Working with endometriosis. .

[Joanna]

Helloooo ... only my second post since joining but I read through my news feed everyday and can relate to most people .

Like most I battle most days with my endometriosis I never know when I'm going to be in pain when I'm not .

I had a full time job last year just before getting diagnosed but ended up leaving because I was needing too much time off with pain and hospital appointments ect since then I've only been working weekends in a bar/nightclub its about 12 hours a week minimum wage obviously the money isn't covering barely anything .. i'm really struggling at the moment I know how it must look to employers when I apply for jobs because at this moment in time I AM unreliable. I have a few appointments coming up and I've been referred to an endo specialist and my first appointment is in November with them . I've just finished a course of zoladex but it didn't really work I've been admitted to hospital twice since my lap in march and starting the injections.

So to get to the point ..Is there any help out there? Is it worth contacting citizens advice ? I don't know if I'd be entitled to sickness benifit or something. .because I even struggle to cover prescriptions when prescribed medication to help with the endo . My partner does work but his wages just cover the bills ! Any advice would be really appreciated thankyou xx

[Impatient]

There is help with prescriptions when on a low income

nhs.uk/nhsengland/Healthcos...

nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthcos...

There is also help available with transport costs to hospitals for treatments.

Claiming benefits is very very hard to get. Lost of us have tried and be prepared for a battle. Some manage it, many do not. Certainly while you were on Zoladex which is chemo you would have been entitled, but now that is over the circumstances are somewhat different.

Do speak to your local CAB for initial advice. There are online assessment forms for PIP payments and others - so you could work your way through those too. Use your worst day scenario when applying, because you have no idea what it will be like from one day to the next.

[Joanna in reply to Impatient]

Hi thankyou so much for your reply. Didn't know about the zoladex but then again I didn't really have much information on it .. i just got on with it the best I could . I will definitely look into it ... Thank you again x

[madtabby]

Hi there , sorry to hear ur struggling both health wise & financially. Endo does make us unreliable but u can work round it !!

I was the same ,every month being sent home from work because i was too ill & in too much pain to functuon.

Ive been a bank HCA / support worker for the nhs & a Learning Disability charity. Its working ADHOC but if your a good worker you will get regular shifts. BUT what it means is when your due your period just say you are not available for work. No questions, no guilt !

Ive done it for nearly 10 yrs now & i actually tend to earn more per yr than the regular staff !

There are lots of bank/ relief work in most sectars not just care work so id defo look into it !!!

Hope that helps !