Giving up work

[Pink2000]

Has anyone had to give up work because of their asthma? If you have is it Because your job makes has a part to play in your asthma

[Chip_y2kuk]

No but it's been suggested that my job plays a role in my asthma *sometimes* I am quite allergic to dust and work as an IT engineer... on dusty floors working with dusty computers or pulling cable through dusty ceilings / floor spaces

However I've emptied the bin on the hoover at home and given my self allergic rhinitis and suffered for a week... I now take a prescription antihistamine every day

[Arthut22]

Hello. I was working as a solicitor up until 14 years ago. I specialised in divorce and children's matters. I loved my job but I had several attacks which usually meant three week stay in hospital.therefore one of my colleagues had to take my caseload (250). Went part time but would be in court when I should have finished for day. In the end I had to resign or be asked to leave. I miss my job very much but I couldn't take worry. I have been on EESA and DLA ever since and I hate this fact.

[WheezyAnne]

Do you wear a dust mask when doing jobs which are likely to be dusty? I am very allergic to grass, though managed to cut the lawn if I wore one of those cheap paper dust masks and did it as quickly as possible. I also needed to be well before I started cutting the grass.

It may also be that you need to take more antihistamine - speak to GP about that. If your Asthma is made worse by conditions at work, then together, you and work need to work out what reasonable adjustments they can make to help you stay in the job. I would not rush to leave. I was medically retired from an office job 5 years ago, and do not recommend it.

[17Rose]

I too was medically retired from an office job 3 years ago. I had been there for years but asthma got worse. Over time my employers had allowed me to reduce my hours, vary times of day I worked and work from home. Basically they did all they could to accommodate my asthma . Nothing at work triggered it that I am aware of it just got to the point where drs said I couldn't work. I do miss it though.

[fantwalk in reply to 17Rose]

Just out of interest, do you feel better health wise since you left work? If so there was probably something at work that was triggering you, even if is just stress.

[fantwalk]

I did have to give up a voluntary job last year, very dusty warehouse, I used a paper mask but over time it made my asthma worse, I'm not prepared to up my Medication just for work, but that's just my situation.

[17Rose]

Hi fantwalk, no, unfortunately my asthma has continued to deteriorate and is much worse now than when I was at work!

[Statch]

The company I worked for terminated my contract. As the specialist I am seeing thinks that I have occupational asthma. And wanted me redeployed within the company they couldn't or wouldn't redeploy me

[Nutzs47 in reply to Statch]

Asthma comes under the disabilities act so your employer should have done everything reasonable to enable you to do your job maybe you should get some advice from someone regarding this

[cconsta1]

I lost my jobs about 4/5 years ago. My asthma went from being a bit up and down to just down. I just was so unreliable and when I was there I often struggled to do my best because I was exhausted. I worked with teenagers and they aren’t the best at washing their hands so I was constantly catching stuff from them which didn’t help. It took a long time through occupational health etc and I think I dragged my feet a bit because I loved my jobs and I’d worked really hard to get where I was. I was hoping something might happen and it would be in control again. Or as my psychologist would tell you I was in a river in Egypt (denial)

It’s tricky but you gotta do what’s best for your health. My hospital admissions halved when I wasn’t constantly pushing myself to try and get to work.

I actually still really miss it somedays but it is what it is. I am working towards a new career so hopefully I won’t feel that way forever