Re: Hanging on to my job by the skin of my teeth

[Guest guest]

Hi Dawn,

Welcome to the group. If nothing else, we have all been, or are,

where you are now. My suggestion to you(other than hang in there), is

to try everything. Eventually you'll find what works best for you. If

your doctor won't help you try new things, find another doctor. I

couldn't possibly get through my work week with Vioxx for a pain

killer. First of all, NSAIDS like that do horrible things to my

stomach. Second of all, they don't help nearly enough with the pain.

I've been taking Tylenol#3 with Codeine, and some days, even that

wasn't enough. I know several group members are on much stronger pain

meds. So please Dawn, keep trying, and you'll find something to help.

Also, I don't know if you're on an antidepressant, but if you aren't

you should consider it. I never considered myseld depressed, but as I

was having some problems coping with my latest flare, I asked to be

put on something. And oh my, what a difference. Work is so much

easier to get through. I'm no longer cranky all the time. It doesn't

help in the least with the pain, but I'm coping with it much better.

If there's anything I can do for you, let me know.

Take care,

[Guest guest]

Dawn, welcome to our list. Your problem is so familiar to this list. So

many of them are doing as you are. Hanging on to their job by the skin of

their teeth. I can't comment on that as I am 66 and do not work.

The many on this list will talk with you about things to do and what to do.

They are a very good group of people on this list. We care so very much for

each other and we support each other. If you want to vent, do so. Someone

will hear and come to your aid.

Take care,

Irene

Books may well be the only true magic

Alice Hoffman

[Guest guest]

At 03:39 PM 05/28/2002 +0000, mythreedogsnme wrote:

>Hello everyone,

Welcome Dawn!

Your situation sounds so very close to my own -- trying to work, dealing

with people who don't even try to understand.

A disabilities activist friend of mine recently told me -- after pretty

much smacking me down because I keep delaying any kind of disability

application process or anything -- that one important thing to do at work

is never refer to yourself as " sick. " This is the way workplaces tend to

define sickness v. disability -- sickness is temporary, like the flu, or

permanent AND terminal, like many forms of cancer; disability is permanent

and NOT terminal, creating difficulties that may be resolved in the

worldplace by various forms of accommodation.

I do the same as you -- I'm just ending my weekend right now (work Th-Mon),

and I have nothing to show for it. All I've done is sleep, not even

eat. My one thing I really want to do before I go back to work tomorrow is

get a daisy plant in the ground in the garden; it was a gift and I can't

put it off. Silly when you think that's such a small thing, and yet I will

feel as if I accomplished SOMETHING if I do that.

I don't think you should just quit your job. There are options, such as

disability insurance through your employer, or social security

benefits. I'm very afraid to leave my job without something to keep me

going. You might want to look into other options. I personally would like

to go down to part-time, keep working but not as much, if I could get

disability and still work a bit. I like to get out, although I admit it's

very difficult to do 40+ hours a week.

I hope you find some help here, and support -- it's a great group and

believe me, many of us are in the same kind of situation where you find

yourself.

Warm wishes,

Em

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

" Even in nice Mr. son's stories, each boy's life only catches

your deepest interest when a pirate is about to slit that sweet child's

throat. What makes a story good ain't what makes a person good. "

(Allan Gurganus)

" Cut a good story anywhere, and it will bleed. "

(Anton Chekhov)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[Guest guest]

> >Hello everyone,

>

> Welcome Dawn!

>

> Your situation sounds so very close to my own -- trying to work,

dealing

> with people who don't even try to understand.

>

> A disabilities activist friend of mine recently told me -- after

pretty

> much smacking me down because I keep delaying any kind of

disability

> application process or anything -- that one important thing to do

at work

> is never refer to yourself as " sick. " This is the way workplaces

tend to

> define sickness v. disability -- sickness is temporary, like the

flu, or

> permanent AND terminal, like many forms of cancer; disability is

permanent

> and NOT terminal, creating difficulties that may be resolved in the

> worldplace by various forms of accommodation.

>

> I do the same as you -- I'm just ending my weekend right now (work

Th-Mon),

> and I have nothing to show for it. All I've done is sleep, not

even

> eat. My one thing I really want to do before I go back to work

tomorrow is

> get a daisy plant in the ground in the garden; it was a gift and I

can't

> put it off. Silly when you think that's such a small thing, and

yet I will

> feel as if I accomplished SOMETHING if I do that.

>

> I don't think you should just quit your job. There are options,

such as

> disability insurance through your employer, or social security

> benefits. I'm very afraid to leave my job without something to

keep me

> going. You might want to look into other options. I personally

would like

> to go down to part-time, keep working but not as much, if I could

get

> disability and still work a bit. I like to get out, although I

admit it's

> very difficult to do 40+ hours a week.

>

> I hope you find some help here, and support -- it's a great group

and

> believe me, many of us are in the same kind of situation where you

find

> yourself.

