working - jobs

madness1985

Hello Everyone,

Its a new year! Ive enrolled on a short course and my llb starting in sept with distance learning. The thing is im not sure if i want to study with lack of job prospects. At the moment i know i couldnt work i spent last week in bed and this cold wether just has pain/fatigue wrapped round it.

So my question .. What jobs do you do? Had to give up because of RA?

Im not enbarking on finishing my law degree for it to be a piece of paper i know how hard it is .. i was at one point studying bout 80hrs a week and yes it made me tired! So im looking to see if its possibe i surpose

Thank You x

valval

it never wasted if u do it and pass it can help in all sorts of ways. i work in a shop selling office furniture and machines 4 hours a day (1-5) so works well for me do not think could do full time any more with this arther
have got national diploma in electrical elecrtonics engineering did it when was 31 wanted to proove to my self was not as thick as felt i was

jenzie06

I spent 5 years at uni doing an undergraduate course then a Masters degree. I haven't been able to work full time since but have had a few part time jobs, with stately homes and the NHS.
My last one was initially for 15hrs working for the NHS and when I started to struggle they did everything in their power to help me out even reducing my hours to 8 but it was to no avail.
So now I'm a housewife. But I do think the best I can do is voluntary work as its a lot more flexible. It doesn't pay the bills but it keeps me from going bananas as I'm 27 with many years ahead of me.
Also most employers will look at my medical history and back away rather than offer me a job (I know its not allowed but it does happen). So I find if I can work voluntarily for someone to show my expertise and commitment then they are more likely to offer me the job (that's the plan!).
Hope this info helps?

woodbon

Hi Unfortunatly I had to be retired sick from my job a care assistant. Far too heavy for me to manage and I have to agree with the occy health. I cut my hours back to 19 a week but a 7 hours shift, with half an hour off if you'r lucky is too much.... I was sad, as I enjoyed the work. I am a trained secretary, but gave up office work over 10 years ago, to look after my mother in law. My hands are affected and I don't think that I could do the amount of typeing.

Last year I did part of an art class, but found that I was hurting too much standing to do the work and it ment going out in the cold evening, so couldn't manage.

I'm thinking of doing a course in something, but not quite sure what yet! I like learning new things, just for the sake of it and find that it does help in working life and make you more employable, even if the subject is not directly relaited I have an A level in physcology, done as an adult and sociology, and a few things that I've done just for fun.

One of the good things about doing any sort of course is, it gets you out and about, you meet others some with similar interests. If you can manage it, maybe you may find some voluntory work that will both give you an interest and make you more employable. I've done that too, as a secretary for Oxfam, in Oxford, when I was between jobs, it was interesting and kept up my skills. I will do something as soon as I am well enough as I think I need to get out more. Good luck, make your decission when you feel better! at the moment you are too down to think properly. Love Sue

woodbon

Jez. Stately home and the NHS thats a good old mixture!!!
Love Sue xxx

jordan7j

Hi, I work as a childminder now, was trained in special needs, caring for children with complex medical needs but had to give up, as the head teacher wouldnt allow me to do part time,
Although minding is much less stressful it is still very heavy work, and am currently rethinking hours etc.
Any training and/or qualification is never wasted, its good for self esteem and also for keeping your brain active, thats why I am keen to continue working,, but not necessarily fit enough to!!

skezier

Hi Madness,

Long ago (I was 28 ) I got medically discharged and ever sine have been self employed. I did a lot of relief milking until I got too stiff to bend or worse still get out of the way if one of the cows got a bit teasey. I got kicked and it really hurt so I cut back and now couldn't wash them if I tried. I had already got a small holding and as I got more and more stiff and useless I had to cut back n the veg growing but diversification (sadly within my means) means I still scrap a living doing sales and selling stuff that way. I still have the animals and as soon as I got the small holding became a vegetarian There are now some rather middle aged sheep and lot of reject animals cus I also did some rescue especially feral cats...... I still do that if I can. Take care Cris

Hi Jay,

Hope your ok an not over doing things? x

jaspercat

Hi, I spent some 10 years as a care assistant, I loved it but was advised to change jobs by my Rheumy, I then worked for 3 years working in a chemists, it was great but was beginning to cause me lots of pain, when I next saw my Rheumy she advised me to retire medically, I haven't worked now for about 13 years, I do miss not working but I know that I couldn't cope, good luck with your course love jaspercatxx

madness1985

Hi,

Thank you for all your replies. Thank you for your honesty its much apreciated. I think ultermatly i need to do somthing for my mind needs some working. But not set my sights too hight, im going to maybe look into volunteering at the CAB office.

x

penfactor

Hello there!
Strangely enough, my manager just told me today my company cannot offer me any other option but to resign on health grounds today. Apparently, they could only offer me medical retirement if I had been with them 20 years & it has only been 10.
I suffer with OA quite badly & had a hip replaced two months ago but this was not very successful so still have trouble getting about. My right knee needs doing next too. I am still feeling a bit upset about this but my family has been so supportive & positive that I will eventually be able to find something more suitable & still be able to earn. I sincerely hope I will as I have always worked (I am 50) & am terrified to be honest!
Pennie

pols090607

hi,

i'd recommend studying, even if, as the others have said to keep your hand in and get out and meet new people etc..

i'm a part qualified accountant (never finished the exams due to having children) and work 16.5 hrs per week in an office. this works quite well for me as (although it is pretty hard getting to work with stiffness and the cold weather) it's a break whilst there from running round after the baby !!! how bad is that !?

seriously though, i enjoy the adult chat, peace and quiet and generally the feeling of doing something instead of staying at home all week. the money comes in handy too esp as i was turned down for DLA.

xx

scattered

I was dx'd with RA at the beginning of my BA. I've now finished that and started doing an MA part-time. Physically I'd struggle with the full-time MA, so being able to do it part-time is great. I don't know if I could work: my aim is to become a university lecturer so I won't have to think about working for another 5 years or so.

