Going back to work? Feeling like hell.

[elliedolly]

Do reli know what to do. Feeling awful at the moment, been on Christmas Holidays for the past two weeks and reli worried about going back to work on Monday.How on earth do you manage work?

[fenbadger]

It's hard, isn't it. And the first day's always the worst. It's how I first got worried about having something. Mine is a physical job and no amount of holiday/time off gave any relief. Normally you'd expect pain to lessen after a break. I'm afraid the only way is to take a deep breath, grit your teeth and just get on. Gentle hugs.

[Libbylou]

Hi, I feel the same as you been working in a school for four years in the office my boss is horrid we have two new members of staff starting tomorrow and I know ill have to help them, apparently, my desk has been moved to the back in the corner. I don't know exactly what I'm worrying for, but I woke up a number of times in the night with my brain racing so I now how you feel. I agree with fe badger we will just have to grit our teeth. We are probably worrying over nothing. One consolation that keeps me going is that I finish work at 2pm. I'm sure you will be fine I'll be thinking of you xxxxx

[crop]

I'm back tomorrow after 2 weeks hols too so I sympathise. I'm a lone parent of a teenager (my daughter is 14) and we have to get everything organised the day before. On Sundays I usually put something in the slow cooker to switch on before I leave Mondays so no need to cook Monday evening when I'm done in. Tuesday evening is a beans on toast evening and Wednesday we eat at my NANs. Thursdays daughter has tea at NANs then goes to drama so I go home and have something really simple for tea. Have to have a routine for housework, kitchen Thursday evening, tidy and dust/Polish Friday, thorough Hoover Saturday and washing in on Fridays and Saturdays. Ironing Sundays. That's roughly how we go along. It's not easy. We will have a hard time when we don't have nan (she's 96!). We're in bed by 9 in the week and I'm up 5.30 for a bit of quiet time and stretching before I get daughter up 6.15. We leave at 7 and walk half an hour to her bus stop then I walk on 15 mins to work. Will think of you tomorrow when I'm getting ready. Lots of luck and gentle hugs xx

[elliedolly in reply to crop]

Thanks all for your comments. I work in a pre school. I know I need to do it if I haven't got a smile on my face and a bit quiet they think I'm being grumpy at them. Im just so annoyed

[Hidden in reply to elliedolly]

I totally understand how you feel. I work as a nanny. My job is 11 hours a day 4 days a week. When you work with little ones you are always meant to be happy but feeling the way we do sometimes it is so hard. I go back to work on Tuesday and like you have been off work for 2 weeks. Thought I would feel better for the break but I am feeling really depressed at the moment. I love the kids I look after but I am dreading going back to work. Finding work of late very difficult and some times hard to function. Considering giving up work sending you hugs because I understand totally

[elliedolly in reply to Hidden]

Thank you Carole2612. Been at work 6 hours today, and then collected my friends childminding child from school and went to hers for a bit. It was lovely - she has fibro so we just sit and talk totally understand one another. But i just got in - exhausted!! Today wasn't as bad as I had feared just really worn out now. I like you thought i would feel a bit better after the holidays but no. Same here considering to leave but i know i will be disappointing loads of people and they won't understand (my parents find it hard to understand when i just have the one day off sick!), and i don't feel like i am ready for the stress. I hope works goes well for you

Hugs x

[rubymoon1]

Hi I was also diagnoised last novembe with fibromyalgia ? after years of pain,I have lost a lot of muscel in both arms which is visably noticable and receiving physio at my locsl hospital, as you can see I only just started using a computor I found out by a friend of my daughters who is training to become a GP that the white cells in your body have caused this condition by attacking my muscels and destrying them I am terrified, only 55 years old.

[Ginsing in reply to rubymoon1]

rubymoon dont be terrified, there are lots of us here for you to talk to especially when you are having a bad session. It does take a while to accept we have fibro and chatting with others is definately a boon take care. xgins

[rubymoon1]

Thank you for your reply,but surely if the muscel is gone is it possible to bulid it up again through phyiso treatment

still confused, also waiting for an appointment to see ATOS people,I am in constant pain every day even during my pla of excertise from hospital have never been for assesment before HELP

[Mdaisy in reply to rubymoon1]

Hello Rubymoon1,

Please may I ask have you been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia or Polmyalgia Rheumatica because what you have found out from a friends Daughter I think you'll find is about PMR. PMR is usually treated with steroids. Fibromyalgia is a completely different condition.

