Working and RA

[picti]

Hi all.has anyone here had to give up working due to RA.?

[Jacki08]

I still work 30 hours a week as a Chiropodist --- really struggle sometimes though. 😐

[picti in reply to Jacki08]

Bless you.I worked in the NHS for years.but had to give up working after a long struggle with RÀ

[oldtimer]

I didn't give up working but I changed the sort of work that I did so that I didn't do such long hours or such physical work.

[Matilda_1922]

I'm still working in the NHS

22.5 hours reduced from full-time 18 months ago.

I'm really considering medical retirement but been told by OH doctor very unlikely.

I've asked to reduce my hours further to 16.5 3x 5.5 hours as my fatigue is getting worse and affecting my decision making.

I need to complete a flexible working document and for the decision to be made and may not be accepted.

Have been diagnosed this week with brochiotasis

[picti in reply to Matilda_1922]

It's so not easy working and RA as well.I just got to the stage where I couldn't do it anymore. Some bosses are understanding. But not all.Keep plugging away my lovely and hope 2018 is better for you.

[Doughnut61]

Reduced my hours to 30 instead of 37 find some days the fatigue is to much x always make sure I’m in bed by 8:30pm. Tired of being tired ☹️

[picti in reply to Doughnut61]

Bless you.I've found the constant fatigue the hardest. Always tired no matter what. That's the main reason why I had to give up working.

[Matilda_1922 in reply to Doughnut61]

Just how I feel

[Matilda_1922 in reply to Matilda_1922]

I'm struggling at work just been told I have another condition on top of RA broncheasis but mild which causes an intermittent cough especially at night. Have an antibiotic rescue pack at home if needed.

With a disturbed night sleep and a very active job the fatigue is overwhelming which interferes with my decision making.

I have worked over 39 years. To have maximum pension I need to work another 3 years work years which I can't claim until 66 in 8 years time.

I have asked to reduce my hours further to 16.5 hours but need to complete a flexible working document and there is no guarantee it will be granted although the NHS is struggling to recruit staff.

[popsmith1874]

Yes I retired medically 1 and a half ago , after struggling for 3years and I don't miss it one bit, I've got my work pension and am not any worse off and can plan my day accordingly 👍

[Dianne123]

I was going to go into nursing when I developed severe RA at 19. Realized that nursing was out and switched to chemistry, luckily work on a computer now and hope to keep working till 65.

[Fra22-57]

Yes I used to be a cook in a home for the disabled. miss the company

[Hidden]

Hope you don't mind me asking but did you just resign and if so could you still claim esa? I find it all such an uphill struggle, pip was bad enough and am border line just giving notice in. Been there 10 years, off since Sept. know i can't do job anymore due to hands and constant fatigue etc.

I was geared up for OH appointment, some distance away when they cancelled at v short notice, took me 2 hours to get back. They ve rebooked but is there any point if i'm just going to say i can't do job? My mum recently diagnosed with cancer so may be that it's all just getting a bit too much for me but used to be so much more assertive and racked by indecision. I would be really interested to know how you went about it. I have worked for 43 years but this awful disease makes you feel like a fraud asking for hand outs.

[Fra22-57 in reply to Hidden]

I went on sick for 6mths with pay then was asked to go see manager. He said he couldn't offer me a less position so we agreed to part on pay n hol pay.went on job seekers but they realised I couldn't work so steered me to to ESA.Now claim PIP too as lots more auto immune diseases and can't walk without aid .

I would rather work as loved the people there but you just can't go back in your lives.pity

Can you try reducing hours or find a less tiring strenuous job.easier said than done I know

[Hidden in reply to Fra22-57]

Thanks Fran, i would like them to offer me ill health retirement, not enough to live on but every little bit helps n maybe p/t somewhere else later if this improves. 4+ years till state pension at 66 I'm afraid. Its all such a worry when you're least able to cope eh?

[Gnarli in reply to Hidden]

Might I suggest you attend the OH appointment. Letting your OH and employer know your illness and how it affects you could result in your being 'let go' because you are unable to do your job.

J

[Hidden in reply to Gnarli]

Thanks Gnarli, you're probably right, had a wobble on about it all last night x

[Gnarli in reply to Hidden]

Everyone wobbles from time to time don't they? You've a lot on your plate already but, when you get the chance, getting some good advice on your way forward might help you clarify things. Wishing you a happy Christmas. Huge gentle hugs

J

[picti in reply to Hidden]

Hi.my contact was terminated due to health grounds. I get pip and dissability benefits which put together aren't too bad.I'm single to so money has always been tight. I was off sick for quite some time.I had regular meetings with my manager and HR.I knew my self I couldn't carry on. It was agreed during my final meeting that my contact would be terminated. My advice don't suffer in silence. You clearly have a lot on at the moment with your mum being poorly and living with RA to.Be honest with your employers.could you take your pension early maybe?. It's better for you if your contact is terminated due to health grounds.you can then go on dissability benefits.Go to the CAB.they are great and will give you all the information on benefits you need.they helped me a lot.

