Double breast recon vs breast augmentation

JeniferMiya

My manager just told me that she doesn't understand why I missed a week of work.  She just compared me to a girl in the office who just had a breast augmentation who missed 5 days bug returned to work with no restrictions.  

I am completely beside myself.

Moderators

JeniferMiya,

We're so sorry you had to deal with this! What a shame...

You may find some helpful information on the main Breastcancer.org site's page on Recognizing and Responding to Discrimination at Work.

We hope this helps!

--The Mods

JeniferMiya

Thank you Mods for your response.  I'm still at a loss and offended by what my manager said and the treatment since.

dltnhm

There have to be scholarly articles that support the fact that the two are not synonymous. Your Reconstruction Surgeon could provide a thorough explanation as well. 

Some people speak out of ignorance. Your manager obviously has no clue. Perhaps it's time for some education.

rengeko

or maybe your manager wants to talk to your disability attorney?

JeniferMiya

So a few things have been said and emailed since my first post.. They cut my hours, according to them I have been unreliable as of late. The times I have missed work, I have provided them with doctors notes. A couple of emails have gone out to the entire office so I'm not sure if it was indirectly directed towards me but this is a part of what was said.

"I know everyone lead a busy life and with that can come personal issues. We are all professionals and need to remain so. With that being said if personal issues continue to flow into the work place by any individual they will be asked to go home. This attitude and demeanor sets a tone for the entire office and we cannot have that. If one person is constantly looking for attention and depressed it will affect others. We hate to be the enforcers, however attitudes are like a cancer...and they all need to be removed."

I do know that between the Tamoxifen and then switching to Arimidex, I have added an antidepressant and since that "comment" was made by my manager I have been further depressed and have had to double the amount of antidepressants I have been taking. It has been soooo uncomfortable at work for the last month. As well as my incision opening back up so I had to take another day off for that surgery. The manager said that if I were to miss an additional day without it being requested prior to, I would be let go. (She said this because I was trying to be optimistic about reconstruction, thinking that having surgery on a Friday would give me a few days to heal then I could just return the following Monday with light duties) However after surgery the nurse said absolutely not! Not until your surgeon releases you. So I missed 5 days (M-F) and returned the following Monday with restrictions and that's when I was compared to my coworker. Now, despite if I'm not feeling well or if I'm in pain, I'm afraid of taking a day off in fear that I will lose my job.

Meanwhile, it's ok for my coworkers to take days off here and there (some without advance notice) as well as someone missing a week and a half due to her friend passing away and she got to stay in her same position and no change in her hours. Ugh, I'm getting frustrated just thinking about it.

I'm sorry for venting, I just couldn't hold it in anymore.

odie16

Jenifer, vent away. Sounds like your boss is an butthead and you might be better off without that job but I understand your position. Sending gentle hugs and hope things get better.

JeniferMiya

Thank you odie16

Dogsneverlie

Jenifer - I am sick over this. Can't believe it. So very sorry. Make sure you document everything and print a copy of that email that was distributed. I don't want to stress you out even more but this sounds pretty upsetting and you just want to be prepared. So sorry this is happening to you.

JeniferMiya

Thank you ladies.

I went for my one week appointment following a re-closure on my right incision since it doesn't want to stay closed. Now my left side is opening up. My PS wants to do an "emergency" surgery to avoid infection, put smaller implants and revise both incisions. He said next week then remembered there was a cancellation for Friday and wants to do it then. I'm so afraid to tell my manager and I shouldn't be feeling this way.

Ugh, the frustration.