Who still works with fibro?

I volunteer and have two kids. Luckily, my volunteer work can work around my health. Some spects of it can be too much, such as bathing big dogs. I just don't have the strength to keep a dog that doesn't want a bath in the tub.

When diagnosed I was working as a Cna. I loved my job but due to weakness in my right arm and legs I felt it was safest to resign. I didn't want to chance hurting one of my residents. I do still visit. So many don't have anyone who comes to see them.

I think this ends up being such an individual decision based on someone's total health.

For me, I was diagnosed with Fibro back in 1995 but it never affected me in a way that I couldn't work. I was working 8-10 hours during the day, then volunteering with the Fire Dept. a few times a week at the 11pm-7am shift, taking college courses, and traveling. I have been able to handle my Fibro issues all those years with pacing myself, eating healthy, exercise, and a muscle relaxer when needed.

It wasn't until I started having a lot of other health issues with ovarian cysts and lap surgeries, spine issues that led to 3 different two-level cervical fusions, and a brain tumor that led me to not be able to work a full day.

With my last surgery, I was put on Ambien which this alone has made a large difference in my fatigue issues as I now get a decent night's sleep.

I filed for disability last year but got denied as most people do. And instead of spending the next year fighting for it, I have decided for now to go back to work as the stress about finances is worse for my pain levels both physically and emotionally that I will find a way to push through each day. It's going to be hard and I am looking at it as not a permanent solution but just take things one day at a time.

Thankfully I have great Drs. that support me in whatever I choose. I am also like Myself09 in that I don't have any children, (one fur baby..lol) and am 44 years old. I think that finding something that helps me stay engaged during the day mentally also helps pass the time.

So, it's really a discussion that each person should have with their family and Dr. to see what works for them.

Yeah I know what you mean about toddlers being harder than work sometimes...my little girl is 2 nearly 3 and my boy is nearly 5, they are such a handful...when I go to work its sitting down relaxing, getting a tea when I want, everything in my own time..I just find the driving hard as its 40 mins each way.

I think sometimes I give in to easy and let this take charge of me, when really I should be taking charge of it!

My fatigue issues are definitely a problem for me...when I have had 0 -2 hours sleep in a night and have to function the next day I find this almost impossible and have to lay down every few hours...Once I can get my sleep issues sorted I think I will cope better. Im on Elavil and certain sleeping meds as and when, but they are starting not to help anymore.

I have only had this for about 5 months and it spread really quickly over that time, i think anxiety made it worse in the beginning. I now have pain in nearly every part of my body and by about 8pm I just feel broken :o(

I guess once I can learn to manage the pain somehow and find some meds that work on it I will be able to function better at work

I will be going back to work.
DX'd with Fibro in 05. Worked full time and got laid off in Jan 12.
Collected unemployment until now.

I have less than 1 month befor I will work 40 hrs again.

Thats great Myself 09, hope you get it! Were you an Arts Lecturer / teacher in your last school? I studied Fine Arts at University

Which state are you in - if your allowed to say? Ive only ever visited US twice, Philadelphia, Nevada and California...loved them all.

Hopegirl - thats impressive, I can't remember the last time i did a 40 hour week, even before Fibro! Inspirational :O)

I work F/T in a retail setting right now, and it is getting to be pretty difficult for me. I am on the hunt for a desk job.

Wackers, there is hope. I started working full time again in November of 2010. I'd used my hands a lot in the part time job I'd had previously and they were really hurting. My hands hurt so bad that I had to use felt tip pens as I couldn't stand the pain I'd get from applying the pressure needed for ball point pens. Over the next seven months as I was seeing specialists for various tests, the pain kept spreading until it was over my entire body. I could barely walk because of the pain. I was diagnosed in July of 2011. I started taking Savella and recently after a brief vacation from it I resumed it because it is obviously helping me. I also take a lot of supplements.

I see an acupuncturist and chiropractor. I walk regularly. I also discovered I have multiple food sensitivities and my diet is much better than it was before. After all of that I'm nearly back to normal. I still work full time, I'm raising three teenagers and keeping up with a house on a half acre. I've gone from sleeping the entire weekend away to enjoying my weekends again. I'm 48 and now I feel like that is my true age again -- I was feeling 70 last year!

I feel that keeping my job was part of my recovery. When I spend too much time in bed I hurt. I'm sure that if I hadn't been working I would've been sleeping all the time or just laying around. My pain would still be horrible. Forcing myself to get up each day and go to work has given my days a rhythm that otherwise would be missing. I have to get up at a certain time. I have to eat meals at a certain time. I have to go to bed by a certain time. All of this forces me to pay attention, take care of myself, and helps me remember what I need to remember because I do the same things at the same time each day.

I hope that you will soon be feeling better.

I have been off work for a year now. As much as I would love to work I know it would be impossible. There are days where just getting out of bed is an effort. Fibro is a new diagnosis for me after a year of hell. ER visits/Dr visits/and every scan and test out there have all shown nothing so my Dr has said the only diagnosis she can give me is Fibro. My husband works at a job that pays enough for me to not work so I am lucky in that sense. I know how hard it can be when you have little ones at home (mine are grown and on their own) Best Wishes to all

Well Wackers, I don't want this to sound too easy, or simple......

But in the simplest of terms > diet and exercise.

about meds, Ha ! I tried a couple different drugs (Lyrica, Cymbalta) And those screwed me up so bad, as they did nothing for my Fibro, but instead, just added some hard-core side effects, like turning me into a zombie, and giving me severe insomnia.

But back to the diet and exercise...

I'll be honest, my diet is extreme... Like zero bread, pasta, rice, or potatos (Americans get WAAAY too many condensed, and / or processed carbs)
Also zero dairy, fast food, deep fried foods, candy, or packaged cr@p with a mile long list of chemical ingredients.

Now, I have to say, I started all of this stuff, about 6 months before I started exercising. And losing 50 lbs or so, plus, getting my IBS under control, made it quite a bit easier to start doing physical exercise.

It wasn't long though, before my exercise regime had become equally extreme. I now lift weights 6 days a week, often twice a day, and hill climb 2 or 3 days. Hardly ever a day when I don't do either.
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So here's my disclaimer; All of this stuff ^ has been easier for me than one could possibly imagine.... Why ? Because I have hard-core OCD. So once I got health and fitness stuck in my head, it became "automatic" while every other important thing in my life, just ends up getting thrown out the window. Not saying this is so great either. Just saying, it is what it is.

I always hear "normal people" say stuff like, "Well, I've been trying to eat less carbs like you talked about".... and, "I joined a gym.... and trying to get there at least a couple X's a week"......

And what this kind of talk tells me is, this ^ is another normal person, who is trying to use moderation and will power, to achieve what I have, with pure extremism.
I'm not saying that this cannot possibly work..... I'm just saying, that if moderation and will power is your thing, you'd probably be better off to ask somebody else, as I have zero clue about these things.

Anyway, if your still interested, you can probably go back and see some big, long posts I have made, detailing my diet and exercise.
BTW, it might surprise you, that while the stuff I eat, is extremely regulated {its either on my list, or its not} I still actually eat close to 4000 cals a day, just to break even :)
After having severe IBS for 20+ years, my stomach now works like a super charged machine ;)

Oh but hey, I actually have to work out right now.... and then go grocery shopping. Geeez, do I empty that fridge fast ! :)

Peace,
Fish