When I started to get sick, I was able to take a medical leave of absence. When I figured out I wouldn't be able to work all the hours I had been, I requested a relief position. I work at a hospital, and I know most jobs aren't as flexible. I took about 5 months off and then went back part time.

Everyone is different. Look into all avenues for yourself. there is the FMLA..family medical leave act, which gives you time to take off w/o pay to deal with your health or the health of a family member. That may be a start.

hugs, San

This is a huge amount of information to try to fit in this little box but I'll try. I started having trouble 10 years before I actually left my job. At that time I cut my hours in half and took a pay cut to work in another area so in took a good bite out of our income. For the next ten years I fought to work the measly 4-6 hour days. It was mostly getting up and showing and getting dressed that I was worn out by the time I got to work. Aside from the days where I just could not physically make it in I also had migraine headaches so that really added to the amount of time I missed. Only one time did they call me in and say if you miss another day your job will be finished. I had worked there 33 years and even though I had missed quit a few days I thought between being ill and my length of employment I would keep my job. I had seen people come it and do the most horrendous things. Lying, drinking on the job, making up elaborate stories and they managed to keep their jobs way too long. I started to figure it was time to get out before they kicked me out. The day after Christmas I was so exhausted from working the holiday season and having people over and it was a very busy day. I worked but I had never felt so tired. I could hardly walk to my car after work and I even questioned if I had enough strenghth to drive. Somehow I made it home and I collapsed never so glad to see my bed in my life. I had just fallen asleep and I woke up sick to my stomach. I spent most of that night on the bathroom floor too sick to go back to bed. I never went back. Disability will have to come another time but if you have disability through work don't feel that you're safe. Good luck and if you have more questions please feel free to contact me. Good luck

I am struggling with this decision now also.I have gone from short term disability to being approved for long term disability.I am lucky.Besides weekly or monthly checks at about 60% of my working wages I recieve my usual health insurance.Within a year I must apply for Social Security Disability,which means Medicare and not the better health insurance I have now.As for my time,I hurt a lot.Whenever possible I do some wood working,light exercise(I do mean light)and spend much time with my grandsons ages 11mos. and 5 yrs.But it seems best to be alone when I do hurt.Everything bothers me,everything is harder to do now.I just accept that and keep trying new things.Hot showers,an inversion table,reading,anything to keep my mind off the pain.Meditation,aroma therapy are next.LOL K

I worked all through the years and often considered disability. Looking back I don't even know how I did it. I think working with people that were willing to work with me was a big part of it. There were just as many times as not that I wish I would of taken the disability because it was so hard to function. For me the fibro got better over the years. I think part of it for me was learning to deal with it, but it's still hard at times. A flare-up is a flare-up and can go on for such long periods of time. Compromised cognitive skills especially during flares are difficult when working. Everyone's degree of disability is different so to make such an important decision has to be an individual consideration. Sorry I didn't have more to offer. I'm sure whatever decision you come to will be the right one.

This is a difficult subject for me because circumstances other than my work made the decision for me. But if it helps you with your decision, then here is my story.

Before I got sick, I was a very active person - working full time as an office manager of a dept. of approx. 250 people. I went to school full-time, and I took care of a house, husband, 4 children, and various pets. One day after a really light day at work I started having a severe pain in the middle of my chest that would not go away. Before I knew what was happening, I had to have emergency gall bladder surgery. I just knew that I would be back to normal in days. Six months later I had to have a hysterectomy bc the pain had never gone away, it had just moved to another part of my body. Two weeks after that surgery, I ended up in the hospital bc of a reaction to meds. My blood pressure was extremely low (66/32), and it took 3 days for it to stabilize. That was when the fibro pain started. Up till now, I had been doing a great job and had always gotten the highest ratings on my reviews.

A couple of years went by, with me doing well at work, although I had to take time off for doctors, etc. About this time, the people who cared SO MUCH about me started to make up stories about what I did or did not do, and everybody started questioning whether I was sick. The people who I gave so much of my time and energy to had decided I was a liability and began documentation to try to get rid of me. For 8 years I had run the office flawlessly and supervised the secretaries, but that was not good enough for them. If there was nothing to dicument, they made things up. I wrestled with the decision of leaving my job, even tho I knew they no longer wanted me there.

In a strange twist of fate, before I could make my decision, my husband (who is in the military) was reassigned and I had to resign to go with him. When we got to where we are now, I decided it would be best for me to stay home, and I have to say that it is the best decision I've made.

