Yesterday, Friday, was my re-evaluation with my Workers Compensation doctor. There is no change in my condition. I was wrong. Another month LoA (leave of absence with a few more medical appointments to schedule, after they get approved by my employer’s insurance company.

Explained to my W/C doctor my experiences with P/T. It’s only been a week. She obviously wants me to continue working with them to see if my condition improves.

She brought up another question. I didn’t realize it was a change and a problem. Apparently, this is a red flag that must be addressed immediately. I bring this up here for two reasons. One, when visiting your doctor, no matter what type of visit, always tell them everything that is going on, no matter how small or great. Let them decide if something more needs to be addressed. Second, I admit I did not bring this up sooner. I should of because this shouldn’t be happening. I thought it was because of the drink, which could be a contributing factor.

After working many years in the medical field as a Certified Nursing Assistant, I am no longer ashamed to talk about what I experienced: “I wiped arses for a living!” Many of my patients were elderly people with various medical conditions who also had incontinence (the inability to control urine or stool). This condition is something I am now dealing with myself.

The W/C was disappointed, reinforcing that I need to disclose any changes in the future. This was a red flag that needed to be addressed. Thus, the W/C doctor now wants an MRI and for me to see an orthopedic doctor. Both of these must be approved before I can go further. So another waiting game.

In the end, another month of a LoA (leave of absence). Am I getting paid by anyone? No. I still haven’t heard from my lawyer about the progress of my case. FMLA is only approved for 12 weeks before I can lose my job. At the end of this LOA, it will be ten weeks (two weeks and two months). I just don’t know what I’m going to do if something isn’t done in the near future versus later.

Just worried…really, really worried.