Advice?

[hajenkin]

About a month ago I started developing some cardio problems secondary to COVID. They’ve been quite debilitating, as I can barely clean my apartment without passing out.
I’m an intern at CVS and physician gave me the OK to return to work only if I can sit and work short shifts at a time. I contacted my supervisor and let her know, and she said she might be able to make it work if I can work all weekends.

I’ve worked at this store for a year now and I know that the weekends are the lowest staffed times, even though we often remain just as busy. When I’d work weekends I’d be covering production/pick-up/drop-off by myself, since we usually only had 2 techs working in total.

I’m worried as I have a feeling she’s using this situation to get me to fill in on weekends when no one else wants to, even though I know I’m going to have to be running around which will only exacerbate what’s going on right now.

any advice on how I should move forward in this situation?

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[rxkrafted]

Why don't you suggest a better solution so that your supervisor can help accommodate you. When I used to work at CVS, most stores were quieter on the weekends so that's probably his/her thought. Make a suggestion to your supervisor, worst case scenario is that he/she says no.

 

[M0df]

I bet she probably doesn't care and trying to check off boxes so she's not in trouble for not accommodating you. Same question applies as above. What do you want out of this?

My only advice is to document anything and everything to protect yourself in case something doesn't go right. Preferably emails.

 

[JustFillIt]

Even if you have a totally legitimate, no fault of your own, situation with covid - it’s not going to change the reality of the “burn the weak” mentality which we have created in pharmacy. Are they going to increase tech and pharmacist coverage because someone’s health is ailing? Heck no.......

I mean - look at all the old timers we left in the dust over the past 15 years. Some of them kept up, but most got knocked off.

Unfortunately op - you either power through it and hold the line or you will get left behind. This is pharmacy after all. Not sure if we all got the memo but it is the hunger games behind the counter. The good news is unemployment benefits, food stamps, rent/eviction assistance is very strong these days.

I’m not saying this to discourage you. I’m saying this cause this goes through my mind every day as I get one day older, and one pound heavier, and just a little more short of breath than I used to be.

 

[M0df]

Damn man. This probably is a useless post but I hope I don't see you on some tlc discovery show one day trying to lose those lbs!

 

[JustFillIt]

Damn man. This probably is a useless post but I hope I don't see you on some tlc discovery show one day trying to lose those lbs!

Well - I’m not that big. 220 and 6’1.. But you know what I mean.... haha

 

[hajenkin]

Even if you have a totally legitimate, no fault of your own, situation with covid - it’s not going to change the reality of the “burn the weak” mentality which we have created in pharmacy. Are they going to increase tech and pharmacist coverage because someone’s health is ailing? Heck no.......

I mean - look at all the old timers we left in the dust over the past 15 years. Some of them kept up, but most got knocked off.

Unfortunately op - you either power through it and hold the line or you will get left behind. This is pharmacy after all. Not sure if we all got the memo but it is the hunger games behind the counter. The good news is unemployment benefits, food stamps, rent/eviction assistance is very strong these days.

I’m not saying this to discourage you. I’m saying this cause this goes through my mind every day as I get one day older, and one pound heavier, and just a little more short of breath than I used to be.

Thanks for your feedback, I completely agree. I’ve had a chronic illness since I was in high school but it’s been controlled since this episode with COVID. This has all made me realize I need to find another career, one that is more fitting considering my health. If I didn’t have just one year left (almost completely rotations), I’d jump ship and find something new right now. Since I’ve already invested so much time/money, I figured I’d just finish out the next year and get the degree, then find something else that won’t conflict with my health. I’m hoping to use the upcoming year to find out what that is, as I have no idea since I’ve been working towards pharmacy for so long now.

 

[hajenkin]

I bet she probably doesn't care and trying to check off boxes so she's not in trouble for not accommodating you. Same question applies as above. What do you want out of this?

My only advice is to document anything and everything to protect yourself in case something doesn't go right. Preferably emails.

My goal is to actually go back to work, as I do legitimately miss it. Even if it’s just a few hours a week (my cardiologist wants me to do no more than 4 hour shifts 2x/week until I can gauge how I feel - a lot different than the 30 hour weeks I was working before this happened). I just want to make sure I don’t rush back into it, have another episode, and then my rotations and school are screwed up (since school/graduating are ultimately my #1 priority). From my experience at this store, my coworkers couldn’t care less about my health and will use me to get what they want. I know they probably think I’m bluffing and milking the time off - which is not the case at all. I’ve been contacting HR and they have started the process of making sure documentation is filed under ADA and that accommodations are met. I’m just waiting for approval at the moment.

