has actually gotten worse. I also have Hunner's ulcers which doesn't help. Ugh...just feel like crying...I hate these days.

[kadi]

Hi Wingirl,
Sorry, but I think you need to go to the doctor or ER, sounds like you may have an infection...

About the teaching & sick days... Do you have a teachers' union? I don't think you should have to provide doctors note unless you miss more than 3-5 days at a time... I'd check with your union (and you may want to even call your union office directly if your school rep isn't helpful) before providing the school or district with anything that could be used against you. My principal initially was very supportive about my IC, but when I wanted a promotion used it against me. (And yes, that's illegal, but if you are staying at the job, you have very tough choices to make & filing a grievance was not in my best interest).

Sending a hug & wishing you better days soon.
PM me if you need anything. I've been a teacher for 16 years, 3-1/2 with IC.

[wingirl1999]

We don't have unions in our state that I know of...which is probably part of the reason why we are last or next to last in everything regarding education. (I'm from SC) My principal is pretty supportive but he said that at the district office they may realize how many days I'm missing and send me a letter of reprimand. The stress of teaching does not help, as you well know. As for an infection, it could be I suppose, but it feels more like IC (pain, but no burning). But I know infections don't always act "normally."

[Briza]

Wingirl
My district requires a Release to Work paper to be filled out by a dr if you're out more than 5 days in a row. This paper is filed with the insurance dept at the main office. Even so, before I applied for FMLA, I always submitted a dr excuse every time I was out, (to avoid being reprimanded) but it does get a little frustrating handing over those excuses to the principal's secretary, especially since her daughter is in my class this year. So the secretary knows all of the drs I've seen...gyns, uros, GPs, psychologists, psychiatrists, and the surgreies I've had. Feels like an invasion of my privacy, you know? So that's why I applied for FMLA...

If you think you are going to have numerous intermmitent absences throughout the semester or year, I would highly recommend applying for FMLA through your district insurance office and it is good for 12 weeks straight of working days, or 12 weeks total intermittently. The paperwork is confidential, does not have to be seen by the administrators at your school, and that should take care of your having to submit a dr's excuse every time you are absent. I think that would be the closest thing to having a general excuse from your dr. I applied for FMLA this year...it covers your *** legally if your boss starts giving you s*** about your absences, you can call your legal rep, if your state doesn't have a teachers's union (Texas doesn't) If you don't have anymore sick, personal, or extended leave days left, you will be docked your full daily amount, but stil retain your insurance. With my intermittent FMLA, I do have to submit a letter every 30 days to the insurance dept from my dr saying that my condition has not stablized, there is a high probablity that I will continue to have abences due to my condition for the rest of the semester, and most importantly, that these absences many times are not planned (like when you wake up in a lot of pain).
I'm not saying my principal doesn't give me some dirty looks sometimes, but at least he and I both know that my job is covered legally, so I just let it slide.

Best wishes:)

[wingirl1999]

What does FMLA stand for? So basically you still get docked pay if you don't have any sick days, but you can't lose your job because of it?

[dancemomof2]

Just wanted to send you some healing thoughts.

[Briza]

http://www.ic-network.com/images/spiritaward.jpg

I think Briza's post is so helpful in terms of information and in terms of support from someone who has been there ---- one teacher to another. Bravo! ~vm/Kim


FMLA
stands for Family Medical Leave Act. It's a federal thing, so should apply in all districts, and I believe any place of employment that has over a certain number of employees, if I'm not mistaken. Many husbands apply for it when their wife has a baby, mother's, too, especially if they are planning not to go back to work for a while, so it secures your job, or one equal to it, in your place of employment if you are ill or are the caretaker of someone who is ill in your family. So say you have a baby in April, and don't return to work til the fall. You will still have a teaching job reserved for you in the fall, most likely the one you had before, but they can move you to a different school or grade level that you are certified to teach. I haven't seen anyone be moved like that in my district, probably because subs are less expensive than hiring a new teacher for a short time. Like when someone breaks a bone, requires operation, long recovery, they've always just gotten a permanent sub for the 6,8 weeks the teacher needs to recover and get the medical release to return to work. Even if your boss says your job is secure, this covers it legally, because really, who knows what they are thinking. My boss was getting antsy about my absences this year, and before I applied for FMLA he assured me he wanted me to get better and that I was at no risk of losing my job, but then I had to take a leave of absence for 2 weeks, parents were calling him (so he says) complaining about my not being there, even though I always had lessons prepared and kept up to date with grading papers while I was out, always called with ample time for a sub, kept in touch with him through email (so it was documented that I had kept him up to date) which he never responded to, kept in touch with parents by email. I started to get worried about things. So I had a private conference with him, told him that I am not out laying on the beach when I am absent, that even though he couldn't SEE that I was ill, I needed the rest to do my best in the classroom. What was weird is that he didn't think the FMLA was important so I told him that both the ins. dept and my dr higly recommended my getting the FMLA, and even though I believed him that my job wasn't in jeopardy, the FMLA gave me peace of mind, because the principal is not the only one in charge of my contract being renewed...it is the super and the schoolboard who have the final say on things like that.
Sorry, didn't mean for this to be so long, but I would look into it, the paperwork is a breeze, and having it approved is no problem...if your dr says you need time off, then it has to be approved. The paperwork didn't ask details about my condition, just the usual stuff address, emergency #'s, etc, and the dr just writes in the name of your condition, not the details of it, and how long you will be sick or estimated time you will be off. Hope this helps. I would try mainly to deal with this through the insurance dept, they're much more informed about FMLA than the school is and how it works.
But yes, you will be docked if you don't have any more sick days, unless you have some kind of disability insurance. But when I had the 2 week leave of absence, what I was docked was divided through the rest of my pay checks til August, so it didn't affect me that much. But I am looking forward to next Sept, with raise and my regular pay I will be able to hopefully get some money saved in case something like this happens in the future.
Post or pm me if you have any more questions, about the paperwork or anything. I'll try to find my paperwork, it's around her somewhere.

