Better Jobs for SLE

[nea29]

I was just diagnose with SLE. I work over 60 hours a work and my schedule varys. Im a city bus driver and the stress of my job causes my symptoms to flare. I know im going to have to make a career change. So. I was wondering if anyone know what careers are best for people with SLE?

[MargaretGail]

I think that it really depends on how bad your symptoms are. I held down a demanding desk based job for many years before my symptoms suddenly got much worse and I had to give up work all together.

[Debra60]

I'm actually going thru very similar, demanding job, can I sustain it, what cud I do instead? Etc. Etc. It's very difficult but sometimes a lifestyle change can be liberating, i've been questioning my lifestyle since being diagnosed in 2014 but in a positive way and thinking about what I cud do. I know it will be difficult with any job but long hours & stress do not help this condition and not every job demands this, it's a matter of thinking about what u wud like to do rather than what u have to do, it's surprising what may come out of it, including financial changes. Good luck with everything and try to stay clear of stressful jobs, I know that's difficult these days but I've discovered that health comes first, very difficult to operate without it!

[field]

I stopped working a number of years ago. I went form full time to very part time, but I could not sustain work even part time. I found the stress of work caused flares of my illness and because I suffer with chronic fatigue I don't know how I will be from one day to the next so I was signed off because I was taking a lot of time off.

You have to listen to your body because the onset of my lupus was caused in part due to my over doing things and pushing my body beyond what it could cope with.

why not have a chat with your boss and see if your hours can be reduced in view of your illness, they have to take this into consideration.

[Lupylass]

I gave up a full time job with lots of stress and travel and now work 24 hours per week in a less stressful environment.

I chose a job which was still suited to my skills and attributes.

Changing job/hours was the best thing I ever did and in my view has contributed to my wellbeing.

My advice would be to think through all your options and then go with what is going to best for you. Life is too short to work yourself silly.

[johare]

I used to be a nurse working with children in the community. I initially had difficulty driving so much. I reduced to three days. Then my concentration began to go in meetings. As previously mentioned, it would be according to your symptoms. I had a mixture of fatigue, poor cognitive ability, arthritis etc which meant nursing had to go. When I looked at other jobs they all they simuler qualities that limited me, as I left it too late to change. I miss work but know I would be constantly letting people down. Speak to CAB or the disability team for advise even if your not registered disabled.

[alice_sportyauthor]

Possibly a part time contract driving the buses might help. Then you can choose to work extra if you are well and turn it down if you are not.

I have three jobs now, Fitness Instructor, which was my original job, contracted for just one day. One day doing basic office admin and then a supply TA job. Obviously this means my income is variable, but I can do more fitness work when I feel well, obviously the supply depends on what I'm offered, but I can turn it down if I'm unwell.

[BARTLETT27]

You can do the job without the stress, just get rid of management. how about coaching if you have the right PSV licence. Nowadays all jobs come with same stress.

the management want the job done yesterday.

But sit back and think what is causing your stress at work, then look on how you can adjust the job to remove it before leaving the job.

Don't forget once behind the wheel you can only go as fast as the traffic will aloud you, at worst you book lost mileage . They can't say anything as long as you abide to the rules and Regs . If you do that then if they say owt about your speed then just tell them to take it up with the traffic commissioner. They will be quite happy to come and speak to you about any unsafe practices .

[fabwheelie]

The charity Lupus UK have some booklets as guidance on employment with Lupus, including information you can pass onto employers

lupusuk.org.uk/living-with-...

Lupus is a disability and is covered by the equality act, so employers have to make "reasonable adjustments" to help you stay in work, so for example they may have to consider giving you more flexible working, reduced hours, or consideration that not all sick leave you take is counted against your record.

You will have to seriously consider if you are well enough to work. If you are in a pension scheme you may be able to go down the "ill-health retirement" route if you are not well enough to continue in your current job

I had to retire due to ill-health. For me it was not an easy decision, or an easy route to go down, and it took a long time to sort out, as initially I got "dismissed due to ill- health" with my ill-health pension refused on grounds that there was a question mark over wether I was permenantly unable to work... I had to then appeal to get the pension which I got in the end after a battle and needing support from my GP and consultants

If you are in a union seek their advise, and try to see if your employer has a "capability policy" that they follow if you end up off work with illness

For me, now I have accepted that I am not well enough to work due to my Lupus, it has actually helped my health, as I have less stress, and I can sleep, rest, and pace myself as needed. Hence my health remains stable. I have to survive on less finances and had to give up a career I loved, but sometime you have to put your health first