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So worried about my job

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Posted 6/18/2009 8:31 PM (GMT 0)
 

Hi all, I'm still trying my best to hang in there at work. I did post here a few days ago asking about this awful "sleep all the time" mode I've been in. It feels over and beyond my regular fibro symptoms. I went to my family doctor she took blood to run tests, in the mean time she asked my about FMLA and that she would gladly sign off for intermittent time which is really what I need. My boss has been really understanding but at what point does it stop? Jobs are so hard to come by and so much laying off. Its so scary.

I try not to get myself all stressed out but I no I don't take good enough care of myself and my sleep habits are terrible. I take my ambien way too late and as a result I'm always up till atleast 12 or later. Then I get up at 6. Its not enough sleep.

Sorry just venting cause I really know that everyone here understands.

Posted 6/18/2009 8:41 PM (GMT 0)
Monica, how about turning over a new leaf...starting today.  Start taking your Ambien when you know you should and get to bed earlier.  Getting the needed rest does help a lot.  Because you aren't getting the rest, you feel you need some time off, which makes you nervous about your job, which makes you depressed, which can make you tired and fatigued!  Whew!  Do yiou see what I mean?

 

I haven't been sleeping very well lately and it is catching up to me, too.  Because of this, I am finding myself much more fatigued and even having some depression creeping in.  So, this might be what is happening to you, too.  Massages have helped me a lot in the past and I haven't had a massage since January because of finances.  But, I just cast my fate to the wind and set up an appointment. 

 

Anyway, give it a try.  You might not need the time off.  Just discipline yourself to get to bed at a good time for you.  Hope this helps!

 

Sherrine

Posted 6/18/2009 8:47 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Hope!

Sorry about the job stress.  I know it just got to be too much for some of us.  I'm no expert on this but have been going thru it myself.  Wouldn't hurt to talk to you HR rep.  But as I understand it, FMLA covers a period of 3 months and has some job guarantees for that period.  But you don't have to worry about losing your job in that period.  I don't know how the specifics of how intermittent time off works.

Do you have any Short Term or Long Term disability insurance?  I finally crashed cause I just couldn't go on any longer.  It was to the point where my whole life was working 40 hrs, going to the grocery store, and a movie on Sat.  And then I couldn't even keep that up.  It may be better to take leave than let your job performance degrade too much.  And yeah, it seems like there's financial stress with whatever you do. 

Posted 6/19/2009 2:34 AM (GMT 0)
Check out American Disability Act of 1991 to see if fibro falls under that act. If it does you have the right to ask for accommodations at work and your boss can to comply with them..unless of course they are outrageous ones.
Posted 6/19/2009 4:17 PM (GMT 0)
Be honest and upfront with your boss about what you are going through. I tried to hide my illness (and I guess not too well) and it almost came to me getting fired before I actually quit! With all the time you are/ will be missing for doctor appointments or feeling ill, they know something is up anyway.
Once you tell them and you tell your HR, they cant discriminate because you have an illness, as long as you can still perform your duties.
Do what you can to keep your job as long as you can... but get the ball rolling now for what you will do when you can no longer work b/c that day will just suddenly show up and you want to have a plan in place! Start the conversations now with your spouse, look into your different options, ask your doctor if he/she would support you getting on SSD and would they fill out the forms if you needed them to etc.
Posted 6/19/2009 4:21 PM (GMT 0)
...oops! Oh and good luck! I know how tough it feels, it is a hard line to walk!

Keep your head up!
Posted 6/21/2009 11:50 PM (GMT 0)
I agree be up front with your boss. I had a staff meeting to attend this past Friday. I walked in, found a place to sit, told my neighbor to wake me when the meeting was over with.