[GriffsMommy]

FMLA is Family Medical Leave Act, it's a federal law. Your doctor fills out the paperwork and they can't fire you and you don't have to provide a doctor's note at all after the FMLA has been approved. I used it when I had my son to go to my prenatal appts and my maternity leave. I'm going to apply for it at my job once I've been there a year, that's how long you have to be employed by a place before you can apply.

[Briza]

[QUOTE=wingirl1999;314689] the district office they may realize how many days I'm missing and send me a letter of reprimand. [QUOTE]

This is exactly what I mean. The FMLA will prevent you from having any formal reprimand in your file.

You know how things trickle down from the top...while it may seem like it is your direct supervisor who is telling you this, often they are already getting pressure from their supervisors at the main office and and then your boss passes the information on to you.

[Briza]

Thank you, Christine, for adding that about the length of employment. I think my paperwork asked if I had worked the required 1250 hrs in the past year.

[ICNDonna]

You didn't mention how high your fever is. It's very possible you have an infection --- definitely if your temp goes as high as 102, you need attention.

Warm hugs,
Donna

[Moonheart]

It's sounds like you have a possible kidney infection or bladder infection. With the back pain and fever and all. I hope you went to the doctor. Please let us know you are okay!

Hugs,
Moonheart

[Kara29]

Congrats on your Award!

[Briza]

I hope others, not only teachers, are aware of FMLA, so maybe this will bring some attention to it as an option whether you need a leave of absence or intermittent absences for dr appts, flares, reactions to meds, and just the plain ole I can't do it today because I gotta pee too much! One thing I just remembered is that my dr said it's best to use up all of your sick days first, and any extended leave you have (I get docked only for the cost of the sub for 10 extended leave days), since you are entitled to those each year (for teachers, usually 10-12 days paid sick days plus the extended leave) and then apply for FMLA) so they don't overlap with the FMLA days and then you have access to to the additional full 12 weeks of FMLA absences. Of course, if you still have sick days and your boss is already worrying you, you can always apply for FMLA anytime. Most teachers in states that don't have unions can join a teachers' organization (like American Federation of Teachers, but there are many others) and they provide legal representation if you need it. Costs only about $8 a month) I haven't every used it, and sometimes it does stir up things (from the teachers I know, not only in my district, but it is usually very effective, and things are managed quickly (in your favor) without having to file a formal grievance...now that can REALLy stir things up, like Kadi mentioned above.

Kara, thank you:)

Wingril, I hope you're feeling better soon. I had hunner's ulcers removed during a cysto/hydro. Have you ever had yours removed? THe cystoscopy that you mentioned, was it in office or in the hospital under anesthesia? My cysto/hydro Nov 2004 was NOT fun, but hunner's uclers were removed and my really bad stabbing bladder pains didn't return until recently. The hydro didn't help with any of the other symptoms, but symptoms were easily managed with my meds til recently so had a change in pain med from Tyleonl 3 to Vicoden. It's working great, but its's apparently going to take time to get used to the woozy side effcts.

[jen74]

Wow, that is very interesting about the FMLA. My hubby is a school teacher. I was wondering, does this FMLA only cover my hubby if he is the one who is sick?? Like for instance if we decided to travel somewhere out of state to get help for me, could he use this FMLA to secure his job even though he is not the one who is sick, I am. I am sure if he could even apply for the FMLA. He works for the Chicago Public School board. Does this FMLA apply to everyone or all teachers in any state?
Jen

[Briza]

Here's a link to the FMLA form, and yes it does apply to the family member who is the caretaker
http://www.wichita.gov/NR/rdonlyres/0F06B0EA-C73C-457B-9951-D44C7727C9F5/0/Health_Care_Provider_Certification_Form_15f.pdf

[amartaingirl]

I think all companies have to provide FMLA
I know I don't need an excuse..Can take off some 1000 hours a year or so
unpaid of course

lucky..i havent called off since 10/11/2006!!!!!