I think you could continue your studies if you wanted to. Apply for disabled students allowence, get in touch with your uni's disabiity services and perhaps think about doing the remainder of the course part-time.

rb1234

Hi

I think studying could be a good thing. Obviously there is the cost to consider and I can understand that you don't want to pay for something you then can't use. CAB's would love you as a trained lawyer! Don't forget you can also work in a paid capacity for CAB's. Also with a qualification you can use it in ways other than the standard - as a lawyer you could work part time for a charity or in an advisory capacity. Also there might be times in the future when you feel better than you do right now and feel work/volunteering is more realistic.

I have RA since I was 3 (I'm 31 now). I finished my A levels and got a degree and have worked since. I admit that some of my job choices are partly down to arthritis. After uni i quickly reliased that office based work was more practical for me. Also shift work was much tougher than 9-5. At times when i've been having flare up's working has been really tough but I find that it gives me something else to think about. I think others have said the same about volunteering. One day i would love to work less hours but unfortunately not yet.

By the way I work for an advice agency (charity) - some phone work but also providing technical support to colleagues. I find the variety suits me as my hands get sore from days just using computers. Work have been good and I had an assessment. They bought me a special chair, keyboard, mouse and other desk stuff to make it more comfortable for me.

Hope this is helpful. Good luck

annebr

penfactor wrote:

Hello there!
Strangely enough, my manager just told me today my company cannot offer me any other option but to resign on health grounds today. Apparently, they could only offer me medical retirement if I had been with them 20 years & it has only been 10.
I suffer with OA quite badly & had a hip replaced two months ago but this was not very successful so still have trouble getting about. My right knee needs doing next too. I am still feeling a bit upset about this but my family has been so supportive & positive that I will eventually be able to find something more suitable & still be able to earn. I sincerely hope I will as I have always worked (I am 50) & am terrified to be honest!
Pennie

Pennie,

Can your company do this? Have you sought independant advice?

Anne

wibberley

I was diagnosed with JIA aged 7, so was never going to have a very physically demanding job. Worked in HR within a large oil company until the kids came along, and have been a housewife since.

I did have to give up my puppy walking for Guide Dogs when I relapsed in June. That was very upsetting as my pup at the time was 10 months old and I'd never envisaged him not finishing his training with me.

Lois x

madness1985

Hey,

Thanks again for the replies. I think studying is best until hopfully my medicate is sorted out. Realistically i think ill struggle but hopefully in time i will get better.

x

ritwren

I have PA and OA and am just back to work after being diagnosed in hospital in august. I am a staff nurse and work in a day unit so don't have to do shifts. I'm currently working part time and using annual leave to make up my hours.
Crunch time will come in the middle of march when I will finish my annual leave and recommence working full time or cut my hours. To be honest I can't see me working full time again, just too tired but I live alone and have to support myself and honestly don't think I can manage on much less per week so it's going to be very very difficult.
My advice would be to continue your studying, if you can do it part time even for a while it might help.
Good luck
rita

dorcas

Hi madness,

I'm a children's reporter (scottish system for helping families and children); before that I was a children's services manager in social work ; before that I was a social work and housing officer and registrar; before that I worked in homelessness for 5yrs; before that was an RMN.

In amongst all that I had five children but am now on my own!

I agree it's important, if you can, to work...but if you can't there are plenty of opportunities to do voluntary work and loads of open uni courses to try; keeps the grey matter ticking.

Iris x

janie68

Hi madness,

I am also a staff nurse like rita but in mental health and am currently working part time. But the RA is taking it's toll after fighting it for 15 years. So I am now looking at ill health retirement. Even if it happens, I will do something, perhaps studying which keeps the brain active. Even if you don't work madness getting that qualification does wonders for your self esteem etc!

Janie

venita

Hi

I work for the NHS in a GP surgery was working 28 hours a week days a week had to cut back to still working 5 days but only 20 hours a week mornings only so I can rest in the afternoons if I need to.

I was thinking of learning languages so that if I am unable to carry on where I am I could do some part time work as an interpretre. You can choose your own days and hours then.

It is difficult some days I darg myself out of bed go do my work then come home and go back to bed for anything between an hour or maybe the rest of the day.

Venita

wallysatt

Hi,

I was diagnosed with arthritis when I was 11. I’ve always loved music and at the time I played the viola, I started playing when I was 8 and was in a local string orchestra. When I was diagnosed I had to give it up and then went on to playing the clarinet. After a few years I found it difficult to play and I decided to stop my lessons and have singing lessons instead. That was when I was about 15; I’m 28 now and have a B.A (hons) in Music and Popular Music and an MA in Music Performance.

I always wanted to study music but to be honest I wasn’t that good at it in school and I went to university thinking that I would be finished by the Christmas because I wouldn’t be able to cope with the full schedule but thanks to anti-TNF I could manage. I’m not working now but I’m so glad I did it, during the last few months I really struggled and my arthritis was really really awful but I kept going, waiting to get that piece of paper in my hand. At both graduations seeing my mum and dad so proud made it all worthwhile.

I’ve enrolled at college to do French now as I didn’t study French at school and I’m really enjoying it. So that along with my volunteer roles for arthritis care I’m really busy and it’s great. There is always something to do!

Sorry for the long message but I just wanted to show people that with the right support you can do anything you want to.

Sally.