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Posted 8/13/2010 9:19 PM (GMT 0)
HI everyone. I'm new to the site but not to fibro. I've suspected I've had fibro for 3 yrs nowbut was formally diagnosed last month.  The fibro fatigue and fog are progressively getting worse. My doctor upped my savella to tid, but no improvement and finding that it's starting to affect my abilites to work. I've been an eye tech for a multy dr practice for 11 yrs now and lately it's just so hard to push myself to keep going at work(the frown on anyone sitting down for a 5 min. break at the office). So I was curious to know how many other fibromites are still working a full time job and if not how did you go to part time or quit ?
Posted 8/13/2010 9:49 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Saintsfan and welcome to our fibro family, we have some of the most awesome people on this site and they will be here soon to greet you. I myself no longer work as of October of last year. For me the fatigue was getting so bad that I just couldn't do it anymore. I was lucky enough to get on social security disability within 6 months. I dont know how old you are but I am 50 and so it was my age and my drs. support that made it possible for me not to have to fight for disability. Well thats my story and Im sticking to it lol. There are alot of people here that do still work though. Im sorry you have to be here but you have found a great place to be. Dont be afraid to ask questions or vent when you need to. We all understand what you are going through.
Gentle Hugs
Shirley
Posted 8/13/2010 9:57 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, Saintsfan, and welcome!  I'm glad you found us and joined in!  Nope, I don't work full time but we do have members that do so I'm sure they will pop in shortly.

 

Be sure to check out the Fibro 101 thread...the first thread on the forum.  You will find links to good information about fibro. 

 

I use a couple of supplements that have helped me with pain and fatigue.  Many with fibro are deficient in these.  One is malic acid/magnesium supplements and the other is vitamin D3.  There are links all about these in Fibro 101 and how they work in your body.  Perhaps these could help you with some of your pain and fatigue!

 

I'm happy you are here!  Don't hesitate to ask questions because we are here to help you.  Hope to hear more from  you soon!

 

Sherrine

Posted 8/13/2010 11:17 PM (GMT 0)
I work full time but since it's in education, I get enough time off to handle it. Just when I think I can't handle another day, a holiday pops up. Having a week or two off here and there plus no work for the entire summer makes it easier.

I had the opportunity for a few promotions this year but I had to turn them down. One would have required me to work year round and the other would have increased my daily hours by 25%. Either position would have doubled my pay so it really really hurt to turn them down. I figured the extra stress would have burned me out sooner so I am better off staying where I am.

I used to be an engineer but I couldn't handle it anymore due to the brain fog. Work had slowed down just when I needed to cut my hours so they were really happy that I wanted to go part time. They were going to have to cut everyone's hours (5 people) but I volunteered to cut back to only 10-15 hrs/week. They couldn't lay anyone off and still keep the group rate insurance so everyone was happy that I cut my hours. I ended up working about 1 week/month from home to pay for my health insurance for the last year then they finally went bankrupt.
Posted 8/13/2010 11:30 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Saintsfan,

welcome to the fibromyalgia forum!!!  I managed to work part time last year and am so proud of myself.  I had to quit but not because I couldn't do it.  And I hadn't been able to work for about seven years.  So I am happy with the fact that I was able to do it for a while. 

I am so glad that you have joined us.  And I hope that you continue to post.  As you can see there are a lot of friendly, wonderful members here.

