My turn

I am back! Update:

Receiving EI sick benefit for now.
Had 1 hour intake/assessment with a benefit assignment officer.
Reviewed a number of traumatic events in detail stretching back 12 years.
Thank god for Ativan!
Referred to WSBC psychologist for in depth analysis.
2 month waitlist.
My psychiatrist lost her shit! Totally ready for war.
She told me to refuse it.
She supportively reminded me that if and when this ends up in court her final assessment is the only thing the panel reviews. Not to worry she's got this. She has dealt with them for over 30 years and never lost an appeal if it comes to that.
Meantime I'm going to sit back heal the wounds of 30+ years of frontline healthcare.

What the fuck eh? We pay into this system all our working lives. I've never asked a damn thing of them.
My last EI claim was in the 80's.

My Psychiatrist is really pissed they dragged me through those events with no offer of support.

She is very clear that I am never going back to healthcare. Wants WSBC to either buy me out or maintain my income to 65 and then pension me off. Wants Future economic and non-economic loss calculated.

Damn!
 
Time to update:

Things had progressed at glacial speed!!

They have now progressed a great deal in 5 days.

Interviewed by WSIB Psychologist 3 x in 7 days total 10 hrs.
Diagnosed: PTSD/Major Depressive disorder/Panic and Anxiety.
Cumulative over 12year period.
No preexisting conditions.
100% job related.

Recommendations:
Do not return to work with out extensive therapy and supports.
Never return to frontline healthcare.
No roles that include deadlines, multitasking, complex formulas or any for of strain IE customer Service role. No machinery.
WSIB has not yet approved the claim.

Collecting sick benefit. Apply for LTD in April if WSIB has a problem.

In the case that WSIB somehow denies the claim, I have a very good Lawyer, a Union official and a team of doctors on my side.
 
Thanks for all the support you guys!! I almost caved at the beginning. No way I could have pushed myself with the prompting. I could feel you all holding me up while I took the first steps!!

I was actually quite fucked up with out knowing. Jeez denial has always worked so well in the past..........
 
Have you retained a lawyer and are you following their advice on the matter?

you have to be very careful about which road you take sometimes because that can affect the application of other benefits. At least in Ontario. No idea about BC.

in my experience, for complicated claims, it is best to get a lawyer as the union advocacy folks aren’t well equipped to deal with mental health issues stemming from workplace related mental health issues like ptsd.

you just need the assistance of someone who really knows how to pursue correctly.

these are always long fights and they always wear greatly. Not great.... especially for someone dealing with something like ptss.

if bc is anything like ontario, you will more than likely win your claim but it may take a very long time. This will be the difficulty.

I’m assuming ptsd is a compensable claim for ems workers in BC as it is in Ontario. Still the system doesn’t work well and is full of bureaucracy and red tape. To say it’s frustrating would be a ridiculous understatement.

a good lawyer very well versed in employment law is what you need. Usually you will have to release your union from representing you in the matter because you can’t use both.

if your union is supplying one, good on you. Most don’t in these circumstances.

The benefits situation seems off. I would definitely be referencing that CBA. That’s a shit clause and the union should be ashamed if they ever agreed to something like that!
 
Have you retained a lawyer and are you following their advice on the matter?

you have to be very careful about which road you take sometimes because that can affect the application of other benefits. At least in Ontario. No idea about BC.

in my experience, for complicated claims, it is best to get a lawyer as the union advocacy folks aren’t well equipped to deal with mental health issues stemming from workplace related mental health issues like ptsd.

you just need the assistance of someone who really knows how to pursue correctly.

these are always long fights and they always wear greatly. Not great.... especially for someone dealing with something like ptss.

if bc is anything like ontario, you will more than likely win your claim but it may take a very long time. This will be the difficulty.

I’m assuming ptsd is a compensable claim for ems workers in BC as it is in Ontario. Still the system doesn’t work well and is full of bureaucracy and red tape. To say it’s frustrating would be a ridiculous understatement.

a good lawyer very well versed in employment law is what you need. Usually you will have to release your union from representing you in the matter because you can’t use both.

if your union is supplying one, good on you. Most don’t in these circumstances.

The benefits situation seems off. I would definitely be referencing that CBA. That’s a shit clause and the union should be ashamed if they ever agreed to something like that!
This for sure. Good on you for using the proper term @biguglynewf
 
Have you retained a lawyer and are you following their advice on the matter?

you have to be very careful about which road you take sometimes because that can affect the application of other benefits. At least in Ontario. No idea about BC.

in my experience, for complicated claims, it is best to get a lawyer as the union advocacy folks aren’t well equipped to deal with mental health issues stemming from workplace related mental health issues like ptsd.

you just need the assistance of someone who really knows how to pursue correctly.

these are always long fights and they always wear greatly. Not great.... especially for someone dealing with something like ptss.

if bc is anything like ontario, you will more than likely win your claim but it may take a very long time. This will be the difficulty.

I’m assuming ptsd is a compensable claim for ems workers in BC as it is in Ontario. Still the system doesn’t work well and is full of bureaucracy and red tape. To say it’s frustrating would be a ridiculous understatement.

a good lawyer very well versed in employment law is what you need. Usually you will have to release your union from representing you in the matter because you can’t use both.

if your union is supplying one, good on you. Most don’t in these circumstances.

The benefits situation seems off. I would definitely be referencing that CBA. That’s a shit clause and the union should be ashamed if they ever agreed to something like that!
Yes the union did agree to no benefits when off sick!! I agree the union advocate has good intention but zero ability to take the fight to them. I am now waiting on the WSIB decision before I retain the lawyer I spoke to.

