I'm a 26 year old First year ECT and I'm really struggling with my mild lupus at the moment. I was thinking of leaving teaching after my ECT years are finished because I don't think I will make it through more than that.
We have just come back from a trip to the cinema, it didn't take up the whole day, just the morning and into lunch time. Bur I've found myself exhausted and a bit achy in my hands, wrists, knees and ankles (the joints that usually ache for me in a flare).
I guess my question is that I want to know how long it would take for me to start needing further medical support or get to a position where I need to quit my job.
I'm concerned that literally three months in I am experiencing so much fatigue (I still have another 5 weeks until the holidays). Brain fog is a major problem as well which doesn't bode well for me as a teacher.
Maybe I wanted someone to tell me that lupus is manageable in teaching with more medical support and that I don't have to worry about my health declining so quickly. I know lots of people have to stop working really early and the reason I went into this was because if this disease took my ability to work, I'd go out doing something that mattered to me.
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Hello. I’m American so I’m not sure what ETA is. I do know as a retired teacher the amount of energy required for teaching and teaching well is akin to playing a serious game of basketball running the court for 2 hours nonstop.
What medication do you currently take to help your lupus? This could help you answer Your question and decide if more or other meds will help you live a better life. Best regards, MrsMarigold
Maybe someone qualified to talk of liver disease will jump in here with advice. I’m sure that has to affect the meds you take.
I take 400 mg of Hydroxy 200 in morning 200 evening. Also a tiny amount of prednisone 3mg. Yesterday and day before I did alot of walking at the beach. Today everything aches and without a strong coffee brain fog would be worse. I’m going to add aspirin to my routine today and tell family I have to rest ( on vacation) It’s hard to work with chronic illness. But not impossible!!
hi, I think your question is a bit like, how longs a piece of string 😁 are you already teaching or still training to become a teacher?
I’m wondering if at the moment, you are training in the classroom and doing studying with lots of paperwork ? They may not help your flares as it’s quite stressful even without having any Illness thrown into the mix.
I was a HLTA and would assist many young people training to be a teacher. I always had plenty of tissues as often they would break down, they couldn’t do it, it was too hard. Some of them I know had various life long Illness and went on to a teaching career and are still doing a great job today. My only suggestion would be, look to the future and think what type of teacher do you want to be? Early years, right through to Secondary. Some years may be more challenging than others. I worked in primary/junior for 27 years and only stopped because I was just past 60 and the fatigue was becoming a problem. I loved working with children and the challenges it brought. My speciality was SEN and very rewarding seeing the children grow and succeed in their challenges.
Do remember this time of year, all schools are busy as it’s getting towards Christmas! Lots of glitter and sparkle, much more tiredness not just for adults but the children too. Rest when you can, even if it’s lunchtime in the staff room put your feet up! Good luck with your future whatever you decide. But I think you’d make a great teacher 😉
Hi! No I'm currently in my first year of teaching, year 1 (ages 5-6) so it is quite full on.
I was just a bit concerned that my body is already feeling like this when I've just finished my pgce and am a few months into career. I saw another post that said the first year is full on anyway and that it does get easier so that puts me at ease a bit.
Thank you for your advice, I will definitely be taking it!
Hi, I'm a TA in primary school. Love my job but some changes have had to be made so I can carry on. Occupational health have helped at work, head referred me. Light sensitivity with strip lights, I've got a chair that I have to use on bad days. I've dropped my hours, now do 4 days. And limp to the end of term, its literally work , home, bed the last 2 weeks. I couldn't do another job as I need the regular holidays to rest and recover. I know this is very different for teachers, as you have work to do over the holidays.
Ask for a OH referral. You are covered under the disability act. That's what OH told me, you should get some support.
Hello WRH Firstly I am not a medic but my wife has had Lupus for several years now and has also had RA for 20 years. My daughter was a primary teacher for 17 years (year 6) until she had to take medical retirement due to deafness after operations of both ears -- she was heart broken at the time as she loved teaching. However, all good now as she retrained as a bookkeeper and now is busy 5-6 days a week and turning new work away.
You say that you have been taking hydroxy for 3 months and that you have fatigue, brain fog and aching hands, wrists, knees and ankles.
Firstly, hydroxy takes much longer than 3 months to really get to working properly so give it time. My wife did not see the benefits until about 12 months in.
Also, perhaps the dose of hydroxy you are on is not strong enough. My wife has been on 300mg per day throughout. Perhaps we were lucky getting it right first time. It may be worth getting your specialist nurse or rheumy to review your prescription. It is guesswork in the initial stages I think.
Speaking of specialist nurses -- do not hesitate to contact them if you are worried or your treatment does not seem to be working. Our experience is that they are very understanding and helpful. Explain to them the issues because you are a teacher. Often non- teachers do not appreciate the stress and effort required to plan for different subjects (often outside of school hours) and then teach 32 students in the classroom for 6 hours a day. That is, in itself, enough to make any fit person very tired and stressed.
Just a thought, the way you describe the aches and pain in your hands, wrists, knees etc. These pains sound symmetrical -- if you get pain in both hands, both wrists, both knees etc it might be rheumatoid arthritis (RA) rather than Lupus. Having said that hydroxy treats both Lupus and RA but it may be worth discussing with the medics and asking for blood tests for these specific conditions.
Finally, being a teacher is a tough and stressful occupation even for an experienced teacher. You are in the very early stages of your career which is a hard time to push through. Keep on trying, we need good teachers, they are very precious. Please try to think positively, and try to suppress the doubts, you will get there. Good luck. Hoping this helps
I've been a teacher for over 30 years but was diagnosed with Lupus after the birth of my son 17 years ago. I had obviously had it for much longer but it seemed to brings things to a head!
Teaching is exhausting and in your early career it will be even more so. However, if you love it please stick at it as you will develop strategies to cope as time goes on.
Like a previous poster said, there are times when I come home, eat and go to bed and also most of the holidays are a time I use for recharging my batteries rather than going away and exhausting myself further. However, we are lucky that we get so much 'downtime' as very few jobs are the same. Yes, we do work at home during them but we are able to also relax.
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