Hi I am Kelly 45 years old and have had Fibromyalgia and Crohn's for many years without having a name for it. I find the lack of help and understanding with work and wider world as at a high time high , for me .
I love my job but can't do many of the jobs I used to do in the work place as a Teaching Assistant in Reception. I spend hours outside in the freezing weather and then am in chronic pain all night.
Does any one else have this problem?
Welcome to the FMAUK Community 248kel ! 
I am sure you'll find this community a helpful and supportive place to be ! There's lots of posts to read and many lovely members to talk to as you learn to live with Fibro 24/7.
Please can I provide you with the FMAUK website which has a wealth of information about Fibromyalgia which may be of help to you
As a newbie, please can I mention that members prefer to answer posts that are locked to this community only. If you wish to do this, here's a link that explains how to do it;
healthunlocked.com/fibromya...
I understand all that Fibro can be challenging (to say the least!) to learn how to deal with it's myriad of symptoms. I hope you'll find this community a online support network where you can get tips and advice from other members based on their experiences of Fibro.
All the best
Emma
I was a teacher for years and certainly couldn't have done the job with fibro. Reception age children are probably the most demanding physically--- it's not as though you can just sit at a table supporting learning, you're up and down like a yo yo !
The cold affects all of us, I think. Something goes wrong with your temperature control with fibro so any extremes of temperature, and they don't have to be that extreme, can really make you feel ill.
Your school should make adaptations to help you stay in work. For example, if the cold affects you badly then they could cut out playground duties. It would mean making a list identifying elements in your job that worsen your condition ---- heavy lifting, being out in the cold , that sort of thing and then the school negotiates with you the changes that can be made. That's the theory anyway and obviously some employers are more on the ball than others.
Good luck, I can see why you'd enjoy your job, I enjoyed reaching the little ones.
Thank you for getting in touch. I have a meeting on Tuesday with my Head about all the time I have had off and how it's effecting the class. I can understand that as a Head he has to do this but I am now worrying what he is going to say .
The doctor said on my sick note last term to limit my time outside in the cold as it makes my condition much worse. Last week I was off due to the Flu and went back Friday gone . I spent 2 hours outside and I was freezing and in pain all weekend .
I may give my Union a call for some help and advice as I can see they are not going to helpful.
All the best 2 🙂
Contacting your Union is a good idea.
Also, having been off with flu is separate from time you may have had to miss work because of the fibro--- make sure the Head doesn't lump them together. Flu has affected a lot if people this year and because of the strain the vaccine wasn't as effective as previous years.
Good luck with your meeting. Take a notebook and make notes.
PIP and lack of NHS for fibro
Thanks - heart felt understanding!
Lack of sympathy
Fed up with ignorance & lack of fibro knowledge! Ggrrrrr
FAMILY UNDERSTANDING
