Re: Percentage of those that can't work

[Guest guest]

I think most of us struggle on for years. I used to do freelance work and for

the last couple of years I would go out to work and return unable to do

anything. I finally gave up about 8 years ago. I wa then hospitalised with a

very bad case of Cellulitis and when I came out of hospital I could no longer

walk. Fibromyalgia takes advantage of stressful episodes in our lives to pounce

and establish itself. Perhaps if nothing really stressful happens (car crashes,

illness etc etc) the Fibromyalgia will be bearable enough to continue working.

Many of us have had to give up, many more have had to modify the work that they

can do.

Penny UK

> So far I have managed to work all these years. The past 5 or so have

> become a struggle. Sometimes in good weather I sleep in my car for

> lunch. By the end of the day it is almost insurmountable to walk to the

> time clock and then out to my car. If my schedule is three days in a row

> before I have a day off I really pay the price. Especially at night! My

> throbbing legs wake me up.... and I get some nyQuil.

>

> Now.... how many (round about) end up not being able to work. Is it more

> can't work than can? Are they people that could not work that are now

> able to with those anti depressants?

>

> AFter the doctor gets me situated the best he can.... and I go back to

> work...what happens if I start dragging again? I am not married and am

> sole provider. Thank God I don't

> have any bills. Just my morgage and

> living expenses...but I could never live on $1200 a month from SSD.

> I am so worried about my future life now. I guess I have to calm down

> about this.

>

> (gold_morning)

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> 1. While it is wonderful to share our experiences with everyone on the

> list as to what t

[Guest guest]

Some days I am so grateful for my job and the fact that I get paid for driving

around enjoying a beautiful day and nice people to talk to (I'm a mail carrier)

- and then there are the OTHER days, like I've been having this week, when the

pain is great and I just don't know how much longer I can go on working. It is

taking me much longer to do my job this past year, and if I get any slower I

worry what will happen with my job. I have worked for the Post Office for 17

years on the same route, the last 10 years full time. I'm sure I have some sort

of protection, but realistically I can't get a whole lot slower because it needs

to be delivered by a certain time and if I can not do it, what will happen to

me? I suppose at some point I will have to call my union rep and get some

answers to this; I just keep thinking that when I wake up tomorrow it will be a

better day - and some times it is!

Re: Percentage of those that can't work

Even though I learned I had fibro in 1992, I still was able to work

full time as a nurse. In 1998, I had shoulder surgery and afterward

could only work part time. My current job gave me odd hours so I

changed to another one. In 2000 I lost my job share position in a

cancer clinic. After a few years of job hunting, I gave up trying to

find a decent part time job. Since my thyriod surgery last year my

symtoms have worsened. Even though my husband wants me to work, I

don't know what I can do.

Debbie J

>

>> Now.... how many (round about) end up not being able to work. Is

it more

> can't work than can? Are they people that could not work that are

now

> able to with those anti depressants?

>

> AFter the doctor gets me situated the best he can.... and I go

back to

> work...what happens if I start dragging again? I am not married

and am

> sole provider. Thank God I don't have any bills. Just my morgage

and

> living expenses...but I could never live on $1200 a month from SSD.

> I am so worried about my future life now. I guess I have to calm

down

> about this.

>

> (gold_morning)

>

[Guest guest]

I was a nurse and enjoyed it very much. It got harder and harder

for me to work, I thought it must be my mind as different places

hurt at different times. What do I tell the doctor I hurt here for

a week on both sides and then it changes and that doesn't hurt

anymore and now this is working.

Sounds crazy. I finally quit in 1991 just couldn't walk with that

med cart any more. I felt like an idiot but didn't realize at that

time that I had fibro and myofacist what ever the name is. The pain

was do bad that I just didn't care any more.

Since I quit I tried a few jobs not in nursing but the same thing,

the pain would start and I would quit.

Now I have been looking for work on the computer but it isn't easy,

I do ebay when I can and had been writing for Epinions which I

loved but haven't been able to do that because of hand pain when I

type and sciatic.

I have quit worrying about it or try to. I know before long I will

be using one of those jazzy scooters since I can't walk a block. I

am not able to lead a normal life anymore as I am sure you all know.

disartain

>

> So far I have managed to work all these years. The past 5 or so

have

> become a struggle. Sometimes in good weather I sleep in my car for

> lunch. By the end of the day it is almost insurmountable to walk

to the

> time clock and then out to my car. If my schedule is three days in

a row

> before I have a day off I really pay the price. Especially at

night! My

> throbbing legs wake me up.... and I get some nyQuil.

>

> Now.... how many (round about) end up not being able to work. Is

it more

> can't work than can? Are they people that could not work that are

now

> able to with those anti depressants?

>

> AFter the doctor gets me situated the best he can.... and I go

back to

> work...what happens if I start dragging again? I am not married

and am

> sole provider. Thank God I don't have any bills. Just my morgage

and

> living expenses...but I could never live on $1200 a month from SSD.

> I am so worried about my future life now. I guess I have to calm

down

> about this.

