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Posted 8/14/2015 4:57 AM (GMT 0)
I often wonder what other fibro patients do for living. Does anyone mind sharing your occupation and story behind it? Has anyone made a decision for a new career after being diagnosed with fibro?

I came across some websites that talked about most stressful jobs, and my current position, event coordinator, was considered one of them. I do feel stressed every day, and stress is definitely causing muscle pains. My contract ends at the end of April 2016, and I need to think about a new career that is less stressful. I then looked up some of the least stressful jobs.

http://www.careercast.com/jobs-rated/least-stressful-jobs-2015

One of them was dietitian, which I have always been interested in as a future career. Now I kind of want to go back to college to pursue a master's degree in nutrition, but it is such a big decision to make when I'm not sure if it is really right for me. My friends also suggested that I pursue a teaching career if I pursue a master's degree as well. I'm concerned about my physical ability, concentration problem and stress due to fibro.... Has anyone confronted a dilemma like this? Any advice will be greatly appreciated.
Posted 8/14/2015 5:27 AM (GMT 0)
I was a teacher, and I had to quit. Not just because of fibro, but because of all my chronic illnesses piled on together. If I were counseling anyone who was considering the teaching field, I would definitely point out that it can be very physically and emotionally taxing. I was an Elementary School teacher, and I was on my feet all day every day. And with such young children, you have to be completely attentive at all times. There isn't a moment when you can put your head down and take a breather. Breaks are few and far between. I think the physical part may be a little less demanding with high school; I'm not sure about the emotional part.

I'm not trying to talk you out of it; I just want you to know the reality of it. I would imagine that event planning requires some measure of shepherding people about and making sure things get done a certain way. Teaching is similar, except that the people are under the age of 18 and you have to make sure they are learning in the process, while at the same time, there are many of them who can't be trusted to go to the bathroom by themselves. rolleyes
Posted 8/14/2015 11:21 AM (GMT 0)
I was an elementary school teacher also and Austen's post is absolutely correct. I want to add that the teaching job doesn't end at 3 PM. I would go home and grade papers and then start dinner. After dinner I would work on lesson plans and occasionally make calls to parents. So during the school,year you most likely would be working longer hours than you would in a typical job.

I left teaching when I started having my family. I didn't have Fibro yet but I know I could not do the job I would want to do with Fibro...and that would cause me stress, too. It would be wonderful if you could find something you could do from home. My nephew works with computers and programming and he has a terrific job where he works at home. He can take breaks whenever he wants...just as long as the work gets done.

Sherrine
Posted 8/14/2015 4:22 PM (GMT 0)
I agree with Sherrine. If I were heading back to the job market, I would seek something that could be done at home (either all or partial), involved some type of flex time, was mostly performed at a desk, was mostly performed at my own pace, or some combination of the above. Having to report to a 40 hour a week inflexible job would be too much for me, but I do have many other health problems in addition to fibro.

I did a quick Google search of "jobs for people with chronic illness" and there seems to be quite a bit of information out there to help people design an educational/job search plan. I think you are wise to take your time and explore options before you jump into anything new. I wish you the best.
Posted 8/15/2015 2:44 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you, AustenFan and Sherrine, for sharing your experiences and advice. Being an elementary school teacher does sound physically and mentally demanding.... I think teaching in college would be less stressful with more flexible work arrangement.

I will consider a job that I can do from home then. I've started my research online. I have a graphic design degree and am skilled at graphic/web design and video editing, so I could possibly do some freelance work using my creativity, although it would be very competitive. The thing is, these types of jobs require you to stare a computer screen for many hours. I have severe dry eyes as well... :-(

I'm still interested in dietitian career. Apparently there are jobs dietitians can do from home, too, such as writing cookbooks, developing health and wellness websites, doing a telenutrition counseling, etc. Becoming a translator can be another option as I am bilingual. In any case, I think I need to go back to college anyway.
Posted 8/15/2015 4:24 PM (GMT 0)
I have a cousin who has had a great career as a tutor. I don't know the specifics, but I believe some types of tutoring can be done online.

As for me, I don't work from home, and seem to keep very busy with my garden, taking care of pets, cooking, cleaning, etc.. I really, really admire those here who struggle through their outside-the-home work days. It's one thing to be at home and to be able to sit when necessary, and quite another to have to wait to take a break.

This type of discussion has come up before and another idea was to ask yourself what you're particularly good at, or interested in (hobbies, etc.). I think this kind of thought can really open doors.

Last week, I posted (titled "Inspirational!") about a gal with MS who was frustrated with her health limitations. She ended up making some really creative wedding dresses. Really, the sky is the limit when it comes to creativity. It's also helpful to see what needs there are and hopefully, you can find a way to fulfill those needs (inventing something, finding an easier way, etc.)

Wish you the best! :)
Posted 8/18/2015 3:40 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, I work in a police office and the environment can get very stressful. Not only that, I'm sitting at a computer for 7 hours a day, some days forgetting to get up and take breaks. Not sure how long I will be able to do it, but I love the work, I love the people I work with...just wearing on me.
Posted 9/30/2015 1:11 AM (GMT 0)
I was Cust Svc Rep phones & public counter, now I have a hobby gardening. You keep moving stand, a pneumatic desk (DREAM)
Posted 9/30/2015 2:30 AM (GMT 0)
I switched from doing social work and dance teaching to just dance teaching. Sounds crazy for a fibromite, but two things: one, I earn three times what I did in social work; two, what other job can you sit or lay down as you please and there's a lot of autonomy. I can work hard or take it easy on rough days, changing my lesson plan in an instant. Needless, to say I love it. I am having to reduce my hours. I can't do any more than ten hours a week, and appx. only two hours a day.

