Today is my first day of reduced hours at work. I am very fortunate my employer has been very supportive. I have reduced my working hours from 35 to 28 giving me a day off. Breaks the week up for me. 😊 This will be reviewed in three months time and changes can be made either temporarily or permanently. My full time permanent contract is still standing but my terms and conditions have been amended.
Today I have also just had my first counselling/CBT/mindfulness session too which my employer is also providing. I think I have 8 sessions.
It took such a lot for me to be brave enough to ask for help and make the decision along with many tears. I love my job however I am working hard on accepting the new me after my diagnosis of RD with my long standing diagnosis of Lupus. Thank you to this lovely forum and support from you lovely people I am moving forward. Only Baby steps at the moment but moving forward rather than standing still.
#FeelingPositive. 😊
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Summerrain14
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This is great and hopefully will only get better. I had to reduce my working hours to 28 too at first just as a trial but it helped me so much that I kept same pattern and same amount for a year now.
I know how hard it is to accept that you will never be the same but we have to keep going and adapt.
Oh this is so reassuring to hear. I am hoping that reducing my working hours to 28 will really help.
Got to wait and see how it will impact on me financially but again I am fortunate to be in receipt of PIP. It is that time of year where all the bills change too. Suppose it is best to do it all at once.
I’m working on the adapting bit but feel positive that I’m on that path now.
There was no way I could work within two months of RA hitting me. But a friend who has SLE worked full time for many years, not long retired at age 75!
She had horrible times too eg bad flare during a pregnancy with twins and lost both.
Not come across your post about your GP trip as yet. I am home based for most things too and have to fight the urge not to eat everything. I am a target member with slimming world so take much will power to stay a target member 😂
That all sounds really good Summerrain. Well done for being brave, hopefully it’ll make a huge difference to your work/life balance and your mental health. What a great employer you have too x
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Day one of the new me, so excited.
First appointment 
First day in months Ifeel human ish.
First rheumatologist appointment 
Happy belated New Year
