Hard on the job

[Hurtalot]

I find myself getting up at 4 in the morning. Trying to get ready for another day on the job.by 8:00 it's time to go.love what I do just worried about how long I can keep it up.just had to get this off my chest.

[Beaches2]

Hi

Are you recently diagnosed?

It takes a while to get this condition under control.......just over a year in my case! I was off work for almost 4 months when it all kicked off, but have been back in work since then, over 2 years now. In the early days I was looking into moving house.... into a bungalow and trying to work out how I would manage without an income etc.I was so scared, probably didn't do me any good worrying so much, really I was in a state of panic over the future. 2.5 years since diagnosis and I'm fine now......still thinking of moving to a smaller house and dropping some work hours, but doing it in a calm way now because I want to rather than in a panic situation!

What I'm trying to say is don't make any hurried major decisions re work,housing etc. Things can and mostly do get a whole lot better. Can you take some time off work to give yourself a rest and allow the drugs to do their stuff?

[Ali_H]

Hi,

I'm right with Beaches on this one! We had our house on the market the lot (my partner was diagnosed insulin dependent diabetic the day after I was with RA .... bummer of a time!). Any way we pulled back, regrouped and two years down the road so glad we didn't sell as we love the place and will struggle to get one as private but in a community.

I was off 6 months getting meds sorted etc and since returning to work have so far only had one sick day 😎

Give the meds time and take things as easy as possible whilst you take stock and make informed/considered choices.

One choice I will have to make is to reduce my work load/stresses and I know that I can earn more going p/t doing what I do (teach) than if I switch jobs and work full time so, for me, it's a no-brainer... part time in a few years!

All the best

Ali

[lornaisobel]

me to - I know exactly how you feel. ' What happens when I cant do this anymore ?'

[Patsy-57]

I agree with lornaisobel ' What happens when I can't do this anymore?'. I have come really close a few times - do I work part time, do I give up working altogether. I think to myself I will know when enough is enough. We all use this site to get things off our chest and a few kind encouraging words really does help, especially as it comes from people who know what you are battling with .

Patsy 57

[Amy_Lee]

Dear Hurtalot,

I am very sorry to know that you are still suffering. I can fully understand your situation. It is very hard if the employer does not understand your suffering really. I was lucky that my employer and colleagues did help me a great deal during the process. I was very tired most of the time then and I always slept away during the office hours.

Just do your best, take the medicine accordingly and do your exercise regularly. Most importantly is to get to your bed as early as you can to ensure speedy recovery. I hope you can get over this soon.

[EmmaS-NRAS NRAS]

Hi Hurtalot,

NRAS has a lot of information about working and RA on their website here: nras.org.uk/work including two booklets, one for the employee and one for the employer to help them understand the condition better. If you have any queries or if you just want to talk through anything, do give the NRAS Helpline team a call on 0800 298 7650.

Kind regards

Emma

[Hurtalot in reply to EmmaS-NRAS]

Thank you

[Karen77]

I don't know what kind of work you do, but have you tried looking into alternative arrangements like working later hours or working from home in the morning? I get up around 6am and slowly get myself and my kids ready. They leave for school at 8:30 and often I'm still in jammies at that point. I'm able to work from home 4 days per week and on the 5th day (Wednesdays), it's sometimes a struggle to be ready for 8:30 when the kids get on the bus, but my work is understanding if I don't get in by 9:30 (my commute is 1 hour), so I don't kick myself if I'm not ready on time. I try to prioritize myself (I will NOT leave for work without first making a lunch to take with me) and I have been very upfront with my manager about my RA and what it means and he has been incredibly supportive. Good luck to you.

[Cazy59]

I know just where you are coming from, I too get up very early about 05.30 to get into work for 08.00hrs, have been doing this for about 7 years, started just as I truned 50, I had hope I would make it to 60, but this year, I am finding it more and more difficult to get my pain under control, had 3 and half weeks off sick due to foot leg pain, which found me one morning not able to move, was taken to hospital, which took over two hours for the parmed to get me standing and down the stair, thank god for gas & air, this all happen in April this year, I am still waiting to find out why all this had happen. I have had RA since I was 18 so for me long team pain is nothing new, but this waiting to find out why, foot leg and back has course such a big problem is getting me down. Now work is asking should I still be in work. i have always worked, have been in this job for the pass 17 years, they knew I had this problem and still took me on, the only think I did do, again about 7 years go, was change from working 5 days aweek to 4 with Wednesday off, which helps with a rest day. but trying to explain to work, I do not know what happen or why as still waiting on doctors and test to all get together, so when I know you will know, and NO I cannot say if this will not happen again this year etc. My own GP is happy to sign me off, which will not help, or the dazpan and other strong painkillers, as I cannot drive or work, come to think of it be normal, as I find all there make me do is sleep the clock around and before I know it a week has gone by. Like you I love my work and do any to stay at it for a bit longer. I have stop waiting for them to get back to me with the reason why and have tried to move on a little bit each day, just as I remember all those years ago when frist told I had RA, with the help of now my husband and late my children, who have now remind me of what we would do together to get me back to a leavel of coping and understanding the pain leavel. I have beem reminded that only I can say what my body can let me do, and that maybe, that time will come, when I have to say, I got to stop working but not living, as I will still be able to do thinks , but not at a given time or length of time. remember we can control this illnes it does not control us. You take care of yourself the best way you can and find the answer that will help you. xx

[Hurtalot in reply to Cazy59]

Thank you