For me, it was when I realized that my home life was really suffering. I had no energy left for my own kids (I was a teacher of preschool), no patience, and I was in a non stop pain flare. I was going to physical therapy 2 nights a week... it was crazy. It's hard without the income, but I am looking for a part time job to ease things and stay professionally active. As much as I miss the money, I miss the pain less!!! :)

I had to take a medical leave from my full time job. I was out for about 3 months. I started aqua therapy and meds and now I am back to work part time. I am trying to make it full time eventually. Try seeing what your job makes available to you for medical leave etc. No need to apologize. This is what we are all here for, support! Hugs to you and take care!

Listen, if you have had to DECREASE your work hours, you can apply for SSD NOW. You need not quit to apply. Now, for me, I pushed myself another 2 yrs. which REALLY SHOT ME and sent me on a severe downhill spiral. It took me 1 yr to bounce back. I don't recommend doing that. LISTEN TO YOUR BODY. I am doing tons and tons better since I left my job in 2005, recouped all of 2006 and now I am almost "normal" compared to where I was. I am now considering some part-time work. I know I won't ever go back full time but some work is better than none and IS ALLOWED WITH DISABILITY

The story about work not caring sounds allot like my previous 2 jobs! The first of the last two jobs, it was like I was a leper telling them I was sick and even corporate didn't care! I was on the phone with corporate and they basically straight out tell me I am a liability! Asking what if I pass out at work or something! They tried everything to get me out of there! I finally just left because their runarounds was making my health worse! They didn't even send me my health benefit forms when they should of and everyone else in perfect health got them when they should! So I had to wait another 5 or so months to apply and by that time I was over all the games and the pain with no benifits to see any kind of real doctor! It's ridiculous going to the clinic without benefits! I've had to do it and they assume you just want drugs or something! Bogus!

The second and most recent job, I just had the rudest coworker and she would pick on every new employee to the point of throwing towels at me and denying it of course! All my other coworkers knew she was like this (she did this to everyone there when they started) and couldn't believe her actions and when at the same time your health is bad and someone is lying about you and telling managers you are lazy, well it's just not helpful for ones condition! To struggle into a job that you can't even stand to be at! I got to the point of having to file a report on this lady and my bosses for ignoring me on every issue! I mean, I tried to tell my bosses I was sick and they were always saying they were busy when I went to bring it up! Not helpful! So when I was past the point of being sick and having to struggle every single day and not have caring people to work with, but maybe one and I do miss one coworker cause she was really nice, but I just left one day and didn't go back because I couldn't even talk to my bosses about my condition! They would always shine me on and walk away or make excuses when I wanted to bring anything serious up!

So now, for the time being I work at home! I want to find a way to be more manageable with my health before I kill myself every day on another job! So until then, this is the break I need to feel a modicum of relief!

Take care,
Stay sane!

I just picked up my FMLA papers today. I have also looked into Vocational Rehabilitation to see about getting a job that is more Fibro friendly. I am trying to stay at my job because they are paying for my college classes so maybe I can get a desk job and at least get off my feet. It's really a hard decision if you like your job. I figure I'll hang on as long as I can drag myself in.

Hey there.
Well I worked out today and have some
pain in my hand as a result but gonna try and write this.

I was in a near fatal car accident back in the 80s. Ever since then, I was having pain in my neck and back but basically kept on strolling through life.
As the yrs went by, pain got worse and worse.
I am sure stress played a part in it as well, cant avoid stress but can develop better coping skills.

Anyway, decided to go back to school after uh, MANY yrs lol. Well I was in school back in the early 90's.

I am not a natural student, I gotta bust my buns when in school. I had to study till my eyes felt crossed.

Anyway, long story short, I completed my course, HOORAY major accomplishment for me. Tested for state and received my license.

After blood sweat and tears, fibro decided it would be a good time to hit full force. Was working in my field, then worked volunteer which I preferred. I now have a disability case pending, and the person who may end up being my lawyer advised me to lay low while case is pending.
I cant even volunteer at the moment. I have cried so many tears over this loss, wondering why God would take me to what seems to be the unattainable finish line to have me here where I am as a result.

My tears could have probably replaced the Amazon River lol. I am better now, gotta do what you gotta do. I do hope that one day I will be able to volunteer again. For the meantime, I just take ea day as it comes.
I also cried my eyes out bec I was coming out of denial, my body never ruled me before what the heck is this yanno?
Anyway gotta do what you gotta do, and your body will let you know through no uncertain terms.
peace and love to you now and always.