Has fibro interfered with a job, or other accomplishments? - Fibromyalgia Message Board

DaisyChains · 11-19-2008, 12:16 PM

Right now, with my fatigue and the pain I'm in, it's mostly depressing me that I don't know if I will ever be able to keep a job. Even if I liked the job, I get sick and have to call off, or i get so tired, or my family needs me so bad because I can only handle either them or a job.

I've never kept a job for more than a few months. I think the longest by far, was 9 months. I barely finished <college>, and I wouldn't have finished had it not been for prescribed stimulants and a very kind instructor.

<removed> After only a few months, I just don't know if I can keep <up my job>, but what else can I do? I have rent, bills, two children, and no other family for the past three years.

If this nightmare of a "life" has kept any of you from accomplishing things, or finishing what you want to finish, or working a job that you've dreamed of for years...I really need to hear from you.

It seems all I have EVER been able to do is either work or take care of my family, only one or the other and the rest of the day is spent drained. When I work, I have to sleep alot, thus my family suffers. When I take care of home life, my income suffers. I can't do both in the same day, I dont know how everyone else in the world does it!

I also don't know how people can go to work when they are sick. When I get sick, even a cold or allergy, I am wiped out! It seems to take over me, even though I'm healthy otherwise. Does anyone else do that too?

I'm feeling really discouraged, now that I have FINALLY <got my dream job>, I'm just as gimpy as before. How does anyone handle working with this?

mod-anon · 11-19-2008, 11:57 PM

Outside of Health Professionals Board, these Boards are for peer discussion only.

It is against the rules to proclaim any type of work in the medical field.

vickyo · 11-20-2008, 07:13 AM

While I do work without much difficulty, I have had to give up my other activities becuase I had no energy or strength to do them. I use to play roller derby. It was fun, I made friends, and I got exercise. Now I am way to tired to even think about their grueling 2-3 hour practices 2-3 times a week. I miss it terribley though.

Yvette D · 11-21-2008, 07:27 AM

Well I stopped working just about 2 weeks ago because of the type of job I had. It was repetitive movement which caused me a great amount of pain on my neck and shoulder. Doing it 8 hrs a day made my pain so much worst. Than I am chronically fatigue all the time but there are some days where I can't do anything at all. I can't even fall asleep the way I would like because I'm that tired. Weird. But it's frustrating. I've worked my whole life and now I'm in my 40's and feel like I'm worth nothing. You're not alone.

rosebuddy · 11-21-2008, 01:31 PM

You describe my situation exactly.

I went through a terrible depression and with weeping. I worked since i was 15. I got counseling with an art therapist and we went through the phases of grief of losing my good health and not being able to work. It helped me so much.

i am on ssdi. that was over 3 years ago. Now i work part time and am doing well. I can sit in a task chair for 8 hours! The fatigue is gone.

I take flexeril and valium and i sleep like a rock but these don't work for everyone.

Pace yourself. On your good days don't overdo it. I would be bedridden for 4 or 5 days and then have a day with absolutely no symptoms, weird, but i would do too much and flare even worse than before. I have posted everywhere on this board about my favorite book in the world, "fibromyalgia and chronic myofascial pain" by devin starlanyl. It changed my life. i hope you get it.

Try to take it easy because when we get ate up and emotional and anxious, we flare worse. fibro is a central nervous system sydrome, even though we have muscle pain. It is messed up nerve signals going back and forth to the brain. so it just makes sense to take care of your brain as well as your muscles and fatigue. It is hard but try not to get obsessed with all that is happening with you. Don't try to get everyone to understand because they just won't. Just go with it. Calmly work with your doctor. Apply for ssdi, but don't get ate up over it. apply and then let it go. I am just telling you what helped me. You will find so much help on this board. I hope you feel better soon