It is inspiring to me to hear all of your stories and how you have perservered.

I'm a veterinary technician and have not been in work since last April. At that time I was having a hard time pulling blood because my fingers weren't stretching to full length. And now that my immune system is going to be compromised, I may no longer be able to work with cats unless they are strictly inside. But once my doctor gives me the ok to go back, I may switch positions at whatever clinic I can get hired in since my old clinic closed down. I may just stay strictly in the lab and pharmacy area even though I love working directly with clients and their pets. Or I may just go into lab animal research and help find new medicines for our disease. Of course moving to another state as a single mom with three kids is not the best option in my situation.

I'm concerned about the same thing as well. I just had my worst relapse ever, my cpk getting to 23,000 and I have been out of the hospital and home from work going my fourth week and the doctor is giving me ANOTHER month and 'we will see'. I work in a hospital laboratory where I am the director but am exposed to everything, very high stress, very fast paced and I can't even hold myself up right now much less test tubes and run machinery, instruments and equipment. I am not driving either because I can't and am using a walker for everything right now or I WILL fall. I am running out of sick time at work and soon will only have my husband's income though I am the bread winner. Have any of you applied for disability? If so were you all denied and why?

During the week I am a federal employee working for the National Guard. The kicker is that I have to maintain membership in the Guard to keep my job, and DM is an automatically disqualifying disease. I have been able to Keep officialdom from finding out (nothing dishonest, just playing the system) but that will come to an end soon. Then, who knows? I may renew my teaching lisence and substitute teach. I dont' know. I love my current job!

I too have been told by my doctor to take some time off and maybe go back to work in January. I will probably try and find something part-time. I agree that balance is the key. If you can afford to do a part time job that would be great for your health.

You never know when one door closes what opportunity is around the corner. Of course you do have to take into account your financial situation.

Good Luck!

I just got my denial letter for disability in the mail last week. They sent it before they even got the results from my biopsy and any new further prognosis from these results. They put that it was not something that would keep me out of work for longer than a year or would lead to death. And now that a full cancer screen is a major concern with my doctor, I'm definitely going to be fighting this. Sure I can probably sit at a desk and answer a phone (though I don't really have the previous work history to get said job), but I can't do the job that I just recently graduated from college to do or really do work that I do have previous job history of doing. Last job interview I went to, I couldn't get up out of the chair for without assistance and it was beyond embarrassing that I stopped applying for jobs. So for now I'll keep having to live off of child support that doesn't pay the bills.

I am a teaching assistant and work an afterschool job with kids too. Neither job is that physical, but I have trouble walking due to a weak hip and leg. I am very tired at the end of the day with the PM. I am single, so I need to work, although my mom and sister want me to try disability soon. I am not sure it will be enough money for me , and not sure I want to sit at home unless my condition gets worse.

I am so very very tired most of the time that just getting ready and getting to a job would feel like I have put in a full day. I wish I had a job that I could do from home and then I could work as my energy level allowed. All the work from home websites seem to really be a bunch of scams though. Anyone know of one that is legit?

I know a company that hires from elance.com. I've never used them, so I can't offer any opinion on them.

At the beginning of the month I started working a part time job as a service clerk at CVS, I was tired of not being "normal" and wanting to be a part of society. I strongly advise again it. I have been having all sorts of dizzy spells and falling all the time. I have a certificate in medical transcription. So I would like to figure out how to find an at home job with that. Maybe that could be a future option for you. It only took 2 semesters to complete it. But definetly dont over exert yourself i'm only a month into this, and realizing im just not ready for it. And it hurts knowing that. I'd do anything to be able to work without DM coming into the equation.

I'm an audiologist and presently work at a hospital with lots and lots of sick people. Except for a couple periods of extended sick leave (6 weeks right after dx and 2 weeks during a flare a year after dx) I've been fortunate to continue working full-time through 5 years of ups and downs with DM. The actual work I do is more mentally demanding than physical and my employer has been great to provide any accommodations I've asked for. I really do have the perfect job for someone with a chronic illness.

I realize that working with DM/PM/IBM is not for everyone, and it hasn't been all that easy for me, either. There have been several long periods of time when I couldn't drive and had to depend on hubby, kids, and friends for rides to work. There have also been times that I'm so exhausted after work that I can't do anything in the evening except rest so I can go back to work the next day and do it all over again.

Despite the hard part, I know for sure that working has kept me sane throughout this crazy disease. Getting out of the house and moving around at 6 a.m. every morning keeps me from sitting around and dwelling on how bad my muscles hurt. Also, if I didn't work, I'd probably feel obligated to do more housework, and I HATE HOUSEWORK! And for me, the other big advantage of working is having financial security. We own a nice home that I want to continue living in for many more years, and our kids are still in college so I want to continue helping them with tuition as much as possible. And I love to travel and want to continue that, too. These were all my goals before I got sick with DM, and I've been so lucky not to have to give them up.

Good luck to you Angie!
~Lucky

I'm just a university student :P My dream WAS to be a vet or a vet tech...I'm in school for Zoology and Microbiology. I don't know what i'd be able to do so...I'm not sure if I should find something else...

I have an office job so I sit in a cubicle all day. I work for a health insurance company. I'm thankful that I have this job because I know that when my DM gets out of hand I couldn't work a job where I had to be on my feet for long hours.

I'm a pharmacist and can barely work because it requires standing all day long. I have considered going back to school to be a dietitian because i am not sure how I'm going to hold up in the long run.

I used to work full time, but couldn't manage. Now i work on-call, but I set my own days. Since much of the work is short notice I can decline the job if I am feeling bad at that time or accept if I am feeling strong.

I basically live in constant fear that I won't be able to work and support my children. I can only manage part time work and I save as much as I can with the realization that I may not be working at all in a month...a year....who knows.

Personally, I would choose a career that allows you to set your own hours and a choice to sit down, move about and walk if necessary. Good luck!

I am a certified pharmacy technician with DM. I took a leave of absence in April 2011 because I could no longer stand for long periods of time. I was also in school (pre-pharmacy) and was encouraged by my rheumy to take leave so I would not be exposed to sick people in the classrooms. In August my employer terminated me for not being well enough to return to my regular position.They really did not try to accomodate me @ all. I have been seeking employment in pharmacy call centers or work from home avenues (about a month in, with no luck yet). I plan to return to school in the spring. I have applied for disability and I have not received a response yet. I really do not want to work in any other field and strongly dislike talking on the phone because I feel so restricted/tied down! I am/was a busy body and I like to move around. However, if thats what it takes I have to do it because like everyone else I have bills to pay and I am a single parent of one kid (no child support) and 3 dogs.