doctor success

[aead1608]

so today I went to the doctors, I told them how unbearable the pain is and how I’m struggling to the point of wanting to hurt myself to make my brain focus on that pain instead of fibro pains.

They’ve asked me to get blood tests, referring me to chronic pain clinic, trialling me on Pregabalin and have written a doctors note to try and help with my hours, so reducing my closes so I can try and get better sleep.

I spoke to work but I felt like I’m just making it more difficult for everyone and more people will have to work to cover my hours and I still feel crap

[Ste_smig]

As far as I am aware, work has to make reasonable adjustments for you as fibro is covered under the equality act 2010 as a disability.

[desquinn Partner Volunteer FMAUK Trustee in reply to Ste_smig]

It is not correct that "work has to make reasonable adjustments". However, they must consider requests for reasonable adjustments and if they feel that they can implement them within the needs of the business at its size and in consideration of the role in question then they should put them in place.

What is reasonable to a small 2-person shop will be different to a supermarket. And sometimes the larger organisation is less flexible but as a rule they tend to have more options. Also, certain roles such as a surgical nurse, policeman or prison officer for example may have different requirements that make certain reasonable requests elsewhere unable to be accomodated.

[Ste_smig in reply to desquinn]

my reply was nearly an option that the poster can try if they are still in gainful employment. My company is very large and as you say, will have policies in place to better fund the needs of disabled workers.

Thank you for you reply

[AmandaLG]

Hi, it's a struggle isn't it. In the last 2 years I have changed jobs to work closer to home, gained almost 2 hours a day without the travel! But even so I had to ask to reduce my hours earlier this year. I work in a small office, 7 people, but am the only one who does my particular role so if I'm off work I go back to a gazillion emails! I always feel guilty and worry when I have to stay home.Luckily my employer is great and very understanding.

Try not to worry though, if your manager/employer has a problem with your time off they will tell you or preempt that and ask for a meeting.

With the Pregabalin, I apparently turned into a complete cow, as though I had permanent PMT for the first few weeks until I got used to them!

Hope everything goes well for you,

Amanda

[Paulineb64]

I have been on pregabalin for over a year,and I have found it very helpful. Everyone reacts differently to medication. I get a better sleep with it and it stops pins and needles and not all but most nerve pain. I hope you find something that fits with you. Take care

[Yassytina FMA UK Volunteer]

I am glad the doctor is listening and trialing you on new meds, try and think if it was someone else you worked with that you would all rally round and cover hours , what type of job you are in ? You are trying too move forward with coping with your fibro and doing everything possible so take care and I hope things improve gradually xx

[Midori]

Your workplace should have contingency plans for this situation. Don't feel guilty about it.

Cheers, Midori

[Spaz62]

Hi aead1608, I have been taking pregabin for a couple of years now. My consultant wanted me to keep the dosage as low as possible because one of the side effects is weight gain and that would be a problem for me. So I did play around with the dosage abit to get it right for me. For now I take 50mg 4 times a day and if I am having a particularly difficult time I double up with co-codamol 30/500. Again, i have tried a few different added painkillers to find the best for me. I find the pregabalin a great help. It helps me sleep and definitely, I could not get through the days without it. I feel it detaches me from the pain and I makes me feel more enthusiastic. I have not really put on weight ( a little ) but my appetite is very healthy and I have to check myself. I work, I am a self employed hairdresser. Even though most mornings I wake up thinking I will not manage the day, I find a slightly later start, a hot bath and a slightly earlier finish, has not failed me yet. I am very aware that if I don’t use it, I will loose it and that keeps me motivated. If you enjoy your work you must do everything you can to continue. I hope my experience is of some use. Thank you. 🙃

[Trappedmoth]

I found this very interesting video about Pregabalin from Channel4: youtube.com/watch?v=auFDC18...(Not working as expected?). It was prescribed for me years ago. I found the side effects to be worse than the fibro pain. It did absolutely nothing for my fibro pain. And of course it is very addictive. It is very dangerous. You should watch the video.

[stevebran in reply to Trappedmoth]

Thanks for posting that it was very informative. I was prescribed pregabalin which I used for several months but came off them as soon as I could as I didn’t feel they were helping enough (possibly a bit of luck for me) also that I was able to use other painkillers with little difference. You never really know how you will react to drugs in terms of efficacy or side effects, as we are all different, so I try to pay extra attention to my body when starting a new drug. Still, as the Belfast GP said, they work really well for some people. Take care and hope you’re having a good spell.