Em Disability resources

[Guest guest]

Hi Em. It sounds like you have a lot going on. I¹m surprised the doctor

didn¹t treat your osteopenia if it¹s so bad that you¹ve suffered fractures.

Did anyone mention any ideas as to why your lung collapsed? It¹s got to be

difficult to work with the pain you are having. Hopefully your doctor will

get you feeling better quickly. Here are some links on disability in the

workplace:

Practical info for do-it-yourselfers

The Council for Disability Rights

http://www.disabilityrights.org/

ADA Watch

http://www.adawatch.org/index.asp

Eleven years after the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA),

people with disabilities -- and all Americans -- are faced with threats from

those who seek to eliminate these important federal protections. ADA WATCH

online is our answer to these threats.

Job Accommodation Network

http://janweb.icdi.wvu.edu/

Law, Health Policy & Disability Center

http://www.its.uiowa.edu/law/

Hope it helps.

a

> Howdy --

>

> I'm Em, hoping to find some information and learn here. I'm 38 years

> old. I was dxed with fibromyalgia a year ago, but have subsequently begun

> to develop new symptoms. I am returning to my rheumatologist next week to

> hopefully find out what is going on. These symptoms include bilateral

> joint pain and swelling (fingers, elbows, hips and knees) and ongoing

> " fevers of unknown etiology. " I had a spontaneous pelvic fracture two

> years ago, and subsequently found I have osteopenia in both hips, but this

> has not been treated by a physician and I have never had other osteo

> problems. In addition I have had kidney problems and a recent collapsed

> lung, so I honestly don't know what all that adds up to. I can

> hypothesize, but until I've seen the doctor I feel it may be best to deal

> with the situation as it comes.

>

> My interests are not only in finding out more about dealing with such

> problems, but also looking out for myself in terms of advocacy,

> particularly in the workplace. My employer (large hospital corporation)

> has a very strict absentee policy, and I'm searching for ways to protect my

> own interests. I'm currently pretty unhappy, mostly due to pain and this

> creeping exhaustion that make just typing this letter difficult, and

> sometimes I struggle with feeling too much self-pity, or anger, or fear. I

> WANT to be positive. But it's difficult.

>

> In any case, I hope to contribute whatever I can to this list, and to learn

> about how others cope with their diseases and life situations. I really

> want to connect with people. Glad to be here!

>

> Best,

> Em

>

>

>