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Off Topic - Just wondering

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Posted 7/30/2010 2:33 PM (GMT 0)
As I read through all of our posts, I am learing not only of the fibro issues but really getting a picture of everyones lives. I also see that many of us worked at a nursing home at one point in our lives and many others at hospitals or in the medical field. I just wonder how many of us are out there with fibro that worked in one of these fields.

I worked in a nursing home for about 5 years

Posted 7/30/2010 2:40 PM (GMT 0)
Minnie I never actually worked in the caregiving field but I took care of my mom when she had cancer, and now I take care of my husband who has Multiple Sclerosis. Does that count? lol
Gentle Hugs
Shirley
Posted 7/30/2010 2:55 PM (GMT 0)
I worked at a curative workshop as an activity assistant in a day activities program
with patients who suffered mental ilness. After that I worked 10 years as a supervisor
in a sheltered workshop for the mentally challenged. My final job was working with
patients on a terminal dementia wing of a nursing home, providing group and one on
one day activities. I always loved working with people and felt my jobs were very
rewarding. I have also volunteered working with special ed students and patients in
a nursing home.

Hugs, Robin
Posted 7/30/2010 3:10 PM (GMT 0)
Does subbing in the public schools count? (Lots of caregiving there) and spent a lot of time in nursing homes a couple of years ago.
Posted 7/30/2010 3:22 PM (GMT 0)
To Shirley and Achey.... I think it all counts... Just seems like there is alot of "care giving" among all of us.
Most of us Female and working with very ill people. Lot's of very difficult situations in our lives and even physically a touch line of work to be in. Alot of similar experiences. I'm just being nosey.
Posted 7/30/2010 3:26 PM (GMT 0)
I am a foster parent and a special ed teacher. Does that count?
Posted 7/30/2010 3:34 PM (GMT 0)
Most Definately!!! smilewinkgrin
Posted 7/30/2010 3:49 PM (GMT 0)
I give all of you credit for doing the work you've done - including you who asked, "Does this count?" You're strong women, for sure. I'm not good with medical stuff - and could never handle working in that capacity. I struggle just to take partial care of my mom as she ages - even though she gets around on her own two feet well. She and my brother have serious lacking in understanding of cleanliness and cross contamination - and I feel like I'm running after toddlers cleaning up day and night. I could never work in a hospital or medical setting - I'd be fried. So I think all of you who have done that should have a big cash bonus!! (Wish I could give it to you.)
Posted 7/30/2010 3:51 PM (GMT 0)
Worked in a day treatment center for developmentally delayed preschool children; and visited nursing home patients just to be friendly.

volunteered in a day treatment center for developmentally delayed adults whose mental age was about 4 years; and worked with mentally ill adults, including the criminally insane.

The last two were after fibro. I guess these things count too, huh?

Sue
Posted 7/30/2010 4:00 PM (GMT 0)
Can't say I worked in a medical setting.  But does 10 years working with teen age pregnant  girls count?  I worked with them during pregnancy and for the first year after their babies were born.  I taught health skills, mothering skills and tried to keep them in school and continuing their education.  Some of these moms were as young as 13.

