Pain - and work

[Guest guest]

I have been open with my co-workers from the beginning about my RA,

and they have been supportive and helpful. I've worked full time

since I was diagnosed 6 years ago. Earlier this year during a flare

up my doc asked me if I had considered changing jobs or working part

time, but after 13 years at the same company trying to move

elsewhere would be more stressful than staying. I ended up cutting

back to 6 hours / day for about 3 months which really helped. I'm

back to full hours now, but am supposed to limit it to 8 hours /

day. It's hard - I come home really tired and my pain level has

been higher especially this past week.

On the other hand - I did have an amazing experience the other week

that I wanted to share. A group of us from work were doing 'team

building' exercises, and due to bad weather (it was pouring rain and

fortunately they decided it wasn't ideal for pumpkin patches and

corn mazes), they changed activities and we went bowling.

Naturally, I couldn't even grip enough to pick up a bowling ball (I

did try), much less roll it down the lane, so I sat out and cheered

everyone on. The organizer of the event came over and apologized to

me for choosing something that I couldn't participate in! I was

really touched by his sensitivity to the situation.

Have a good day everyone!

Beth

> I have been limping for probably 3 years now. I have not really

told people

> at work I have RA, but they have obviously figured out that

something isn't

> right. Since I have had to take off some time to deal with a

flare, I've

> decided to come out of the closet and start telling people about

the disease. It's

> just easier than always saying " I have trouble with my foot. "

or " I kicked

> my husband too hard last night. " or " yeah, I twisted it

skydiving. " (you'd be

> surprised how many people actually fell for that one.) I guess the

main thing

> is to keep your sense of humor and know that usually people ask

because they

> care and are concerned, not because they are boneheads.

>

> gloria