Hugs, Karen

Posted 8/13/2010 11:39 PM (GMT 0)
I'm 37 and walk and stand on my feet all day and just find it is getting harder and harder to do esp during a flare. Our office also has a no parttime employee rule. But I am planning on talking to my supervisor again next week to see if we can reach a comprimise. Keeping fingers crossed she will listen a little bettter this time around. Thanks for the welcome:)
Posted 8/14/2010 2:28 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Saint,
I work in a 200 bed nursing home dishroom. It's extremely heavy work and a lot of twisting and turning. I check
the breakfast and lunch trays and only have a 1/2 hour lunch and two 15 min breaks. I've been full time there for
11 years (I'm now 56 years old) and worked in a plastics factory for 5 years before that. I've always worked full time
with my only breaks coming with various surgerys. My latest ones are overlapping for a 3" lipoma tumor that was
wrapping itself around my left wrist (still isn't right) and last week I had arthoscopy on my right knee. I go back to
work in about a month and a half. I'm not looking forward to it as they hired even more kids....most of which don't
want to work only get the paycheck. Seeing as I'm doing most of the grunt work...I even did stock at one time, putting
away 300+ cases of food by myself while they sat there and watched. Honey, I've short at 5' and literally had to climb
the shelving units to put stuff away while a 6 footer sat and stared. I keep telling myself.....only 9 more years, you
can do it.
Nana Monster
Posted 8/14/2010 2:55 AM (GMT 0)
I have been working full time and am trying to go to part time status of 30 hrs a wk. I work in an office setting but the constant same position can cause lots of pain in my tail bone. When I file or make copies standing longer than 2-3 minutes my back begins to hurt. There r times i get up to walk around and my legs are stiff and it hurts to walk. So i think it is time to go part time, rather than quite. I keep telling myself this is not a time to go part time, but I just don't think I can do it anymore. I feel like if i quite i will really get worse, less movement the stiffer i will become. The fibro fog at times gets the best of me considering i working in accounting. I am having a major flare right now and couldnt go to work. Took some flexril and it knocked me out majority of the day. Good luck!
Posted 8/14/2010 4:40 AM (GMT 0)
I have worked full time for 28 years as a nurse.  I am 52 years old and findig it harder and harder to keep up.  In 2007 I had to luck to change part of my workload to a computer area, where I try to make the computer charter easier for the health care workers to use.  I do that part to 2/3 time, and do every other weekend night shift.  I am finder it harder in both areas to stay focused and  energetic.   I have always done focused work, but then pay the price on my off days.  And it seems like I hit the 'brick wall'  of building up pain and fatigue earlier in the week than I would like.  I am single, so I a trying to maintain the full time status as long as I can, but worry if I can keep that up.  The changing shifts are hard for maintaining a solid sleep cycle.  But, I am employed, which during these times, is a blessing. 
Posted 8/14/2010 1:43 PM (GMT 0)
Twinkle,
Do you sit to do the input? In the nursing home I work at they now have the regular computers and then a wall
mounted input pad for consumptions. I'm lucky as mine is a straight day shift in the kitchen and I have Wednesdays
and Saturdays off every week. It helps to break up the load put upon the body.
Nana Monster
Posted 8/15/2010 3:10 PM (GMT 0)
I work full time at a bank in front of a computer all day. I would love to go on disability but dont know how I would survive financially untill it was approved. I am too busy to even get up untill my lunch hour. The Savella has helped ALOT but I need other meds for PSA. My liver is not tolerating all of the Tylenol I take to make it through the day. I am 53 and stay on FMLA where I work all the time just in case my IBS or something flares up. I come home around 6:30, take a muscle relaxer, do supper, laundry, etc. then hit the heating pad. I still wake up in pain throughout the night but can go back to sleep better with the muscle relaxer. I worry about killing my liver just so I can work. It helps to know that alot of you are not working, I dont feel so bad, thinking I am just a big baby. Thanks for sharing.

Posted 8/15/2010 11:46 PM (GMT 0)
Normal,
Right now I'm out on a nearly 3 month FMLA as I've had 2 big surgeries in a hair over a month. Still fighting with
the disability people as they are not saying about staying out with the knee just the wrist.
Now that they are over I've just started back on my herbals, The Co Q-10 has already put the shine back on my
skin. Today is the first day back on the True Calm which is kinda an herbal muscle relaxer/ happy pill. Can't wait
for it to kick in...probably in a couple of days.
Nana Monster
Posted 8/16/2010 12:39 AM (GMT 0)
I have felt so guilty for putting extra burden on my family and my co-workers. But now that I know I'm not alone it is such a relief. Tomorrow I will check into the fmla and see what I need to do. I can't afford to lose my job completely but taking off when I don't feel well is getting more difficult to do.
Posted 8/16/2010 1:27 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Saintsfan,

Yes, I work full time at a large university.  I was diagnosed with fibro in the middle of my master's program where between research, teaching, and my courses, I was working nearly 80 hours per week.  I worked full time for a year after that, but took off the month of July because I start a PhD program in September.  It will consist of 20 hours a week doing research and many many hours studying. It will be more than full time.  I am nervous about the fog, especially since yesterday and today were so bad.  Hubby said instead of a dream catcher, I need a thought catcher.  On top of that I am flaring really badly today and the percocet didn't even work. 

