How do people work full time?

No, drugs don't help. Nothing helps. Lol I am currently working full time after a few months off and it had been roooooough. Luckily my husband had picked up a lot of my slack at home and taken really good care of me (once he started going to appts with me and hearing how serious it was). I keep thinking, like every day, whether I should continue with full time.

My major issue is the fatigue now, it was pains few months ago. I have tons of pharmaceuticals that will help my energy and concentration but I am finding they just push me right into a ....brain fog moment, please hold.................dude. I seriously just lost that word. OMG. Flare! I can't believe I couldn't think of the word flare. (That's not am example - that's me after working 8 hours, just plain stupid.) As I was saying, uppers seem to be too much on my CNS regardless of dosage so I have just been dealing with pain meds and caffeine. I can say right now that my life is not where I want it to be. I really don't like coming home after work and going straight to bed like I did last night. If it continues then my husband and I will need to have a lengthy discussion.

But!! Dr Powells office did tell me that the first 6 months of my treatment were going to be the hardest part and that I would find pockets of energy and then crash and rinse/repeat. It's part of the treatment and would be 100 times easier if I wasn't working. If I had that option I would be doing it, believe me. I didn't realize living with this disease FT and working FT while doing treatment FT was going to be so difficult.

/pity party (I think)

I work full time and I believe that meds have helped me. I take Savella and various supplements. I seem to be in the minority of people who've been helped by Savella. I also use acupuncture, exercise and diet. When I was first diagnosed I didn't know how I'd be able to continue to work. I managed to push through (and yes, there were days when I came straight home and went to sleep) but I've gotten a lot better. I'm probably 85-90% of where I was before I got sick.

That said, my three children are teenagers, so they are more help around the house than a toddler would be at least they can feed themselves, LOL.

Joy

It's individual. Every BODY is different. You have to find what works for you.

One, maintaining a sleep/eat/rest schedule is important when working. In order to function, sleep and pain management has to be effective. I use ambien and a muscle relaxer at night, and prescription painkillers during the day. After some time, you learn to manage a work schedule. But, something does have to give, in order to stay merely achey but flare-free. The first 6-12 months are the hardest, because you are getting your legs under you.

Two-I would encourage you to talk to a therapist. For many, there is a horrid feeling of loss, of sadness, of losing your life. It's not true, of course. A good life can be lived with FMS. But it can be very helpful to talk to a professional to learn to manage your understandably emotional reaction.

I could add a lot more, but I overdid it today (after nearly a decade you'd think I'd learn). Welcome to the Board! May you have a pain-less weekend.

Yes it is different with each individual. Pain meds and Adderall work for me. I don't work, but I did, and I can do more than without. I think that the best thing you can do is explore your options and talk to your doctor about it.

Some people get by on nothing, some need supplements and some use over the counter pain medications. I went the pharmaceutical route and that has helped me a lot. I also take supplements, vitamin D3, which improves mood and energy levels. Most fibromites are low in vitamin D3.

I also take fish oil, multi vitamin, calcium and magnesium. I found coconut oil to help also.

I hope that you feel better soon. Welcome to the forum. I hope you check out "fibro 101" if you haven't already. It is full of all kinds of good information.

Hugs, Karen

oh yes - tried it....wasn't successful for me unfortunately. I re tried the melatonin and have had success with this...ive been on melatonin about 4 weeks now, might have to have a break from it soon - perhaps il re try the suntheanine as it might work the second time :o)

I work full time, but my dr. has me on work restriction, it doesn't really help though. It's killing me, I don't know how much longer I can do it. I was in running for a promotion to a desk job that would be a god send, but nepotism and discrimination cheated me out of that position... Sigh

I no longer work.. hope I am not forced to try again..

did work for a couple of years after falling / developing fibro.. took a year to be diagnosed..

I was miserable the majority of the time. Work / therapy sometimes / then rested. That is all I did - anything extra, like grocery shopping, was a major event

learned to prioritize..
Am single &, often, too tired to even open a can or pkg, much less cook & clean up afterwards I went without eating.. 'fixed' that by, at least 2x a week I called ahead for a nice takeout meal.

Re: childcare - Avoided picking up little ones.. they will help by climbing into your lap AFTER you sit down..

observe everything you physically do & minimize

limited amount of toys available at given time (rotate bins of them) so less cleaning up..

Take care of yourself.. life will go on, just differently

I tried to keep working but my boss said I was doing poorly at managing my classroom. I was feeling terrible all of the time so I agreed reluctantly.
I know now I couldn't work well at a job if I had one.

Thanks AnnaBanana. Good luck with your gamble.