coping with having a job

[Allison]

Lana wrote, "The demands of having a job is over whelming. That cause he demands of having a job is over whelming. That causes alot of stress to me, even though they tried to accommodate by reducing my hours, ..." which is something I have felt throughout these past four years.

I tried to receive a non-duty disability retirement. My doctor, the orthopedic specialist, and a psychiatrist all wrote a referral for my retirement. I have to first be seen at the out sourced doctor's office from my job. They referred me to three different specialist. Then the state's doctors all reviewed my case. It took nine months and then I was denied.
About three days of reading and re-reading those letters, I decided to just QUIT. I just couldn't take it anymore. Besides I only had 3 more years to collect for my retirement.
What I hadn't realized then was I would only be eligible for a reduced retirement after quitting. However, I was entitled to full health benefits. I cannot wait to collect.

 

[ProfessorCPA]

I am working from home as a full time college professor. I teach 100% online. I'm not sure I can do it much longer. I have fibro, depression, migraine, herniated disc in my neck, and Meniere's disease, heart arrhythmia. I'll be 59 in August. I've suffered from this since 1998. I've been hospitalized twice, been to the ER several times and seen countless doctors. I've blown through over a hundred thousand dollars in out of pocket.

I live alone.

 

[Lana]

Why can't something be done about this, we all have to deal with chronic pain and the stress of not being able to work. Can they not see our financial situations and what we all have to cope with. I have heard how hard it is to get approved for disability, then why can they not create jobs for people like us. There really needs to be jobs that would help us stop the financial stress on our illness.

 

[Determined2014]

It is difficult to maintain a job when suffering from fibromyagia, with all the tiredness, the pain, the flare ups, your cowookers might just end up thinking that you have an attitude or maube you do not want to work not knowing what you are going through, so it is hard to maintain a job with this condition.

 

[suezan77]

I have been diagnosed with psoratic arthritus with secondary fibromyalga and suffer with CFS. I actually started with symptoms in my late teens but went undiagnosed until last year when i was 36, untill then i struggled with work. I managed to get work but after approx 2yrs it started getting too much and i didn't know why and ended up either going on the sick while they ran tests or having to leave, as you can imagine it was very frustrating for me over the years as i didn't know what was going on with my body. I have always working in catering which is a very hands on job which requires a lot of energy and stamina, I became the master of the fake smile and hiding my emotions. Currently I work in a private nursary kitchen catering for approx 70+ children on a daily basis. I've been there for 2yrs started off doing 40hrs a week,(which was more like 50hrs) 6mths into my job I explained to my manager I was struggling with the amount of hours and put in a formal request to allow me to reduce my hours and possibly do a job share? After submitting several requests I was continually fobbed of by my manager. I ended up going above her head and putting in a formal complaint about her, even after having to take time off(without pay) for hospital appointments and giving her all the same info as i had as well as bending over backwards to give them anything they requested, (permission to contact docs etc) I managed to get mondays off so i only worked Tues - Fri, contracted to 32hrs but i still did 40hrs a week as it isn't possible to do the hours I'm contracted to and get my job done to the standard that they expect. After 18mths and all that messing about they brought in an occupational health nurse to evaluate me and when they got the report it said that he suggests that I either get help in the kitchen or reduce my hours to half days. I am now still doing my 40hrs while i am waiting for them to hire someone to do the job share. I have asked to do mornings as I am at my best then as by dinner time I feel as tho I have hit a wall and the tiredness near enough floors me. My manager on the other hand thinks I should be doing afternoons as there isn't as much work to do but as i've said on so many occations its not the amount of work or the amount of days, its the length of the days. My manager seems to think she knows my body better than me. As a single Mum to 1 teenager daughter I obviously have a lot to do at home as well so if I'm not at work I'm cleaning/washing/cooking at home or in bed trying to recharge my batteries. So I feel all your pain. I'm realy hoping this job share thing happens quickly as I'm not sure how much more I can cope with. I feel I must rattle when i walk from the amount of tablets and pain killers I have on a daily basis, its the only way i can get through a day. I know the drop in hours means a drop in pay but my tax credits will be changed and I should get help paying my rent, at the mo I'm on less money than when i fisrt started but yet i still pay full rent and council tax and try to keep all the bills paid so I can keep a roof over our heads. I push myself as I honestly don't know how much longer I'm going to be able to work for?

