What I am facing at work!?!

[GorgeousGeek]

I work at a pharmaceutical company that's producing live virus vaccines. The company came up with a list of medicines that people cannot take and work with live virus. All MS therapies are on this list and basically all drugs that treat an autoimmune condition or drugs that are steroids. They consider all these drugs to be immunosuppressive and a risk for the employee to work in that specific area.
I was diagnosed with MS 3 months after I stArted working there and started Copaxone 3 months later. I didn't mentioned it them because I feared I would lose my job. Yes, that have a committee that tries to place you in another area but I had only been there 3 months and didn't want to go thru that process so soon.
Now I've been here for about a year and a half.  I answered 'yes' on a 'medical surveillance ' survey that I had an autoimmune disorder. This caused me to be placed on restriction and I am not allowed in the area I have been working in the past year.
I now have to get a letter from my neurologist stating whether or not he recommends I work around live virus or not.  But regardless of what he says, the site doctor and nurse recommend that I stay away.
The neurologist letter is going to be sent to a work reassignment committee that reassigns people (if possible) to different jobs based on a disability!

I am so stressed because I feel like they are treating me like I am disabled! The only thing that reminds me that I have MS is stabbing myself with a needle every night. I'm worried that they won't find me another job position and they might let me go. In that case, I couldn't afford to pay for Copaxone anyway! A big f'ing conundrum I say.

Excuse typos! Autocorrect on my iPad =]

[GorgeousGeek]

I understand that risk. People have gotten sick and placed on steroids before and they were restricted for the time they were on the meds.

I feel they are taking me out of the situation prematurely and unnecessarily. I'm quite sure being on Copaxone isn't suppressing my immune system like they say.

[GorgeousGeek]

It's plenty of areas to work in but I don't know how restrictive they are going to be. For example, I work in the production area, but I don't know if the lab areas are as strict. =\.

[sllowe]

Aw GG,

So sorry you have to deal with this. If I remember correctly, you were initially concerned when dx'd about the live virus.  If the doc has no problem with it, and you do not, then surely they must resolve the initial actions.

Now on the bigger hand, it is not within their rights or duties to treat you differently, or "restrict" you from good work. It's unethical at least, and in some cases discriminatory.

I hope the docs note solves the problem and you can move forward without any problems. Stay diligent on this as you are, and let us know how it goes!
-shell

[summerluvr]

It sounds like your work is following due diligence to protect their employees.  I would not feel bad about it (like they are treating you different because of a disability). Say, for example,  you happen to go on steroids because you have a relapse, you would not be able to work there because you could get very sick from a tiny exposure.

Let's see what happens with the placement. I will keep my fingers crossed and pray you find an a job you like just as much :)