50 Years Living with Narcolepsy - 18 Years Same Company

[Carolina Mornings]

and today I was issued my first written Performance Improvement Plan, or in other words, shape up or we'll ship you out in 30 days or less.

I've NEVER had to do more than tell my supervisor my "particulars" and do an amazing job when I was functioning well and be careful of not allowing myself to be in situations when I was not functioning well, until "this boss". Now I'm labeled as impatient, uncooperative, rude, and difficult to work with when I don't bow out of those situations and even when I do. When a long-time peer was questioned about my attitude on one particular instance, and he light-heartedly replied, "that's just *****", it was stated to me by HR that it was unacceptable for it to be just who I am.

Have I reached a point that I would qualify for disability? Can it be proved that sleep deprivation due to a combination of narcolepsy, sleep apenea, and severe restless leg syndrome, can make me emotionally and mentally irritable to the point of no longer being employable?

Does anyone know of a precedence or similar case and it's outcome?

Thanks in advance!

[NappyDan]

It is difficult to reply to your query with out knowledge of your work environment but new bosses can bring difficult transitions. They often bring in new ways to operate and have different expectations of their subordinates. Often they feel a need to prove themselves to their superiors as well as their underlings. Usually trying to fly below the radar until things settle in is the best course.

The advantage to a Performance review is it is specific to the areas you need to adjust to satisfy you new boss. Whether you see the need or not that becomes your new duties on top of what you already do well.

If your review is not specific to what changes are needed or if it is intolerant to your current physical condition then you must appeal to the next level of management. This, of course, will compound you current situation but its likely you don't have other avenues (unless you have a union).

If your situation arises because of age discrimination you might have a case if you are terminated.

As for asking your boss to accommodate your disabilities, what he is legally mandated to provide can vary from state to state.

It is difficult to get disability for narcolepsy but you would have consult an attorney for a legal opinion.

[Lorz]

Carolina,

My father went on disability, he had applied because of an injury but also had mental health problems. It was mainly awarded to him because of the mental health problems. He was actually shocked at how in-depth his psych evaluation report was. From what I understand, if it qualifies as a mental disability on top of the physical part, it could be part of your qualification. I don't know how far you want to pursue it, but you could just start seeing a psychologist or psychiatrist to get an evaluation on your own.
I'm very curious as to how this works out for you. I find myself in a similar situation. Please keep us updated if you have time!

Good luck!

[Carolina Mornings]

I can deal with the physical inconveniences of this combination of sleep disorders, but the mental and emotional episodes are becoming too much for me to bear. I couldn't tolerate the vertigo with Neuvigil so I've reinstated my Provigil perscription just to have my insurance company decide to fight it. It's been a week and I can't even get a little relief from meds at this point.

Today I read and re-read a simple email instructing me to make adjustments in a critical work situation and I still missed a third of what I was supposed to do. I even had someone else read the email and had them explain it to me and I still didn't see it in its entirity for several more minutes. This hasn't happened overnight by any means. About two years ago I was conducting a follow-up conversation of importance and found myself discussing the matter with the wrong person. I [u]know[/u] these people and yet I didn't recognize I had them confused and was talking to someone that had no idea what I was referring to.

I'd rather be a recluse than to continue to put myself in these situations of embarassment and public displays of mental decline. Stress of course increases the episodes, so being in a constant state of high expectations without any empathy only adds to the torment and the rate of error. I've always been a fighter, and now I can't trust myself to fight with logic and comitment. I still fall into my lifelong habit of conviction just to find myself wrong and so I cry. Crying in the work place never results in anything positive.

I see my neurologist on Tuesday. I will persue any avenue I can, to find some resemblance of quality of life once again. I'll keep you posted.

[Geekwench]

Carolina Mornings, I almost feel like I might know the company for which you work, based on what you've written. Would it be possible for you to perhaps describe the size of the company and what industry it's in? Or something that might help somebody who knows the company to identify the company? I ask because I may have some very specific advice for you if you work where I almost think you might.

With that said, I assume you've seen your neurologist at this point- how did it go?

[songamyself]

could you go on fmla? then you could stay home when you weren't feeling well.

[Carolina Mornings]

Several weeks ago another written statement by my boss caused me to make the decision to just get out. I'm now unemployed, living off of my savings, but physically doing much, much better. I have a plan, that I'm working, to make my way in the world and I have full and complete support of my family.

Geekwench, it was not the "company". It was a new supervisor and an inexperienced HR advisor. If I had had the energy I could have fought it, although I would have also had to have had the energy to deal with the repercusions of the fight. That's where sleep disorders hurt us again . . . we don't have the energy or the alertness to do what we need to do to protect ourselves.

Songamyself, FMLA was not the answer for me. My responsibilities didn't even allow me the time to take my earned vacations under this supervisor. I worked from home as I needed to but it didn't change the issue of irritability and lack of alertness that often strikes without warning with Narcolepsy.

My advice, as disheartening as it may be, is that the business world is no place for sleep disorders. Especially as they progress with age. Forget "careers". The stress that automatically comes with management is simply too much for anyone that is physically compromised by it over and above what it does to the healthy. I'll eventually find a "job" where I can go in, do my work, and go home leaving it all behind for another day. This will allow me the time and opportunity to rest and recover as I should . . . as I must! If I find that this major adjustment still does not work with my health issues, then I'll look into the disability option. Finding the right niche will be my next big challenge.

Thank you for the opportunity to share and wish me luck!!