Could anyone give me some advice on choosing a career with CFS?
Hi,
I am currently studying for my a levels, and applying for university. I have had CFS for 3 and a half years and am so much better than i was, but I am still not fully recovered and prone to small relapses.
i would love to study veterinary medicine, but am not sure whether i would be able to cope with the course and the career that would follow.
My other interest would be a course studying law, however i am aware that this is also a challenging course.
Has anyone got any advice or experience of returning to work or going to university, and how challenging this was, or whether they think i would be able to manage/how strenuous the courses are?
Any advice would be much appreciated!!!
thanks
Re: Could anyone give me some advice on choosing a career with CFS?
This is a very personal question and, unfortunately, you're the only person who can answer it. The only way to know what you're capable of is to try it and see what happens. Be realistic about it though and examine your limitations closely. It may also be much better to break into courses slowly and start part time until you get a feel for how things are going. Better to go easy on yourself now than have to pay for it later.
Re: Could anyone give me some advice on choosing a career with CFS?
Quote:
Originally Posted by frizzylizzy
Hi,
I am currently studying for my a levels, and applying for university. I have had CFS for 3 and a half years and am so much better than i was, but I am still not fully recovered and prone to small relapses.
i would love to study veterinary medicine, but am not sure whether i would be able to cope with the course and the career that would follow.
My other interest would be a course studying law, however i am aware that this is also a challenging course.
Has anyone got any advice or experience of returning to work or going to university, and how challenging this was, or whether they think i would be able to manage/how strenuous the courses are?
Any advice would be much appreciated!!!
thanks
I recommend that you look into free lance work. More and more people I know (and not only because of health reasons) have chosen this route of enterpreneurial / self employed careers. I make a living as a free lance artist, and thus I schedule around my energy peaks and drops without worrying about bosses and schedules.
You are looking at two areas of study in which I do know people working free lance - one, a vet, specializes in home visits out in ranch country, especially horses, but a few clients with kennels. The other is a lawyer with a private home office and works mostly on the 'net.
Also, look into courses on the 'net - they are no longer the old "correspondance school" type, but in fact many Universities are offering credit courses and degree programs. I was just diagnosed with CFS and have only 5 courses to complete a Philosophy program, but there is no way I feel I can do it. Last fall was a horror - I passed, but it cost me too much.
Good luck to you
Re: Could anyone give me some advice on choosing a career with CFS?
Quote:
Originally Posted by frizzylizzy
Hi,
I am currently studying for my a levels, and applying for university. I have had CFS for 3 and a half years and am so much better than i was, but I am still not fully recovered and prone to small relapses.
i would love to study veterinary medicine, but am not sure whether i would be able to cope with the course and the career that would follow.
My other interest would be a course studying law, however i am aware that this is also a challenging course.
Has anyone got any advice or experience of returning to work or going to university, and how challenging this was, or whether they think i would be able to manage/how strenuous the courses are?
Any advice would be much appreciated!!!
thanks
Hi. Only you can really decide whether you can cope with law or veterinary medicine. But it is possible to do the career of your choice, even with chronic fatigue. I'm following my career of choice (radiotherapy). It isn't easy. At all. It's really tough going. I can't study in the evenings because I'm too tired from going to lectures or clinical placement during the day. I study at weekends, but not all weekend, giving myself a chance to recover (a little) before the next week begins. I try to get at least 8 hours sleep per night. It's absolutely exhausting.
BUT... whenever I think, why the hell am I putting myself through this?, I know that whatever I do I feel exhausted - so why not do what I want to do and feel exhausted?! At least I feel satisfied at the end of the day.
Re: Could anyone give me some advice on choosing a career with CFS?
Well said, Kiya, I will copy this in my special file, as a remninder:
You said:"whenever I think, why the hell am I putting myself through this?, I know that whatever I do I feel exhausted - so why not do what I want to do and feel exhausted?! At least I feel satisfied at the end of the day.
Today all I did was meet some friends for lunch and I am exhausted, and feeling guilty for blowing it. But Sunday I was exhausted for doing nothing too, while Tuesday I stayed up past 10pm working. So frustrating. But now you have put it in perspective for me. Thank you!
