Hi Cathy, I am 63 and had to stop working pretty much. I was already working at home as a freelance art book editor, but my brain is so foggy with meds and I have so little energy to focus that I know I can't take on new book projects--not that there are many out there anyway. There's no way I could commute to work now, especially in the winter if I had to shovel out snow (I don't have a garage). I had a high-pressure job in publishing and I miss it, but it's not the end of the world to give it up. Maybe your meds will keep you functioning better. I'm facing hip replacement in two weeks and have a severely damaged ankle from RA, so I have a few strikes against me. I'm hoping things will improve. I know I'll never regain my level of activity in skiing, sailing, golf. tennis, rowing, biking, hiking, but maybe something will come back to me in modified form. Hope springs eternal.

Hi Cathy. I'm so sorry you're going through this right now. I seriously wish no one had to contemplate this type of life decision.

I too had to leave work when I was diagnosed with RA, (in my late 20's). I'm still not sure about my future in the working world.

Anyway, I wanted to let you know that you are far from alone in this. Please keep us updated on how you're doing.

Take care!

I wasn't working when I became so bad that I would have had to quit, if I had a job. I had planned to stay home with my kids until they were school age, and then go back to school and finish my teaching degree. But I don't see that happening. My Rheumy told me that even though my inflammation is down and my blood work is in the normal range, I will still have about the same amount of pain. He doesnt expect it to get better...I have a lot of nerve pain, joint pain, and am developing changes in the bony structure of my back. So Yeah, no more working. I can barely clean house!
My story is my own though, not everyone has to quit working. And yes, I believe God has a plan...he just hasn't let me in on it yet...lol!!!

I'm in my 40's, haven't been able to work for quite a few years.

Mainly because of tiredness which is so great, a lot of rheumatologists don't even understand.

I'm waiting for my disability hearing.

I don't have much joint damage, a little bit here and there, no swelling or redness. Pain yes, but not to the point that it's killing me.

Tiredness is so great it's like I'm a sports car with no gas. Also after sitting on a chair for a couple of hours, I start getting stiff.

I did not have to quit working, but I chose to do so for a year.
My aunt has RA and it's "mostly" controlled with humira now. She also has diabetes. She's had a knee partially replaced - and she's still working 5 days a week.
Lots are able to work full time.
I think if you get reasonable control, and your job is not on your feet all day, you can get up/move around/stretch - work some more, etc.

It does require job modification unless you get near 100% relief on medicine.
Which biologics have you tried?

I was diagnosed almost four years ago, and I'm still working. My RA is pretty severe, and I do have some damage in my shoulders, feet and hands. I have a desk job that's pretty flexible- as long as the work gets done they don't care much what my hours are. (I'm a clinical project manager at a hospital.). I did take this job specifically because they offer good disability insurance, both short and long term. I'm 32 and plan to keep working as long as possible. I'm also taking every chance I get to earn a higher salary, because disability income is based on how much you made while working. I think it's very unlikely I'll be able to work until normal retirement age, but for now I'm hanging in there!

As you can see, we are all very different and are affected differently by RA. I didn't wait to get an ok from my doctor because there is no way that they can understand and I left my job of 22 years in march 2011. I've been turned down twice and I hope to have my hearing in october. My joint pain was constant but the worse for me is the fatigue....I just could not function. So it all depends on your degree of the symptoms and how they effect you. If you feel that you just can't keep going and enduring is too much then consider applying. Its a long process and if you do get it and you go into remission you can always return to work.

I am 58 and I was diagnosed about 12 years ago. I still work full time in a physically demanding job(the irony is I work in Physical THerapy) I have good days and bad but my Rheumy has been very progressive with meds and I feel I am still able to work. IT helps that I don't have to keep my home like a magazine photo and my husband is pretty understanding. I hope to keep working as long as I can so I can help to pay off the morgage before drawing social security. At home I also have to young grandkids living with me. All in all I think the activity is good for me emotionally and physically.

So I'm not alone.

Pearl240 you mentioned fatigue. There's somebody else who's been affected by fatigue as well. This is my biggest problem as also.

Literally to the point that I cannot do normal daily things. Because of tiredness, I cannot even leave my house every day.

So then RA does cause fatigue to a very high level.

Wish u well on ur hearing.

