Sleep apnea and work!
Question:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -On Thu, 18 Mar 1999 10:14:06 -0500, "Jo" <jl…@bright.net> wrote: > Jim, you mentioned that you know you have sleep apnea. What you >didn’t mention was if you were doing anything to treat the apnea. > If you are using a CPAP or BiPAP machine and are having troubles >with it, post here and ask questions. There are a lot of people on here >who have experience with these machines and the masks and they/we could >be of help in helping you adjust more. > If you aren’t using a machine or anything else for your apnea, then >please go to a sleep specialist and get the study done and get yourself >on one. We’ll help you through that, too. Or a trach if you want to go >that route. There is a lot of controversy about the laser treatments so >I don’t recommend those as a sure cure. >Jo
Jo: Yes I am on CPAP. I am also dealing with insomia due to my taking paxil and the fact that my sleep paterns of late have been eratic at best. One problem is the mask coming off. I’ve received some good info. from others and I’m taking action. I am also seeing my specialist and my GP. I plan to also see someone from the employee assistance program too. Hopefully I can get this worked out.. Thanks for responding and take care. Jim Cox * Antispam Warning: Replace "web" in my email address * * with "a51" to reply via email. *
Response:
I have been reading your posts with interest since this is similar to my situation a few years back. I’m an engineer and at the time was a contractor at a major auto manufacturer. I was falling asleep at work which made me the butt of a lot of jokes. But after a while I was being threatened. It was a "performance" issue. After my sleep study and diagnosis, I informed the management of my situation. They seemed to be understanding at the time. But after a while, it was obvious that they were becoming openly hostile. The thing was, I no longer was falling asleep at work. My project lead stated on more than one occasion that he noticed an improvement in my work, but the hostility continued. Finally, I was given a negative performance review by the department head. That’s when I got a lawyer. The lawyer wrote a letter to the legal department at the auto company, explaining that I was diagnosed with sleep apnea, which is a recognized disability under ADA. He further requested that the negative performance review be removed from my records and that I receive an apology. He also politely reminded the lawyers there of the various remedies available to me (i.e., punative damages) if my polite request was ignored. The performance report was removed and I got my apology, but the hostility from management never did go away. I finally left them a few years ago. My current employer is much more understanding and accomodating. I guess what it boils down to is this. Try to be polite, but don’t let them walk all over you. The law is on your side. Have a good night’s sleep. Bill Sullivan (no relation to the CPAP company) ———–== Posted via Deja News, The Discussion Network ==———- http://www.dejanews.com/ Search, Read, Discuss, or Start Your Own
Response:
Jim, you mentioned that you know you have sleep apnea. What you didn’t mention was if you were doing anything to treat the apnea. If you are using a CPAP or BiPAP machine and are having troubles with it, post here and ask questions. There are a lot of people on here who have experience with these machines and the masks and they/we could be of help in helping you adjust more. If you aren’t using a machine or anything else for your apnea, then please go to a sleep specialist and get the study done and get yourself on one. We’ll help you through that, too. Or a trach if you want to go that route. There is a lot of controversy about the laser treatments so I don’t recommend those as a sure cure. Jo
Response:
On Thu, 18 Mar 1999 22:57:56 +1100, "gregh" – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -<ch…@dontspam.ozemail.com.au> wrote: >snipped! >In USA, Sleep Apnea is recognised as a disability. If you get fired because >of your disability, you have every right to sure the pants off the assholes >and walk away with a lot of money *BUT* you have to let them know you have >this disability first. If you dont and get fired, you’re on your own. >I used to be an award winning salesman going from strength to strength until >my sleep apnea really bit hard. I found myself unable to work properly and >at one stage was trying to work out a form I filled in a lot for about 10 >mins. It felt like 10 seconds had passed for me and I was bathed in sweat >with the effort of trying to remember what to do. It got to the point where >I couldnt walk a few hundred yards up a small incline without the effort >causing me to feel like I was about to have a heart attack. Dont fool with >it mate. Tell your employers what you have and if you get fired, take them >to court. If they are sympathetic, arrange holidays so you can get yourself >on CPAP.
