Reply To: Question for going back to work

Good morning!

I contracted GBS in mid-November, 2012 and returned to work in March, 2013 (59 years old). I was and am a legal secretary (principally a desk job). I was discharged from in-patient rehab with information about filing a disability claim (I live in Illinois, in the United States). I really didn’t want to file unless it was absolutely necessary due to my age as I am somewhat under the retirement level and this would affect my benefit level quite a bit. I was also concerned about the longevity of my job should I go into long-term disability status. Lastly, I wanted to see if I could do it.

During the out-patient rehab phase it was communicated that the goal was to return to work but with cautions associated with the return, chiefly concerning driving. In my area transportation to and from public transportation is both heavily utilized and on the underfunded side. Some of it is difficult to coordinate if one needs to get to work at a proper work start time. Some regions may not experience this. The out-patient rehab group wanted those returning to work to undergo driving re-training; in some cases this was not a bad thing as some of my cohort had experienced stroke. (Some of these folks had been taken off the road officially; I was not.) I discussed this with my rehab and primary care physicians and they concurred that I could return to work and drive to public transportation provided I practiced very carefully and with someone in the driver’s seat, and on the local scene. This practice has for the most part continued to this date. I never was much for driving the expressway to begin with.

Once this challenge was met I returned to work, initially part-time for a week, then back to full-time. I didn’t have any vacation or sick time left upon my return for the calendar year 2013. I never have abandoned the use of a cane, whether it be a four-prong, one prong, or foldable one prong as I work in a major metropolitan area where a lot of people just don’t watch what they are doing (especially if they are wearing headsets). In my own community I feel better about walking without a cane, though it’s probably in my car or nearby.

I presented a return-to-work slip from my rehab doctor to my employer upon my return as I work with litigators.

I also asked for a temporary parking placard from the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office. This is a form which needs to be signed by one’s primary care physician, then taken to a local Secretary of State’s Office. I have renewed it once.

Chicago has been on the cutting edge of accessibility issues for many years. I do take stairs at the local rapid transit stations but for the most part those stations also have ramps. I have not taken the CTA yet (elevated nor bus), and am not sure if I am up to that challenge! That is another adventure that I’d like to take on, but not quite yet.

My return to work was a pretty successful one. I take it one day at a time. My employer is glad that I have returned. One of our attorneys knew someone who had experienced GBS and who had recovered from it. I was using Lyrica which made me feel muddle-headed. With my doctor’s approval I tapered off it. If I had to describe my residuals I would say that they seem to manifest in my knees. As some rapid-transit seating (even the accessible ones) is a bit on the low side I bring a pillow with me to sit on so it’s a little easier on the knees when I sit and rise. I feel the cold in my feet during the winter. I become tired by the end of the five-day work week and am glad that I can rest a bit during the weekend. As there are folks who are accustomed to me being available during that time it has confused them, I think, but I need the rest at times.

As your estimated time of return to work is quickly approaching, an update would be appreciated. I hope this has been of assistance.