Working with Fibromyalgia

Hello,

I'm wondering what kind of job any of you do if you work and have fibro? I'm a teacher assistant and speech lanaguage pathologist assistant but I'm finding it hard to go to work every day because of the pain, fatigue, and stomach problems. I'm on my feet all day, I have to lift kids, life equiptment and sometimes restrain kids if they are harming themselves or could harm someone else. I used to be able to do this but in the last 6 months it's been getting harder and harder every day to do this.

My doctor said that I'm totally capable of working and there's nothing she can do about it. She said that I'll have to change to an occupation where I can sit. She says that working less hours isn't necessary and it's not going to hurt me to work. I'm very frustrated because I know that I can't work at my present job and missing work is just making me look bad. Right now I'm just subbing so I don't have to go every day but I could've had a couple of permanent jobs but because I was missing work they told me they needed someone more consistent, which I totally understand.

I'm just looking into different careers that would be better for me. Even any suggestions on jobs that would be good for someone who has fibro would be great! Thanks for reading!

Hi Namian,
Thanks so much for the reply. That's great that your work is understanding and accommodates for your needs :) its when those people who are rude to you when your trying to help them that makes it hard. I don't understand why people do that either. Obviously they are unhappy and have to take it out on someone, so frustrating.

ilovecookies,

Sorry to hear about your difficulties. I would suggest that since your job situation is very important that you take the best possible care of yourself that you can.

Try and do stretches morning and evening, eat healthy so your stomach doesn't get upset, and take supplements so you can keep up. These things won't cure you but they could help.

Good luck to you.

Love the comment "Find another job that allows you to sit.". As if it was that easy.

You will have to figure out a way to make it work, if you want to keep this job. I know that sounds tough, but I do not mean it that way. You might have to ask for accomodations. You might need to cut hours. Have you spoken to your employer about this? You might need to have specific rest breaks. Youalso might need to find a new doctor, although what the doctor can do is not clear. Do you want more painkillers?

I teach at a mid-sized state university. I can manage my job fairly effectively. It is the stress that is killing me. Teaching and office hours and meetings and work with the students, no problem. Other duties as expected are harder, since I work in a discipline that requires some manual labor, and odd-ball hours. Yah-performing arts. I have worked it that i am doing less manual labor and rather managing the students as they do it. There is nothing I
I can do about the hours except take naps and manage as well as I can. Keep a regular sleep and eating schedule. Manage pain as well as possible, which is becoming harder since my primary care doc keeps cutting my pain killers.

I am going to see a psychiatrist in the next few weeks to hopefully deal with the stress and serious depression issues. The job is a poor fit for me for a lot of reasons, and there is a lot of red tape and administrative problems, which limits my effectiveness. Each semester keeps getting worse. I am debating leaving, but need to think this through and not make an emotional decision.

It is not easy. Never is. Good health to you.

I'm a substitute teacher. It works out pretty well because obviously I only work when I am up to it, and in fact, now I only do half days. I was a teacher's aid about 10 years ago, and had to do a test where I lifted 20 lbs. No way could I do that now!

You mentioned that when working with little kids, there's always lifting. That's why I don't do preschool anymore and rarely kindergarten.

Debbie

I am an insurance agent, so sit at the desk, but I also am up filing customer folders, so up and down bending, some days are ok, others, not, and when I am in alot of pain, the others in the office do the filing for me.  I also help with dog obedience training and take pictures of the dogs, along with helping with the dogs.  I take all the pictures of the cats for our local shelter which again is up and down off of the floor and sometimes of the dogs.  I can tell when I've been doing alot of getting down/getting up, but I have a hard time just sitting too with back problems.  Do I pay for it?  sometimes.  I would not be able to work at a place where I could not get up from my desk whenever I needed too, or could not ever sit down.  Lifting or holding something would not be something I could do.  We all have our different limitations and how fibro affects us.  If you are happy in your work, can do it 90% of the time without too much pain, then don't let anyone tell you that you can't do it.  If you can only do it 50% of the time, but you work place understands, then don't let anyone else tell you different. 