The things that help are taking frequent breaks to get up and move around and get some air, healthy eating, and walking 10 minutes a couple of times, vitamins, deep breathing, stretching.  I am also supposed to stop halfway to work and get out and walk around my car.  My commute is over an hour each way.  But I havent done it yet.  Good luck figuring out what to do and with your meeting with the boss.

Sue

Posted 8/16/2010 2:16 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Saintsfan and Welcome to our forum... This is a great place to be. I am no longer working since January and am currently waiting on my Long Term Disability and SSDI to make a decision on my disability. I am 50 and had been working in the eyecare field for more years than I can count. I just have so much fatigue and pain that I no longer have the energy to be able to work and travel as I have. In addition, the medication I am on has effected my eyes and I can no longer use the optical equipment that I used every day. It's been tough and very frustraining not knowing if there will be approval or a fight for the disability but I know that there is no way I cold hold down a job, I don't even know if I can get out of bed most days.

You will know when your body will no longer support and you will know when you have tried all the meds, and suppliments that are out there with little or no releif. I pushed myself long after I knew I could not work and it's made things worse for me, so I would just say to keep an eye on your health, keep your doctors completely informed and make sure your support system is in place.

People here are awesome and will give support and advise, but you know your body and your limitations... listen to your own voice.

Hugs
Steph
Posted 8/16/2010 3:23 PM (GMT 0)
Hello.  I was dx'd two years ago.  Pretty sure I have been dealing with symptoms building for the last 10 years. 

 

I'm still working fulltime, but I can tell my body is not going to allow this much longer.  The last month, I've pretty much spent all of my time off if not in bed, laying on the couch trying to recover.  It's getting to the point where I can no longer just push through the pain, or try to mentally block it from my work day.  Lately, I've just been praying to make it to the end of the day. 

 

I am lucky enough that I know I can go to part time with my employer when I feel it is necessary.  My biggest concern is how it will effect our budget.  I've been working frantically to pay our debts down.  I do have disability insurance, which should help out if I do not qualify immediately for ssdi. 

 

I see the doc next week, though my appt wasn't until October, I just can't wait that long. 

Posted 8/16/2010 5:10 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Saintsfan!

Welcom!!

 

I am 44 and work full-time as an administrative assistant. I went out on short term 2 years ago for about 2.5 mos. If I knew then what I know now, I would of waited. Its much harder for me now, everything goes into me getting myself here to work m-f. My weeks, they are just me resting to get ready for the next week of work. No real enjoyment for me on the weekend. When I do try to do something fun or entertaining, I usually end up paying for it later. It is what it is. I know there are plenty out there worse off, so...I take what I have...one day at a time!!

Posted 8/16/2010 5:34 PM (GMT 0)
Hopegirl, that's what all of have one day at a time-the manta of fibro pts. I had to leave work early today because of trouble walking. My hips are so inflamed with bursitis that I ended up in er yesterday, was givin medrol pack and percocet to take at home and a demerol shot before I left-all I felt was cooky for a little while, no other relief. If I could get in the pool I know I'd feel better, just can't manage the steps right now.
Minnymouse-I so understand about the optical equipment-my vision seems "jumpy" and blurred and I usually have to call on a co-worker to help me.Anyway, so here I am, back at home, taking it easy for the rest of the day. Praying for a better day tomorrow.
Posted 8/16/2010 11:50 PM (GMT 0)
I,m still working full-timeplus overtime now and then. I work in a factory building industrial fans. My job is getting harder because of my hands and knees hurt so bad. There are times i wish i could just quit but with my hubby on ssd it makes it very hard. there are many days i could just walk out and say i,ve had enogh. I use wrenches,screwdrivers and various other tools and my hands can,t take it. I have osteoarthritis in them and are very painful. My knees i,m not for sure what it was I just know it hurts to work and i have trouble using stairs. I,m mking dr. appts. with orthro drs. to see if they can help me. I know it,s hard but what else can i do. I have to work.. I,m 52 to young for this. wish they would find a cure for fibro. So many of us are suffering.
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