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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Working with FM

caldee
caldee
I've had Fibro for approx 5 years however just recenlty diagnosed with it by my Rheumotalogist. I'm having a harder time to deal with the symptoms and work 40 hours. I have sedentary job, I sit all day and I have been sleeping during my work day, not just dozing off but literally falling asleep. I get up for a minute and walk around but once I get back to my desk its a constant battle to stay awake. I have Hypothyroidism which all so adds to my fatigue. I take Cymbalta,xanax and flexeril. Im so tired and in pain. One I get up from my chair by body hurts, when sitting I'm still in pain. I dont have good days anymore, I have days where I get by and days where I'm miserable.
Im getting a referral for sleep study. Im 40 and I know Social Security would probably deny my case. I was wondering if there is any suggestions for managing at work with FM.
tchilcote
tchilcote
I am sorry you have to deal with pain while working. I know how it is, I worked for 22 years with Fibromyalgia, I also had a sedentary position, sitting at my desk on a computer for most of the day. I had to get up and walk around every hour if not every 30 minutes. I had to get off Flexeril, it made me very lethargic, I dealt with a little more pain and less sleep but I was able to mentally function better at work. I gradually cut my hours back over a 4 year period until I quit my job at 41 years old, when I not only was dealing with fibro but began to have severe digestive problems and lost a lot of weight. I was lucky to receive SSA, the first time I applied. I am now under review to see if I am able to return to work. I am not sure what I will do if they determine I have to return to work, I am still struggling.
Good Luck!
Fantod
Fantod
Get your sleep study done first to see what is going on. Then look into a medication called Provigil which would keep you more alert. I'm sorry that you are having such a difficult time. Have you looked into FMLA as an option on really bad days so your job is protected? Take care.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Hi caldee. I feel your pain my friend. I work at least 40 hrs a week and I to have a job where I sit most of the day. As you say, it hurts to sit and it hurts not to. Recently I changed the wallpaper on my computer to a quote that helps me. Something along the lines of "when I feel like I cant possibly go on. I remember that my record for making it through rough days is 100%". That was badly quoted, but I look at it and think maybe I can pull off one more day.
I am truly sorry that you are dealing with this and I hope that you can find something that can inspire you.
Christine1976
Christine1976
I don't really have any advice but feel your pain. I work 45 hours a week....have a 45 min commute each way. I have a fairly physical job (I'm a nanny) but do have opportunities for sitting throughout the day. It's still very hard. I'm only 37 & have many more years of working ahead of me!
horseluvnhoosier
horseluvnhoosier
Xanax knocks me out. I take 1/4 of the smallest dose if I have to have it and it still makes me a little sleepy. Have you tried not taking the xanax to see if it helps?
WhiteDolphin
WhiteDolphin
Xanax and Flexeril I have to take at night. I cannot take them daytime or they make me too drowsy. I don't take Cymbalta. I did try it for a week but had a bad reaction to it, and it was 7 years ago so I can't remember if it made me drowsy.
Mommyx6
Mommyx6
I work. I had to tapper down to 48 hours a pay period but my job is very physical. I'm a wound care nurse. I don't see myself working for too many more years. No matter how bad it is it could always be work. I have six children, my spouse had schizophrenia and bipolar disorder and I used to be about to take care of the whole house. Now all I can do is work and watch my house get dirty and disorganized.
caldee
caldee
Thank you all for your advise. I do have my sleep study scheduled for this weekend and an appt with a rheumotalotist next week for a second opinion. I am preparing myself for when I am unable to work, I looked in to my FMLA, LTD policy. I really dont think I can do this for too much longer, the constant pain and exhaustion in agonizing.
WhiteDolphin
WhiteDolphin
I had to stop working in 2008. I haven't been able to return yet. Going on FMLA isn't too hard, short term disability isn't too hard, but once you try to get long term disability it is stressful to get approved and then trying to get Social Security is really stressful too. It's really hard financially to get through that time because usually with short term or long term disability you only get 60% of your salary anyway. and you get nothing between STD and LTD until LTD is approved and you get nothing for Soc Security until it is approved.. It's worth it in the long run though.
fibrosucks
fibrosucks
I too had a sedentary job as a medical transcriptionist. Had to quit work in 2011. Took me 12 months and 1 denial to get disability. I am up for review too and am hoping all goes well as I know me returning to work is impossible. Just the myriad of meds I am on would make an employer say no way but if I don't take them I can't function at all. Wish you good luck. If you decide the disability route go with Allsup. They are awesome and they only charge if you win and it's worth it considering the mountain of paperwork to fill out for SSD.
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