I am also a Nurse and was sick for about 5 years until about 6 years ago when it became impossible to work. The fog, fatigue, pain, mobility problems put me on temp. disability from my work but after 3 months that ran out and they replaced me as Nurse Manager. Since that time, I have been out of work, without health insurance, and had to sell everything I have. My illness was also too much for my husband who left 4 yrs ago. I am now 58 and it has been a very rough 6 years. If I had not had my children and sisters, I would be homeless. If I could do it again, I would have listened to those symptoms my body was showing me, and started some sort of treatment intervention sooner instead of work myself into the ground.
I am unable to work in the field that I love. My memory is gone, The nursing is gone due to fibro fog, sarcoid fog, prednisone use, and although all this sounds bleak, it has taught me so much about what is important in life. I am thankful to so many for helping me and to God for keeping me when I did not know where my next meal was coming from.
I have applied for disability and been turned down twice. They feel I can work. It is getting harder and harder to get disability and they feel like trained professionals can do something..

Please get lots of advice, talk to many other in the situation before you decide. I wish you the best of luck. I know how hard it is for us all... Healing hugs, Kimmee

kimdolly, I'm so sorry for your situation. I'm familiar with social security disability, and if you haven't applied since you turned 55, do so. You'll stand a much better chance after 55.

maysa25, I'm a nurse too, but I left practice years ago, long before I had any physical problems. I'm really glad I did because there is no way I could do nursing now. I have a desk type job that uses my nursing/medical background and I can set my own work pace, something that I really need now. This job is very secure, has great benefits, and great retirement, so I'll probably be there until I retire. I'm 50 now and there is no way I would want to change careers at a time when I was feeling so bad. It's hard enough doing my familiar job these days.

You may want to look for jobs that use your nursing/medical skills, but are mostly sedentary. Insurance companies, Medicare, Social Security Disability, lawyers, and Workers Compensation hire nurses to do insurance reviews, pre-approvals, medical reviews, medical consultants, social security disability reviews, and other things. You may also want to check with your hospital to see if you can get a job in their QA department where you would be reviewing charts and not having to handle the strenuous and stressful day of nursing.

You may not want to get a desk type job and I completely understand because it is more boring. But if you are having more and more trouble doing active nursing this may be the way to go to protect your financial future and to make it easier on your body. Nursing is hard work and very stressful physically, emotionally, and mentally.

Thank you very much for both of your I puts regarding this. I have begun to look at less active nursing jobs or even changing careers..it's so frustrating being only 25 and needing to think that way. Although, I know in the long run, it is what's best. I think once I get a few more years of acute care experience under my belt I will seriously pursue a different aspect of nursing.

((Animaluvr)) Thank you so much. It helps tremendously just to hear a kind word from others. I used to be so positive all of the time. I was the one helping others, building them up, helping them to know that this too will pass but now I find it hard to do even that.
I am so glad that you heeded your body and changed before it became too late. I was sole support my entire marriage as my husband had back issues then a stroke and just could not stop working.
I don't do the "if Only" anymore and just try to live in the now, but I have unfortunate reminders that today will be like tomorrow. LOL..
Anyway, I sincerely thank you for your reply. It helped me more than you know. Hugs, Kimmee

Hi! I had to go on disabilaty 10yrs. ago when I was 47. I have had fibro for at least 20yrs though. I worked at at my family's business, so it was easier for me to leave when I could not handle then pain. The thing that bothered me the most was the fact that I could not remember simple things. A customer would ask me for something and I would come up blank. It was very depressing. It all turned into a vicious circle for me. I tried really hard to keep up, but finally, after working there for my entire life...literally...since I was 4...honest:)!, I had to give up. It was the hardest thing I ever did. I kept up with other college courses online just to be sure my brain did not shrink!, but it was just too much. Pain is one thing, but losing my mental abilities did it for me. I did not have a problem getting the disability, but I guess it really is different from state to state. I am in Ma. Working as a nurse is a really tough job, and kudos to you for doing it. My daughter is a PT and has super high praise for all that the nurses do. The thing is that if you can cut your hours more, and maybe get disability, you would feel better about things. You can work, and not get as much money, but keeping yourself busy is so important. I really hope this helps you. It is something that only you can decide, and only you know how much you can put yourself through. I wish you luck. Gentle hugs to you...

I was a nurse also. The last 2 years I worked, I was in major pain and finally had to stop. I was 38 yrs old. I am on social security disability now.

I am having the same feelings you are. I am 41, work in day care and I am beginning to think I chose the wrong profession because of my fibro. My boss is starting to get frustrated with me since my fibro has been on hiatus for almost 6 months but since we are good friends I don't think she wants to confront me with the issue. All I know is my job isn't hard it is just stressful due to everyday craziness like staff not showing up or kids i don't have the patience to handle right now because of the fibro fog and pain. I can't remember thinga to work (important things) and when i go to work the pain starts immediately. When I am at home it is still bad but not as bad. If you can afford to quit work I say go for it! Life is to short to waste and it will probably make ur fibro and you feel much better.