 

[nascarmike]

I'm a single parent so even though it feels impossible to work full time, I have to. I have no other option at the moment (the ex is a dead beat, so no financial help there). I go to work, fake smile all the time, hide the pain, the stiffness, the bone-crushing fatigue, use lots of compensating techniques to cover the brain fog. I come home and crawl into bed to rest for an hour or so before I have the strength to make supper. I go to bed after supper and start all over the next day. Saturday I usually spend nearly all day in bed to recover from the week. Sunday I have to do laundry, grocery shop, mow the lawn, etc.

It sucks, but it is what it is. When the impossible is the only option, you do the impossible.

Corvid that last line says it ALL for me. Even though I am married and have a great wife, money wise there is no option but to work. So yes there is lots of "sucking" it up.

 

[Pennysparkles]

I too have had to leave my job, after a 32 year career and I am terrified, as I now live alone, how I am going to afford to live.
Gentle hugs
Penny

 

[catbird]

I am working full time,taking care of my father that had open heart surgery and a month later found out he has cancer,do paper work for my husbands business, and never have time for house work but get no help from him---he works so it is not his job. got started on cymbalta and lyica which is helping quite alot , but feel like I am going to fall apart some days. the doctor wants me to see a psychiatrist,don't think I can afford it along with the medicine. I just can't stand the pain, stress, work, any more. I just want to run away from the world. But I need the insurance that my work provides. I just don't know if I can keep working 40hrs a week, and they won't let me go to32,because can't offer to one and not others.

 

[Trellum]

Why can't something be done about this, we all have to deal with chronic pain and the stress of not being able to work. Can they not see our financial situations and what we all have to cope with. I have heard how hard it is to get approved for disability, then why can they not create jobs for people like us. There really needs to be jobs that would help us stop the financial stress on our illness.

That's why I started working online, but to be honest isn't that easy either. There are days I just can't seem to be able to finish all my tasks, but I push myself harder and I end up making it most of the time.

 

[BombayMum]

Hi,
I am amazed how all of you have been able to struggle on and on. Luckily, my husband is supporting us financially and I have savings, but I do know that I would need to start working soon and not just for money.We dont have any govt support in our country and I dont even have insurance.

Professor CPA, could you guide how does one be a 100% online teacher?I am doing some voluntary online teaching but maybe this could be an option for me. I have also taught in a college and was head of dept before I quit.

Also, what are the various career prospects we suffering from FM could get into? I understand from the above that part time work is suitable, but even me, I'm not getting any suitable part time work, they say I'm over qualified for the kind of positions I want.

 

[Luvmetru29]

I had a very hard time trying to hold down a job when my fibro would act up really bad. It was extremely hard for me to work because there were times that I could hardly make it to the elevators. I didn't have a handicapp sticker to park close to the door. And because I sat in my office all day, my legs would become so stiff and painful that it only made it worse. I eventually wound up having to go on disability because I just couldn't do it. The only thing that is saving me now is the fact that my hubby takes care of me as well.

 

[terbaer]

We are just starting to go through the application process for disability. I still have no idea what to expect. I have been the major breadwinner for 22 + years and my husband's job he loves,but has a limited ability for growth. I know we'll figure it out and will survive. This is the first, what feels like, irresponsible thing I've ever done financially. That's truly how it feels,but I can't go on. I'm mentally and physically done. I'm on a month's medical leave and it feels somewhat good. Still having issues, but I know I can sleep f I need to sleep or stop what I'm doing if necessary. What a change. Please Lord let this all work out!....I'm scared to death.....

