I'm also curious: what is your opinion on going to your superiors with complaints/issues about those you work with? What if the issue is with your superior, what's your opinion about going over THEIR head (say to an HR department)?
I'm sure it's obvious why I'm asking these questions: yesterday was another terrible day at work. Even though I work for a corporation (where everything is supposed to be as in line and uniform as in the military) it seems like so many of the people that I work with think that they're the exception to the rule. When you walk up to somebody who is supposed to be 'in charge' and ask them a work related question is it too much to expect them to drop their feelings (good or bad) towards you and give you a straightforward answer? If I could roll my eyes any harder they'd be stuck in the back of my head (thanks, Mom).
So I came home last night, determined not to take out my bad day on Robert, only to end up ticking him off ANYWAY.
This morning I woke up and decided to tackle some of my phone errands. This was my list:
Call the bookstore and ask if they accept checks (I misplaced my debit card).
Call the Financial Aid office and make sure my FA came through and that my classes were paid for (tomorrow is the purge date).
Call Tricare and see about having my last trip to Duke reembursed.
Call PCM and ask for a retro referral for my date of service (it had expired).
Call EFMP office.
One person answered their phone. Out of that entire list. And it WASNT the damn bookstore!
Why did I have to (once again) call the EFMP office? This is something I posted on one of the forums I'm on explaining what happened:
I wonder - any of you who are members or have members of the EFMP in your house - do you ever feel like you want to tear your hair out of your head???
I do.
For those of you who don't know: I have Marfan Syndrome. It's a rare(ish), life threatening connective tissue disorder that dramatically increases my risk for aortic dissection (and death as a result). I need close monitoring and special medication to keep my blood pressure low, I'm unable to lift, unable to physically exert myself, etc. Marfan Syndrome results in scoliosis, dural ectasia, stretch marks, migraines, general pain, dislocated lens, fibromyalgia, weak discs, irregular heart beat, racing heart beat, heart murmur, collapsed lung............the list goes on and on and on and on and ON.
The doctors I've encountered here (on base) have all treated me more of a 'holy grail' than a patient. They want to inspect my hands and feet, measure my wingspan vs my height, see how double jointed I am - more than treat my problems. None of them have SEEN a patient with Marfan Syndrome before, let alone treated one.
So I go to Duke and see a Marfan specialist.
Now to the vent::
My doctor at Duke was great about providing the EFMP with documentation regarding the severity of MY particular case of Marfan Syndrome, informing them of the importance of me being near a doctor who specializes in Marfan Syndrome.
Since this is a rare disorder there are very few of these doctors in the country. Hawaii and Okinawa are out, of course. If you take the rest of the Marfan doctors in the country and line them up with Marine Corps bases....there are maybe two or three. Lejeune and CP (obviously), and then some of the California bases would allow me to go to UCLA. Quantico would allow Johns Hopkins.
We knew orders were due soon so we made sure the monitor had this info, that EFMP was properly documented, etc......
B got orders for recruiting.
So now, in attempt to get his orders changed, EFMP wants more documentation. They want, from my doctor, WHY I can't be seen by a 'normal' healthcare provider.
Are you KIDDING me!?
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So that's my NEW dilemma in life. Figure out how to not DIE when they PCS us to the middle of BFE (which any of you associated with the military KNOWS will happen a.k.a Murphy's Law).
Spring semester starts tomorrow which I am SO happy about.
Before work today I have to go to the bookstore at the college (20 minutes past where I work which is 30 minutes from my house) and then stop by Walgreens to pick up Tucker's medication before work. I'm taking Tucker with me to work today. He hasn't gone with me in a few weeks and I kind of miss hanging out with him while I'm there. Today should be a much better day.
I'll leave you with an awesome story from Spark People about getting your priorities straight. It really touched me last night when I read it:
http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/motivation_articles.asp?id=264
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