Yo-yo 

Posted 7/30/2010 4:29 PM (GMT 0)
Gosh, Yo-Yo, I sure think that counts!
Posted 7/30/2010 6:34 PM (GMT 0)
Hey guy's... I feel bad... ALL of you count period. I just think that all of this wears on our bodies..Didn't mean to sould like I was discounting anyone outside the medical field... truely I didn't. We all count. It's amazing the loads that some of you carry or have carried and I truely respect all of you for your courage and even the support. Caregiving goes much further than the field of medicine. I am just curious. Please forgive me if I offended anyone with my question.
Steph
Posted 7/30/2010 6:41 PM (GMT 0)
Worked with dementia in an assisted living (locked) faiclty for 2 years. I miss having the energy for that...worked with handicapped children before that.
Posted 7/30/2010 8:17 PM (GMT 0)
Nursing Home 5 years
Adult Day Care (For Elders and Disabled) 2 years
And now, I'm doing Respite for my grandmother, as a live in caregiver, my grandmother has Alheimers and Sun Downers (I hope I remembered that second part right).
Posted 7/30/2010 8:22 PM (GMT 0)
Oh, I totally forgot but I volunteered in Kaiser Permeantee. I was the one who called everyone and reminded them of their appointments. I did that for 5 years, amoungst my other jobs. I volunteered at Kaiser 2 days weekly and worked the other 5 days in the nursing home and graduated high school, and did graveyard childcare. Yes, I never had a life there.... School, swing shift work, graveyard childcare in circles. The only free time I had was weekends, which of course I worked, volunteered, taught Sunday School, and went to church. I remember my nursing home gave me Tuesdays and Sundays off. So thats when I'd do the volunteering at Kaiser, and church on Sundays too.
Posted 7/30/2010 8:34 PM (GMT 0)
Worked as a CNA in a nursing home for three years and then as a rehab assistant another three years.  I believe this work did take a toll on my body in many different ways but it also taught me so much and made me more compassionate toward people.  I was young when I held this job and needed to see alot of what I saw and needed to do alot of what I did.
Posted 7/30/2010 9:41 PM (GMT 0)
*hugs* Minny. You don't have anything to apologize for. I can't speak for everyone - but personally I just wanted to say I didn't work officially in a medical setting. It is a good question you raised - there does seem to be a large number from medical settings.

But one thing I did notice - all of us seem to be people pleasers/servers/caretakers to the point of exhaustion. I don't think that is necessarily a positive trait. (No offense to anyone - I'm trying to cure myself of this problem so I don't have to be so sick!)
Posted 7/31/2010 12:31 AM (GMT 0)
Nah, I was not offended either. And I agree that many of us are servers/caretakers in one form or another. I wonder if that is why it is so hard for us to accept fibro because we go go go before fibro and it is impossible to continue that after.
Sue
Posted 7/31/2010 12:48 AM (GMT 0)
I took care of my two great aunts, my mother, grandmother and my first husband when he died of lung cancer.  I think we all do have care giver traits and I think it is a wonderful quality.  Just curious too.  It seems like a huge coinsidence.  Maybe that is in our personality traits.  And no offense taken here either. 

Hugs to all,

Karen

Posted 7/31/2010 3:00 AM (GMT 0)
I worked in the medical field for 12 years. I also cared for my mom, in my home, for a year; she has Alzheimer's. She's now in assisted living and I continue to "care" for her, in a sense, going there several times a week to spend time with her and the other residents. I bring one of my Golden Retriever's there...he is a wonderful dog and they all adore him...
Miriam
Posted 7/31/2010 3:28 AM (GMT 0)
It does make you wonder!  Do we just not know how to say "no" until we can't do anymore?

Achey

Posted 7/31/2010 6:05 AM (GMT 0)
I don't work in the medical end of the nursing home, I work in the kitchen unloading dishes, checking trays for breakfast
and lunch, then racking the afternoon dishes for the dishwasher. It's a 200 bed facility with Adult Day Care for about 20.
Lots and lots of dishes....makes you not want to do them at home. Part of our problems may be with the physical aspect
but I'm a firm believer that a lot of the shots they give us there may have taken a toll on us especially the "flu" vaccine
that used to be manditory. I got so bad after the shot I couldn't walk and it's just gotten worse so I never have them anymore.

I've also helped raise 2 Grandaughters one of whom was a "special" child.
Posted 7/31/2010 2:14 PM (GMT 0)
I'm actually thinking about going into the medical field ... anyone have any advice?
Posted 7/31/2010 4:55 PM (GMT 0)
I worked in both a retirement home, and a nursing home; both for six years. Then after taking some time off I found myself doing home-health care on a private basis. Before moving to AK, I was in AZ taking care of 3 homebound, and elderly gentlemen, the oldest being 97; the youngest 73.
Posted 8/1/2010 8:57 PM (GMT 0)
Not me....lol
I've mostly done office work and payroll.
Desk jobs...that's why my butt is so big. lol
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