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Working With Fibro Question

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Posted 10/14/2009 9:49 PM (GMT 0)
Hi There. I am new to the forum and had a question regarding working with fibro. I was diagnosed in 2002 and in the past several months have found it harder to continue to work. I have changed my schedule to where it is during the day when my concentration is at my best and still find it harder each month. Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance. Have a blessed day!
Posted 10/14/2009 10:10 PM (GMT 0)

I don't have a concrete answer for you. I changed jobs 3 times during the last year I worked, to decrease hours, to decrease the physical work I had to do and to decrease the mental stress. It didn't help me. I couldn't take my pain meds and work. Then the pain just got to be too much during a day and my mind hit the fibro fog which was dangerous in my job. I am on full disability now.

I know there are others here who do work. Hopefully they can give you some tips! What sort of work do you do?

Good luck!

Posted 10/14/2009 10:50 PM (GMT 0)
I worked a very stressful job for a year and a half after Dx, then went part time to another job, that was ok, but in my case FM has progressed and has had an impact on how much I can work, and what kinds of work I can do. I was a social worker, now I am in the jewelry industry and work part time. It can be tough, but for now its ok. I have to be very careful with my time and energies, and I know I am not as productive as others all the time, but I accept that I have limits.
Posted 10/14/2009 11:07 PM (GMT 0)
I have left one job due to its stress and night shift schedule; have lost one job due to fibro; and am now consideering going on disability. The most advice I can give it to try and task yourself to do things when you have the most energy. i.e. I am a morning person when at work, so I have to do anything physical in the morning and then paperwork in the afternoon.

Brown-eyed Girl, what kind of work do you do?
Posted 10/15/2009 2:39 AM (GMT 0)

Learning2fly said...
I don't have a concrete answer for you. I changed jobs 3 times during the last year I worked, to decrease hours, to decrease the physical work I had to do and to decrease the mental stress. It didn't help me. I couldn't take my pain meds and work. Then the pain just got to be too much during a day and my mind hit the fibro fog which was dangerous in my job. I am on full disability now.

I know there are others here who do work. Hopefully they can give you some tips! What sort of work do you do?

Good luck!

I actually work out of my home for a call center taking sales and service calls. Some of my customers can be highly agitated. I also made sure that my workspace is ergonomically correct so it is good for my physical health as much as possible. I usually work part-time with a 6hr shift. I was so happy when I found a job where I could work out of my home but here lately it seems to be taxing at times. Thank you so much for your reply.
Posted 10/15/2009 2:50 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Brown Eyed Girl,

I work 2 very demanding jobs: I'm a scientist supporting a NASA mission by day. I also teach math part-time at our local community college.

I have fibromyalgia (dx June 2008), but I also have multiple autoimmune diseases and sometimes it's hard to sort out which illness is responsible for which symptom. Nonetheless, I read this thread ahd decided that a thread I started on the lupus forum was pertinent to this discussion. I don't want to re-post, because that would be a duplication, but if you wish to read about my struggles and how I'm starting to think I shouldn't work at all, the thread is here:

www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=29&m=1614357

Best wishes to all of you....
JoAnn
Posted 10/15/2009 5:41 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks, JoAnn - I am having that discussion with myself as well.
Posted 10/15/2009 12:16 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Brown eyed Girl.. and welcome to our fibro family

I am sorry that you too are living with this.. its hard yes...

 

you know I to work from home for a call center, taking sales calls. customer service and resolutions. this part is very stressful as I take the worst of the customers off our agents hands and resolve the issue.. we are coming into our holiday season and I'm wondering if I will make it....but really have no choice. I have to work this pays my Medical insurance and bills...

 

what I do is work a split shift .. 4 hours on .. 2 hour break ( I normally lay down during my break)... and then work another 4 hours....

there is no way I can work 8 hours straight . as it is  I have to do some stretches for my shoulder blades and neck every hour at least... and have to get up from my chair often.. I keep a pillow to rest my feet on as they hurt. and keep a little throw blanket for my legs...

 

there are plenty of days that right after work I go and take a power nap before making Dinner. . and yes work about does me in for the day . I really can't plan anything else for the day .. but feel Blessed to still be able to work and help support our family .

I Know its just a matter of time before I end up having to go the Disability rout. but I will keep trying as best I can...

 

if there  any way you can work a split shift for your company ? its so much easer to manage with Fibro as it gives you a chance to nap and recover from the fist part of your shift..

 

anyway .. I pray things work out for you ... take care my dear...

.

Posted 10/15/2009 12:54 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome BEG,

There are a lot of perspectives on working or not working with FM. Everyone is different and FM effects each of us in a different way.

I choose to continue working. I am an Area Supervisor for a foodservice company. I currently supervise 16 locations as well as involvement with our catering and concessions divisions. My job is not often physically demanding but the stress and sometimes overwhelming demands more than make up for it.

I choose to continue working for several reasons.

1) I like my lifestyle and want to provide my children with some advantages that were not available to me growing up.

2) As far as everyone knows, FM is not made worse by working. It FEELS worse, but working does not make the syndrome advance and worsen. I can deal with the pain, fog, etc...it is not inflamed forever.

3) not all days are terrible. There is always the presence of FM, but it is not always debilitating.

4) I feel worse on my days off...I think that it is because my mind is preoccupied, my body moving and creating adrenaline, and I feel like I am working towards something.

I will always work in some fashion because I think it is best for my mental, emotional, and financial situation.

Posted 10/15/2009 5:31 PM (GMT 0)

I've done some volunteer work with disadvantaged youth. I can go on my good days and stay home on the bad ones. No heavy lifting and no one dies if I get foggy and can't remember something. (I was an RN)

I loved my job, but just couldn't do it safely anymore. The volunteer work has been such a blessing. I get way more than I give. I don't "have" to be somewhere at a certain time or every day. I can do one or two hours as I feel up to it. I can't stay home and be non-social, except for when the depression is hitting me hard, like now. My whole life has been geared to helping others and I just couldn't make it stop because my mind and body said I had to. Luckily, my husband has a good income so I can do this sort of work. Kudos to the rest of you who are continuing to work. I tend to fall a lot because of the nerve damage in my leg and when I am very tired, I fall more often. This is just the ticket for me.

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