So far this has been a very productive day, and I'm happy with it so far. I do, though, want to explain what's going on and why I'm starting this 30 day journey with myself.

It began a week ago yesterday. For those who may not know, I have some continuing health issues which only rear their ugly head when I'm being stupid. One of them is Chemical Sensitivity Disorder. At this point in time, most chemicals are okay for me to be around. There's only one that makes me ill, and that's the "ether" smell that comes from the solvent that is used to clean the glue off the leads on the EEG equipment.

I've got FMLA papers filed because of my health issues. And, because of it, I've met with both the hospital HR and the university HR people. When they approved my FMLA for this year, they also sent me a letter stating that they wanted to keep me safe in my work environment and they would be contacting my doctor. This was in spite of the fact that I know exactly how to prevent this - but in this case, I took the risk.

Last Tuesday my work area was understaffed and very overworked. And, sure enough, the EEG people moved patients past the area I was working in. I can smell the solvent 5 minutes before everyone else; I hoped that this would be one of the days it dissipated rapidly.

Uh. no. And, as I said, we were extremely busy. I took what steps I could, but also did not want to leave my co-workers stranded. So, I stuck by them...and hoped for the best.

By the end of the evening I had a raging headache, felt like hot metal was shoved down my spine. I called in sick for the next day, and then had to do so again for the following day. By the end of the second day I was feeling well enough to go back to work. But, that evening I got a text from a supervisor telling me I was not allowed to come back to work until the doctor gave me a release to come back to work...they have to "protect" me, you know.

So, we are now on my 4th day of being perfectly well and not being at work. I found out on Monday that HR had written me a letter and now they have a whole bunch of questions and more paperwork my doctor needs to fill out. I've emailed my doctor. I've talked to their office. I've talked to HR and quite frankly, told them that this is pure bullshit.

But, they won't budge an inch. Before I'm allowed to set foot in the hospital again, I MUST have a note from my doctor stating it's okay to come back to work. And now it looks as though I'll be not at work for a few more days. My doctor has gone on spring break and when I called the office to see if he'd left a letter for me, I found the office was closed. *sigh*

So, that's why I'm freaked out. I certainly can't afford to be without work for that long; all my vacation time and comp time was used up when I was sick last year and they have been screwing me out of any earned time ever since with their constant "need" for more paperwork - even though I requested a reduction in hours last December.

I love my babies and my co-workers, but how I hate the university bureaucracy and bullshit!

More about my recently pulled angel card and a fantastic conversation I had this morning - but after I get a couple more things accomplished.

Namaste"