My RA has not stopped me from working. I own my own business and up until my husband started kidney dialysis 2 months ago, I was working anywhere from 35 to 40+ hours per week. My RA has never affected my ability to work, but I will admit that where I once used to have the energy to jump out of bed at 6:30 am and be at the office before 8 am, I would rather just wake up without an alarm and put in a shorter day. Not sure if that is just RA, or my age (58). With my husband's medical problems taking most of my energy and time now, I only work about 20 hours a week.

I too am faced with this problem. I am lucky enough to be working two jobs - 72hrs a week, but I work nights in group homes so I do 2hrs of housework, then just watch them sleep. It is SO hard just to get in the car to get there - act normal when others are there, and when they leave I collapse for a few hrs.
I so need the money, and the insurance - the other job pays for the md`s and co-pays ect. So I can`t quit, but really need to. My husband died a few years ago, and I am supporting g-kids.
I would go on disability, but where I live it takes about 3yrs, and that is with a lawyer. The state will only give me $336 a mo. What can you do with that? Scary to be all alone, living from each paycheck.
I hope that you have some financial support, so this decision would be easier for you than me. Best of luck, but give it a lot of thought mainly if you have benefits. G-

Im 37, Ive been diagnosed for a year now, it came on sudden and STRONG! Ive been on prednisone, methotrexate, Plaquenil, Mobic, Norco and a ton of vitamens and suppliments. I was still in terrible pain, the fatigue was horrible and I was always throwing up from the meds. I lost my job this past March because I was out so many days. I decided to stop taking my meds because of all the side effects. So, here I am, 37 unemployed, still in pain and tired as ever, but Im not throwing up! Thats a plus right!

I wish I could be like those lucky people who contibue to live a normal, active life.

I have been home with RA for the past 3 years, I am 50. I keep hoping each med is going to get me back to my normal life. I'm on week 3 of Orencia and I've been feeling run over for the past 3 weeks. I stopped my medrol for the past couple of weeks and Im going into a flair, hands are very swollen. I also have swelling in my face and jaw pain along with my other joints. RA has completely changed my life. I'm waiting for my hearing with SSD. I really feel for those living and supporting themselves. I would be so lost without my husband.

After a year on MTX, Humira, and Celebrex I am still working. Granted I am fortunate to have a job that involves sitting all day, because this time last year, if I had had a job that required much movement I wouldn't have made it. I could barely hobble from the parking lot to my office. These days I can take walks outside for exercise and have no trouble walking around a big store like Walmart. It's like a miracle to me! Now I'm probably going to be getting a new job that requires lots of driving and more moving around. I'm a little nervous because if my meds were to fail I'd have to leave it, but I'm a little braver these days so I'm going to go for it! : )

Hi, this is the first time I have posted in a forum.
I started getting episcleritis 3 1/2 years ago, then 3 years ago i was severely anaemic. 2 1/2 years ago I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and hypertension. 2 years ago I woke up one morning unable to move as all my joints were painful. I was referred to a rheumatologist and was off work for a month. She told me I had an autoimmune disorder of some sort. and crohns needed to be excluded. 1 1/2 years ago I was hospitalised due to palpitations. A conduction disorder was diagnosed. Colonoscopy etc was normal The episcleritis is now scleritis and I have about 1 week a month where my eyes aren't red. In August 2011 I started taking methotrexate. My RF was mildly positive in november. Rheumy decided I had RA so I also started salazopyrin and plaquenil. I was able to work normally up until January although I had reduced my hours mainly due to the fatigue. I work as a sonographer so have to hold the ultrasound probe and concentrate for half hour periods. In february i was scanning and had tremendous pain in my right hand. Blood vessels had broken in my fingers. Since then I have had swelling in my hands and pins and needles when I hold anything(even the iron) for short periods of time.. I have been off work since and really don't expect to go back. I now experience a pins and needles feeling in my arms and swelling in my hands and wrists when driving short distances. I still have palpitations and when I walk up any incline I have a full feeling in my chest neck and arms and an ache in my thighs. I can walk for ages on the flat with no problems. The opthamologist has suggested I take ibuprofen for the scleritis but my GP won't allow me to due to being hypertensive. I am awaiting another cardic appointment in 2 weeks. Think I would also have difficulty concentrating in work now with the scleritis. I am so fed up, work has been my life. I have been in the same job for 30 years but I now realise there is more to life than work.Not sure if my problems are all caused by RA. I have also recently startted experiencing twitching in my legs.
Oops, realise I have gone on a bit..... thanks for listening.