Mediation HELP

[burton0788babe]

I am seriously thinking of quitting my job of 10 years and filing for unemployment, but am afraid I will never get another job. At least I am protected for 12 weeks FMLA right now. I don't know if I could collect unemployment if I quit due to the fact that I just can't do the physical labor anymore. I am from SD and I work in a hospital dishroom. I am 55 yrs. old and live alone (by choice). I have fallen 3 times in the last 5 years. This time I cracked 2 ribs, sprained R big toe and worst of all my sciatic nerve is very painful.( My ribs and toe are healed and fine I am currently going to PT for that. About 5 years ago I lifted a tub of potato salad. I weigh 109# and it weighed about 50#. I ended up having IT band lengthening and will have lifetime pain for that. When I got hurt this time, the leg that has the sciatic nerve problem is the same leg I hurt 5 yrs. ago. I am on a fentanyl patcxh, 5 kinds of pills, neurontin, mobic, tizanidine, meloxicam and 10/500 hydrocodone. and I wear 3 lidoderm patches every day. I have been so severly depressed over all of this that I under my doctors suggestion that I go see a physchiatrist, which I did. Now I am also taking Xanax and Paxil and somrthing to help my appetite. I also take a pill for high blood press. and one for high cholesterol. Its hard for me to eat when I am depressed. Needless to say I don't need any medication for this injury. The IC is paying medical bills, except physchiatrist (which is fine. I am going to start going to a workshop so it will be free. The Paxil took about 3 weeks and started working. I didn't just lay in bed all day and not eating. I also have developed GAD(general anxiety disorder), hence the Xanax. It has been helping my anxiety somewhat. My problem now is the IC said I was not taken off work for at leasty 7 days in a row. I have a letter from my Dr. and a letter from my employer stating I was off work for 8 consequtive days. So I now have to go to mediation to get paid for those days and other days since that I have also since missed work. I don't know what to put in the letter. Like what points do I make and what is unneccessary? I went to school for Medical Transcription and graduated last Sept. due to the ecomomy (nobodys quitting) and we have a new program which pretty much took all Medical Transcriptions over, so not very many are needed anymore. I am now going to school for Coding and Billing. I can't do the physical that is called for everyday in the dishroom. I have missed a lot of work, and am out of vacation and sicktime. I am on FMLA, but that just saves my job. I need to do this mediation thing so I can make it financially. Has anyone else gone through mediation in SD? WOW I didn't know this letter would get this long. It kinda feels good to be getting it out of me or something. Please HELP me!

[jayne]

well I cant help you but do want to welcome you someone will be along to help you hang on....