It is time: Hello everyone , After... - Fibromyalgia Acti...

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It is time

larissa profile image
31 Replies

Hello everyone ,

After being unwell for 6/7 years with fibro, struggling to work and reducing hours, the time has come.

I now feel intensly ill after every shift at work, and this has been going on for months which has left me frustrated and now making me feel down. I feel as though I've been pushing myself and I am sick of trying to keep up at work ( nursery nurse ). I also have Meneires disease to add to my list !

Anyway I have spoken with my hubby, and made the decision to hand in my notice and just do my voluntary work , which is a few hrs a week and I love it there.

I don't feel sad that I cant do my job anymore, although after 17yrs it will feel strange . I need to be kinder to my body and look at this as a positive change.

I break up for summer hols soonish so I will give my months notice then .

I just wanted to share my feelings with other people who have fibro or other debilitating illnesses'

Fibro hugs to each and everyone of you xx

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larissa profile image
larissa
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31 Replies
larissa profile image
larissa

I think I just recommended my post twice by accident ! gotta laugh x

Hi Larissa,

I'v just experienced the same recently. I loved my job as a Teamleader and trainer in a large Cattery and Kennels(Pet Groomer as well) All got too much and I had to hand my notice in. Fortunately I managed to get a part - time job as a Community carer which I am going to enjoy.

I felt like I was running away at first, but after coming to tems with the workload and my aching body, something had to give and I'm glad It wasn't my body(ha ha)not yet anyway!!!!!!!

This is all happened within a week or so and you've no idea how much better I feel, even my pain has subsided. So please don't feel guilty, you've only got one shot and one body so please make the most of it.

Huge hugs from me xxx

larissa profile image
larissa in reply to

Thankyou x

kauto profile image
kauto

You will find you made the right decision in time xx

larissa profile image
larissa in reply tokauto

Thankyou x

BlueMermaid3 profile image
BlueMermaid3

Hello

I just wanted to wish you the very best of luck with your voluntary work.

You've obviously thought your options over thoroughly and have come up with what is going to work best for your family.

Hugs Luxx

larissa profile image
larissa in reply toBlueMermaid3

Thankyou xx

BlueMermaid3 profile image
BlueMermaid3 in reply tolarissa

Apologies, my message should have read: for YOU and your family xx

larissa profile image
larissa in reply toBlueMermaid3

yes , its nice to be included lol x

TheAuthor profile image
TheAuthor

Thank you so much for sharing such a personal aspect of your life, it is greatly appreciated. I want to genuinely and sincerely wish you all the best of luck.

All my hopes and dreams for you

Ken x

larissa profile image
larissa in reply toTheAuthor

Thankyou Ken ,I just thought I'd share x

Shazzzy profile image
Shazzzy

This point comes to all of us here, I was fulltime, then parttime, changed to less active job then made redundant ( as a way of getting rid without firing ) I then started voluntary work with a community arts group, was offered sessional work of jyst a couple hours teaching and have now run my own class for quite a few years. It is immensely enjoyable and has become a big part of my social life too. I am sure you will feel the benefit immediately, and I am sure you will enjoy being voluntary without all the stress and strain of forcing your poor body til it collapses. All the best with your new life,

larissa profile image
larissa in reply toShazzzy

That's fantastic ! just goes to show , anything can happen xx

Goldenone profile image
Goldenone

Hi Larissa just to say I know exactly how you feel been struggling for about 4 years now since Dec my fibromyalgia seems to be worse I work at the airport for BA whom have been extremely understanding and helpful but like you I just feel like I beating myself up although my mind is firing on all cylinders my body just cannot cope which gets me down every time I have to call in sick I was in yesterday and now I'm off sick again today been in pain all night not able to get up so like you I've decided as I'm going to be 55 in August I will take early retirement although they did offer me it on sickness grounds I'm single but have 3 adult children at home so will have to manage some how anyway there's things I can do from home and I have a few ideas on a business so I'm quite positive about it may even go and finish of my degree anyway just wanted you to know your not alone and I've been with BA for 15 years . Gentle hugs n good luck for the future maybe we should update this post in 6 months time to say where we are and how we feel anyway bye for now Dee

ninjananna profile image
ninjananna in reply toGoldenone

Hi lovely!! Its me...Dena!! How bizzare to work out who you are!! Hope the fam and yourself are doing well... I'm just back from Spain and hating this damp weather... :'( :'( :'( Always seems to set me off!....One love!...Dee...xxx

larissa profile image
larissa in reply toninjananna

sorry don't know a Dena ? confused ????

