Guest guest Posted October 24, 2004 Report Share Posted October 24, 2004 I'm in the 'no work at all' position. The last year i have stopped even trying to work and I am so glad that I made that decision. Of course trying to live without money is next to impossible, but with all the problems I have now WITHOUT working, i don't even want to think about what would happen if i was. I've tried working and going to school. Bartending, waitress, Nanny and actually did get my CNA but what i went through to do these things was horrible. I " d go to clinicals for my CNA, only half days, and would be so exhausted that i'd come home and sleep for 12 hours! And the walking, standing, sitting required in school and working caused constant pain. So i'd suffer through school/work then come home and be unconscious or in searing pain the rest of the day. That is, when i actually could make it in to work/school. I also have a bad immune system and when i tried working or school I got so sick. I actually only passed through my CNA class because i was getting coritzone and steroid shots from my dr. at the time. I finished with absolutely no time to spare. If i had missed one more minute of class i would have had to take it again. Very frustrating because i'm mentally capable of doing things, I got an a in my classes, but i'm not PHYSICALLY capable of doing them. So i'm in the disability process. I'm on my first appeal and expect a denial on this as well. When i get it, my lawyer and I are going to request a hearing with a judge. I should mention that i'm only 23, so this has hurt my appeal greatly. They all say that age isn't a factor, but that's full of #$(* & . People look at me and think, 'she's 23 she can't possibly have these problems.' I've lost alot of friends, my independence, my medical insurance and at times, my sanity. Luckily i live with my parents, mom has fibro too, and they support me. Financially, medically, and emotionally. I don't know what i'd do without them Hopefully if i can get this disability approved I'll at least have medicare and if i qualify for SSI a little money coming in. It's an interesting situation that i would not wish upon anyone. And i send comforing thoughts and hope to all those that are filing. Tina K > " I've also been reading with interest about the issue of jobs and > FMS and find myself wondering the same thing. When I asked my > rheumatologist about the issue of work he said that I would need > to find something that didn't allow me to sit too long or stand > too long. Wonder where I can find a job like that? lol " > > I have to wonder this myself. Everyone I've talked to regarding FM has told > me I should start applying for disability NOW because it's a 6- month > process. What I've read on it, FM is almost impossible to get disability > for. I don't know. I don't WANT to stop working, but I'm at a desk job and > have to get up and walk every hour or so or I'll go into muscle spasms and > pain fits (I have problems with muscle cramps in my toes/feet/calves as > well). They don't like that, they think I take too many breaks. They know my > health history but don't want to believe I have this invisible disease. It's > just a long story. > > Anyway... how many of you are able to work and if so what do you do that is > comfortable for you? I've thought about bringing a heating pad into work but > my coworker would just demean me for it (she is truly awful, I don't want to > even get into it). Are there special things you do to make your day go > smoother? > > Thanks again for the info... take care! > Dawn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 25, 2004 Report Share Posted October 25, 2004 I am blessed as I am able to work full time with my job, but work exlusively out of my home as a legal nurse consultant/occasional case manager. I go to the office every 2 weeks or so to show my face, and that is it. I fell into this line of work years ago when I was pregnant with my second child. It has been a God send since I got sick, but also enables me to be home and not have to use a sitter or daycare (when they were little had a part-time nanny, but not now, as my youngest are 9 1/2 and 11 years old). I work in my PJs with no makeup all the time, and can take frequent breaks, whenever I want. I could not work in an office everyday at this point, or I would have been fired long ago. I feel so bad for those of you who have this awful disease and work outside of the home. I know it must be such a day to day struggle. Kim W. I HATE MONDAYS! