Work

[Maddie21]

Does anyone on here with Fibro work full time? If so how do you cope?

[CheetieCat]

Yes I do, think I'm one of many on here who do. Hard isn't it?

Sorry don't have any brilliant advice other than try to pace yourself whenever you can & lots of drugs 😂😂

[Maddie21 in reply to CheetieCat]

Thank you, tbh I am trying to pace myself and I take lots of different painkillers throughout the day. Just worried because my sickness record sucks which could stop me progressing higher.

[CheetieCat in reply to Maddie21]

Might be worth seeing Occupational Health through your employer for anything that could help you in your work and also with a view to flexible working.

If that's possible in your job this could improve your sickness record enough to maybe allow you to progress.

Fibromyalgia falls under the Disability Act and employers need to make reasonable adjustments. Hope this helps x

[Maddie21 in reply to CheetieCat]

Thanks, I did see OH but flexible working didn't work with my job, always worth rechecking

[CheetieCat in reply to Maddie21]

Aw same here, no good for mine either

[PAULINE15]

Yes I do, can’t wait till I retire next May, it’s hard to keep going xx

[Maddie21 in reply to PAULINE15]

Counting down the days, I'm 23 so I'm way off haha

[PAULINE15 in reply to Maddie21]

Oh no that’s a long way off, do you claim anything that would allow you to work less hours?

[Maddie21 in reply to PAULINE15]

Unfortunately I don't qualify for anything that would help

[PAULINE15 in reply to Maddie21]

😢

[Hidden]

Hey maddie21, I work full time. Not saying it’s easy but anything is possible.

[Echoblue]

Yes, I do. As with so many, I do have more than fibromyalgia (also severe asthma and connective tissue condition) and I have to say Occ health have been very helpful. Over a particularly difficult period of time they supported me in ensuring my employer allowed part time working until I could return to full time again. I really have to listen to my body and act on early warning signs to ease back. This reduces the number of major flare ups. I still push it too far sometimes and pay the price ..... I suppose there are some things you can’t teach an old dog 🤔😉🥺

[Rosimadd]

Hi I used to work full time always have done since leaving school many many years ago!! I struggled with it for a long time not giving in and having no quality of life outside work. I finally started listening to my body and decided to give up my full time job and took a part time job. Unfortunately this did not work out to well due to the Corona virus, was laid off. I am now claiming ESA and PIP I have never claimed benefits before but at this moment I need them and they are helping me to recover and mend for a while.

Good luck and you must do what is right for you xx

[izzykirk3]

I got fibro around 1986. Was finally diagnosed in 1995. I worked full time, at one stage had to drive 30 miles to work then back again. Some days it was a nightmare but I managed to keep going until I was retirement age. One job totally ignored my diagnosis and was given no help at all. I then started working for the Health Service and they were much more sympathetic. I was glad to retire 7 years ago. I managed not to take much sick leave, but some days I really struggled. Its amazing how you can keep going.

[Redcraftsgirl]

Yes I do, I do find it a struggle though, I'd like to use my hobbies to make some money from home to try and not need to work full time, one thing I have found good about this lockdown is that I know i need to walk everyday and be in charge of my own time, and I need to be somewhere with countryside I'm only 30 so I hope I can do this soon.

There are always options, do you have any hobbies you could try and use to earn a little bit of a living?

[Maddie21 in reply to Redcraftsgirl]

I knit but not well enough to make money from it unfortunately.

[Redcraftsgirl in reply to Maddie21]

Maybe learn some new knitting skills? I find i feel a lot happier knowing I have a skill like that.

[ellebell]

Yes I work permanent nights as a Hca in a hospital some days I just get on with it .i find when I stop on my days off I'm in agony but learnt to pace my self id be worse if I didn't work

[KnackeredKaty]

I am a nurse and work full time. I worked for years for the NHS but now work for an agency. I got fed up not getting enough rest between changing from nights to days. My pain and exhaustion became too much to cope with so I now choose when and how many shifts I work in a week. If I'm tired I give myself more days off. Sometimes all I can do is rest when I'm off.