ninjananna profile image
ninjananna in reply tolarissa

Sorry sweetie! I meant that message for Golden one! My bad...:-D :-D :-D ♥♥

larissa profile image
larissa in reply toninjananna

Doh ! Yeah I see now lol x

Goldenone profile image
Goldenone in reply toninjananna

Hi D wow how did you work yet out? Welcome back sweetie hope you had a good time away I know the travelling does us in but it's nice to get away hope you feel better soon weather's a bit naff at the moment but they say we have so hot sunshine on its way we'll have to have a coffee or something soon god bless Dee x

ninjananna profile image
ninjananna in reply toGoldenone

Well...BA was the first clue...grown up kids still at home..your age and to be honest it just sounded like you!! Does that make sense?...Hols were fab! Lovely and hot...only one day out of 9 when I had to sleep a lot, so not too bad! Yes, coffee sounds good my friend... :-D :-D :-D ♥♥♥

larissa profile image
larissa in reply toGoldenone

hi, Sounds like we have parallel lives lol We should recap in 6 mnths ,good idea! Sounds like you've made a good decision x

dillydally1 profile image
dillydally1

hi, sorry you have had to make the decision to finish work, fibro can be very debilitating, some days can be better than others but that doesn't help when you are working, because you can't pick and choose the days you work. I hope you can manage to continue your voluntary work that you love, things like this are very important with fibro, wishing you well. gentle hugs. dilly xx

Lakikette profile image
Lakikette

Hi there Larissa,

I admire your courage for facing up the situation and getting over it! Many people are not accepting the changes that occur in their life dur to fibro and I might actually be one of them :) I can't say that I know how it feels cause I am twenty-five and only had one job (that didn't last), but just the idea of having to work all day scares me so much considering how I feel everyday. It is hard and you don't need to make it harder on yourself so keep doing the right things and you will certainly feel better than ever.

Good luck ;)

larissa profile image
larissa in reply toLakikette

Its hard to admit I cant do what I used to , but now that I have I feel happy x

larissa profile image
larissa

Hi, I will always do something ,no matter how small. I know how important it is to get out there and have interests /focus/purpose x

landslider profile image
landslider

Good luck in your new venture Larissa. It must have been really tough to accept that is what you would do. Well done xx

I know what you mean about fighting with yourself.

I was off sick all last week and on annual leave this week.

Constantly argue with myself about throwing in the towel but I am a single parent with a mortgage to pay. I am not ready to lose my home ;-(

My children are adults but still live at home.

I began studying with the Open Uni 4 years ago to get a desk job as I knew back then that I would not be able to hold a physically demanding job for much longer.

Ha ha - what a slap in the face that was when I was diagnosed this year.

I need to push through until October when I qualify - if I pass exam this week - and then take it from there.

I have considered part time - but like Dillydally said - you can't pick and choose your good days and your bad days xx

I hope my newly found cure for constipation and the magic of apricots will help energise me going forward ;-) xx

larissa profile image
larissa in reply tolandslider

Yes, it has taken a long time to come to this conclusion. I also really feel for you ,and hope you pass your exam and it opens a few doors for the future xx

joannie1964 profile image
joannie1964

Hi Larissa, your post really resonated with me because like you I had to leave my job in Feb, I was a midwife trained for 61/2 years with my nursing and absolutely loved looking after my mums, dads and babies. I was diagnosed in 2010 with CFS and now Fibro and back problems. I feel bereft actually and miss everyone and a routine but just could not physically do 13 hour shifts anymore. Keep wracking my brains as to how I can work and contribute to home and society but drawing a blank! So good luck to you and well done for putting yourself first.

Hugs

Jo x

larissa profile image
larissa in reply tojoannie1964

Hi Jo,

I know its hard ! At this point,i don't know if I will ever do paid work again. I hope so . I would probably be depressed if it wasn't for charity work. At least then , I am out of the house ,learning new skills and meeting others.

Its taken 6.5 years to get to this point and I used to really worry about what I'd do , as I knew I couldn't keep this up forever, but now I have eventually accepted that unpredictability and am going to try and go with the flo. I hope you can pursue your interests and maybe an opportunity will come your way xx

CarolineC57 profile image
CarolineC57

Hi Larissa - from my own experience I'm sure you've made the right decision. Before I got all this pain that was then diagnosed as fibro I had ME/CFS for many years too. Once I got a diagnosis of that (I'd been told by docs there was nothing wrong with me for a long time before that) I made the decision to leave my full-time university lecturing post and go part-time freelance - so that I would have full control over my workload. That was back in 1999 and it was the best decision I ever made! :-)

Good luck to you. I'm sure you've done the right thing. It sounds like you have a really supportive husband too - just like I have - and that really helps.

larissa profile image
larissa

Hi Caroline,

What a positive story ! I am hoping to feel the benefit too .

Thankyou for your uplifting reply xx

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