Tough decision to make and I need help with it

Hi everyone,

I'm in a tough spot and I'm hoping you might be able to offer your perspective on this.

I have just been approved for long term disability thru my employer (I've been on short term thru them for 4 months). I've also just had a phone call inviting me to interview for my dream job at another company...a position I've wanted for years.

My current medication list is in my signature. My doctor and I seem to have found the right combination of meds to keep my pain comfortably under control, so I've been feeling pretty good overall. I still get quite tired and need to master the art of pacing myself, but I'm so bored at home, it's driving me crazy.

With the money I get from LTD, and the money from my hubby's part time job (he's also a student), we can squeak by each month, but there's nothing there for extras, or for all the renovations we need to do here (not just stuff we want to do, but things that really must be done, like replacing soggy bathroom floors, etc.). If I get this job, it will make a huge difference to us financially.

I have no doubt I could do the job, but I'm not sure how my fatigue is going to impact me. If I'm actually busy all day, perhaps I won't feel so tired.

The interview is tomorrow and I'm going to go, if for no other reason than the experience. I just don't know what to do after that, if they offer me the role. My current company has no job for me to return to...my group was absorbed into another group at work and my position eliminated. I've already asked HR if there is another role I could take, but there isn't so they would simply package me out and let me go.

I am so confused on what to do. I know that being home and resting, taking my meds, doing gentle exercises, etc. is what has helped me to get to this point of feeling as good as I do, so it's possible that going back to an intensive job could be detrimental...

What would you do?????

Many thanks for any advice....I really appreciate it.

Hugs,
Pam

This is a tough decision.  But, we don't know how we will be unless we try things.  If you couldn't manage the job, you would start the disability bit again.  But, you could take the job and love it and find it so stimulating that your pain and fatigue would fade in the background.  I know that when I'm totally absorbed with something, time flies by and I haven't been tired or anything! 

 

If you decide to go with it, make sure your hubby would give you a helping hand with the work at home stuff.  That would be a great help and you could be living your "dream" and not having financial worries either.  That would be so nice.

 

Let us know what you decide.  Also, make sure you could get up frequently and walk around, etc.  with this position. 

 

Sherrine

Funny how we are all in different places. I have been working full time with fibro + other issues and finally am on STD, with the likelihood of LTD in 6 months through company benefits. Would I try out for my dream job? That depends. In my case, my job was a major contributor to stress, continuing decline in health and prevented improvement in many ways. And I once loved my job! I have been at the same company in varying positions for 20 years. I know pushing myself back into a 40-60 hour work week would be setting myself up for failure. But you may be different. Maybe the job is just what you need! I know if I can get in the groove I can put pain and fatigue in the back seat for a while. It might whack me later, or might not.
Like I said, we are all in different places and it doesn't ever hurt to try something if it's in your heart to do so! Only one word of caution, and that is to really look close at benefits if you think you may need STD as a safety net, since some companies require a minimum length of service before you are eligible.
Good luck!
Rose

Just a quick note to all of you to say thanks again for your input. I went to the interview, and while everything was great, and the person I'd work with was a really nice guy, I just didn't feel any "passion" for the job. I guess that's God's way of telling me to use the long term disability as time to take care of my health.

So, I've sent a note to the company to let them know I would like to be dropped from consideration. I've signed up with a girlfriend to do Aqua Fit on Monday nights, and I'll start focusing on some daily exercise, etc. to help myself feel better. As much as my job really defined me in the past, I've got to focus on the here and now. I've been given the opportunity to start taking better care of me, so I'm going to take it.

Thanks for all the input...it really did help.

hugs,
Pam