Tweet
HCMA family,
I apologize for the length. I've made every attempt to distill it to just the highlights:
November 20, 2002
Diagnosed with HCM and MVP at Montana Heart Institute, borderline obstructive, with moderate to sometimes severe symptoms of shortness of breath, palpitation, arrhythmia, dizziness, etc. Doctor advised me not to return to my job as an Archaeological Field Technician, which involves a great deal of heavy lifting, excavation of heavy soils by shovel, screening of dirt through wire mesh, etc. I assumed at the time though that this meant i had several months to look for other employment, and that i was not going to drop dead on the job anytime soon. Thus, I returned to work.
January 2, 2003
Returned to archaeological fieldwork after six-week recuperation period following hernia surgery (yeah, as if cancer and HCM weren't enough, LOL). My return to fieldwork did not go so well. HCM symptoms were more severe this time, often requiring me to stop work for extended periods of time after heavy exertion, until my heart stopped going wacky, my head stopped buzzing and throbbing, and the little bright white fireflies stopped dancing in front of my eyes.
January 6, 2003
Saw my local general practitioner after several days of fieldwork and continuing HCM symptoms. This is the first time a doctor has ever listened to my heart and said 'oh my god'.
Poor guy, he was much more startled by the way my heart sounded than i was. Heck it's been sounding like that for a bunch of years, which I had always assumed was 'normal' for me! He told me in no uncertain terms that i was not to return to work, under penalty of death, literally. That evening i sat down with my crewchief and explained the situation in detail, having to give up my fieldwork position due to the severe health risks involved. He was very accepting and quite sympathetic, as he knows I love doing archaeology more than anything else in the world 8)
January 13, 2003
Filed for unemployment compensation while i look for new work, citing health risks as my reason for separation.
January 18, 2003
Drove to my company's corporate office, unsolicited and as a gesture of good will, to provide them with medical documentation supporting my reason for having to resign my position with the company. This was met with much unexpected hostility, as well as an impromptu meeting with several higher-ups, during which I was yelled at, verbally abused, and was accused of trying to 'scam the company out of unemployment benefits with this so-called medical condition from which I suffer'. Exact words. I was also told that they will do whatever it takes to fight my unemployment claim, and that they 'have a business to run and will act accordingly'. To my own amazement, I kept my cool throughout the entire meeting, and did not say anything that could possibly be used against me, even when papers were being thrown at me and I was being yelled at. Their behavior was, to say the least, unprofessional and humiliating.
Okay folks, I have worked my butt off my entire life and have never asked for a handout from anybody. Unfortunately, through no fault of my own, I am no longer able to do the job in which this company hired me, and by the way, this is a job that I love dearly and had hoped to do for the rest of my life. My only goal right now is to look for new employment in one of several geographic areas my former cardiologist has outlined for me as having treatment available for this disease. I am currently without a job, medical insurance or medical care, nor have I been prescribed, to date, any medications which I probably should be taking to control my HCM. I might also add that I am living on the good graces of my family, and have less than five dollars in my checking account
Please, if any of you have any insight as to how I should proceed from here, or even just to tell me that you feel my unemployment claim is justified or unjustified, any input at all would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks Much!
Jim
Still keeping my chin up
I apologize for the length. I've made every attempt to distill it to just the highlights:
November 20, 2002
Diagnosed with HCM and MVP at Montana Heart Institute, borderline obstructive, with moderate to sometimes severe symptoms of shortness of breath, palpitation, arrhythmia, dizziness, etc. Doctor advised me not to return to my job as an Archaeological Field Technician, which involves a great deal of heavy lifting, excavation of heavy soils by shovel, screening of dirt through wire mesh, etc. I assumed at the time though that this meant i had several months to look for other employment, and that i was not going to drop dead on the job anytime soon. Thus, I returned to work.
January 2, 2003
Returned to archaeological fieldwork after six-week recuperation period following hernia surgery (yeah, as if cancer and HCM weren't enough, LOL). My return to fieldwork did not go so well. HCM symptoms were more severe this time, often requiring me to stop work for extended periods of time after heavy exertion, until my heart stopped going wacky, my head stopped buzzing and throbbing, and the little bright white fireflies stopped dancing in front of my eyes.
January 6, 2003
Saw my local general practitioner after several days of fieldwork and continuing HCM symptoms. This is the first time a doctor has ever listened to my heart and said 'oh my god'.
Poor guy, he was much more startled by the way my heart sounded than i was. Heck it's been sounding like that for a bunch of years, which I had always assumed was 'normal' for me! He told me in no uncertain terms that i was not to return to work, under penalty of death, literally. That evening i sat down with my crewchief and explained the situation in detail, having to give up my fieldwork position due to the severe health risks involved. He was very accepting and quite sympathetic, as he knows I love doing archaeology more than anything else in the world 8) January 13, 2003
Filed for unemployment compensation while i look for new work, citing health risks as my reason for separation.
January 18, 2003
Drove to my company's corporate office, unsolicited and as a gesture of good will, to provide them with medical documentation supporting my reason for having to resign my position with the company. This was met with much unexpected hostility, as well as an impromptu meeting with several higher-ups, during which I was yelled at, verbally abused, and was accused of trying to 'scam the company out of unemployment benefits with this so-called medical condition from which I suffer'. Exact words. I was also told that they will do whatever it takes to fight my unemployment claim, and that they 'have a business to run and will act accordingly'. To my own amazement, I kept my cool throughout the entire meeting, and did not say anything that could possibly be used against me, even when papers were being thrown at me and I was being yelled at. Their behavior was, to say the least, unprofessional and humiliating.
Okay folks, I have worked my butt off my entire life and have never asked for a handout from anybody. Unfortunately, through no fault of my own, I am no longer able to do the job in which this company hired me, and by the way, this is a job that I love dearly and had hoped to do for the rest of my life. My only goal right now is to look for new employment in one of several geographic areas my former cardiologist has outlined for me as having treatment available for this disease. I am currently without a job, medical insurance or medical care, nor have I been prescribed, to date, any medications which I probably should be taking to control my HCM. I might also add that I am living on the good graces of my family, and have less than five dollars in my checking account
Please, if any of you have any insight as to how I should proceed from here, or even just to tell me that you feel my unemployment claim is justified or unjustified, any input at all would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks Much!
Jim
Still keeping my chin up
Comment