Anxious about work

[Anita_1]

Good morning all.

After recently beung diagnosed with fibro, I am more anxious now with regards to work. I am a full time nurse in a very busy area. I work three 10 and one 7.5 hours per week (37.5).

I have struggled with time off for sickness. Although I knew I had fibro, just needed the official diagnoses. I know in practice my line of work is adding to my crises but I need to work. I'm a single mother with a mortgage.

What can I do?

Would love a little advice.

Thank you all...Hope you have a good weekend xx

[cuddlyka]

Good Morning,

I'm so sorry to hear about your current dilemma. I went through this myself 5 years ago and pushed myself to continue working against my GP's advice partly due to not wishing to give up my income as my yearly holidays to Greece were a tonic. In the end I could no longer cope with work and had to resign after 6 months off sick.

However, I was lucky and had paid off my mortgage so was able to downsize and live of the equity for the past 3 years. That of course is running out now and I am looking at having to go down the benefit route, which I am dreading given that people who have worse disability's than me are being refused it.

My heart goes out to you at this time, especially being a single mother (I was too) and having a mortgage to maintain. It sounds like you have a stressful job and those hours I couldn't even imagine trying to do now. I used to work 45 hours a week and in the end I had just had to admit that I could no longer manage to keep my income.

Given your profession would they not consider reducing your hours/giving you shorter shifts until you can find a way of managing with less income/supplementing it with benefits if possible?

I'm sorry that I can't give a more positive outlook and better suggestions. Please be kind to yourself.

Karen xx

[Anita_1 in reply to cuddlyka]

Hey Karen...

Many thanks for your advise. I am trying to think of a contingency plan. I would apply for reduced hours, if I was guaranteed some sort of benefit to compensate.

I know with this condition I am eventually going to have to reduce my working hours considerably though.

[Unicorn52]

Anita_1, I am in exactly same position only without young kids. Work 35 hours, but have mortgage etc... I'm not sure what to do now as I know I can't do what I used to, and am fed up faking being well... Some of the people on here have gave me good advice re benefits helplines and CAB. I'm off sick at the moment and pondering my options... I'm trying not to think about measuring myself and what my illness is against others as there is always someone worse off...

Good luck.