RA AND WORK

I am wondering what you do when you can not work. These dr. Bills are killing me. Diagnosed in april with ra. I have tried mtx,arava, and both made me very sick. I am on 2000mg of sulfasaline(sp) don't see any relief hands ,feet shoulder hip to die for. I had some vision changes 2 weeks ago. Whent to opthamalagist 13 years ago I had a psudo tumor that is a mock tumor that makes you get fluid on the brain. Well it came back and the fluid has pushed on my optic nerve in the right eye I lost 40% of my vision it drives me crazy. I lost my job due to missing work. Very depressed about it every time you go to the dr. $200 plus. My insurance does not cover office visits. This is the only insurance I can get. Any advice what to due.

I LIVE IN ILLINOIS AND HAVE WORKED SINCE I WAS 16 I AM 43.

Also notable is that an employer (of more than 15 employees) has to treat RA sufferer like any other person protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Your employer (again, if they employ at least 15 people) must make reasonable accomodation including going so far as job restructuring (giving you an easier job) and modification of work schedule - unless all of that would cause undue hardship for the company (not likely if it is a large company). You may want to go back and examine your previous job situation to see if any wrong steps were taken.

I'm self-employed now but looking for another "real" job again. I've had a bit of trouble with the last two employers. Nobody ever said anything negative officially, but damage was definitely done, unofficially. I got berated once for wearing comfortable shoes at my old job (a job that has no client or public contact in person). At my last job I was once told by my supervisor quite simply to "do more work" - the day after I came back to work from recovering from a really bad infection! I told the big boss (an attorney) the next day that I was quitting and told him why and he nearly fired my supervisor and then he told me I could have any job I wanted at the company.

This is my very first post here. I am a 40 year old ( feels like 80 sometimes) Diagnosed with sero neg RA in January and Fibro in July /. I worked for an internal medicene doctor first as a receptionist then for the last year as a medical assistant. I have always been told I did a great job at work, In Sept I called in for the second time this year and my manager seemed very sympathetic. Well when I got to work on Monday I had a letter saying that I need to go back down to 2 days ( I was originally hired for 2 then worked 3) or take my time off when the office was closed. I still had 1 1/2 personal time for the year. i was very distraut and I quit. Not the most sensible way or mature but was constantly being asked about my medical problems (eventhough they looked enough in my office chart I am sure) It was a small office of 8 and I understand they needed everyone there pretty much all the time. So I am now the best darn housewife I can be LOL and am enjoying the rest between flares.