 

[suezan77]

I have been diagnosed with psoratic arthritus with secondary fibromyalga and suffer with CFS. I actually started with symptoms in my late teens but went undiagnosed until last year when i was 36, untill then i struggled with work. I managed to get work but after approx 2yrs it started getting too much and i didn't know why and ended up either going on the sick while they ran tests or having to leave, as you can imagine it was very frustrating for me over the years as i didn't know what was going on with my body. I have always working in catering which is a very hands on job which requires a lot of energy and stamina, I became the master of the fake smile and hiding my emotions. Currently I work in a private nursary kitchen catering for approx 70+ children on a daily basis. I've been there for 2yrs started off doing 40hrs a week,(which was more like 50hrs) 6mths into my job I explained to my manager I was struggling with the amount of hours and put in a formal request to allow me to reduce my hours and possibly do a job share? After submitting several requests I was continually fobbed of by my manager. I ended up going above her head and putting in a formal complaint about her, even after having to take time off(without pay) for hospital appointments and giving her all the same info as i had as well as bending over backwards to give them anything they requested, (permission to contact docs etc) I managed to get mondays off so i only worked Tues - Fri, contracted to 32hrs but i still did 40hrs a week as it isn't possible to do the hours I'm contracted to and get my job done to the standard that they expect. After 18mths and all that messing about they brought in an occupational health nurse to evaluate me and when they got the report it said that he suggests that I either get help in the kitchen or reduce my hours to half days. I am now still doing my 40hrs while i am waiting for them to hire someone to do the job share. I have asked to do mornings as I am at my best then as by dinner time I feel as tho I have hit a wall and the tiredness near enough floors me. My manager on the other hand thinks I should be doing afternoons as there isn't as much work to do but as i've said on so many occations its not the amount of work or the amount of days, its the length of the days. My manager seems to think she knows my body better than me. As a single Mum to 1 teenager daughter I obviously have a lot to do at home as well so if I'm not at work I'm cleaning/washing/cooking at home or in bed trying to recharge my batteries. So I feel all your pain. I'm realy hoping this job share thing happens quickly as I'm not sure how much more I can cope with. I feel I must rattle when i walk from the amount of tablets and pain killers I have on a daily basis, its the only way i can get through a day. I know the drop in hours means a drop in pay but my tax credits will be changed and I should get help paying my rent, at the mo I'm on less money than when i fisrt started but yet i still pay full rent and council tax and try to keep all the bills paid so I can keep a roof over our heads. I push myself as I honestly don't know how much longer I'm going to be able to work for?

It's 11/08/14 and today i start my half days, its afternoons which isn't what i asked for but still don't want to look a gift horse and all that as its taken 18mths to get to this stage:wink:still up at the crack of dawn like normal, just have to go with it and see what happens. As i type i'm on hold with the tax credits line trying to get it all sorted as reduction in my hours must be told to them asap as my money is gonna change, also gonna have to ring the council as the rents gonna change coz i'm not gonna earn enough to pay full rent so i gonna have to find out what happens there?
I don't understand how you can cope in USA? With all the moaning people do about the NHS in this country i seriously don't know what i would of done if i lived over there? I have so much respect for how you manage over there, :?

 

[lhaney]

I am new to this site. I am really sorry for everyone on here and hope you all find some relief soon. I relate to every thing that has been said. I am currently having a major flare up. Is effecting every aspect of my life also. I have a very mentally and physically demanding job and in the last week I have had to call in or leave early. This is not me. I live with the pain daily and thought I was doing a good job fighting but I guess fibro is showing me I am not. Started having migraines and bad headache and my IBS is showing its ugly head. Why do they all attack at one time? Feeling very overwhelmed and frustrated. Going to the dr. today guess it is time to get back into pain management/ or dr. that treats fibro.
Thank you for letting me vent, now I know I am not alone in all this .Hope your days are better all.

 

[Pumpkin Field]

I contract with a company where I make my own hours and pick how many clients I have. I use to be a full time special education teacher working 5 days a week. The thought of going back to having my own classroom again exhausts me. Today I cancelled my two appointments, I could not get out of bed! I have been considering applying for disability but I only qualify for $649. How could I live off that? I am lucky that I have my boyfriend, we live together and he is very understanding, helps pay for most of our household expenses.

@Sheryl I was able to reduce my school loan based on my income, reduced it by 75%. I would call your lender and discuss options.