Arthritis Foundation Forum / RA Connect / Rheumatoid Arthritis - (RA Connect) / how do you know when to say i can't work anymore??? / Latest Posts

RE: how do you know when to say i can't work anymore???

Laura226 — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 09:00:27 GMT

What about Vocational Rehabilitation? (it may be called something else in your state, I'm not sure) They pay for disabled people to get training/education for a new career when they are unable to do their current job. Maybe you could get training to be a medical transcriptionist and work from home, or a part time medical assistant in a doctor's office (if you worked in a specialist's office instead of a GP, there would probably be far fewer infectious patients...). I'm sure there are options outside the health industry as well.

RE: how do you know when to say i can't work anymore???

Janice334 — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 00:16:29 GMT

Thank you for the info. I forgot to mention that I have been thru multiple medications that did not work. Methotrexate-gut was not able to tolerate, injected for about a year was not doing much, embral had difficulty tolerating, remicaid developed drug fever, arava made my liver enzymes go nut's still waiting for my liver biopsy results. Unfortunatly there is minimal leaway with my job there is only myself and my supervisior. I had to hit the ground running and I haven't cought up yet. I am very frustrated... I don't want to quit,but being a respiratory therapist is all I know. I have been doing it my entire adult life. I really have no idea what else to do. I know that I cannot work in the hospital enviroment. all that is left is home care and with all of the stress over the possible goverment health care issues. noone is hiring in a position that could be less stress. I really want to scream I have a mind that say's yea I can do anything and a body that goes NO I DON"T THINK SO!!!!!! :) I really appreciate being able to vent thanks and any suggestions are appreciated.

RE: how do you know when to say i can't work anymore???

Judy_smile37 — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 21:36:43 GMT

You are exhausted! What you are doing is too much for you.

You'll need to find a balance. Start with the rheumy and tell him what you told us. Get a note from your Dr. and ask for accommodations under the ADA laws. LIght duty? reduced hours? split shifts?

Perhaps you can get accommodations while the rheumy works on meds to get you feeling well again.

Can you take sick time? Can you handle some time off without pay? - up to 12 weeks per year are allowed under FMLA.

Clearly you can't keep doing this much longer.

I hope you find the right combination that isn't too tough for you, ensures you have enough money, and keeps you involved in the world.

I hope tomorrow is a better day.

Judy

RE: how do you know when to say i can't work anymore???

Awma — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 21:21:39 GMT

My last few days at work have caused me overwhelming pain in my feet and ankles. I was thinking that today would be a good day to quit! Can't do that yet though, so I am thinking of having the dr fill out my FMLA papers so I can take a day off now and then when I need to.

RE: how do you know when to say i can't work anymore???

Katherine Coble — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 03:09:36 GMT

I actually quit working long before getting my RA diagnosis. That was back in the days when I was stills seeing a doctor who thought all that was wrong was that I was a bit heavy. (I used to be about 80lbs overweight. Since RA I'm about 40lbs overweight. Everyone who sees me says I look great. I tell them it's because I have a chronic illness that robs me of appetite.)

Anyway, I second what Grandpavan has to say. If your family cannot exist without your paycheck, I would build a partnership with your doctors now so that they can lay a foundation for your SS disability claims.

If your family can exist without your paycheck, then quit now. Have a good look at your budget; in some cases people find that it's actually cheaper in the long run to live without the second job---especially when the person in the second job is so sick. In my case my quitting meant that we spent less on certain things so we didn't actually miss my paycheck all that much after while. Besides as I got sicker we didn't go out like we used to.

I know that we're very fortunate in that I don't have to work right now. But I can say for certain that the stress from my job made my AI diseases a lot worse. If you feel like you can't work, then the stress is costing you too much and I encourage you to do all you can to look into other options for your family.

RE: how do you know when to say i can't work anymore???

Grandpavan — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 01:11:20 GMT

First, I don't think your RA and other illnesses are effectively controlled so I would suggest a second opinon from a board-certified rheumatologist. Then I think you need to find out how aggressively your doctors will support your calling it quits. You are likely to need active help from them to get social security disability. I hope things get better for you. God bless.

RE: how do you know when to say i can't work anymore???

Chrissie — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 23:43:11 GMT

[size=2]I have no advice, but wanted to say I'm sorry. Your body sounds like it is under a tremendous amount of stress.... I'm sure it's from lack of sleep along with the RA.

Have you asked about maybe altering your schedule a bit to sleep in a bit longer? Or have you asked your Rheumy about adding some other meds? I see what you "have" been on, but what are you on now? I know it takes a while to find the right combination, but there are so many other possibilities out there if what you've found hasn't worked yet.

Good luck, and I hope things get better for you...[/size]

how do you know when to say i can't work anymore???

Janice334 — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 23:33:26 GMT

I was diagnosed with RA over 5 years ago. along the way I have picked up fibromyalgia, shogrens, (spelling has never been my strong point!) and obstructive sleep apnea, I have been on orencia, imuron, plaquenil, prednisone, lyrica, an extended release morphine, provigal and cybalta. I have recently been haveing more and more problems with my memory. I work in home health care. I get up at 6am, my husband has to help me up and walk me to the bathroom because I can't get out of bed without help. after working 8-10 hours a day I come home and go to bed due to exhaustion, I am so exhausted that it takes all I have to go in and go to bed. MY daughter has a weekend mom. During the week she see's me come home get a kiss from her and hubby and I'm out. My memory problems are really starting to get out of hand. I cannot even remember what patients I took care at the beginning of the week and when I am asked something about them I can't remember!!!!!. I don't know what to do. I am so tired all the time that I don't have the energy to enjoy my family not to mention my job!!! any input would be appreciated. Thanks Janice