I am a teacher. Still, I don't know if it has anything to do with RA. I think there are other reasons that explain why there are so many teachers and nurses here.

Here are some suggestions:
1. Teaching and nursing are very popular career choices for women.They were particularly popular twenty or thirty years ago when many of us chose our careers. At the time, there weren't that many other legitimate choices for women. Society was much more sexist than it is today. Since RA is more commonly diagnosed among women in their 40's and 50's (around menopause), it is no surprise that many of the women here are teachers and nurses.
2. There is an element of self selection in being on DS. You need to feel comfortable about computers and ready to connect with people via the Internet. Women who are in their 40's and 50's who feel comfortable with computers tend to be more highly educated - another reason for teachers and nurses to be prevalent.

Great topic for discussion, Angel. Thanks!

I got my first flares while teaching the class from hell. I switched schools, went part time, and made it through another year. Then I did 4 months, and before Christmas got asthma, and had to go on prednisone. That was when I stopped denying how sick I was, and went on disability. I tried again the following Sept. I went in the day before to prepare, and walked out having never seen another student, and have been full time disability ever since.

I don't know whether the teaching triggered it, or just being too busy, or whether it would have happened anyway. A few years ago, I was feeling pretty good, and phoned the union to see if I should come back. They told me don't even bother, just wait for retirement. I wanted to be ethical. And they were right - there are just too many bad spells with this disease, to say nothing of the fact that I have so many deformities I couldn't do the job anymore.

Hi Angelpuss - I think teaching at a very stressful school was part of my trigger, if not the whole of it. Can remember even thinking after one particular block of time that if I didnt get cancer after this I never would. I actually went into the beginning of the diagnosis /doctor trips by the end of that term! I can remember that stress and maybe the stress hormones burn something out as it were so our immune systems cant be reset?? Am just going back through the posts as have a couple of hours in internet cafe and note you not been so well recently. Hope that passes - your lovely Sydney weather should be coming in pretty soon.

Hi i was a childrens hairdresser for nine years in a very busy shop. Maybe it's just the stress of working with small children that may trigger it.

Any more teachers or ex-teachers here now?

I've been a substitute teacher for 4 years, haven't been able to work any this year, but worked pretty steadily until the beast got me. I've been thinking about trying a few days, but right now have one of mine on home-bound. It seemed like I would work for a couple of weeks in a row, then I'd be sick for a month. This was pre-diagnoses.

I teach, but am reasonably new to the career, which means to say that I've been a classroom teacher for about 5 years. I have taught on and off in various media for decades, but my primary occupation was business-related. I am very computer savvy and honestly don't have the time or patience for regualr support group meetings. I've been through those with weight watchers and other things and prfer the time control I have online. Having said that, I also know how close the bonds are that we form with online buddies, especially in a forum like this where we can remain anonymous. The majority of my doctoral work was online, as is a significant amount of the teaching I do, so I'm as comfortable "talking" in a forum like this as I am in person.

I agree with Kineret's comments of career choices and age factors in this disease. Is stress a factor in the onset of my disease? I have no idea. I also cannot comment about any correlation between my flare-ups and stress levels. Today I had the opportunity to spend some much-needed quiet time with my best friend, which always leaves me relaxed and peaceful. Following that was one of the stronger flare-ups I've had.

However, I have endured several very stressful years that have involved near-bankruptcy, job loss, cross-country moves while pregnant, and two difficult pregnancies. My hair is now largely silver as a result, but if it weren't for that stress I wouldn't be the caliber of teacher I am today. I work with adults who have experienced challenges in their lives and need a non-traditional school to complete their college education. Sometimes the work is very challenging, but the rewards are well worth it.