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 25, 2004 Report Share Posted October 25, 2004 Hi Dawn. I still work full time as the office manager of a car dealership. No one here at works knows about the fibro, mainly because the last few people that worked here that either had a chronic illness or one of their dependents had a chronic illness, he fired after he bought the place and foudn out how much they were costing on health insurance. Basically the only way I deal with it is 1) take pain medication 2) make sure that any tasks where I have to get up from my desk I divide them up. Luckily, we wait on the service customers so that gives me the chance to get up numerous times. My doctor suggested a stool under my feet to keep them elevated to the same level as my hips...supposed to relieve the pain, but my boss made me take it out of the office. He said it looked " lazy " to sit around with your feet up. I know I probably wasn't much help though. N. > " I've also been reading with interest about the issue of jobs and > FMS and find myself wondering the same thing. When I asked my > rheumatologist about the issue of work he said that I would need > to find something that didn't allow me to sit too long or stand > too long. Wonder where I can find a job like that? lol " > > I have to wonder this myself. Everyone I've talked to regarding FM has told > me I should start applying for disability NOW because it's a 6-month > process. What I've read on it, FM is almost impossible to get disability > for. I don't know. I don't WANT to stop working, but I'm at a desk job and > have to get up and walk every hour or so or I'll go into muscle spasms and > pain fits (I have problems with muscle cramps in my toes/feet/calves as > well). They don't like that, they think I take too many breaks. They know my > health history but don't want to believe I have this invisible disease. It's > just a long story. > > Anyway... how many of you are able to work and if so what do you do that is > comfortable for you? I've thought about bringing a heating pad into work but > my coworker would just demean me for it (she is truly awful, I don't want to > even get into it). Are there special things you do to make your day go > smoother? > > Thanks again for the info... take care! > Dawn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 25, 2004 Report Share Posted October 25, 2004 Wow ... what a horrible boss. Even when I was working and feeling fine, footstools were commonplace in almost everyone's cubicles and it was looked at as prevention rather than looking lazy. I'm so glad that I never worked for him... sheesh. hugs, Norah Norah Bleazard - Burlington, Ontario Canada www.bleazard.net ~ www.janorlites.com E-MAIL= norah.fibroyahoo@... CHAT= MSN = black_dak_98@... Yahoo = drazaelbn AIM = black98dak ICQ = 105346330 Site Moderator for: fibromyalgia_support_group Site Owner for: Fibromites_Fighting_Weight: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Fibromites_Fighting_Weight http://fibromites.ath.cx wrote: >Hi Dawn. I still work full time as the office manager of a car >dealership. No one here at works knows about the fibro, mainly because >the last few people that worked here that either had a chronic illness >or one of their dependents had a chronic illness, he fired after he >bought the place and foudn out how much they were costing on health >insurance. Basically the only way I deal with it is 1) take pain >medication 2) make sure that any tasks where I have to get up from my >desk I divide them up. Luckily, we wait on the service customers so >that gives me the chance to get up numerous times. My doctor >suggested a stool under my feet to keep them elevated to the same >level as my hips...supposed to relieve the pain, but my boss made me >take it out of the office. He said it looked " lazy " to sit around with >your feet up. > >I know I probably wasn't much help though. > N. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 25, 2004 Report Share Posted October 25, 2004 LOL Norah, I wish I had never worked for him LOL Been looking for another job closer to where I live but right now nothing pays a decent salary. But I have faith that the right one will show up when it is the right time!! Glad to see you back posting! N. > > >Hi Dawn. I still work full time as the office manager of a car > >dealership. No one here at works knows about the fibro, mainly because > >the last few people that worked here that either had a chronic illness > >or one of their dependents had a chronic illness, he fired after he > >bought the place and foudn out how much they were costing on health > >insurance. Basically the only way I deal with it is 1) take pain > >medication 2) make sure that any tasks where I have to get up from my > >desk I divide them up. Luckily, we wait on the service customers so > >that gives me the chance to get up numerous times. My doctor > >suggested a stool under my feet to keep them elevated to the same > >level as my hips...supposed to relieve the pain, but my boss made me > >take it out of the office. He said it looked " lazy " to sit around with > >your feet up. > > > >I know I probably wasn't much help though. > > N. > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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