My employer is aware of my sleep apnea and I am on CPAP. The situation is that I took the remark from my manager as "If I’m going to sleep then LEAVE!" Given my groggy state, I thoguht he was telling me to leave. The reason why I am so tired lately is that I pulled my back out over the weekend and went home early on Monday and took a nap, Big Mistake. That nam has thrown my sleep off for the entire week. That plus the fact I’m backing off the paxil doesn’t help my situation with regards to sleep. As far as suing them, I think they’ve covered their tracks well. As far as they are concerned, my action was one of insabordination<sp> (Hell I can’t even speel right now) Most of my turmoil is with my manager. My supervisor is cool and so is the VP of my group. I think it’s more of a personality clash and my dozing off is helping his case Thanks for the reply and take care. Jim Cox * Antispam Warning: Replace "web" in my email address * * with "a51" to reply via email. *
Response:
I have been in the situation you are in but notin such severity. My sleep apnea was severe…setting of 22 and I was sleeping from 2 to 6 hours a day. I have been on probation at my company for 2 years straight. I made so many mistakes (I am a computer programmer by the way) that I got a reputation for inferior quality. People would walk past my cubical and cough or clear their throats to wake me up. Meetings…you already said it…I slept through them. My boss tried to tell me to stand up and walk off the sleepiness…I could fall asleep standing up if I let myself. I did a couple of things. I had them put a note in my personnel file that I had sleep apnea to protect my self through the americans with disabilities act. I started having all my textual work proof read by a secretary. I doubleand triple checked my work…but all this didn’t help much. In the end I got a tracheostomy and after that started to get night after night of satisfying sleep. My life has changed…in fact I have begun to catch other peoples mistakes. I sent 3 forms to the secretary to read and there was only one mistake and she made mistake in whether a word should be hyphenated. My career is getting back on track and I feel like I can be proud of the work I am doing…first time in my life I have such confidence. A trach is not for everybody but it has changed my life for the better. Don’t know if this has helped. Good Luck = = = = = For information regarding Tracheostomy and the treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea please visit http://members.aol.com/citylinc/osa/index.htm = = = = = A great sleep forum http://www.sleepedu.net/forums/apnea/apneainf.html
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -mib…@nwlink.com wrote in message <36f09461.1166…@news.nwlink.com>… >Sorry for some many postings but, lately my sleep apnea has been >causing me lots of agrivation especially at work. >I’m an electronics technician for a high stress, bleeding edge company >and I’m close to losing my job due to my coming to work late, sleeping >in meetings and my "negative attitude.’ There are times when I can’t >remember what I’m doing or I forget how to trouble shoot even the >basic circuits. I feel that I’ve lost my edge and that maybe going >back on caffene would be a help but, that will only screw up what >little sleep I get now and possibly my glaucoma and diabetes. >I know I souldn’t be whining and should keep alot of personal stuff >off the net but, I really have no where else to turn to. I’m >currently weening myself off Paxil which I was on for mild depression >due to my diabetes, sleep apnea, and break-up of a long term >relationship (16 years, we were practically married.) >Because of my diabetes, I had to cut back my OT which I needed to pay >all the bill I had and ended up in backruptcy. Last year, I spent >over $2500 in out of pocket medical expences which was after >insurance. Without the OT I’m making substancially less and things >just seem to be gettting tighter. >Today I got into serious trouble since I started to doze off in a >meeting and wasn’t in the best of moods. I’m trying to turn my life >around but, it seems that I keep slipping up. >Is there anyone else out there who’s either in the same situation or >has gotten out of a similar situation? If so, I would like to talk >with you and find out what to do. Thanks!
