Has anybody else suffered from so-called Fibro Burn-out?

[pixieh]

I have been disgnosed with this and am now on sick leave with a prognosis of six months before rerurning to work. Am wondering if this is realistic? (Then have to see if employer will want to keep me on (but I will worry about that later!)

[Hidden]

Hello Pixieh, I haven't heard of Fibro burnout, but I did learn about Fibro Boom and Bust when I went to a CFS Clinic to learn pacing therapy. It basically means that on a good day when we don't feel too bad and can manage to do more eg. housework, we tend to go mad and blitz ("boom") instead of slowly pacing ourselves with regular rest periods to avoid the "bust". From what I've seen on the internet "Burnout" is similar to workaholism - meaning working too hard and then having no energy left to recharge our batteries. It renders us completely fatigued with no reserves of energy to draw from.

Regarding your situation with your employer, that's a hard question to answer. I don't know of anyone who has been told categorically that they need 6 months off work sick, and then they can return. No-one can predict how we are going to be in two months let alone 6 months! We have good spells and bad spells, ups and downs etc.

If you're an employee and unable to work because you're ill you may be able to get Statutory Sick Pay. It is paid by your employer and can be paid for up to 28 weeks. For more info regarding your entitlements etc., please click on the link below -

direct.gov.uk/en/moneytaxan...

This site should also give you information regarding your employer's obligations. Hope it's of some help to you.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Hey LibbyDe,

I'm the type of gal to blitz! Now I know why I feel like I've just been hit by a truck! I have tried and tried to pace - and my body and heart knows this - but my mind refuses to acknowledge anything! It will not switch off and is always planning ahead - It's been so bad of late that I've not recharged at all and am sleeping so much. I was up at 6, it's not yet noon, and I've already had a 2 and half hour "nap" - and I'm already feeling tired and ready for some more zzzz's.

Hugs,

Love,

Carol xx

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Hi Cadee, I can so relate to all you are saying. I went through a very bad few months from Autumn last year until Spring this year, no matter how hard I tried I just couldn't seem to make any progress. There had been a shock in the family which hit me really hard and consequently I went back to spending most days in bed with no energy at all when I eventually got up. I was exhausted even making a cup of tea. I had previously learnt how to pace myself, get proper rest in between activities etc., so I knew what to do, I just couldn't get back to doing that at all. Fortunately I am naturally a positive determined person and as stubborn as a mule, so I decided to try to get back to pacing. It wasn't easy, but little steps week by week and I have now got myself back on track, going to bed at midnight (I'm a natural night owl, so that's early for me!) and I am getting up every morning at 8-9am again, whereas before I was getting up everyday between 3-5pm! I got up to do dinner for the family and then flake out afterwards every day for months on end. No time for housework or anything else. Now the house is clean again and I am up to date around the home with washing and ironing too. It is possible.

What you are describing is exactly how I am - I am the Blitz Queen! It's not in my personality to just do a bit, it's either all or nothing! Sometimes to my cost because when I did this last Autumn I knocked myself for six and got myself to the point where I wasn't functioning at all. What you need to do is make little changes. I didn't realise that by taking my meds too late at night (2am+) they were knocking me out until the afternoon the next day. Now I take them early afternoon, so by midnight I am ready to sleep. A small change like that can change your life and general well being literally! Have regular rest periods, sit down for half an hour every few hours, try to avoid going to bed, have a lie down on the sofa or a comfy chair instead. Make these changes very slowly and you will start to see a big difference! No more Burnout or Boom and Bust, just pacing and more energy and a zest for life again! Hope this helps! Please feel free to message me privately any time, or if you prefer post messages in the forum as usual, happy to help any time! Take care!

