Working during a flare up

Today is one of those days that I dread above all others.  I hurt pretty much everywhere, I am so exhausted and the pain is so much I cna barely concentrate on anything.  Yet, despite all this I am still at work.  In this economy I am terrified of losing my job so regardless of how bad I feel I always drag myself in.  So here I sit with my sunglasses on to stop the flourescent lights and computer screen from making my migraine worse wishing for nothing more than to lay down in a dark room with a heating pad on my back and a ice pack on my head.

Do any of you deal with the same issues?  How do you cope without wanting to scream and crawl under your desk?  How can I get through the day?

 

Thanks nmma! Hope you get to feeling better too today. I don't know how you do it, I can't clean my own house anymore let alone someone elses!

As for FMLA I know it protects you, but there are loopholes for the employer...like if they can show that they would have eliminated the position anyway due to the economy they can lay you off during your leave and there is nothing you can do about it other than claim unemployment. My company has already gone through a few rounds of lay offs though I think that my be over for now. We have also been forced to take unpaid time off recently which was a huge financial burden for me.

I am one of those that won't take sick time unless my doctor makes me LOL

I am so close to saying screw it and taking a half day of vacation...

I too am in a three week flare......at work....ready to go home......

I drag my butt to work because I know I will feel worse if I sit at home and let the fog and depression set in......
The guilt of not working also gets to me.....stressing me....making it worse.

I made it through about 3 hours then asked my boss if I could burn some vacation time. Here is where I get to say I have the most wonderful boss in the world. Not only did he ok me going home, but he let me go without using up vacation. I'm salaried so I won't lose any money. He is so understanding and wonderful, and he knows that when I am not hurting so much I will stay late if I have to in order to get my job done. So I came home, took a dilaudid, and slept for a little while. Feeling a bit better now, but still pretty sore. Gonna just take it easy the rest of the day.

Thanks to everyone for being here, it really helps to know I am not alone.

I work 60+ hours per week, so working during a flare happens all the time.  I try not to take extra medicine because it is hard on the stomach.  If you can stop and close your eyes and deep breathe for 5 minutes, that will be a big help.  Also, I tend to compensate for pain by bunching up my muscles.  That only makes it worse, so pay attention and if you find yourself tensing muscles, consciously relax them.  Progressive relaxation is helpful and so is visualization.  If your body is up to it, take a short walk in the fresh air.  Then talk to yourself and tell yourself that this flare will not last forever (even though it feels like it).

Hope this helps.  Big gentle hugs,

Sue

I just lost my last job for being so sick during my first flare over the past couple of months. I luckily got another job right away but it is more physical, so I am putting in 7.5 hours a day. It is really exhausting working while feeling like this. I wanted to be able to take a week or two off so my first meds could kick in before I went back to work, but I just can't afford to.