In USA, Sleep Apnea is recognised as a disability. If you get fired because of your disability, you have every right to sure the pants off the assholes and walk away with a lot of money *BUT* you have to let them know you have this disability first. If you dont and get fired, you’re on your own. I used to be an award winning salesman going from strength to strength until my sleep apnea really bit hard. I found myself unable to work properly and at one stage was trying to work out a form I filled in a lot for about 10 mins. It felt like 10 seconds had passed for me and I was bathed in sweat with the effort of trying to remember what to do. It got to the point where I couldnt walk a few hundred yards up a small incline without the effort causing me to feel like I was about to have a heart attack. Dont fool with it mate. Tell your employers what you have and if you get fired, take them to court. If they are sympathetic, arrange holidays so you can get yourself on CPAP. Remove the anti-spammer stuff
Response:
Sorry for some many postings but, lately my sleep apnea has been causing me lots of agrivation especially at work. I’m an electronics technician for a high stress, bleeding edge company and I’m close to losing my job due to my coming to work late, sleeping in meetings and my "negative attitude.’ There are times when I can’t remember what I’m doing or I forget how to trouble shoot even the basic circuits. I feel that I’ve lost my edge and that maybe going back on caffene would be a help but, that will only screw up what little sleep I get now and possibly my glaucoma and diabetes. I know I souldn’t be whining and should keep alot of personal stuff off the net but, I really have no where else to turn to. I’m currently weening myself off Paxil which I was on for mild depression due to my diabetes, sleep apnea, and break-up of a long term relationship (16 years, we were practically married.) Because of my diabetes, I had to cut back my OT which I needed to pay all the bill I had and ended up in backruptcy. Last year, I spent over $2500 in out of pocket medical expences which was after insurance. Without the OT I’m making substancially less and things just seem to be gettting tighter. Today I got into serious trouble since I started to doze off in a meeting and wasn’t in the best of moods. I’m trying to turn my life around but, it seems that I keep slipping up. Is there anyone else out there who’s either in the same situation or has gotten out of a similar situation? If so, I would like to talk with you and find out what to do. Thanks! Jim Cox * Antispam Warning: Replace "web" in my email address * * with "a51" to reply via email. *
Response:
mib…@nwlink.com wrote: > Sorry for some many postings but, lately my sleep apnea > has been causing me lots of agrivation especially at work.
Jim, first of all don’t apologize for sharing your problems. You are absolutely correct that the members of this newsgroup do understand. You do need to talk this out with others who understand. > I’m an electronics technician for a high stress, bleeding > edge company and I’m close to losing my job due to my > coming to work late, sleeping in meetings and my "negative > attitude.’
I too work in a high tech industry filled with a great deal of stress. > There are times when I can’t remember what I’m doing > or I forget how to trouble shoot even the basic circuits.
Yup. Been there. > I feel that I’ve lost my edge and that maybe going back on > caffene would be a help but, that will only screw up what > little sleep I get now and possibly my glaucoma and diabetes.
Nope. It’s not the answer. When you get your sleep apnea under control you will be amazed to discover that you can still keep up with those young whipper snappers! ;^) > I know I souldn’t be whining and should keep alot of personal > stuff off the net but, I really have no where else to turn to.
That’s why we’re here. To try to help one another. > I’m currently weening myself off Paxil which I was on for mild > depression due to my diabetes, sleep apnea, and break-up > of a long term relationship (16 years, we were practically > married.)
That certainly is not making things easier, and might even decrease your ability to sleep well for a while. > Because of my diabetes, I had to cut back my OT which I > needed to pay all the bill I had and ended up in backruptcy. > Last year, I spent over $2500 in out of pocket medical > expences which was after insurance. Without the OT I’m > making substancially less and things just seem to be > gettting tighter.
First you need to remember what is important. Many of the things that loom over us now will have no significance in 20 years, let alone 100! Yet if you can turn things around, build a positive attitude and help others … THAT will be remembered more than anything else you could do. > Today I got into serious trouble since I started to doze > off in a meeting and wasn’t in the best of moods. I’m > trying to turn my life around but, it seems that I keep > slipping up.
All too often sleep deprivation results in self distructive behaviour. You are not alone in this. See my private email. I will be happy to help if I can. > Is there anyone else out there who’s either in the same > situation or has gotten out of a similar situation? If so, I > would like to talk with you and find out what to do. Thanks!
Jim, I don’t know if I can say it’s similar situations. But yes, about seven years ago, I did receive an unsatisfactory performance review. I explained that I had obstructive sleep anea, and I was in the process of adjusting to the reasonable accomodations needed. That helped me get my managers to back off for a bit. Be honest. Be clear. And do it in writing. Build a plan with your doctor to make the adjustment fit a timeline with some leeway for adjustments. Share that with your manager. This is a resonable accomodation request. By doing this, you will show that you want to perform upto the level you know you can do. You will also be able to substantiate a request for reasonable accomdation. I don’t know if this helps. But if nothing else, please don’t dispair. You recognize the problem. You are making efforts to regain control of your sleep disorder. You will be able to face this challenge and grow. And most importantly, don’t forget that you are not alone. Others care about you, Jim. You are important and special. Regards, =jbf= John B. Fisher
Response:
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