Struggling with work.

[S840]

Hi all. I have osteoarthritis, fybromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis.

Most of my joints now effected with arthritis. I struggle walking at times because of ankle and hip pains. I am 61 yrs old and work on a busy ward within the NHS as a healthcare assistant. I have recently reduced my hours of work due to my health so only work 2 long days instead of 3 a week. They are 12.5 hr shifts.

I am struggling to get up in mornings and have to set alarm at least half hour earlier just so I can get out of bed before becoming motivated. I not sure how much longer I can continue to keep working to be honest as I suffer the next day incredible after I been working. My retirement age is 66 which I no I cannot carry on till. Not sure what benefits I would be entitled to if and when I finally stop working. Do other people on here still work and if so how do you cope. Thank you.

[Fra22-57]

When I read poSt's on here I see a lot of people still work but wonder how they can.You are amazing to still being able to and I know how hard you do. I have been in hospital and you staff are trojans. It would help if you could just work til after lunch.I am sure they would not want to lose you.Is this possible.

[S840 in reply to Fra22-57]

Thank you for reply. I would love to only work till lunch but the shortest shift I can do is 7.30 till 3.30pm. Would mean I would have to go work 4 times a week. That's 4 times struggling to get up etc. I am also my husbands carer who has some major health problems so working 2 long days fitted in with his hospital appts ect. I am actually off sick yet again this week and I no eventually my works will finish me. Something that has never happened to me in all my working life. But I am thinking I gotta do what my body is saying.

[Fra22-57 in reply to S840]

You could go sickness til sick pay runs out .Don't leave yourself or your will lose holiday pay etc. In my job they could not offer me a position with less hours etc of cook in nursing home so retired on ill health at 54.I claim ESA and PIPS. Not sure if you could claim pension credit but what about carers allowance or maybe you already get this.you can call her NRSA helpline too.

[S840 in reply to Fra22-57]

Thanks for reply. I don't claim carer's allowance because I earn to much but would be able to if I wasn't working. So basically you saying let work finish me then I can claim esa. Have never had to claim benefits apart from child benefit many years ago so it's all new to me. But I will have to look into this deffo.

[Fra22-57 in reply to S840]

I know your delema as it's scary.same here felt bad about claiming benefits but I can't work.wish I could.

Be kind to yourself

Think there is a benefits help line on the RA site

[Al10]

Kudos to you!. No idea how you manage such long shifts. Fear you are in danger of working yourself to the point where you can't though. Impressive but silly.

Hard to recover with fibromyalgia. Plenty of fibros have done just that, in their way, easy to imagine they are just not motivated to keep trying hey? Im still trying to recover from my bravoury or stupidity?

Hope you have a plan for how you will cope with not being able to work or even look after yourself. Working in healthcare you must have an inkling of the joys of being both in pain and unable to do much. Have you discussed your probs with you GP?

Fibros are possibly lacking in growth hormone maybe through poor sleep. This makes recovery from each day harder than for non fibros. We don't properly mend each night leaving us vulnerable to injury and poor recovery. If you won't listen to your body crying for help it wont be if you cause yourself damage but when.

You have a hard physical job, you need to be fit to do it. Just because your retirement age is now 66 , it doesn't follow you will be fit enough to do your current job until then. Many people are gonna f

[Al10 in reply to Al10]

Oops reply accidentally went. Was musing what someone should have told me. Not meaning to preach to you. I do that sometimes, but don't send.

Didn't understand about ATP levels and why my poor sleep was so damaging. I was fit and determined. Had no inkling I could become so disabled by a condition that then, my GP refused to accept even existed. I was tested as fit, the pain was in my head. So I just carried on until one day I just couldn't.

[S840 in reply to Al10]

Thank you for reply. I totally get what you are saying as I can relate to everything. I struggle imensely now and exhausted after work which is no good for supporting my husband. I not sure if to just pack in work or let them finish me. Don't look foward to what lies ahead but hey how.

[Jan101]

Well done 👍 you. That is absolutely fantastic that you can still do 12.5 hour shifts. I don’t and couldn’t work now due to ill health so I had to give up my business and retire 2 years ago and it does hurt 😔 when you have to stop. I think there are benefits that you can claim while you are still working. Have you looked into tax credits and PIP google them and find out if you qualify for them. Good luck 😉 Hun I truly hope that you are in titled to some help. Take good care of yourself sweetie. 🤗🤗🤗🌹🌹🌹xxx

[S840 in reply to Jan101]

Thanks for reply.

I lookeded into tax credits but they work it on last year's pay and I was working full time. Plus my husband was claiming ESA which is counted toward income. He now claiming pension as he 65. So I gotta wait till next year to claim working tax credit. I have bit the bullet though and today have started the process of pip. Will let you no how that goes.

[Jan101 in reply to S840]

Hi hun please do let me know how you get on. The pip is like a book and it keeps repeating its self throughout the question so look out for that when filling in your form. Take good care of yourself sweetie and hopefully the pain won’t be to bad when you are doing them long shifts. Warm hugs to you. 🤗🤗🤗🌹🌹🌹xxx