fibro symptoms related to office work

[lolly_mitchell]

Can anyone tell me any difficulties they've had with regards to symptoms or even trouble you get from medication how it affects you working in an office based job, or call centre ? I'm halfway through limited capability for work appeal and trying to draw differences from my current jobs.

[Hcharles]

I find that I have to move more even if it’s just standing or stretching to stop being stuck in one position. I am currently working from home so I use different seats to help - a wooden chair, a yoga ball and an office chair. It helps my hips. I also use compression gloves and wrist splints a

Lot

[lolly_mitchell in reply to Hcharles]

Thank you

[Gintastic]

I have cushions for my seat to support my back and a box under my desk to elevate my feet. Taking regular walks around the office can help too. 🤗

[lolly_mitchell in reply to Gintastic]

thanks

[livvi_livvi]

I agree with the others in regards to regular movement. I have recently returned to the office and have struggled with the varying temperatures of the call centre and the extreme heat raising my skin temperature causing me to absorb too much of my morphine patch. Another thing that sometimes makes mine worse is the lights and computers setting off a migraine which in turn gives me a fibro flare.

Good luck. X

[lolly_mitchell in reply to livvi_livvi]

Thanks

[Hidden]

Hi lolly

I am office based I have a back support on my chair and a little step that raises my feet I also have a bigger PC screen and its adjusted to a higher level as soon as I was diagnosed I had a meeting with my boss to inform him of my condition and I also gave him documentation explaining the conditions and the House of Commons Disability Act for Fybro (I work in HR) they have now dropped my working hours and are very understanding when I really can’t make it to work and work from home but and I say but although my employers are ok with this many wont be but Fybro is a recognised disability and gives you protected rights 🌈

[lolly_mitchell in reply to Hidden]

Thats great news for you thank you

[LadyJoro]

Sitting at a computer screen without a colour filter gives me awful headaches and eye fatigue.

Office chairs just aren’t comfy, sitting still in them for too long is a problem for me, if you can wander round that helps

I can’t do call centre type work unless I have both ears covered as the background noise is distracting.

Compression gloves can help.

[lolly_mitchell in reply to LadyJoro]

Thanks great points here x

[Confused01]

All depends on your employers . Hopefully they will be helpful and supporting, but not just initially but long term so you can sustain working long term. Unfortunately I couldn’t/can’t sustain working, which is upsetting and life changing.

Unfortunately my employer was reluctantly willing for a very short time but first relapse and they were awful.

Tips..

Important your colleagues are aware to avoid misunderstandings.

An ergonomic office chair is essential (and properly set up for you),document holder for computer work, things you need kept in place without you unnecessarily reaching, lifting,

Allowed short rests when needed.

Having official notes of meetings re your needs, agreed elements of return and long term working needs etc. This will help you in the future (especially if you have a change of manager for example).

I hope it all goes well, makes such a difference.

[GrumpyTired]

Noise is the worse thing for me. So much so that i now work in my own office as self employed where i can control my environment. Low Noise, soft light, no distractions. Noise cancelling headphones are quite good!

[Pollypo]

Hi. If you go through Occupational health or go on gov uk . Access to work will help with desk chair . Also a part to go on laptop so it on a tilt.