 

[lord999]

My goal is to actually go back to work, as I do legitimately miss it. Even if it’s just a few hours a week (my cardiologist wants me to do no more than 4 hour shifts 2x/week until I can gauge how I feel - a lot different than the 30 hour weeks I was working before this happened). I just want to make sure I don’t rush back into it, have another episode, and then my rotations and school are screwed up (since school/graduating are ultimately my #1 priority). From my experience at this store, my coworkers couldn’t care less about my health and will use me to get what they want. I know they probably think I’m bluffing and milking the time off - which is not the case at all. I’ve been contacting HR and they have started the process of making sure documentation is filed under ADA and that accommodations are met. I’m just waiting for approval at the moment.

When you come to license, you will actually need to bring this up as an issue affecting practice. It's nondisciplinary, but it is definitely at that level now.

 

[KidPharmD]

When you come to license, you will actually need to bring this up as an issue affecting practice. It's nondisciplinary, but it is definitely at that level now.

Are you saying that this is reportable to the board of pharmacy? What are they supposed to report?

Edit: Just to clarify - So far I have held 3 different state licenses. Only 1 of those 3 states asked about my health other than abuse of controlled substances.

 

[hajenkin]

Are you saying that this is reportable to the board of pharmacy? What are they supposed to report?

Edit: Just to clarify - So far I have held 3 different state licenses. Only 1 of those 3 states asked about my health other than abuse of controlled substances.

I would think they’d just want to know about substance abuse, I can’t imagine a heart condition (in which I can still completely function, I just have to be sitting periodically due to hypotension) affecting my ability to practice pharmacy. That sounds like it’d be a violation of ADA.

 

[JustFillIt]

I would think they’d just want to know about substance abuse, I can’t imagine a heart condition (in which I can still completely function, I just have to be sitting periodically due to hypotension) affecting my ability to practice pharmacy. That sounds like it’d be a violation of ADA.

My good lifelong friend who just recovered from covid had a MRI and he has scarring all over his lungs and is struggling also.

Shame on the crowd that thinks this is all some sort of conspiracy.

I am really sorry that this happened to you. I will continue to do the best that I can to mitigate this disaster by limiting my participation in unnecessary groups, masking up, and being respectful of distance in public. In 10 years from now we will look back and see how simple the solution (although not perfect) was and I hope “they” feel ashamed.

 

[Pronounce Doxazosin]

About a month ago I started developing some cardio problems secondary to COVID. They’ve been quite debilitating, as I can barely clean my apartment without passing out.
I’m an intern at CVS and physician gave me the OK to return to work only if I can sit and work short shifts at a time. I contacted my supervisor and let her know, and she said she might be able to make it work if I can work all weekends.

I’ve worked at this store for a year now and I know that the weekends are the lowest staffed times, even though we often remain just as busy. When I’d work weekends I’d be covering production/pick-up/drop-off by myself, since we usually only had 2 techs working in total.

I’m worried as I have a feeling she’s using this situation to get me to fill in on weekends when no one else wants to, even though I know I’m going to have to be running around which will only exacerbate what’s going on right now.

any advice on how I should move forward in this situation?

I didn’t read the other posts so if it’s a repeat, my apologies
If your symptoms are as bad as you are stating, you may want to consider being seen by a cardiologist
Myocarditis is known to be caused by COVID so I would want to get check up by a specialist

 

[lord999]

Are you saying that this is reportable to the board of pharmacy? What are they supposed to report?

Edit: Just to clarify - So far I have held 3 different state licenses. Only 1 of those 3 states asked about my health other than abuse of controlled substances.

Yes, because it definitely affects practice. Virginia, Maryland, DC, AZ, and CA definitely do. It's nondisciplinary, but it may entail a practice restriction. Usually the restriction is that they are not to work alone (so a grocery store works as they cannot possibly be the only employee there). This is not related to substance abuse.

 

[JustFillIt]

Yes, because it definitely affects practice. Virginia, Maryland, DC, AZ, and CA definitely do. It's nondisciplinary, but it may entail a practice restriction. Usually the restriction is that they are not to work alone (so a grocery store works as they cannot possibly be the only employee there). This is not related to substance abuse.

He may as well just apply for disability if he does this.

Not sure I agree on this advice - I would say that if you get to the point where you know you can’t hack it anymore. This is the time to claim this disability on your license and also seek disability compensation.

 

[hajenkin]

I didn’t read the other posts so if it’s a repeat, my apologies
If your symptoms are as bad as you are stating, you may want to consider being seen by a cardiologist
Myocarditis is known to be caused by COVID so I would want to get check up by a specialist

Yes, that was the first thing I did! That’s what she was thinking too. She ran some tests and fortunately no myocarditis, it appears to just be a bad case of postural orthostatic hypotension. She said in most of her post-COVID patients it doesn’t last more than 6 months.

 

[PharmtoCS]

Aside from disability, perhaps workers comp depending on the state you are in.