Hi Sissygirl, and welcome, and of course it is ok to be on here with us.

Hello cookies,

I have recently obtained a job after being housebound for 2 yrs with Fibro and CF.  I was doing Social Work (part of finishing my degree) and working up to 5 days per week.  I then obtained a job in a different area of the organisation and work only 3 days per week.  I really struggled with the 5 days and had no life outside of work.  I had 10 days off over the Xmas/New Year period and my health went downhill - a: because I had done too much work leading up to Xmas and b:  it seems I need work as when I'm sitting at home, I really feel the pain and fatigue more. So, I would recommend you keep working but maybe less days as work has so many benefits, not only the financial ones ie social etc.

I have worked with Autistic children prior to becoming unwell and it is extremely mentally and physically draining, particularly when they need to be restrained, so I know where you're coming from.  It is also hard on the body being down at their level.  I have also worked as a Teacher's Aide in a high school and I'm wondering if that would suit you better? The students sit on 'adult' chairs and there's no having to restrain students.

I agree with others on here regarding your Dr.  How does your Dr know what you can and can't manage???  I would be finding a more supportive and better informed Dr. 

Like you, I feel low when I cannot commit to my work duties and need time off as I have an extremely high work ethic however I'm learning not to put that added guilt on myself and realise that I need to listen to my body earlier rather than later and to accept that I cannot be "superwoman" like I used to think I was.  Be kind to yourself

I wish you the very best and would love to hear how you're going in the future.

Cheers  Lou

 

PS I love cookies too.

Linda

Myself 09, could you tell me what pain relievers help with your fibro? Nothing I've ever tried helps or if it did, Cymbalta, it messed with my mind.

ilovecookies,
I love cookies too. I had ulcerative colitis and I pushed myself too hard at my CPA firm that I pushed myself right into fibromyalgia as well. I had to sell my firm and then only worked part-time during tax seasons only. It took all of my energy to just do that, and I had a desk job.

I agree with everyone that suggested you see a different doctor, like a rheumatologist, regarding your ability to work. If you are like I was somedays you do really well but then pay for it the next few days. I was fortunate at I could come and go as I felt able to work and limited my client appointments to certain days and times that I felt sure I could be there. Even with that someone else had to cover my appointments sometimes. It would feel like it was real late at night and I could not concentrate after 4-6 hours plus I only worked M-W-F. I increased my work load to 5 days a week around 6 hours a day, including a little weekend time, the last time I worked 2 years ago. I over did it.

I ended up with huge UC and fibromyalgia flares from hell. Eventually I had to have my colon removed and an internal pouch constructed. I also had a 3rd surgery due to complications. I can no longer concentrate and am much more fatiqued than before and am in even more pain. My long term disability insurance company has been paying benefits for almost 2 years. I also have depression and anxiety mental problems brought on by all of this as well.

If you are anxious or depressed or both about all of this you should see a mental health professional as well.

Not all with fibro have it the same, some are worse than others and some have it mild. Stress brings on flare-ups as well. So to find a decent paying desk job may not be as big of a help if you have to deal with stressful or complicated mental work.

I'm sounding like Debbie Downer but would hate to see you receive training for a job that wouldn't work for you either. My doctor told me, before the final flares that made the surgeries necessary, that I wasn't totally disabled. I don't know of any insurance that pays for partial disability.

You have been working as much as you can and are becoming unemployable because you frequently have to miss work because of your health. If you loose your job can you get unemployment? I'm just brainstorming here.

I hope you find a way to have an enjoyable happy life.

You are right to think positive. I kept working as much as I could until I couldn't and that was caused by my other health problems getting in the mix. I wasn't suggesting you purposely get fired but was brainstorming "what if". Sorry I wasn't clear on that.