Coping with work

VictoriaPlum

Hi, does anyone else really struggle with working full time? I've just started having RA symptoms (for four months now) but have felt exhausted for much longer and thought I had chronic fatigue but can't afford to give up work. I so want a part time job. How has everyone else coped?

Ankyspond

I have had to go to part time teachun now cos of my AS, Three days a week. X

petals

yes I struggled a great deal with my full time job. The interim period between developing symptems and being diagnosed was just horrible. I was sooo tired and my job was so physically demanding that I used to come home in pain and cry.

I am pleased to say that I have now improved my situation. Firstly I reduced my hours to 4 days per week so I now have 3 rest days. Secondly I moved to a different department with the agreement of my manager and now although my new job is still physically demanding it's not as heavy as my previous one.

Once I was diagnosed and given the appropriate treatment my pain was reduced greatly and I am much better able to cope although I still suffer from a great deal of fateague.

I am currently on the sick as I stupidly overdid things at work and caused a flare up which was then nicely accompanied by a kidney infection so at the moment i'm not feeling great.

We all need to learn our limitations and try to stick to them, although I know where to draw the line I am still clearly not resigned to my illness enough hence my self induced flare up.

I have learned my lesson now though and promise to be kinder to myself and to take a step back when I next reach my limit instead of batteling through to get the job finished.

Good luck i hope you find a happy solution

Petals

ritwren

I agree that learning how to pace yourself is Key to keeping well but it's not easy. I've come from working full time to working 4 mornings a week. My manager has been very understanding and has made adjustments to my work to suit me and the unit I work in. I'm back to work next week so fingers crossed it all works out.
Good luck Victoria Plum. Have you got a proper diagnosis and started treatment yet?

dreamdaisy

I kept on working through it. I began PA two years after starting my own business and yes, it has had an effect. After fifteen years of struggling my little business is now nearly done. I can't function that well anymore (as a person never mind a teacher!) - I have considered stopping it all, but I am reluctant to do so.

Are you on any medication VP? If not, perhaps starting some treatment could help to get the symptoms under control. Arthritis itself is tiring, the auto-immune versions particularly so I feel as the whole body becomes involved (I have PA and OA, the PA tiredness is worse, far more enveloping for me than the OA pain/tiredness combo). DD

paulch

:???: HI I worked full time for 32 yrs until i had a stroke and then arthur set in , i tried to work full time but just made me ill , i am luck that my company was helpfull ( i was a branch manager ) and they put me to a out of the way desk job, you really need to ask rather than demand , i now work part tome 5 days 8---2pm less money of course but rest helps so much all the best .

VictoriaPlum

Hi all, oh my goodness, I can't tell you how your replies have helped me today. I had a funny turn at work, felt faint and queasy, went to doc and he said I had a temperature - surely not a coincidence as have felt especially bad over last couple weeks along with increasing pain in joints.
No proper diagnosis yet, GP is dragging his feet, he said he will refer me once all test results have come in but depending on results he'll either send me urgently or put me on waiting list. I can't wait any longer so have booked an apt. with Rheumatologist privately but not available til 26 Oct Does anyone else have weird flu like symptoms? Honestly if it wasn't for this forum I think I'd be going completely mad :sad:

Ankyspond

It's hard to pace yourself when you feel good you do too much, so hard to resist. Don't think we ever except it altogether, it will get better though. Xx

chris7

Hi

Just calling in to add to the gentle hugs and support here. ((( ))) I think the fatigue issue is a hard one for us all to deal with and even more so for you trying to work full time.

Hope you soon get a proper diagnosis and some support to stay in work. Though I have OA I did have to acknowlege some time ago that my 6 days a week was impossible and was able to reduce to 4 days so you do have my sympathy.
take care and let us know how it goes.
Chris

frogmorton

VictoriaPlum wrote:

Hi all, oh my goodness, I can't tell you how your replies have helped me today. I had a funny turn at work, felt faint and queasy, went to doc and he said I had a temperature - surely not a coincidence as have felt especially bad over last couple weeks along with increasing pain in joints.
Hi Vickyplum so good to meet you

l have a slightly raised temperature when l am flaring too.... :sad: no wonder you feel ill when you think about it - it's like having long-term flu!!

I do hope you get your diagnosis soon.

Love

Toni xx

dreamdaisy

When an auto-immune arthritis flares it can give flu-like symptoms, tired, an almost muscular-achey all over, generally feeling well-below par, increased pain in joints etc and for some a raised temp. Keep a note of this, how long it takes to pass/settle, what helps matters and what doesn't. Rest as much as you can bear, don't fight the tiredness. I hope you feel better soon. DD

speedalong

Hi, I went from working five days a week, to four. Still ached every night, but the extra day off did make a difference.

Speedy

petals

I have a lot of trouble regulating my temperature. I mentioned it to my Rheumatologist nurse during my last appointment and she said its the nature of the disease (RA). She explained it that even when the drugs are keeping away the pain, the desease is always trying to push through and this makes us feel unwell and can leave you feeling very hot or shivery like you do with flu. I used to think it was the menopause setting in and making me feel hot and flushed but now I know better. Its not pleasant but its another one of those things you have to learn to live with. I sometimes take co-codomol to reduce the symptems if its particularly troublesome.

You never stop learning about ths desease, it has so many angles.

Hope you feel better soon

blushy

Oh how glad am I that I logged on today.........

VictoriaPlum, I work full time and have just be signed off sick to rest Doctors orders.....she actually said I looked unwell

But when I read everyone's replies to your post I felt like crying with joy.....I picked up a cold or so I thought until I went to the GP...she said I have had a severe flare and told me i need to rest.

I must admit I have been struggling to understand my symptoms...I hate being like this and soooo fed up with people who say "well you look alright, don't look in pain, where's your stick!" So Arthritis can be invisible at times...but when it flares....it's horrid. But I now know I am not alone in these feelings as now I know others have the same symptoms.

It's invisible because I choose to try and hide it as I struggle for normaility...but I know this is getting harder to do. I work full time and I struggle at times as I'm so tired and ache. Some days I just want to come home and sleep. I have a family and need to work, it's a catch 22 situation for me. I am hoping to stay working full time until my body says...uh uhhhhhhh no more....which if i'm honest wont be long!

Wednesday was the first time a GP ever made me feel I was not imagining all this.....she actually cuddled me and said you poor young thing, she reviewed my tabs and explained alot to me. She was the best thing for me since sliced bread lol..........

So VictoriaPlum.......You hang in there, you are not alone and here's a hug ((((((Victoria))))))) to spur you on.


Blushy xxx