
Fibromyalgia Support Group
You're not alone in your pain. Fibromyalgia is a condition that can be difficult to diagnose and manage. If you're trying to cope with pain throughout your body, sleep problems, general fatigue, or other common fibromyalgia symptoms, you're in the right place. The community is here for you to talk about therapies and share your challenges.

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I am just about at the end of my rope with my current job, and one person in particular. When I am having a Fibro flare, I get very frustrated and can't focus due to the pain etc.... this person always picks up on that.
He called me in to his office once to ask if I was frustrated with him.
I explained that I wasn't, it was the Fibro. He then asked what Fibro is.
I explained that it's like constantly having the flu, only even more widespread. To which he said, "Can't you just take Ibuprofen?"
Yes, I can, and I do, but that doesn't quite work for a severe flare.
He made me feel like I was overexaggerating, or like I'm a mental case.
And once, he told me that my depression wasn't true depression, because I haven't had a reason to be depressed. Hello! People don't always need a "reason" to be depressed. Sometimes it just happens from a chemical imbalance in the brain. But even if it wasn't a chemical imbalance, he doesn't know me. He doesn't know what I've been through. Coming to work and facing him every day is a real challenge and struggle. I am seriously contemplating a change to a job that won't aggravate me (and my Fibro) so much. But then I realize that no matter where I go, there will probably always be such insensitive people.
-Lisa
He called me in to his office once to ask if I was frustrated with him.
I explained that I wasn't, it was the Fibro. He then asked what Fibro is.
I explained that it's like constantly having the flu, only even more widespread. To which he said, "Can't you just take Ibuprofen?"
Yes, I can, and I do, but that doesn't quite work for a severe flare.
He made me feel like I was overexaggerating, or like I'm a mental case.
And once, he told me that my depression wasn't true depression, because I haven't had a reason to be depressed. Hello! People don't always need a "reason" to be depressed. Sometimes it just happens from a chemical imbalance in the brain. But even if it wasn't a chemical imbalance, he doesn't know me. He doesn't know what I've been through. Coming to work and facing him every day is a real challenge and struggle. I am seriously contemplating a change to a job that won't aggravate me (and my Fibro) so much. But then I realize that no matter where I go, there will probably always be such insensitive people.
-Lisa
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Once that docyors note is in your personnel file, if his covert harrassment continues, you may have a reason to bring a suit against him or look for a job & demand compensation from your employer until you find another one.
No one but you, your doctor & your Higher Power needs to believe you are sick. This kind of abuse just makes me so angry.
So sorry, my vent is over. Good luck Lisa & I hope & pray you will take some steps to protect yourself from this insensitive *bleep*.
I know this nastiness on his part just increases your stress and makes the fibro worse.
Hope you will find a way to make it better.
Hugs, sue
I DON'T recommend taking the lawsuit route, for a lot of different reasons, but most of all because it takes years and has no guarantee of success. I'm not at all sure from what you've said that you have grounds in any case, as ADA only covers employment decisions, not stupid, nosy coworkers.
I do agree with the suggestion to get a note from your doctor, but that would only be for your employer, not your coworker. You employment, and your duties, are between you and your employer. What you work out with them is none of his business, and should be confidential between you and your employer.
Good luck - I know it terribly stressful to go to work every day and face something like this.
I usually don't feel a need to explain myself to people, so as a general rule, everyone is on a "need to know" basis.
In the future, I wouldn't tell him any thing if he asks, other than "I don't feel well today."
Anyways, lots of mixed opinions. I say that if he is a supervisor or someone of consequence, he MUST KNOW what is truly going on. Print out info and be sure to ask him if he read it. If he is a real jerk ( which it seems he is) next time he gets a headache say, "Headache huh, imagine having that all day and all night nonstop and throughout your whole body. You cant even begin to imagine". Frustrating.
I totally understand being belittled by your co-workers, I have a pile of grievances outstanding for a long list of crap at my work. Just rise above it and fight. They will never learn unless we teach them the error of their ways.
The Dragon grins..