Fortunately for me WSIB does not have me over a barrel and I am by no means struggling financially.

PTSD is a compensable recognized illness here. The system is tilted badly in favour of the employer.

I'll keep riding it and am taking my sweet time about how I respond to them.
 
Ok update:

As of 08:45 Work Safe BC has assigned full benefit's. They have had so much trouble with compliance from the employer rendering information that they just approved the claim.

A cheque is in the mail covering Jan 26 to Mar 31. I am providing banking info for Bi-weekly payments.

I am being assigned a case manager.

My psychiatrist made it clear she steers the recovery vessel. They have agreed.

This s all because you guys propped me up when I had no fight left in me.
 
Ok update:

As of 08:45 Work Safe BC has assigned full benefit's. They have had so much trouble with compliance from the employer rendering information that they just approved the claim.

A cheque is in the mail covering Jan 26 to Mar 31. I am providing banking info for Bi-weekly payments.

I am being assigned a case manager.

My psychiatrist made it clear she steers the recovery vessel. They have agreed.

This s all because you guys propped me up when I had no fight left in me.
I’m glad it’s turning out. That’s got to be a relief.
 
So....

Now I begin 2 x weekly EMDR treatment for 1.5hrs with a Psychologist through WCB and 2 x a week with an OT. I will be referred to Voc Rehab Services after the treatments and final assessment..

I guess its a career `do over`! Lol I`ve had a few do overs this last few years why not this too!!
 
EMDR log:

I spend 1.5hrs with a psychologist working on the traumatic event. I take a short break. I then spend 1 hour with an Occupational Therapist to look at my education skills, work experiences and the transferrable skills. However, we also work on getting back to the full100% enjoyment of my outdoor activities with out the repeated triggering of invasive thoughts and feelings of traumatic events.

The first 2 sessions we have set the parameters of what we are going to do how it works and what the possible outcomes are.
We will visit on a individual basis each of the most prevalent and painful incidents and experiences. What the possible triggers are to relive the trauma and how they will be handled in future.
Using a series of breathing techniques, grounding exercises and eye movement the goal is take these experiences, learn to experience them with the use of the techniques given and remove them from the level of ongoing threat to and put them in an organized order and file the similar or identical things together.
To be able to recall them and describe them without an emotional response.
 
Session 3:

Th OT asked me a lot of questions about my pastimes and hobbies. The things I enjoy. Ended up in lengthy discussion on how the most passionate of my pastimes have slowly been completely eroded from my life by increased state of heightened anxiety and feeling of fatigue.

Then she asked me to describe my job. I gave her the job description as posted. Then she said tell her about my job......

At one point she raised her hand up and said stop (a pre designated signal). I realized I was on the edge of my chair, I was yelling and gesturing. I sat back and wow was I wound up!!! I started taking deep breathes we talked me down and did an exercise called the breathing box.

I had been ranting for 40 minutes. We ended the session by discussing things I look forward too. She had me promise to do the breathing box when I got to the car.

Breathing box: Breathe in 4 seconds, hold it 4 seconds, exhale 4 seconds, hold 4 seconds. Repeat 10x counting the time. Worked well.

However, when I got home I was wrecked for the entire day. It drained the life right of me releasing all the anger, hurt resentment and fear. She reassured me no one was sending back to work there not to worry. I am angry about the systematic way the health authority bullies and staff splits. The unions lack of follow up on complaints. I feel hurt mostly since I fought the oppressive manner in which they operate to protect my patients and staff and it nearly killed me.

Finally. I was feeling ashamed that I failed to last until I was 65. That I failed my patients and staff. Also, that I am not really prepared to leave.

I have a long way to go!!
 
It's time you contact a lawyer
Even if you do not hire them typically you get one chance to do it right. So knowledge is power. Once you know all your rights you will have power
Agreed the adjusters job is to fuck you out of being paid and they’re very good at it lawyer all the way
 
My psychiatrist gave me a script for Ativan.

Damn, 1 itty bitty pill under my tongue and 20 minutes later the stress evaporated. No wonder I hand these out like pez to the patients.
Don’t get to into the Ativan they’re so fuckin addicting if u get wired to benzodiazepines it’s fuckin hell coming off it and you think you have anxiety now just fuckin wait till your withdrawing my advice would be stay the fuck away from that poison I’m talking from experience to after getting fucked up in a car crash and getting hooked on them and that’s following my script! Find a ssri that works not that stuff it’s a bandaid that will amplify your problems times 10 it literally took me about a year after a taper and coming off to feel totally normal again I really really suggest you stay away from that fuckin garbage🙏
 
It’s one of the only drugs you can die from withdrawal even oxy and perks are a cake walk compared to that fuckin shit man Your doctor is actually a fuckin pos man to not inform you how addictive they are. Use daily for a month and ull be pretty deep and with Ativan I think quicker that and Xanax are the worst because they’re fast acting
 
I have not had a drink since 1990. The Ativan she gave me 100 in March I have 99 left.

Lol I like the fast acting but I'm out fucking cold in a half hour and feel like shit the rest of the day.
Oh ok hahah as long as you know the risk of that Shit your good than. Generally they hand this shit out says take as needed or take daily and they don’t explain to ppl the rabbit hole they’re going down
 
Oh ok hahah as long as you know the risk of that Shit your good than. Generally they hand this shit out says take as needed or take daily and they don’t explain to ppl the rabbit hole they’re going down
Thanks for the support and heads up bro!!
 
So toady I bring in a timeline from birth to present listing all events I can recall that I consider painful or traumatic.

Working on "SMART" goal setting for the OT. I will f/u post appointments.
 
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