It appeared to others that I was hung over. However, because I had been up front with my boss, she knew I was having a fibro day and dismissed me from the meeting.
Posted 6/23/2009 1:06 AM (GMT 0)
I have FMLA at my job too, although I rarely take days off because I am also concerned about losing my job. I know that a good night of rest is very important, although it can be quite hard to come by. I actually gave up on ambien because I found that it was making me feel much too groggy for the whole day after taking it. Instead I'm now on amytriptyline, which I take at bedtime. Sometimes I also take melatonin if I'm having a lot of trouble going to sleep. Other times I just take some valerian root, which isn't as strong, but helps the body to relax. Then, every morning, I take some vitamin B12 which helps with energy throughout the day. You may want to try something like this instead of ambien, especially since you're also on lyrica. I remember lyrica also always made me feel groggy and disoriented when I was on it. Hope you get some more sleep and feel better soon!

Take care,
SaraBeth
Posted 6/23/2009 2:19 AM (GMT 0)
I take D-Ribose and it helps with fatigue. You get it at the health food store. I was constantly tired and my Dh was getting concerned. now I have a lot of my energy back.
Posted 6/23/2009 3:35 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Monica,
Sorry to hear you are having such a difficult time. I agree with the other posts about some time off if you are able.

I wanted to share what I did to help me with feeling a little more rested. I take my ambien half an hour before I need to be asleep. I plan on 8 hours a night. So 8-1/2 hours before my alarm goes off, I take my meds, lay in bed, read a little and then I am asleep in time to get my 8 hours. Now, this was very hard at first. I seem to always have things to do at home in the evening. My to-do list was overflowing and felt like a hampster on a wheel. I was just so tired of being tired I made a schedule for sleep and now I stick to it. Funny thing is that I really do not get less done and at least I have had a better sleep to cope more during work. Its definitely not a cure all, just a little planning to get some rest.

Good luck to you.
Posted 6/23/2009 7:34 AM (GMT 0)
Honesty is the best policy. I had to tell my new coworkers - I started a new job in April - because one of them thought I was hung over when I was trying to talk and explain something yesterday morning. I saw "the funny look" on her face - you know that look that says they know something wrong, and they're not quite sure what! I put together a one-page summary that looked like a flyer, and explained it at a staff meeting yesterday. I listed what symptoms I may have, that it's different one day to the next, what I can and genereally have trouble doing. Fibro101 on this forum helped a lot in explaining. What was gratifying is that most everyone understood, and said that they would never have guessed. That mde me feel better. And then we were on to business as usual, which is what I much prefer than funny looks! It is an isolating feeling, feeling sick and not up to my 100% so often. It is really nice, I'll say it again, to have this forum.
Posted 6/24/2009 1:08 PM (GMT 0)
Monica,

I have been working with FM for 9 years.  FMLA has saved my job. 

I have had to fight a very large company to get it, but I won!!!!!

I have had intermittent FMLA for 9 years.  I have specific restrictions that I may have to come in late, leave early, or be absent.  My MD also has in there that I need extra time to stretch etc.  With intermittent FMLA you get 12 weeks of time every rolling 12 month period.

So if you have to come in 2 hours late for a week you would only be charged 10 hours of your 480 hours per year.

Also to qualify you need to have a serious health condition, with is defined ( as far as FM goes ) as a chronic condition which requires you to see a physician 2 times per year and requires a regimen of continuing treatment.  ( including RX meds )

Also I use ADA reasonable accomidations.  For ADA you need an illness that severely limits one or more major life activities with or without medication. 

Because of my FM i have severe insomnia.  I will go weeks with 1-2 hrs of sleep without my Ambien CR.  This qualifies me. 

I hope this info helps you.  If you need anymore info just let me know.

T

Posted 6/24/2009 1:35 PM (GMT 0)
Monica,
I was prescribed Lyrica, and it made me sleepy ALL THE TIME! It didn't help me with the body pain, it just made me feel worse from being in bed all day. My suggestion would be to try a different medication. Neurontin is one of the older meds, and I was taking it at night to help me sleep instead of being hungover with Ambien. Just want to share my experience. Best Of luck!
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