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fibro and work

mikew profile image
12 Replies

Hi everyone

I was diagnosed last year with fibro, my GP told me that he expected me to have to give up work within 5 years. Is this what is common for fibro sufferers.

What do you do whence you have given up work the help with the pain?

Exercise, keep fit classes or any other ways to keep active?

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mikew profile image
mikew
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12 Replies
magnetta profile image
magnetta

Hi Mike

Sorry to hear what the doc has said.

I still work although having another sick day today because I'm having a flair up. Perhaps we are in a similar position.

I find pilates, Thai chi and walking very helpful. Keeping active and stretching out definitely decreases my day-to-day pain.

Good luck with it all :)

EquineArcher77 profile image
EquineArcher77

That's a terrible and very negative thing for your GP to have said, so please don't think too much on it. There is no telling how well you might be managing your condition in 5 years.

I do yoga 3 x a week, cycle 4 x a week, and walk my dog twice a day on the days he doesn't come with me on the bike.

Also look at your diet with a view to tweaking it to better manage your pain - avoid caffeine, sugars, carbonated drinks, sweets, chocolate - for some people, me included, gluten and dairy can also cause flare ups.

Best of luck.

RayB profile image
RayB

I can't imagine what he was thinking or why he would presume to say something like that, no Dr can predict the future.

While there are some diseases that have a more predictable roadmap fibro is not one of them.

Some find it just goes after a period of time for others it stays the same and with some it gets worse.

Most of us just seem to be up and down and learn to live with it!

Best Wishes, Ray

Tuscany profile image
Tuscany

I was actually wondering if the condition gets progressively worse. It's good to know that there is a chance it could get better. There is some hope!

TheAuthor profile image
TheAuthor

I am so very sorry to read that and I want to sincerely wish you all the best of luck.

All my hopes and dreams for you

Ken

mikew profile image
mikew in reply to TheAuthor

Thank you for the positive feed back.

mikewright

Peace2014 profile image
Peace2014

Sorry to hear that your GP was negative. I don't think anyone can actually say this. One of my colleages has had Fibro for about 15 years. Yes, some days she is rough and looks ill, but she is still very positive and in her words, "just gets on with it". I have only been diagnosed about 8 months and I find her an inspiration, she is nick named the Fibro Oracle since 3 other staff also have fibro.

Take care, rest when needed, make time each day for something you want to do and remember - eventually a cure will be found and then we will be bouncing around like easter bunnies.

Lottieonline profile image
Lottieonline

Sorry too to read what your GP said to you, doesn't really help you does it?

I have now suffered with Fibro for about 5 years and work gave up on me!

I was asked to leave a certain department due to many steps and occupational health did a report advising I no longer work there.

I went home within minutes of being told.

I had a melt down. Sad, useless, depressed the whole lot, all because my brain is ok a bit foggy on certain days, but to be asked to leave because of steps and I use a stick, at home I use a scooter or wheelchair.

Not fair.

You may be different to me as we are all different in our pain barriers with fibro

I will look for work again soon, I think I'm going to have a break from it while summer is on its way!

Good luck

Lottie

mikew profile image
mikew in reply to Lottieonline

thank you for the reply, my employer has just told me that they will not allow me to go back to work on light duties although the fibro was caused by an accident at work!!!!!

What a great employer

Lottieonline profile image
Lottieonline

Omg, what are you going to do now?

Who do you work for? I was with NHS local clinic in my area. Isn't it disgusting 😪

mikew profile image
mikew in reply to Lottieonline

Hi lottieonline

my union advisor has it all in hand now, have spent a lot of time on phone calls to the union and they have formulated a plan of action that will give my employer some issues with regard to my continued employment.

The equality at work act 2010 can be very useful to get around employers discriminating against employees.

appalachian49 profile image
appalachian49

Sorry to hear what your GP said to you. I find that GP's don't know much about the condition. I have CFS as well and have found the same with that! I have found the best advice is from other sufferers and from reading information in books and online and then applying that to your own situation. Everyone is different and everyone needs their own approach. You have had some good advice already on here and I would agree with all that has been said. I also use a hydrotherapy pool about 3 times a week and I find that to be excellent for the pain. I had to give up my PE teaching job 7 years ago at age 53 due to a huge relapse and I thought I would never work again. I am now working 20 hours a week in a school having built up from 12 hours a week over the past 4 years. I am not able to teach the PE as I did but doing some PE type work as well as pastoral. Look into the link with under active thyroid which you will find on the Thyroid UK website.

Keep looking forward

Liz

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