work, work, work?

[charlie b]

Hello guys, 9 weeks post surgery and doing well, feeling stronger everyday and am very thankful for my results. I need some feedback. First a little background: I work for a large company that has done the "cutback" thing. For the last few years I have been filling the role that was once filled by (5), that's right (5) employees. Physically I thought I was handling it pretty well, although I knew that the stress was wearing me down. I have quite often wondered it the stress contributed to my health problems. At 57 years old and doing the job for 31 years, I have been dreading going back. Physically I am doing well, however things that once may have seemed trivial can now push my mental (read; I get frustrated quicker) overload button. During a follow up visit with my surgeon he made it very clear that he did not think I should put myself back in the "hotseat". My company has a long term disability program that I am considering applying for. The surgeon says he will be glad to do any paper work needed. I do not know any other AVR people to consult. What do you guys think? Is long term disability an unreasonable or unfair request? Is stress harder to take after AVR? Do you know anyone that has qualified for LD after AVR? Drop me a line about your thoughts on the matter. As always thanks for being there. God Bless, Charlie B -------------- PS- For me to request another position or an adjusted workload is impossible.

 

[PJmomrunner]

Disability? Retirement? Benefits? Pam Osse?

Disability? Retirement? Benefits? Pam Osse?

Hi Charlie:

Well, you surely are in a rough situation. I ran your particulars by an executive friend. He said he would have no choice but to grant you disability if you qualified. He also said that with 31 years with the company, at his company you would qualify for 80% or more of your regular retirement benefits. Maybe you could work a deal where you retire and continue to work part time from home as a consultant? Of course I have no idea what you do or whether that would be feasible.

My title is an attempt to solicit a response from Pam Osse. I believe she works in HR and has responded to benefits-related questions in the past.

Good luck.

P. J.

 

[ar bee]

part time

part time

our company has a programme for people > 55 who want to gradually move into retirement (for whatevr reasons). Maybe you could do some part-time work for a few years and by that gradually go from 100% to zero instead of overnight??

well2u
ar bee

 

[hensylee]

First of all, I didn't have valve replacement; I had bypasses; so I might not be qualified to answer this. However, while in the hospital, one thing they kept telling us was stay away from anger and stress as much as we can. Valvers can agree or disagree with me on this one. How about it, Members? I guess you are the apples here and I am the orange.

 

[charlie b]

part time not an option----

part time not an option----

Thanks for the input so far, the more the better. The company I work for will not allow part time employees. Long story, hard to explain, so for me it is go back to my exact position or bail out. I do qualify for a retirement but it is reduced because I have not reached the 60 year mark. Any other input will be appreciated. Thanks, Charlie B

 

[Yaps]

Charlie, I am on LTD. Own Occ, for at least 1 1/2 more years ,then switching to any occ. Ive not had any real problems, hope I never do. Ive had new mitral a quad by-pass , many many angios and stents, and an additional 2 by-passes.
I am also younger than you, my docs warned me that at the pace I going I would be dead ..soon.. , that I had to slow down. I worked this job for 21 years, am getting 75% salary. Must pay for my own cobra so not really a lot left,after paying that.
But before I retired I would be admitted appx every 3 months for a session of cardio rotor rooting , Ive graduated now..lol..Im up to almost 5 moths since last hospital visit, my b/p is better, and hr stays low , which is what they want,to prevent any further damage.
My life is certainly different now, as the hustle and bustle did rule for years.
But I dont have to use my nitro constantly , I can stop and rest as required(severe PAD) and not feel guilty , feel my crew is picking up my slack. I bowed out as gracefully as I could.
Do what you feel is right for you, if there is a possibilty of further damage to you, then retire, as its much better than the alternative...
Sorry this is so long Love the pup

 

[MelissaM]

I think you are right to pursue LTD for your situation. If I am interpreting the meaning of the word correctly, disability is available for when you are NOT ABLE to do your job. Your ability to perform your job is directly related to the job itself. If your job was a simple fairly-low-stress desk job, you might BE ABLE to return to it. But since your job is not only high stress, but the work of five people, you may not yet be able to perform your duties.

Not having short or long term disability insurance, I started a job three months post-op. Not knowing the nature of the job, I thought I would be able to do it. The job turned out to be super-high-stress, require a lot of mental acuity, and included a 64 mile a day commute. The first few months of the job were hell as I struggled to keep up with the pace of the work. Simply put, I wasn't able to keep up. Somehow I managed not to get fired. But having gone through that experience, I would highly recommend you go on LTD until you are ABLE (there's that word again. . .) to perform at the level expected of you. Until you are able, you are disabled - that's the basic premise here.

 

[Thom]

I looked at your profile and read your surgery involved an AVR. Assuming you have no other problems, it won't be long until you get back to normal or feel better than you did before. 57 is not "old" by today's standards. You've got a lot of life to live ahead of you.

When I had my first AVR my cardiologist told me to be carefull in making life changing decisions immedeately. He was right.

Here are a few things you might want to consider: Are you currently depressed? (a not uncommon condition after heart surgery). If you are, don't make decisions until you get over it.

If you do go on LTD, what do you intend to do when you feel great and are confronted with looking for something to do every day? Be certain you read the fine print of your LTD plan. What restrictions will your LTD plan impose on you? (As examples, can you get a part time job? Will you be able to play golf?)

Will you be able to continue to get health insurance and at what cost and for how long? (Most health insurance companies will not provide individual policies to people that have had AVR. If you find one that does, the premiums are exhorbitant for most.)

Whatever you decide, best of luck.