Work experience - worried about sudden pain

[rachel239]

In a couple of weeks I'm due to help out in a local primary school to gain some classroom experience before I apply gor my PGDE. I've not been having a great time with my endo pain and I'm terrified I'll be floored, that I'll look completely incompetent because of it and that my dream of becoming a teacher will be crushed. I'm so worried.

[Cupcake1617]

I know where you're coming from. I'm on my PGCE now and was so close to deferring for another year & at times even wondered if it was a career I could do with the pain.

Have you found anything that helps the pain yet?

Feel free to inbox me if you have any questions about teacher training or coping x

[rachel239 in reply to Cupcake1617]

Thank you so much, I will do ❤️ I was only diagnosed in September and during the op the inserted an IUD - and I swear, I haven't been in this much pain since they put that thing in 😐 It's made things worse, I'm sure. I find that eating healthily helps and that gluten is best avoided (which makes me sad) but I'm really in the early days of finding out what works x

[Cupcake1617 in reply to rachel239]

I was only diagnosed in October, so all is new to me too. It's trial and error with what helps at the minute. I've found avoiding gluten helps too!

Oh I didn't go for the coil in the end as I heard it could take some time to settle down and I didn't want more pain during my training year

[LB_83]

I'm really sorry to hear about your pain and hope you get a solution soon.

I'm a middle school teacher and have suffered with endo for years. Although I was only diagnosed in February after years of battling with docs.

From my experience it can be done but it is tough. Teaching is a demanding job both mentally and physically, but it is worth every ounce of effort!

My top tips are to make sure you take painkillers when you need them. Keep a heat pad with you to use when needed. I use the ones for period pain that can be stuck to my clothes. The kids don't notice them. Always keep a comfortable adult only chair available. I tend to find it helps that I can mix moving around with sitting at desks with the kids. Assuming you're working with the slightly older kids, make them do the fetching, carrying etc. They love to be helpful! I would recommend teaching the older kids who need less help with stuff, eg. Putting on coats etc. The older ones are more forgiving on my back. You might also find you get so caught up with working with the children you find the pain subsides. It tends to be breaktime when I notice it most.

Finally, don't let the endo stand in the way of your dreams and I hope you have a lovely time helping out at your local primary school! X

[rachel239 in reply to LB_83]

This is so helpful, thank you so much! Placement is going well and although I've been hit by bad pain a couple of times over the last few weeks, I've managed to power through it xx

[LB_83]

Great to hear that the placement is going well and the pain is mostly manageable. Wishing you every success in the future!