Hi friends🙂

[ChantelF]

I was diagnosed in February of this year with, 'mild' Lupus. Been struggling with acceptance. I did not think that 'mild' could be so painful and restrictive. I'm on meds but not sure if it is the proper dosage. Apart from inflammation /arthritis (I have poly arthritis which means every bone in my body pains), I'm also constantly sick with minor illnesses such as flu, tummy bugs etc. I sleep really badly and am so bitterly tired.

I get it when people say that typing is painful. I've constant chest pain, which the physician diagnosed as pleurisy. Tonight I'm in bed with some kind of nausea... Good gosh.

I'm concerned about my job, income... Like so many on this site. I'm a teacher and in management. 42 kids in a class, no assistant. I don't know how long I can do this for. I used to work 12 to 14 hours a day, now I can barely get through 8 and I hate not being able to pull my weight.

Fortunately, I have an amazing husband. He may perhaps not understand, but he's supportive and does a lot of the house hold chores.

This is just difficult. Typing, climbing stairs, cooking, driving... Never in my life could I imagine that I would say that even my pinky toe pains. I can't even hold a cake when I'm having a flare.

I used to be really active. Danced, jogged, played tennis, swam, love cooking. Suddenly I'm 40 and old.

Thank you for this forum. Thank you for your posts. I learn and relate, and that's the most important thing. That one feels less alone.

God bless🌻

[Ellieb123]

Hi Chanel F,

I’m so,so sorry that you’re having such a bad time and and I can relate totally with all you say. I too am a teacher, who loves the job and always gives100%, but this can come at cost with a condition like ours. I knew exactly what you meant when you said about even your little toe hurting and I know that the exhaustion can be so overwhelming.

Your class of 42 is causing an excessive workload- is there anyway you could talk to management and ask for a little support? Perhaps you could be assigned a classroom assistant or a student teacher on placement to help share the load.

They have a duty of care to you and should take you concerns seriously. Your health and well-being is very important.

Also, please talk to your GP and be honest, explain exactly how you feel.

It may be that you need to take a little time off work’ as I had to last year. It gave my body a chance to recover and although it was hard to let go, it really was the best option as health wise, “I was on my Knees”!

ChanelF, I hope this has been of a little help and I hope that even just knowing that there are others out there who understand completely what you’re going through in some small way gives you comfort and strength.

Elaine

[ChantelF in reply to Ellieb123]

Thank you Elaine...

It is true that 42 is excessive. Management is sympathetic but I work at a public school with no funds for a class assistant. The student teachers, when they are there go to the higher grades, so no luck there either.

From time to time I have told my Dept. Principal or fellow Head of department that I'm not coping and they would help lift the load. Because I'm in management I have to put in the extra hours. There are no free time, so over time goes without saying.

All I can do right now is to apply at other schools that has smaller classes and class assistants. That or I resign /retire and financially we are not able to do that. It's scary actually...

It does help to know that there are others like me🌻