The doctor explains to me that I have a Dragon that has come to possess me. This Dragon is mean. This Dragon is deceiving and destructive. "But", the doctor says, "We can work at keeping this Dragon down."
"What is this Dragon's name?" I ask.
The doctor in his professional calmness says ,"The Dragon is FMS...Fibromyalgia Syndrome" The doctor explains to me ways we are going to keep him down. "Feed the Dragon some meds like Trazadone or Elavil. Do some light exercise , maybe the Dragon will get tired and leave you alone for a while."
I turn to leave and for the first time I see the Dragon. He looks at me with those evil yellow eyes, and the Dragon grins. I say to myself that Dragons can be slain. I read that in stories in school. The armor-clad knight slaying the Dragon and triumphantly returning to his town. As I am in this daydream the Dragon jumps on me. I wrestle with him. His hot breath sears my head. His roar makes my ears ring. He leaves me in a pile of flesh on the ground. I ache all over. Some parts of my body are painful to touch. I am exhausted as I pick myself back up again. The Dragon looks back to me-and the Dragon grins.
"I hate you, Dragon." I scream as he walks away. I feed the Dragon the medication prescribed. Slowly at first , then increasing a little as time goes by. I do begin a little exercise. I change some of my diet and increase the carbohydrates. I move about relatively pain free. And I say to myself "Maybe I have beaten the Dragon. Maybe the Dragon was only my imagination. I was just a little depressed and down, but now life is great."
I look to the sky and see dark clouds looming. A cold north wind begins to blow. I hear a thunderous pounding of foot steps. I have heard that sound while watching Jurassic Park, but now I'm not watching that movie. BOOM...BOOM...I don't see anything. BOOM...BOOM.. I panic and start to run. I don't know where to run ,but I run. The pounding gets closer and louder. I feel the hot breath on my neck. I dare not turn around as I try to run faster..faster. A claw grabs my shoulder. Searing hot pain rips down my back....staring upwards, terror runs through my body. And the Dragon grins.
The Dragon has returned! "You can't escape" the Dragon yells , "You are mine !!" I try to get up as the Dragon slams my body back to the ground. I can hardly stand the pain as he tortures me by stomping my hands. With his teeth he pulls at muscles in my back and legs. He burns my head with intense fiery breath. The battle is finally over. He stares at my crumpled body as I try to get focused on this beast. My eyes finally clear enough to see, and the Dragon grins.
Days pass. My fingers no longer work like they used to. My muscles feel like the second day of Olympic training, but the sensation does not leave. My head is not clear. I do not see well at night. Parts of me are cold and clammy. I am stiff. Why did the Dragon beat me so hard? When I try to sleep, the Dragon slaps me awake several times at night. Sometimes I am freezing. In bed I awaken drenched in sweat. It hurts to stand. It hurts to sit. My mind says one thing and my mouth says another. And the Dragon grins.
Sometimes I think I am in a nightmare and will someday wake up,the real me. I don't look sick, so why do I feel so bad? Friends and family laugh when I mess up on my words talking to them. I feel stupid looking in the refrigerator and not knowing why, or walking around in circles either not finding what I was after or forgetting what I was looking for. If I am driving at night and it starts to rain,the road disappears. And it is not uncommon to go somewhere and then make wrong turns coming back. My mind says right, my body turns left. I can go somewhere and not remember how I got there. I am not dumb, just not "connected" anymore.
Outwardly I laugh and play,but inside I have to cry sometimes.
And the Dragon grins.
by Ray White
I know how hard it is...I Do Understand...I tried so very hard to stick with my Job, but in the process I was making Everyone Miserable...I could no longer keep up...several times I could not show up...and I knew that was not only unfair to my Boss, but also to my co workers...and the stress of it all was Unfair to me as well...
It is a hard place to be right now for you...do some serious thinking, taking everyones position into consideration...and make your Plan...
I cannot even work Part time at this point...I am working on getting my endurance up so I can do some work this summer...
I Hope the very best for you...I know what it is to have to make that decision...