Another Flare?--venting sorry in advance

I am here to vent. I started a flare this past weekend, a weather front moved in and It started, the pain the spasms the ache AND THE EXHAUSTION, all I want to do is sleep and cry of which I did all the way home last night from work. I work full time and it is a struggle as is. I hate how no one can see that I am miserable and ive already missed too much work this past year and I cannot miss anymore lest I get let go which might be a blessing in disguise as I can actually apply for disability, we need me to be working to support us

JUST HAVING A SWEATER ON HURTS, IT TOUCHING MY SKIN, IS THIS NORMAL?

I also have a co-worker that mimics my illnesses and or symptoms to get attention, I wish I was joking or just being a brat about that one but she does. If I have to go to doc or physio ill tell her what the doc will do or did do or the diagnosis, she will call out sick the next week and say of I have a back ache and the doc said I have herniated disks in my lumbar-she doesn't even know what level to say when I asked. do you know anyone who does this kind of acting out? It all seems to much of a coincidence and my co-workers have said it too.

Post Edited (BunnyGirl86) : 6/9/2015 1:11:04 PM (GMT-6)

Well
First I am so sorry you are suffering !

Next.. as difficult as this may be to put into practice:
DO NOT REWARD your immature coworkers behaviour!

By giving her any of your attention.. Any of Your time. Tell her NOTHING.
Her behaviour is NOT your business/ your problem. It is her supervisors. Your life will be better if you stay out of it altogether.

Unless you have co worker/friends - trust worthy to not discuss what you tell them- tell THEM nothing either.

Sounds like middle school behaviour, doesn't it?- someone has to be THE grown-up.
(Often true in family situations too. Same advice in that situation)

A written excuse from your medical appointment for you to give to HR or boss is the extent of what work needs.
Always keep copies !!!

Unless there are work restrictions. Work restrictions- limiting hours &/or particular activities - might be a discussion you should be having with your health care team. Do you qualify for family medical leave act?

Is your sensitivity due to fibromyalgia? You mentioned flare.
If so, speaking for myself, yes- clothing -texture, seams, etc touching my skin sometimes hurts.

Something snug but not tight like loose fitting yoga pants -
usually rayon or cotton with a little spandex for stretch - works best for me.
anything loose that brushes against surface of my skin drives me nuts If I am up moving around A lot.

Also, due to herniated discs, injured joints, etc nerve pain can cause those affected areas to be very sensitive To clothiing.

I worked off & on for 2 years after my fall (Which resulted in Injures + fibro + myofascial pain). It is so tough to work while in pain !!

Had known some of my coworkers for 10+ yr. They knew my work ethics - the long hours I had put in on regular basis.
If that had not been the case, maybe my situation would have been more difficult - my pain less ' believable'.
Even so, very few coworkers knew the full extent of what was going on W/me.

Because I had to frequently take time away from work for therapy appointments, some coworkers knew More than I really wanted.. but our jobs required interactions / deadlines etc. My contract was not renewed but, like you, I knew by then that I needed time away from work. I planned for possible looss of job so, by then, I was working a full 40 hr week, no restrictiions, so was eligible to colllect unemployment.

Since I fell AT work, everyone knew when my health changes started -my fall was not in itself a horrible event ie i 'just' tripped, --did not fall off a ladder or machinery, - so people WERE surprised at the serious, long lasting damage (still are - me included!)

Probably some comments were made amongst themselves but noone came right out & was negative to me. I've come to understand that It Is easier for some people to believe serious injury must mean hospital time, surgeries, casts & braces, no matter what xrays & MRI's show.. we cannot change any one else's beliefs or behaviour (talking about adults here)

A few coworkers DID say, directly to me, they could not only see that I moved differently, but also see pain in my face & my eyes.

Glad you came here to vent. It IS unbelieveable how some folks 'get up in out business'. Cannot change THEIR actions, just change OUR reactions. Suggest you don't waste your energy on them.

Hope you will let it go, relax a bit & feel less pain.

I'm so sorry that you are struggling. And extra sorry that you seem to have a whacko co-worker.
She must have either a real boring or unhappy life is she's deciding to mimic somebody with a chronic illness. You need to come back from an appointment and say you have something strange-like Scurvy:)

I'm a single mom and I totally get the need to work. Just make sure you listen to your body, even though it's hard to do so when you have a family to support. I debated filing for disability for years and talked about it with my Dr. I tried to keep teaching Biology, buy my body eventually told me that it was DONE. Passed out due to heart issues in Oct, and that was my last time in the classroom. I was incredibly blessed to apply that month, and was approved in January. I'm in my 30's so I was shocked. I had also assumed that I needed to have not worked for at least 6 months prior to applying, but that was not the case. Now, winning disability from the state of VA(VRS) was a much more difficult progress. That took almost a year. I was surprised since Social Security ruled on all types of employment, and the VRS was just concerned about teaching. But, it did work out in the end.

I hope this is a short lived flare. Are there any ways you can have accommodations to help you while things are rough? Diane also mentioned FMLA-is that an option?

I wish I knew what the magic way is to file and win approval. I still think that disability applications are just taped to the ceiling and the SS employers just throw a dart and that one is the winner.