Changes at work advise?

[Hopefullydrastic]

Had my rheumatologist appointment come through for 5 months time! I feel so silly but since my GP mentioned that I may have Fibromyalgia, I'm actually starting to take note of the pains I'm having (I used to just accept and ignore it because I thought it was all in my head!) I actually have a reason now which makes me so happy and not feel so crazy anymore!

I've had to have a couple days off work due to side effects of the Duloxetine I started but I'm back tomorrow morning and I'm absolutely dreading the conversation I have to have with my boss.

If you're working, how did your boss react when you told them about it? What changes did you have to make and were they understanding?

I'm super nervous about asking if I can bring a mini hand fan in. I work in a warehouse and I'm always crazy hot while everyone else is normal or cold. I don't know any other things i could do to help control my temperature while at work 😩

[Dinkie]

I took some literature on fibro for my boss to read together with the letter diagnosing it. Both were thrown back at me with the comment "I don't need to see that". It wasn't until I was spotted sporting a blue badge in my car that they sat up and took notice and arranged an occupational health assessment. Since you do not have a firm diagnosis I would personally hold off at the moment from discussing anything other than your GP thinks you may have fibro and has referred you to a rheumatologist. You could ask for a OH assessment. I didn't want one but have to say it has made a great difference to me. If the OH assessor thinks a fan would be useful they will put it in the report. In the meantime you could ask your boss if they mind you having a fan but if you require one that plugs in, as it is an electrical appliance it will need to be PAT tested unless it is brand new. A small battery one shouldn't pose any problems I would have thought. As your appointment is some time away make use of the time and keep a pain diary so that you can discuss it with the rheumatologist as most of us fibro folk forget everything the minute we get into the consultation room and remember all the questions we should have asked the minute we walk out

[Hopefullydrastic in reply to Dinkie]

I've written down all my symptoms that effect me at work so I'm kinda prepared and written down any questions I can think of at the moment. I've only had to say something because of heavy lifting, it's agonising doing so much heavy lifting so I've had to say something so i don't get put on certain jobs! She has said that we will need to do a risk assessment. I'm going to tell her everything I can and be honest about how much I'm struggling but I'm worried because there isn't an official diagnosis atm she's going to ignore everything and I'm going to be in even more pain constantly.

[Dinkie in reply to Hopefullydrastic]

ahh the dreaded risk assessment - we had one at work - recommendations that before we carry anything we walk the route we are to take first to check for hazards. Really life is too short and it doubles the time of any job! That's the only thing they could come up with besides specialist trolley to make sure everything is at the right height. I use sticks and elbow crutches so lifting things isn't really possible although I can push a trolley!