[SuzySparkle]

Hi pixieh - I think I probably had this last year. I was not diagnosed, but was increasingly tired and foggy - knew I wasn't well put pushed on and on with my full time job and activities at home. I took a weeks holiday to rest and it hit me like a tonne of bricks. I could barely function. My GP said it was exhaustion - after 2 weeks - he said it was extreme exhaustion - after 8 weeks he started to do investigations. I have been off work since October 31st last year - and was eventually diagnosed with FMS in March. I thought i would be back a work in April - but Occ Health said I wasn't ready - and I am hoping that my OH appt on Monday will be a bit more positive and I will be going back to work (although it will be part time to begin with)...... My employer made SSP payments for 28 weeks and now I am on ESA. I have reached a plateu of tiredness and can function much better. I am working on pacing myself properly so that I can work and live effectively. I think this is the only chance I have of being back in work. Also, I got Access to Work involved and the assessor was knowledgeable about fibro. She was brilliant and realistic. It has helped my confidence a lot thinking that I could be back a work and with the adaptations to my workload and workstation it is a realistic goal. However, it has taken a lot longer than I ever expected. I have never been off work for this length of time before and it has been a real struggle for me to live with not being well enough to work. However, it is what it is and if you have suffered the same kind of thing - it does take a long time to recover. not forgetting that we are all individual with our experience of FMS - don't beat yourself up for taking the time to recover. *{}*

[pixieh in reply to SuzySparkle]

What you have said describes what I am going through. As soon as I had my diagnosis and stopped working I just collapsed with extreme exhaustion. I hope that the six months will work out and I am in touch with my employer. Halftime to start off with has been suggested. I live in Belgium and they cannot do anything to jeopardize my employment for one year. I desperately want to be able to continue working for another two years minimum for pension reasons, but we will see. I believe that things have come to a head through additional stress due to my husband's failing eyesight. I have coped with FM one way or another but 18 years of this is taking its toll. I'm not sitting back though having spent time today doing some gardening. Now I am beat and OH is worried that I've overdone it again! Am also doing physio twice weekly at the hospital and have planned some aquatherapy. I usually land up sleeping for three hours in the afternoonand have no control over this. Will just have to keep listening to my body, pace etc and hope to come out of this ok.

Thanks for all the replies. It'nice to feel I'm not alone even if I am on the other side of the Channel!

[LindseyMid]

I've never heard of this phrase, but severe long-lasting flares due to exhaustion & stress are definitely possible.

Do make sure that you use the time wisely. Don't just stay in bed or sit at home! Get physiotherapy (there's a blog article on this for Fibro - search for it to find it) and use the extra time to really work on the physio. Maybe learn some new stress management techniques or practice old favourites. And try to make sure you eat healthily, address any nutritional deficiencies and practice good sleep hygiene. It may also be a good time to try new medications.

[Huggybear16]

I pushed and pushed and pushed my self and ended up of for 6 years with exhaustion I couldn't even face picking up the phone to speak to anyone as I improved I wanted to retrain from my management role as it was too stressful all my dr said was no ""having a brain is a dangerous thing" eventually I retrained and work with autistic kids I find that this is the ideal job as finish at 3 rest at weekends and approx every six weeks have at least a week off also all the summer to recover.you will improve listen to your body you will know when the time is right xx

[cherryflan]

I have a 14 year old autistic son, who is totally dependant on me, a toddler, who very demanding. No family help. I get about 6 hours broken sleep per night. I have had a nervous breakdown. But I worry about whats going to happen to me and them.

[Hidden]

I can so relate to most of the messages on this thread! I would strongly recommend where possible when you feel able to, see if there is a local CFS Clinic (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) and you will learn pacing therapy there. I started when I felt really low, totally exhausted to the point where I really didn't want to get out of bed at all. I was emotional, didn't have the energy to talk either. I persevered and by the end of the programme I was a changed person - I had totally revamped my daytime routine, I had a regular waking time, activity times and rest times throughout the day and a regular bedtime. Once you become used to living like this with slight adjustments along the way, you automatically know when you need to stop and have a small rest and then carry on with another activity and so on. It really is possible to do this. Obviously if you feel really poorly, wait until you feel you can cope with attending the clinic. If anyone is interested in learning the pacing therapy, have a word with your GP and see if there is a clinic in your locality. I hope this works for any of you trying it as well as it has worked for me. After the pacing programme if you experience bad days, you will know how to rebuild yourself up again and get back to pacing, that's the most beneficial part of learning it.