Good day, all!!! I was wondering if people here are able to work full time jobs? I have struggled with this since getting diagnosed about 1.5 years ago. Wondering if this levels off at some point?
Haven't had a steady full time job in years, but have done contract work and teaching online. Working from home is totally for me. I don't miss commuting in the winter with snow and ice.
donna... My goal is to teach online and start a tutoring business. I taught for 15 years... Middle school. I do not seem to have the energy needed for the traditional classroom these days.
I currently work part time with the option to pick up hours to full time. For The past 3 months I've been working full time hours, but in a flare or when my RD is unmanageable I work part time.
I just want to add. This illness feels like nothing I've every faced. It is so encouraging to hear people are able to manage with work!!! Thank you so much for your shares. Overall I've been hanging in there.. Lots of prayer and faith. But this past week I had a bad flareup and sunk into hopelessness and despair. I am climbing out, and seeing others survive and function with illness is so helpful!!
gail I got diagnosed in January of this year I've been able to work almost full-time since then but unfortunately I have had to take more sick days 16 then I've ever used in my entire career. I guess the good thing but also the bad thing for me is I own my own business and I managed 5 people but they have been great about picking up the slack when I'm not able to be there. Unfortunately the last month has been awful for swelling in all of my joints I'm praying this subsides soon. Stay strong
Yes, I work 30 hours/week (and have for years). My job requires a lot of standing and walking, and at this point it actually helps keep me more limber than a desk job. I have not mentioned my illness to my employer, because frankly, it worries me. They have a reputation of callousness/disregard when it comes to that.
I was diagnosed in November 2017, and have been back to work for one month. For two weeks I was at two hrs daily, the next two weeks I was at three and I’m in communication with our benefits provider to discuss increasing daily hours.
It can and may get to where you cant keep a job, depending on the job, everyone is different from the meds affect and what your able to do and how this mess progresses, it's something you cant not be very proactive with.
When I was first diagnosed in 2015 I was working full time but it was very difficult. I was in a constant flare. My ankles were so swollen I had to wear slippers to work, and I would cry on the drive home my feet hurt so much. Then I was laid off in a restructuring three months later and could not work for six months. I was so sick from the RA, the RA meds and then a bad reaction to an RA med that I was hospitalized. Two days after getting out the hospital, I felt like crap but started a new job, 25 hours a week. I was really hard as I was quite sick and had lots of pain. I did this for six months and was laid off, but I felt horrible anyway. I couldn't sit for too long. I had lots of pain. I was taking no medications except for aspirin. I tried Chinese herbs and acupuncture but nothing worked. Finally in Aug. 2017 I did a two day cleanse and went on a strict elimination diet and felt good for the first time in two years. Long story short, after 9 months changing my diet, my attitude, my lifestyle, I am now working at a job I love, 28 hours a week, plus another five hours a week at another job, mostly from home, and I am doing great. No fatigue. No pain. Still quite stiff and not great days with weather changes or of I introduce a food I am sensitive to, but for me it was possible to get back to work. I am a magazine writer and editor, so I use my hands every day. RA has permanently deformed my fingers, but my inflammation is gone and most days my hands are good, so I have no problem typing, or even writing with a pen. I am careful to pace myself. I get up at 5 every morning to unstiffen, make my breakfast and lunch, relax a bit, and then to go work. I go to bed between 9 annd 9:30 every night to make sure I get enough sleep. I don't know if I could work as a teacher, which is very hard, but at least for me, it has been possible to work full time! Good luck to you. I'm sure with some modifications and listening to your body, you will be able to work, too.
I am a second grade teacher. Diagnosed 6 years ago. The first year was brutal, I was a TA in a pre k class and could not enjoy my time with the littles. I'm on my feet all day long and some days it's tough, but I get through. Most days it's manageable and I love my job more than anything and it would be torture to give it up...
I work full time and then some, 7 days a week, I try to take a day off every other month if possible. For many years with RA I worked full time and went to University at night. Then went to law school and worked 30 hours a week. But I don't have much of a life outside of work, I'm too tired all the time.
It’s been 1.5 years for me too and I have continued to work full-time. I teach 6th grade ELA/SS. I have pulled back from extra stuff and am looking forward to summer right now. In many ways, this year has been my best in my 15 years, and I think it’s because I am putting myself first, so I can do my best at school each day
I work full time. (HR)
Haven't had a steady full time job in years, but have done contract work and teaching online. Working from home is totally for me. I don't miss commuting in the winter with snow and ice.
donna... My goal is to teach online and start a tutoring business. I taught for 15 years... Middle school. I do not seem to have the energy needed for the traditional classroom these days.
Gail Carrier lots of online jobs out there these days. I teach English as a foreign languages. I taught middle school too. It drained me too much.
I currently work part time with the option to pick up hours to full time. For The past 3 months I've been working full time hours, but in a flare or when my RD is unmanageable I work part time.
