Posted 5/1/2007 7:28 AM (GMT 0)
Hi, I'm new to this whole forum thing, but I suddenly had to talk to someone else who coud possibly understand what I've been going through. Here's a quick synopsis of my story (skip ahead to get to my questions): diagnosed with psoriasis, mild to moderate, at 15; at 19 suffered a fall, really silly story; dx I broke a toe, went back to college and limped a around campus for 2 months; new dx a dislocated toe, limp with a cast for 3 months; 4 years, 3 MRIs, 2 more casts, many tests and a few more misdiagnoses along the way and in January they said it was psoriatic arthritis. I moved back home after college so that I could get included in my parents healthcare benfits for all the testing I've had done to figure this out and now I'm staying to keep my meds covered. I've struggled with chronic depression since I was nine. So, I know the coping mechanisms to get my life on track, but I never seem to have the energy to use them.
Now I'm 23 with a life before me and it feels like my options for a career and everything are quickly disappearing. I've never had more than a part-time job, let alone one with benefits and I'm not sure what to expect to find out there. So far the swelling is only in my feet, but I often have moderate to severe pain in my neck and back on top of the almost constant pain in my feet. I guess any suggestions you all could give me on finding a career that would be willing to accomodate my needs, would really be helpful. I have a BA in English and Art History, but am reluctant to go back to school, because I really need to get out on my own and right now I can't afford this disease and school. I'm also really worried about how mobile I'm going to be five or ten years from now. While walking I get passed by just about everybody. How can I go into an interview and say oh by the way there will be days when I can barely make it in in the morning let alone stand for more than five minutes. Who'll hire me except for some paper-pushing type of job. I'm still trying to work out the best balance of meds with my multiple doctors so maybe this will all change in the next few months, but after almost four years of constant pain its hard to hold on to hope.
My younger sister has diabetes and one of the first things she said at the hospital when initially diagnosed is "I'll never be able to open my own gallery now". I felt so badly for her, but now I feel the same way. Part of me always wanted to open my own bookstore. It's hard enough to make a small business succeed w/o all this, and now I'm not sure it's possible. So if anyone is looking for a couple of artists (I write trashy novels and she makes beautiful furniture) give me a holler. Thank you if you've read this far. I really needed to share this stuff with someone and you all seemed like really nice people. Thanks again.
Kat