>

> (gold_morning)

>

[Guest guest]

This idea -- disability -- has been on my mind the last few days. Yesterday

I was asking myself if I feel disabled. " In what sense? " I answered. So I

had to look at it from several directions.

First, there's the one about holding a " real " job. So I got to thinking,

what would an ad in the paper look like for a job that I could honestly

apply for? I guess it would say something like this: " WANTED -- honest,

responsible, mature individual of either sex, to perform such tasks as are

possible to be done by applicant on any particular day. Lifting required if

possible, otherwise not. Delicate manual manipulations required if

possible, otherwise not. Attention to detail a must, unless temporarily

impossible. Good attitude a plus whenever possible -- otherwise we'll just

put up with you. Must earnestly want to show up on time, but may be late if

necessary. Must want to work a full day but may leave early if necessary.

Must not miss more days due to sickness than allowed for sick leave, unless

you must. Pay is low unless you need more. " Yeppers, if there are ads like

that then I'm fully employable and in no way disabled.

Thinking of myself as disabled -- hmmmm. That's a relative thing, it

seems. It changes from appendage to appendage, from hour to hour.

Sometimes it feels like I'm woefully unable to do much of anything, while

the rest of the time I feel like I'd at least like to push myself to find my

limits. Depending, of course, on how much I need to keep in reserve for

commitments later that day or the day after. If I could go back 25 years

and see myself as I am today then I suppose I'd see myself as disabled. But

then, if I'm honest about it, I look at that person 25 years ago and think

HE was pretty seriously disadvantaged in some pretty serious ways.

Most of my friends are seriously gimpy in one or more respects. We help

each other. It's not new behavior for me, really, it's just a bit more

exagerated form of what I used to do when I was younger. I've always

enjoyed helping people, and in my best times I've enjoyed receiving the help

I needed. Giving and getting help has a way of masking disabilities, or

leveling the playing field if you want to look at it in a less judgmental

way. My SO and I are trying to put the plastic back onto a 100-foot long

greenhouse that we took the plastic off of in the spring. It's a regular

thing to do. We must look pretty funny climbing up the ladder, dropping

things, climbing back down to get it, and back up again -- to measure, tack,

hammer, screw, adjust -- then back down, move the ladder a few feet, and do

it again. She has a bad back. I've got fibro. It's taking forever, but

we're getting it done. This is the first time I've gone through this

process, and I'm finding lots of ideas for ways to make the job easier the

next time around. These are things I wouldn't have thought to do 25 years

ago, because then I wouldn't have cared how many times I had to fruitlessly

climb up and down, hold things out at arm's length for minutes on end, and

so on and so forth. But boy I sure care now!

So am I disabled? Well, it takes longer to do things if I do them like I

used to, but why would I do that? If I can't get something done then by

golly somebody else ought to do it who can because my time can be spent

doing something else. Or not. Maybe I just need to rest. Maybe I always

did but now I know it. Is that disabled? Hmmmmm....

We all need to get and we all need to give. That's life.

Sez me.

Fred / Oregon

[Guest guest]

I can understand your situation. I have fibro for 12 years now. At

Christmas I got really sick and couldn't work. The specialist told my work that

I could continue work as long as I could rest often and not get cold.(I live in

northern Alberta). Because of this they refused me disability and laid me off

on the excuse that there was no position I could fill. I lworked for the school

board for 26 years but lsummer is not pensionable so I did not meet the full

requirement for pension. I have been without a paycheque since December of

2005. I have depleated my savings and am in the process of trying to sell my

house to pay back what I owe people who have helped me. This month I started

receiving my pension ($630 a month). I have my 26 year old autistic son living

with me. He is able to work part time so is not getting any financial help

either. He brings in around $550 from his job as a dishwasher. We have no

benifits because it would cost me $3000 up front a

year for retirement benefits through the schol board. So I decided to take a

leap of faith! We are moving to southern Ontario where the weather is warmer,

downsizing very, very much and I will try to get a part time job in the

afternoons and evenings when I am at my best.

Although I dpon't talk much on here, I read everyone's comments every day.

God Bless You All. ^j^

---------------------------------

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[Guest guest]

Patti, Claudette, and those who can't work

My heart goes out to you... and I mean that to the full extent.

I am so sorry. I don't even know what to say.

love (gold_morning)

>

> I can understand your situation. I have fibro for 12 years

now. At Christmas I got really sick and couldn't work. The

specialist told my work that I could continue work as long as I could

rest often and not get cold.(I live in northern Alberta). Because of

this they refused me disability and laid me off on the excuse that

there was no position I could fill. I lworked for the school board

for 26 years but lsummer is not pensionable so I did not meet the

full requirement for pension. I have been without a paycheque since

December of 2005. I have depleated my savings and am in the process

of trying to sell my house to pay back what I owe people who have

helped me. This month I started receiving my pension ($630 a

month). I have my 26 year old autistic son living with me. He is

able to work part time so is not getting any financial help either.

He brings in around $550 from his job as a dishwasher. We have no

benifits because it would cost me $3000 up front a

> year for retirement benefits through the schol board. So I

decided to take a leap of faith! We are moving to southern Ontario

where the weather is warmer, downsizing very, very much and I will

try to get a part time job in the afternoons and evenings when I am

at my best.