@ Kimdolly You mentioned Prednisone?? Tell me about this drug if you would?

I currently work a desk job. My job is easy but, sitting all day is so much stress on my body I don't know how much longer I can handle it.

Hi Kym,
Prednisone is a steroid designed to help rid the body of inflammation. It seriously helps with the reduction of inflammation thereby helping the pain of any autoimmune condition such as Rheumatoid arthritis, Sarcoidosis (which is what they think I have along with Fibromyalgia), Lupus plus others.
For me, taking high doses of prednisone did some serious damage to my eyes (my vision deteriorated) , My heart ( I felt at times like my heart was going to stop beating.) and my kidneys ( I had and have serious pain in my flank region) and a weight gain of 70 pounds which was very hard to get off. I am still carrying about 25 lbs. of it.
My body is very susceptible to any medication so you may not be affected the way I was. I can not take any of the medications that are normally prescribed for pain , Blood Pressure, etc without serious side effects.
I am now taking a child dose of my BP medication and it seems to be working well. I am not fainting and falling like I was with an adult dose.
I have been overdosed twice in the hospital with just normal doses that an adult can take. My body just can not tolerate the regular doses of meds. and 80 milligrams of prednisone going down to 40 mg. then 20 mg was too much for me.
It is usually a short term solution when your SED (blood work called sedimentation rate is increased indicating that you have body wide inflammation). The normal rate is 0-20 and mine was 63 which is really high.
I hope that this explains a little about what the med is and how it affected me.

My heart goes out to all of us suffering with FM and autoimmune disorders! Gentle hugs, Kimmee

I still work 50 hour weeks. It is a desk job, but highly stressful (and I am very unhappy there for other reasons). I have been experiencing problems since before I was diagnosed in Dec., but just figured I needed to slow down a bit. It has gotten progressively worse. I also have a nearly 2 hour round trip commute. I am in tears every day as I'm just too exhausted to keep this up (but, financially, I have no choice). I am going to be moving closer to work within the year, which will help, but I really wish quitting was an alternative. I am a fresh 39. :-)

(((JellyBean))) I would collapse into a puddle too, if I had to work 50 hrs again! I am so sorry and I pray that things change for you soon.
I haven't worked in 6 + years but have ended up selling everything beautiful thing I had collected over 35 years. Thank God I had all that stuff but it has been so draining to let go of so many things, and yet freeing also. Things do not mean anything to me now. My family, friends, and life mean something to me now.
I am praying that you will be able to get some sort of help so that you can slow down a bit, but until then, please take time to pamper yourself, even if it is just a long bath, buying yourself a favorite flower, or just reading a book. It is just critical to take care of ourselves when we are so overworked and make some time, even if it is 10 minutes a day to just breathe. I had a room in my home that was filled with all the things I loved and I would go up and sit it in early in the morning before work. It was quiet and so calming to my spirit. That 15 minutes literally saved me psychologically many times. Sending you a big hug. Reach out to us if you need someone to talk too. We are here and we understand.. Kimmee

Thank you so much for your wonderful words, Kimmee. They do mean a lot to me. My best way to unwind is to workout (nothing too crazy). I know it works, because I've had a flare for the past 3 days (the days I usually workout), so I couldn't do my routine. It's horrible! My whole attitude is in the gutter! I'm coming down off the flare today though, so I will gently ease back into it (and my mood will greatly improve too). :-)

kimdolly - I am so sorry to hear about your situation. I wish you peace and happiness as time goes on! I so hope you're in a good place now!

maysa25- I'm 30 and have dealt with this for 2+ years. Unfortunately I am currently unable to work. I can't stay awake for much more than 5 hours at a time. My "fibrofog" has put me in a position so that I am only capable of processing/comprehending/eloquent (to the most basic extent) for no more than 4 hours at a time, mostly though, 2.5 hours at a time.
I am fortunate enough to have a husband who supports us financially, but my meds have sucked away our savings & I am awaiting response from disability. I'm sorry you are dealing with this & at such a young age. I certainly hope you discover what will best work for you during this time & that your symptoms don';t leave you in this predicament for too long!

I am 33 and not really sure how I am going to go back to work in August. I am a teacher and know that if my healt continues in this downward spiral not only will I not be able to work to keep my sanity but I will no be an effective teacher! I am scared and very unsure of what to do. I strongly believe that teachers have to feel their BEST everyday to do their job 100%. I totally understand your worry about work and can only speak for myself. I have been fighting this for three years and every year it is only becoming more and more difficult to return to teaching. Hope this helped a little.
Tiff