I look forward to your reply so we can be of help to you

Best Wishes

Emma

FibroAction Administrator

[rubymoon1 in reply to Mdaisy]

All the consulton said in the letter was a fibromyalga type,she also tested for mytosis ?

[Mdaisy in reply to rubymoon1]

Hello Rubymoon1,

I think you've been misinformed as I believe she is referring to PMR. For more information on Fibromyalgia, please see our 'All about Fibro' range and if you need to ask any questions please do.

fibroaction.org/Pages/About...

I wonder if you would also like to download and print any of the Factsheets for reference. You could show it to your friend and I am pretty sure her Daughter will explain, that this is a different condition to which she first thought you had been diagnosed with.

Within the factsheets and our 'Expert Patient' range of factsheets it explains how with a combined approach some people manage to get the symptoms under control or to a level which is minimal so they are able to achieve an optimum level of help for them. Here's the Expert Patient range;

fibroaction.org/Pages/learn...

It can be difficult to find all the right treatments that work for you and some people do struggle living and adapting to Fibro. However, some people can manage to keep it under control but it is hard work to keep it this way sometimes as we have other conditions or general infections/bugs which may knock us back a little.

I would consider gaining as much outside support as possible alongside the community here, like Fibro Support group, counselling, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and a referral to a Pain Clinic to discuss medication may help.

Here's a link to our Support Group Directory;

fibroaction.org/Pages/Suppo...

There are many posts about Pain Clinics, however this is one I wrote a long while ago that may help;

healthunlocked.com/fibroact...

You have found us here, which is the first step. Please try not to worry or be frightened as this may exacerbate your symptoms,. There are many people here willing to share their experiences with you, including myself.

Personally I would consider, if you can try to think about what you think might help the symptoms and try to make a gentle step by step plan. I know this is difficult and may take a while as you may need to adjust to hearing this diagnosis first. I speak about this process here;

healthunlocked.com/fibroact...

It is a long message, I apologise as it may seem a lot to take in at one time, so please take your time to read the links and get your own understanding of the condition. I am sure the rest will follow.

Best Wishes

Emma

FibroAction Administrator

[Mdaisy]

Hello Elliedolly,

I would imagine it is difficult and can remember the last year of my work, I struggled on.

I cannot work now but do this voluntary work which helps keep my brain busy. Has your employer in your opinion been helpful with Reasonable Adjustments etc? The best advice I can give is about your rights. Could this help to discuss with your employer to make working life a little easier so you are not so worn out at the end of the day maybe?

Here is a link to our webpage about Work & Fibro;

fibroaction.org/pages/work-...

If you need to contact me further for more information, please do so [e-mail]

I hope you first day back isn't as bad as you are imagining

Best Wishes

Emma

FibroAction Administrator

[elliedolly in reply to Mdaisy]

Thank you Mdasiy! I dont like my job the some of the staff are rude and they are just not supportive. They want me to tell them each day when i am in pain.That's everyday and they will get fed up with me telling them this. So I just pod on each day with a smile - pretending everything is fine. Of course, the children are hectic and so the day is very busy. Before the break, my boss increased my hours - which was fine i said but i am getting so wore out so my boss agreed to give me Thursday off (was only doing the afternoon beforehand). So now im working 20 hours, i think, per week. I am fully aware that it is good to work now because i have no idea what the future holds for me and i might not be physically able to work soon. I am also aware that me not liking my job may not be anything to do with the job itself, i love working with children, it may just be down to being in pain whilst trying to work. My psychologist said to me the last time i saw him, what would my life be like without pain and try to imagine your life with no pain. :/ very difficult to do, i am pain like we all are, 24/7 how can i imagine my life without pain. I did get a bit annoyed with that. Sorry for such a lengthy post!

Best wishes xx

[Mdaisy in reply to elliedolly]

Elliedolly,

Thank You for the reply.

It sounds like you may need to try to speak with your Healthcare Professionals again about your symptom control. Have you seen our factsheets in our 'All about Fibro' range regarding treatments, you can download and print them to take with you to an appointment with your GP if needed. Also there is a factsheet about Fibro which you may like to show your employer, might this help?

Here's the link;

fibroaction.org/Pages/How-I...

All the best

Emma

[Libbylou in reply to Mdaisy]

Hi that link is really helpful. I'm not having a good day today, absolutely exhausted had a nap this afternoon and will be off to bed soon as I am in pain today, bad burning sensation in my arm muscles and back and hip pain taken ibuprofen but not done much will take my usual 10mg of amiltriptiline before bed xxxx