I've recently dropped a teaching gig. Too much for me to do 3.5 hours in one night (some serious flares!) and the philosophy at the location didn't mesh with me, (too controlling).

Getting a Masters degree sounds great. Take some time to think about it. I once thought about health coaching (kind of ironic) since I had seen lots of at home, on line jobs listed for that. Nutrition sounds like a good one! What about teaching for an online university as an idea?
T
Posted 9/30/2015 11:39 AM (GMT 0)
I was a college professor,and taught full-time until two years ago. Yes, there was some stress at times, but through schedule management and lifestyle changes, I could handle the work. I miss it,but not the situation I was in when I resigned.

I agree with Austen--both physically and emotionally challenging, all teachers work hard. In higher ed, I had much more autonomy than the public schools.

I resigned for many reasons, and yes,health was one of them. I had a severe crohns flare that lasted for months until I got it under control. The flare aggravated my fibro, of course. All could have been worked around, for I am very determined. However, I decided to resign when the year came I had to declare tenure, because I was not happy in the university and knew I did not want to stay. It was not a good fit.

I currently substitute in the public schools, while sending out applications. It's okay, but doesn't pay much.
Posted 10/7/2015 1:41 AM (GMT 0)
I got my MSW at 51. I also accumulated a mountain of debt; something to really consider! I can not work right now, at all. I can, and do, take care of my home and keep up with numerous doctors apts. What I have decided, like so many on this post have discussed, is to follow my original passion. I have done much advocating throughout my life, in many diverse areas. Also, a lot of community planning and creation of programs. I am slowly working towards being an advocate/educator for chronic pain and for people needing assistance with their activities of daily living for any reason.
I started a blog, next step is presenting a clinics, online work and a book.
Go social work!
I am glad you are dancing! Hope you find your niche, your passion. No matter what adversities we face in life, we still have gifts to offer others.
Posted 10/8/2015 3:21 AM (GMT 0)
I'm still working ... I'm an optician and I really like my job I have the best bosses and the company is very generous. Not alit of people can say this... But in all honesty having fibro still makes it hard to work .. Even though my job is so easy.. I struggle to make it there more often than not
Posted 10/14/2015 7:10 PM (GMT 0)
Hi!
I've worked various part time retail jobs over the years while I raised my kids. Recently I just ended a two-and-a-half year stint at a small holistic wellness store. Started as a cashier and ended up being the assistant manager/accounts payable manager. It sounds dramatic to people who don't understand, but that job was killing me. Add to that a crazy boss who bullied me constantly and it was a recipe for disaster. Thankfully I was let go last month. They said it was because I wasn't happy working there. :/
Anyway, now I'm trying to get my art business off the ground and my hubby is thrilled that I'm not going crazy from stress anymore. :)
Posted 10/21/2015 3:58 PM (GMT 0)
Lucinda
That's impressive, getting an MSW at 51! Wow! What a go getter!

I've considered my MFA. There's a program, long distance, with short on site sessions, that I have considered. They even said they'd be willing to work with me and my condition. I still have to get work done, naturally! But since much of the work is with a mentor, and is research, and exploration, AND if I wanted to explore movement and the impact it has on those with disabilities, I could do that.

Of course, there is that whole debt thing. What sort of loan programs did you get?

You can tell I am having a better day since I am actually thinking about this. Silly me...
T
Posted 10/21/2015 5:31 PM (GMT 0)
I personally would counsel against further degrees,unless there is a specific need for them in your work and/or there is a need for your discipline in the marketplace. All too often, graduate degrees are costing more than they make in salary increases. The joy of learning for learning's sake is now a rich person's game. Each year, programs disgorge more and more graduates into a system with fewer job openings, except in very specific fields. At a certain point, it just is not fiscally reasonable.

One thing to ask your adviser and/or admissions office is rate of placement in jobs post-degree. Ask to see the numbers. Also, check accreditation. This, while seemingly a waste of time, is not, because there are many graduate programs out there that do not have/lost their accreditation.

One last thing to do before the grad degree is do a search of current job openings. The openings change all the time, true, but certain trends can be noticed.

Some disciplines have not rebound yet from the fiscal crisis,and never will. For instance, I was on the job market in higher ed in 2006-2009. The first three years I averaged roughly 60-70 jobs applications, all over the country, in a field with a roughly 25% employment rate, which is awful. In 2008-9, the jobs disappeared as funding for positions got appropriated and eliminated. I sent out 20 or so that were still hiring. I got a job and kept it for 4 years until I left. My area will not rebound. Too many of my healthy peers have ahd to branch out into other areas.

If nothing else, think of the new graduates recently released on the job market, and schools are still cranking them out. Just think hard about future employment.
Posted 10/22/2015 8:17 PM (GMT 0)
Myself,
Thanks for the great info. I've been looking into a lot of these issues. Financial aid first. I really want to see that grant or scholarship out there for fibromites. I know. Never! But I'm going to keep looking. Nothing will happen until I get that set first. I agree. The joy of learning is for the rich in this country. How discouraging and what a shame. My daughter is considering europe for higher education.

I'm not as concerned about job openings. There are lots of studios hiring and pay rate is good with a higher degree. Hard to say on a university jobs. Although if I could get past some of this fibro business, I'd head to Europe or elsewhere. Once I saw on this dance listing, a teacher who was moving to a Caribbean island to help start a dance program. OhMyGreatSunGoddess! Gimme a one room shack with running water, electricity, one pair of sandals, and a moped, and I'd be there in a heartbeat...

That sunshine and heat works better than anything for me and my whacky body.

That's too bad about your experience at the university. The big trend in UhMerika is to pay adjunct faculty crap wages (while assume some big wig administrators get hefty raises). Sometimes I think they try to push out good professors...

Sen-- how are things coming along?
T
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