Stacy's Story
In 1991 I began having joint pain, and the pain was so intense that I went to the doctor. At the time I was working full time with a teenager and toddler at home. Needless to say, I never went to the doctor unless I really had to go. The doctor told me to stop running and quit aerobics -- I did. The pain was worse, so I was sent to an orthopedic and then a rheumatologist.
The rheumatologist told me it was fibromyalgia, to slow down, and take pain killer. I did slow down as much as I could and took the pain killer. My stomach hurt so bad from the medication that I opted for the joint pain and quit taking it.
The next school year I was traded two weeks before school started. I did not have the energy necessary for the change or to deal with the stress of the situation. My symptoms worsened. I thought I was continually getting the flu. Depression became a problem too. I could not keep up. I had taught in my district for fifteen years, so when a psychologist told me to take a semester off, I felt that the district would be supportive, especially since I was evaluated very high; not with the new superintendent, I could not have been more wrong.
The psychologist recommended that I go back to resource teaching, my former position. This started a nightmare at work, a force out. Over the next three years, my job was changed every year. I was given two buildings to cover.
By September 1994 I was physically and emotionally drained, so the doctor recommended quitting work. She told me that I could not work there. I was crushed after fifteen years of hard work and all my identity wrapped up in that job. Depression became my worst problem, because I was suicidal. I figured I was going to be a drain on my family.
Things got worse. I filed with EEOC, because of the numerous job changes, and failure to accommodate under the American Disabilities Act. The district blocked my disability by not sending in the employer portion unless I dropped the charges. I refused, because I felt it was blackmail. Teacher Retirement helped me get my benefits a year later. UNUM was awful and continues to be awful.
In 1994 I began getting regular cortisone shots in the neck, up to six at a time. I went through a rehab program. I was tested for MS, of course. I had a complete hysterectomy with the belief that the monthly flare ups were a female problem. The sad part is that I was not even tested for Lyme disease until I moved to St. Louis in 1996. In the spring of 1996 I got so sick with joint pain, bruising, nausea, etc. that an infectious disease doctor and dermatologist (to check bruising) were called in.
The dermatologist ordered the Lyme tests. The ELISA and urine test were positive, so the infectious disease doctor ordered two weeks of IV antibiotic. I found out that two weeks was not going to do it, so I found a Lyme knowledgeable doctor to continue the IV. I had IV for 11 months. During that time I tried hyperbaric and ended up with the bends. Now once a week I get weekly injection of bicillin, which keeps me from getting worse. Lord, I pray for a cure.
There's much more to the story. My dog has been diagnosed with Lyme and will have a leg joint replaced soon. My 10 year old son was on IV antibiotic last spring for continuous sinus infection I can't help, but think that it has to be related).
I would like to ask for support in dealing with UNUM and success in pursuing my Equal Employment Opportunities Commission (EEOC) charge. The charge is very important to me. When an employee is sick, the employer needs to be part of the solution. I did not know what was wrong, and that was stress enough, without the district calling me a liability and refusing to accommodate.
Stacy
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