[Hidden in reply to picti]

Thanks picti, really helpful advice x

[loppyloo12]

Hi love well I have RA work 12 hour shifts and nights so double whammy I'm constantly tired and just two days ago was bed bound with hand feet back kneck I have two teenage children and my partner is cronicly I'll so I'm at the minute struggling through my Nvq level 3 health and social qualifie in Feb my partner is a rock to me disputed his illness giving him constant pain I've been told if I give up work completely my body will give up but I'm so warm out now and tired I'm the only one earning in the house to so presure is on same boat as you love xx

[Hidden]

Not easy is it? Single parent since my kids early teens so used to being independent but this takes the biscuit. Don't know how you're managing 12 hour shifts; i was only coping by sleeping 3 hours as soon as i got in from work. Take care x

[Jesnaskah]

Yes, and I lost 4 other job opportunities!

[Hidden in reply to Jesnaskah]

Sorry to hear that, r u working now?

[Jesnaskah in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for your concern....

I have always had a part time gig working from home for a language company (for the last 8 years) but that had significantly slowed down for the last year and a half which is why I ventured out to other jobs and as I was getting interviews, etc, my onset began. I also used to teach cycle classes and was going to be part of a new studio which was super exciting and then again, my RA hit me and took over, although at the time, I had no clue what was happening and trying to explain that to my bosses was odd.

But I have been able to continue my home job, whenever I get a shift here and there because I just sit at a computer and talk to people for about 15 minutes at a time to assess their English skills. And I just was able to get back one of my cycle classes because my students fought for me to come back and they don't mind that I am no longer riding on the bike. That made me feel really good!

But in Sept I had gotten a great job with a popular hospital here in CA (pay was great, it was part time- like I wanted- and would have provided me and my husband with free health insurance!) and 5 weeks into the training, I had to drop out. I was still on MTX at the time and the stress was overwhelming, to the point where my hands were crippling up again. So even though I felt like a major loser walking away from it, in the end, I had to convince myself that no job is worth my health, and that since my situation is unique and stress has a direct bearing on how much pain I feel...I made the right choice.

[Hidden in reply to Jesnaskah]

Oh my goodness Jesnakah, i would say major trier not loser. I'm sorry it's had such a massive impact. You ve given me hope tho as there must be things we can do/adaptations we can make. It's getting awful side effects and symptoms balanced isn't it? Hats off to you for superhuman efforts and what a lovely student 😀x

[dwsurquhart]

I have had to give up occupation. I am a heavy duty mechanic (Canada) 20 years, same as hgv mechanic in the UK. My knees have been depleted of cartilage so I have a hard time walking, let alone the crawling, kneeling and stooping I had to do. Also had major muscle wasting, lost 52# or muscle mass in 7 weeks 2 years ago, and I cannot seem to gain any of it back.

Merry Christmas everyone, hope all your wishes of being pain free come true.

Scott

[Diane004]

I still work full time. Just some days are harder than others :).

[Lizard28]

I got made redundant this time last year due to illnesses out with my control, I was in hospital and off with pneumonia for a few months, this was one of the years they did a matrix system and counted the days I had been off, I was top of the list so out I went. I've just starting claiming ESA contribution based but had to fill in the form for the supported ESA which my assessment date is January, dreading it. I have another two years till I get my pension.

[Caringcazz]

I work 44 hours a week on 12 hour nights in a nursing home. To say I'm permanently knackered would be an understatement but I genuinely love my work. I am thinking of dropping to 33 hours in the new year though. The underfloor heating and high temperatures you'd expect are really the hardest part.every night I feel like I'm walking on fire due to the pain in my feet and ankles but I always joke that there's plenty of Zimmer frames, stand aids and wheelchairs I could use hahaha I go through a litre of water and more during my shift then could per for England when I get home and go to bed.

[Nain68cariad in reply to Caringcazz]

Carringcaz you must care indeed my legs and feet ache reading your post bless you.

[Caringcazz in reply to Nain68cariad]

Thanks.

It goes without saying that I so rely on my weekly benepali injections and methotrexate, ibruprofen and paracetamol . Without these i dont think I'd be able to do what i do. Some nights are ok but some can be horrendous but I have a good team behind me that certainly help and take the heat off me and make me sit down for a while. But , that can have a reverse affect as in ankles get really stiff if I sit down for more than 15 minutes. Sometimes it's easier to stay on my feet and keep moving

[Nain68cariad]

I worked till retirement age which was lucky 60 at the time. But the early years were difficult. And employers were not at all sympathetic they made it difficult so they can push you out without compensation. So I changed jobs.