>

> Although I dpon't talk much on here, I read everyone's comments

every day. God Bless You All. ^j^

>

>

> ---------------------------------

> Share your photos with the people who matter at Yahoo! Canada Photos

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Fred, disabled I have been trying to decide that for years. I

can't work, I can't stand long enough to cook or wash dishes,

sweeping, mopping, are out. I can wash clothes, yippie, I can do

something.

I am trying to come to terms with getting an electric wheelchair or

scooter to use when my husband and I go anywhere. He loves to go and

I can't even walk around one store much less the ones he enjoys going

to. I know he is tired of doing everything by his self.

I guess I have been disabled for a few years but my mind refuses to

accept that label. I have an 8 month old baby and I am praying that

he soon learns how to walk. I can hardly pick him up out of his crib

every day. So far I have managed to care for my baby so am I

disabled. I guess I am. Now I feel 90 instead of my age.

You have a great sense of humor and I know that helps you, I wish

mine was as good.

Good luck and have a pain free day.

Diane

>

> This idea -- disability -- has been on my mind the last few days.

Yesterday

> I was asking myself if I feel disabled. " In what sense? " I

answered. So I

> had to look at it from several directions.

>

> First, there's the one about holding a " real " job. So I got to

thinking,

> what would an ad in the paper look like for a job that I could

honestly

> apply for? I guess it would say something like this: " WANTED --

honest,

> responsible, mature individual of either sex, to perform such tasks

as are

> possible to be done by applicant on any particular day. Lifting

required if

> possible, otherwise not. Delicate manual manipulations required if

> possible, otherwise not. Attention to detail a must, unless

temporarily

> impossible. Good attitude a plus whenever possible -- otherwise

we'll just

> put up with you. Must earnestly want to show up on time, but may

be late if

> necessary. Must want to work a full day but may leave early if

necessary.

> Must not miss more days due to sickness than allowed for sick

leave, unless

> you must. Pay is low unless you need more. " Yeppers, if there are

ads like

> that then I'm fully employable and in no way disabled.

>

> Thinking of myself as disabled -- hmmmm. That's a relative thing,

it

> seems. It changes from appendage to appendage, from hour to hour.

> Sometimes it feels like I'm woefully unable to do much of anything,

while

> the rest of the time I feel like I'd at least like to push myself

to find my

> limits. Depending, of course, on how much I need to keep in

reserve for

> commitments later that day or the day after. If I could go back 25

years

> and see myself as I am today then I suppose I'd see myself as

disabled. But

> then, if I'm honest about it, I look at that person 25 years ago

and think

> HE was pretty seriously disadvantaged in some pretty serious ways.

>

> Most of my friends are seriously gimpy in one or more respects. We

help

> each other. It's not new behavior for me, really, it's just a bit

more

> exagerated form of what I used to do when I was younger. I've

always

> enjoyed helping people, and in my best times I've enjoyed receiving

the help

> I needed. Giving and getting help has a way of masking

disabilities, or

> leveling the playing field if you want to look at it in a less

judgmental

> way. My SO and I are trying to put the plastic back onto a 100-

foot long

> greenhouse that we took the plastic off of in the spring. It's a

regular

> thing to do. We must look pretty funny climbing up the ladder,

dropping

> things, climbing back down to get it, and back up again -- to

measure, tack,

> hammer, screw, adjust -- then back down, move the ladder a few

feet, and do

> it again. She has a bad back. I've got fibro. It's taking

forever, but

> we're getting it done. This is the first time I've gone through

this

> process, and I'm finding lots of ideas for ways to make the job

easier the

> next time around. These are things I wouldn't have thought to do

25 years

> ago, because then I wouldn't have cared how many times I had to

fruitlessly

> climb up and down, hold things out at arm's length for minutes on

end, and

> so on and so forth. But boy I sure care now!

>

> So am I disabled? Well, it takes longer to do things if I do them

like I

> used to, but why would I do that? If I can't get something done

then by

> golly somebody else ought to do it who can because my time can be

spent

> doing something else. Or not. Maybe I just need to rest. Maybe I

always

> did but now I know it. Is that disabled? Hmmmmm....

>

> We all need to get and we all need to give. That's life.

>

> Sez me.

> Fred / Oregon

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

This is by far one of the most poignant descriptions I have heard before.

I only have this to say.... ditto.

Thank you for this statement that you wrote.

It is really hard for me to put exactly what I am feeling in to words. You

just said exactly how I am feeling. Thank you for that.

I feel very alone in this fight. I even know a friend that has fibro and

I still feel very alone. She is very quiet and doesn't talk much... so I

end up doing all the input.

I find myself not wanting to complain and at the same time I just want to

get everything off my chest. I am so tired of doctors. So, I don't want to

see a therapist.....I don't want to talk to someone who doesn't have this

disease. What's the point? They won't understand anyway.

Everyday I wake up and choose to have a positive outlook on it. I say...

this is the day that I am going to start feeling better. Sometimes I

wonder if I am just fooling myself that my getting better is just around the

corner.....

KJ