I am still working full time. I do ok at work but then it is soo hard to do my daily chores at home. Then the weekend comes and you have to try and catch up from the week. I wind up in pain all weekend. It would be great if I didn't have to work because I could pace myself and I think I would feel so much better. Unfortunately I have to work. Good luck.

I had my own business until 2007 ,when my sister passed I became a fulltime mom,not only with my kids,but also with her two boys,because they were so young,they needed me.I would love to have a job again,and have kicked the idea around even with whats been going on with my health..Some days I think maybe it would help my mottivation,but other days,I'm not sure I could handle it with the pain,so IDK,but I hope that things get better for you.

I was diagnosed with RA 5 years ago, although I'm sure I've had it longer. I work full-time at a desk job. It is hard sometimes and I don't have much left at the end of the day, so my home life suffers.

I couldn't stand MTX. It just made me sick all the time, and sooo tired.

BTW - I just love puggles!

Looks like we all feel the same way. Either way, we feel lousy. Thats just how I feel too, my home life suffers, my house is not a home anymore. It only gets the good old surface cleaning and is really starting to get overwhelming for me. I basically go home and rest all night only to get up and do the same thing all over again.
@blukygirl, you said ou hate MTX, what meds are you taking and how do you like them.

I too work full time and often wonder how much longer I can do this. I'm a paralegal in a two attorney office. I was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease in 1998, went into remission in 2000, diagnosed with RA in 2005. The RA has been getting progressively worse, now my Crohn's has flared back up on top of a few other new Inflammatory issues have been diagnosed. I too am finding working very difficult. My boss has threatened to dock my pay if I don't go faster. I used to be a power typer and could really light up the keyboard, now it is all I can do to type a few sentences without large amounts of pain in my fingers. I wish I didn't have to work but I know SSI will never kick in, I have not had anyone tell me they've had success at getting approved, I'm only 45 and my doctor says chances are they wouldn't approve me because there would be some kind of job out there they feel I could do. So not only do I run to the bathroom every 1/2 hour, I have to be super duper fast and alert for my job. I've been doing this for 25 years and can't think of doing anything else but I really am starting to think that work is making my RA/Crohn's worse. My crohn's doctor tells me to eliminate stress to help with the digestive issues, I asked him if he forgot who my boss was. My boss knows my doctor, probably a big mistake, and he tells him all the time to make me better so I can work better at the office. My home life suffers greatly because I don't have the energy number 1 and between the RA nodes on my feet, palms, knees, elbows, wrists it is difficult to walk around so I spend a lot of time just trying to do simple chores at home. Luckily I have a very supportive husband and 2 strong young men for sons who are always around to help but there are days when I feel like such a burden to them and the feeling that "I'm the mom, I should be able to take on all these tasks, chores, etc." that one of these days they will all jump ship.

Not sure any of these ramblings helped but here is a Hug for you in hopes that your day gets better.

I worked part for a while, then my store closed and I took a year to just be a mother (loved it too), but since I've worked since I was 14, I got restless. Just started working part time again. I forgot how much of a toll it takes on us. There is definately a huge difference, which surprised me. Having three kids, I still worked even though I wasn't "working". It's mind blowing how different and strenuos a job is.

@4wheeling..I disagree with your Dr. as far as disability goes. Its not just the fact that you are in pain, we are exhausted too and that makes working very difficult. I heard one is always turned down the first time and it has been recommended that we hire an attorney for disability. You worked 25 yrs so your SSI will kick in. I live in NY and they say you have to have so many credits from working and its usually 10 yrs or more. If you are in that much pain and have these 3 diseases I would def give it a try. Life is just too short ya know?
Thanks for everyones feedback, now I need to put my head down on my desk and take a nap, lol. if only I could. Thank God for coffee.

I still work full time - I'm a nurse practitioner -and I carry all the benefits as my husband is self employed.

I want to work as long as possible. But the past 2 months have seen me deteriorate quite a bit. I'm hoping I don't have to file for SSDI, but....oh well, if I do, we'll lose our house, as my husband's pay would not cover our expenses. He would have to find a job that offers health insurance and he is 54, so that is hard to go out and find a job like that. (he was a civil engineer for years, but went back to school and has been an attorney for the last 10 years)

I just want my rheumy to keep me employed!!!

I am an audiologist with a long commute from northern NJ to NY- I work about 3/4 time- but working is what keeps me going. I hate staying home and feel much better at work as my mind is on my patients and what I am doing (altho the necessary hand work can be hard) so I am not as aware of the discomfort. Staying home, esp in bad weather, would be awful for me. However, I wish I didn't have such a long commute (kills my knees and feet) and then a 5-6 block walk (indoors) to my office.

I teach full-time and I am on my feet a lot. I am seriously thinking about retirement because I think the stress is really having an affect on me both physically and mentally. Before I started my medication, I was so exhausted when I got home all I could do is flop on the couch. My husband took over a lot of the cooking and dishes. I am still tired, but the fatigue has let up a bit. I started at 10 mg. and now I am on 12.5 mg. of MTX a week and 2.5 mg. of prednisone a day. I am also taking 1 mg. of folic acid a day. I really did not feel any relief for about 8 months. I was having both good and bad weeks. Right now I seem to be having a bad two weeks. I see my rheumy tomorrow. I sure hope she has some answers for me. Glad to hear your pain has subsided. I am thinking the fatigue will start to let up the longer you are on the medication. :)

I'm a full-time attorney but at times had to work part-time. I'm in remission now so back to work for me!

Lynne

I work full time, but sincerely wish I didn't some days! I am a supervised Psychologist, so I get to sit down most of the time. Thank goodness, because I don't know how I'd manage if I didn't! I must admit though, work's been good for getting my mind off my problems.

I have had RA for 29 years. I worked up until 2 years ago. I was a Medical Lab Technologist and was able to sit during my job. I could not draw blood the last 2 years since my hands went numb. I worked rather well on with pain meds until I started higher doses of Oxycotin. It made my memory and recall very hazy and undependable. I had to write everything
down at work ( and home) . After my first knee replacement, I became septic 5 weeks post-op. After 3 months in and out of hospitals and complications with antibiotics, I had a major flare and could not recover. My doctor finally made me see that I was better off at home. My feet where numb and I couldn't drive. I went on disability. If I had it to do over again I would work the same way. You feel bad enough about yourself, working made me feel useful and especially in control of my life.

I had to go on disability in my first year of RA from full time teaching. I went to part time for a year, but I could not stand or walk, and I was to exhausted to keep up to the kids. So I have been on disability for 11 years, with another 7 years till I retire. At least they make pension contributions, although my idea was to work my way up in increments, and have a higher income before I retired.

I didn't start working full time till my children were all in school, but I just managed to make the 10 years, so I will be eligible for a pension. All in all, I would rather be working than have RA. LOL

I work full time as a medical surgical tech, it is hard on my body and would love to work part time, but right now its not possible, as much as I love the fast pace of my job I do have trouble keeping up at home, thank God for my wonderful boyfriend!! I am however looking at other opportunities in the hospital for something a little slower paced that I may be able to do for a longer time! I have an app in for a cardiology tech....I think that would be easier on me for now.