So I think you should keep going as long as you can because in spite of the difficult times exercise and movement is good for you. Although the work place can ruin your mental health. So try to find something you can do without too much stress. Money should not be the deciding factor my love....

[Ruth12345]

I was a nurse for 17 yrs then teacher 14 and when pension age went up to66 i decided to do what id always wanted and became a foster carer. Collapsed 10days before our last baby was adopted (we had him from 4 days to 19 months old) so husband and daughter went part time and saw that thru. Now14 months later i still cant work and i get pip but nothing else as i didnt realise (no defence i know ) i should have been paying my own stamp. I got aprox £125 a week when we had a placement for first 3 years then went up for last year aprox. So without my husband i dont know what i would do financially as all pip goes on keeping house clean and helping me manage physically. My husband has copd and looks like he cant work much longer but someone told him not to leave but wait till emplyer says you not able to do job as then there is financial help. Dont know if thats correct. Take care of yourself and if you can plan plan plan so you know what you can get help with. Good luck.

[andy9131]

Yep was a qualified electrician but was given medical retirement 2 years ago due to time of work and not being able to keep hold of tools due to pain in my hands was 51 at the time , no pressure of work now but life is more of a struggle with less money and constant pain

[Sarahg62]

Hi picti. I was medically retired 5 years ago. Couldn’t cope any longer with fatigue. Best thing I ever did 😊

[Hellborg66]

Still work 37.5 hours in NHS doing 12 hour shifts and if it wasn't for celebrex I don't think I could cope.

[Arthritis_1]

Hi, I work part time 25hrs a week in an office. I'm so pleased I didn't give it up. It's been hard but I exercise 3-4 times a week and this really helps juggling being a mum to 3 kids 16, 13 and 9. I was diagnosed nearly 4yrs ago and i feel with a positive attitude, exercise and work I could cope without meds. Even though I'm still prescribed mxt and benipali. Don't give up!

[BoneyC]

Yes, I was dx age 6 in 1971, worked 22 years until I was 38 in 2002 and dx with an unstable cervical spine which needed decompressing and fixing with plates & screws. All other large joints affected too and mobility restricted. I always knew I probably wouldn't get to normal retirement age, having been dx so young, but anticipated I'd get to age 50. Unfortunately I was 12 years short of that age! Thanks RA!

However, anyone dx today will have access to better drugs and will hopefully be able to work for longer.

[Hobbits]

I work full time in health care and only managed to keep working because I finally found a drug that worked. It was many, many years of hell and struggling, when I look back I cannot believe I actually made it through those tough times, somehow I did. At my age now though, I couldn’t do it again. I gotta try keep remission and everything in check so I can keep my employment - I have a mortgage to pay and not wanting to loose my house is a great motivator for me, I have to work to live and I tell myself this. My health benefits also come from my work, and they are very much needed. Working is a privalidge and I am hanging on for as long as I can last. I love my job and would be lost without it.

Unfortunately with these autoimmune disease we get faced with divisions we do not want to make, sometimes this is as hard to accept and deal with as it is to have the disease.

[helenlw7]

I retired at 59, a year before I intended to. The stress of the job (I was a teacher) meant that I had too many flare ups, and in the end I decided my health had to come first.

[JEM95]

I’m struggling at work, I dropped to 30 hours about 16 months ago which helped, but I need to do something again as I am so, so tired and feel like I’m slowly sinking.

I can’t afford to drop another day as I live alone and still have a big mortgage. My workload hasn’t really reduced from my full time role. I work in a busy, management role in business development so I can’t even have a bit of a ‘coasting’ day when I feel bad,

I’m 55 in a few weeks and am exploring taking my work pension early.

I struggle on, running in my hamster wheel. I hardly ever take time off sick, which probably doesn’t help my cause.

I talk to my boss and tell him how I feel, he’s totally unsympathetic - “you hide it well” is his answer. Reminds me of the ‘behind the smile’ campaign.

I’m soooooo tired, this time of year I pick up every bug doing the rounds and my joints etc hurt.

I’m also exploring ill health retirement - found out the criteria, which I believe I comply with but it depends how stringent they are.

I feel panicky about it all - I need to do something. It’s good reading others experiences on here. Thank you all - as always xx’

[Kai-- in reply to JEM95]

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Hoping 🤞1 day soon, you’ll be able to step off the hamster wheel 🐹 🎡 , JEM95. 🙏😌

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[JEM95 in reply to Kai--]

Thank you! I hope so too! x