I work full time. I’ve had it for 20 years (I’m 41 now). It is really hard but I’m lucky I have a great employer x
I just want to add. This illness feels like nothing I've every faced. It is so encouraging to hear people are able to manage with work!!! Thank you so much for your shares. Overall I've been hanging in there.. Lots of prayer and faith. But this past week I had a bad flareup and sunk into hopelessness and despair. I am climbing out, and seeing others survive and function with illness is so helpful!!
It is hard and there are times when I’m not sure how long I can keep going but you can’t give in xx
gail I got diagnosed in January of this year I've been able to work almost full-time since then but unfortunately I have had to take more sick days 16 then I've ever used in my entire career. I guess the good thing but also the bad thing for me is I own my own business and I managed 5 people but they have been great about picking up the slack when I'm not able to be there. Unfortunately the last month has been awful for swelling in all of my joints I'm praying this subsides soon. Stay strong
I work full time in a school
Once you get into the rhythm of things, and are able to manage the disease better, it will definitely help at work.
What I find most helpful is being able to work remote and having a manager that's incredibly understanding.
Definitely this makes a huge difference xx
I work full-time. My job is very understanding. I was recently diagnosed and they have been great with me thru all this
I work full time in a library at a middle school.
Yes, I work 30 hours/week (and have for years). My job requires a lot of standing and walking, and at this point it actually helps keep me more limber than a desk job. I have not mentioned my illness to my employer, because frankly, it worries me. They have a reputation of callousness/disregard when it comes to that.
I was diagnosed in November 2017, and have been back to work for one month. For two weeks I was at two hrs daily, the next two weeks I was at three and I’m in communication with our benefits provider to discuss increasing daily hours.
Thank you for all the shares! I am so encouraged!!!
It can and may get to where you cant keep a job, depending on the job, everyone is different from the meds affect and what your able to do and how this mess progresses, it's something you cant not be very proactive with.
I have been pain free for four years now.
Through diet?
Glueten free for a year. Now I can eat what I like to.
I work full time. Honestly, I feel like I felt worse when I was doing nothing.
When I was first diagnosed in 2015 I was working full time but it was very difficult. I was in a constant flare. My ankles were so swollen I had to wear slippers to work, and I would cry on the drive home my feet hurt so much. Then I was laid off in a restructuring three months later and could not work for six months. I was so sick from the RA, the RA meds and then a bad reaction to an RA med that I was hospitalized. Two days after getting out the hospital, I felt like crap but started a new job, 25 hours a week. I was really hard as I was quite sick and had lots of pain. I did this for six months and was laid off, but I felt horrible anyway. I couldn't sit for too long. I had lots of pain. I was taking no medications except for aspirin. I tried Chinese herbs and acupuncture but nothing worked. Finally in Aug. 2017 I did a two day cleanse and went on a strict elimination diet and felt good for the first time in two years. Long story short, after 9 months changing my diet, my attitude, my lifestyle, I am now working at a job I love, 28 hours a week, plus another five hours a week at another job, mostly from home, and I am doing great. No fatigue. No pain. Still quite stiff and not great days with weather changes or of I introduce a food I am sensitive to, but for me it was possible to get back to work. I am a magazine writer and editor, so I use my hands every day. RA has permanently deformed my fingers, but my inflammation is gone and most days my hands are good, so I have no problem typing, or even writing with a pen. I am careful to pace myself. I get up at 5 every morning to unstiffen, make my breakfast and lunch, relax a bit, and then to go work. I go to bed between 9 annd 9:30 every night to make sure I get enough sleep. I don't know if I could work as a teacher, which is very hard, but at least for me, it has been possible to work full time! Good luck to you. I'm sure with some modifications and listening to your body, you will be able to work, too.
Yes, full time job. I hope that things won’t change anytime soon.
Yes 35 hours a week, I have a desk job though.
I am a second grade teacher. Diagnosed 6 years ago. The first year was brutal, I was a TA in a pre k class and could not enjoy my time with the littles. I'm on my feet all day long and some days it's tough, but I get through. Most days it's manageable and I love my job more than anything and it would be torture to give it up...
I work full-time as a tech in the oncology unit at my local hospital, I'm grateful for every day of it!
I work full time and then some, 7 days a week, I try to take a day off every other month if possible. For many years with RA I worked full time and went to University at night. Then went to law school and worked 30 hours a week. But I don't have much of a life outside of work, I'm too tired all the time.
It’s been 1.5 years for me too and I have continued to work full-time. I teach 6th grade ELA/SS. I have pulled back from extra stuff and am looking forward to summer right now. In many ways, this year has been my best in my 15 years, and I think it’s because I am putting myself first, so I can do my best at school each day
I am really struggeling since i am in nursing!!!!and no other qualification!!wish i knew what to do!!!
I have had Rheumatoid disease for 50 + years, work full time and have to travel with my job. It's difficult but I just keep going.
I only work between 20 and 24 hrs. But when a flair hits I can't function
40+ hours a week here. I push through it everyday.