Re: a serious question... input much appreciated

[Guest guest]

I'm sorry that you've given up nursing, . I hope you find a

satisfying, new direction in which to go.

I'll tell you where to go!

Mayo Clinic in Rochester

http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester

s Hopkins Medicine

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org

[ ] a serious question... input much appreciated

> Hello to all... I have been a quiet member of this group for some

> time.

>

> I have had RA since 10/02, in spite of that I am attending college

> full time. I had hoped to become a nurse, but was forced to give up

> that dream. My hands are much too badly involved for that.

> Currently I am taking an office class and have an assignment I think

> all of you could help me with.

>

> I need to give a 3 - 5 min speech about a topic of my choosing so

> long as it relates to the business world. I would like to discuss

> working, or trying to work with disabilities. {Did you know that

> according to the Dept of Labor only 30% of disabled persons work?!

> That is appalling ~ but not very surprising.}

>

> I am asking for your experiences working with a disability. How was

> your boss, were your collegues helpful? In general what are/were

> your experiences? Any input would be much appreciated!

[Guest guest]

I think there are two key issues when working with RA - and those

are - can you do your job - and - do you tell?

The issues I have doing my job are this. When I have a flare, I have

no energy and am stiff in the mornings which makes getting up really

hard and getting move really hard, and the result is I can't seem to

make it to work on time. On top of not being motivated and being in

pain and having no energy, 1/2 the time I have to get my 3 1/2 year

old up, fed, dressed and to school in addition to getting showered,

dressed, eating so I can take medication and driving to work. There

have been times when I would get here wearing tennis shoes because my

feet hurt so bad and I can't really get my work shoes on until 11am.

Or I get them on and I'm limping around. It's really hard to

concentrate and be productive when you're in pain and exhausted to

boot.

Which leds me to the next issue, whehter to tell. One one hand, if

you don't tell anyone they think you're a slacker for no reason. If

you do tell them, they may not understand or may limit your

opportunities because they don't think you can cut it. Sometimes

they are right. At my job now, I am really not cutting it. It's

also hard NOT to tell them about the RA because I can't otherwise

explain the limping, the fatigue, why I can't drink when we go to

happy hour, etc. So I chose to tell. I'm lucky I don't just work

for one person who is solely in charge of evaluating my performance

and who could discriminate against me without reprocussion. I work

with a team of very understanding people. But some people really

will be in a worse position if they tell, and that just makes the

whole situation more complicated, in my opinion.

So that's my summary. If you want to chat outside of the group, you

can feel free to email me at xponder70@.... Good luck with

your presentation.

Jennie

--- In , " " <stephanierider@y...>

wrote:

> Hello to all... I have been a quiet member of this group for some

> time.

>

> I have had RA since 10/02, in spite of that I am attending college

> full time. I had hoped to become a nurse, but was forced to give

up

> that dream. My hands are much too badly involved for that.

> Currently I am taking an office class and have an assignment I

think

> all of you could help me with.

>

> I need to give a 3 - 5 min speech about a topic of my choosing so

> long as it relates to the business world. I would like to discuss

> working, or trying to work with disabilities. {Did you know that

> according to the Dept of Labor only 30% of disabled persons work?!

> That is appalling ~ but not very surprising.}

>

> I am asking for your experiences working with a disability. How

was

> your boss, were your collegues helpful? In general what are/were

> your experiences? Any input would be much appreciated!

[Guest guest]

,

I think that is an excellent topic! Those figures you gave are not

surprising at all. I am currently fighting my company that refuses to make

accommadations or allow me to work out of my job during the time I am

recovering.

I can tell you from my own experience that my compnay would prefer to fire me

and let me deal with the disability issue with the long term disability

insurance I have.

It is very sad but as we age or develop health problems we are seen in the

business world as a liability. If I am fired then they can hire a temporary in

my place..pay less not worry about benefits and if that person screws up or

gets hurt..or just too slow. Well, fire them and get some more young blood!!

I think its the reason so many people suffer in silence. I hav two co-workers

with RA. We are all of varying ages from 30-60 yo. I have been pretty open

about my RA, they younger lady is also open. The older lady keeps hers a

secret for fear that they will start looking for reasons to get rid of her.

Good luck, I hope your project is a seccess and you an educate and reach some

one out there in your class.

Toni

In a message dated 3/12/04 7:41:42 AM Central Standard Time,

writes:

> Message: 1

> Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2004 02:38:09 -0000

> From: " " <stephanierider@...>

> Subject: a serious question... input much appreciated

>

> Hello to all... I have been a quiet member of this group for some

> time.

>

> I have had RA since 10/02, in spite of that I am attending college

> full time. I had hoped to become a nurse, but was forced to give up

> that dream. My hands are much too badly involved for that.

> Currently I am taking an office class and have an assignment I think

> all of you could help me with.

>

> I need to give a 3 - 5 min speech about a topic of my choosing so

> long as it relates to the business world. I would like to discuss

> working, or trying to work with disabilities. {Did you know that

> according to the Dept of Labor only 30% of disabled persons work?!

> That is appalling ~ but not very surprising.}

>

> I am asking for your experiences working with a disability. How was

> your boss, were your collegues helpful? In general what are/were

> your experiences? Any input would be much appreciated!

>