>

> Warm wishes,

> Em

>

> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~

> " Even in nice Mr. son's stories, each boy's life only catches

> your deepest interest when a pirate is about to slit that sweet

child's

> throat. What makes a story good ain't what makes a person good. "

> (Allan Gurganus)

>

> " Cut a good story anywhere, and it will bleed. "

> (Anton Chekhov)

> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hi Em,

Thanks for your reply......its nice to hear from someone that

understands for a change. I am planning on quiting my job within a

year. I am wasting my brain there just because I get paid well. I

thought of going back to school for nursing....and being a

temp...this way I could work when I wanted to. Its just an idea.

The workplace now is constant noise and unrelenting stress......some

people are nice......most are as mature as junior high students. I

have always had trouble tolerating mean spirited people.....so you

see.....it wouldn't be a bad thing to quit.

I know what you mean about little things feeling like climbing a

mountain. You should see my house at the moment.....I came home from

work tonight to discover that my parents had been here. (they are

clean freaks!) I am so embarrased.....but I can't seem to get ahold

of it lately. My son graduates high school on the 9th and I pray I

can have it in order by then....maybe with a miracle.

I was reading recently about women with ADD. I took the test and

every single answer was me with stars! Come to find out that fibro

and ADD often go hand in hand.....in fact it was one of the questions

that it asked. Messy house....compulsive spender.....foggy

brain......Gosh it would be nice to have something normal that people

understood....wouldn't it?

I am sorry....I just start rambling and don't know when to quit.

Have you applied for disability? My doctor mentioned it to

me.....and he says its very difficult to get on to.....he said you

have a much better chance if you file in a larger city for some

reason? Why do things have to be so hard? We are paving the way I

soppose. Good luck......and have a wonderful and restful couple days

off. On the bright side.....we do have this group and eachother.

sincerely,

Dawn

[Guest guest]

> >Hello everyone,

>

> Welcome Dawn!

>

> Your situation sounds so very close to my own -- trying to work,

dealing

> with people who don't even try to understand.

>

> A disabilities activist friend of mine recently told me -- after

pretty

> much smacking me down because I keep delaying any kind of

disability

> application process or anything -- that one important thing to do

at work

> is never refer to yourself as " sick. " This is the way workplaces

tend to

> define sickness v. disability -- sickness is temporary, like the

flu, or

> permanent AND terminal, like many forms of cancer; disability is

permanent

> and NOT terminal, creating difficulties that may be resolved in the

> worldplace by various forms of accommodation.

>

> I do the same as you -- I'm just ending my weekend right now (work

Th-Mon),

> and I have nothing to show for it. All I've done is sleep, not

even

> eat. My one thing I really want to do before I go back to work

tomorrow is

> get a daisy plant in the ground in the garden; it was a gift and I

can't

> put it off. Silly when you think that's such a small thing, and

yet I will

> feel as if I accomplished SOMETHING if I do that.

>

> I don't think you should just quit your job. There are options,

such as

> disability insurance through your employer, or social security

> benefits. I'm very afraid to leave my job without something to

keep me

> going. You might want to look into other options. I personally

would like

> to go down to part-time, keep working but not as much, if I could

get

> disability and still work a bit. I like to get out, although I

admit it's

> very difficult to do 40+ hours a week.

>

> I hope you find some help here, and support -- it's a great group

and

> believe me, many of us are in the same kind of situation where you

find

> yourself.

>

> Warm wishes,

> Em

>

> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~

> " Even in nice Mr. son's stories, each boy's life only catches

> your deepest interest when a pirate is about to slit that sweet

child's

> throat. What makes a story good ain't what makes a person good. "

> (Allan Gurganus)

>

> " Cut a good story anywhere, and it will bleed. "

> (Anton Chekhov)

> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hi Em,

Thanks for your reply......its nice to hear from someone that

understands for a change. I am planning on quiting my job within a

year. I am wasting my brain there just because I get paid well. I

thought of going back to school for nursing....and being a

temp...this way I could work when I wanted to. Its just an idea.

The workplace now is constant noise and unrelenting stress......some

people are nice......most are as mature as junior high students. I

have always had trouble tolerating mean spirited people.....so you

see.....it wouldn't be a bad thing to quit.

I know what you mean about little things feeling like climbing a

mountain. You should see my house at the moment.....I came home from

work tonight to discover that my parents had been here. (they are

clean freaks!) I am so embarrased.....but I can't seem to get ahold

of it lately. My son graduates high school on the 9th and I pray I

can have it in order by then....maybe with a miracle.

I was reading recently about women with ADD. I took the test and

every single answer was me with stars! Come to find out that fibro

and ADD often go hand in hand.....in fact it was one of the questions

that it asked. Messy house....compulsive spender.....foggy

brain......Gosh it would be nice to have something normal that people

understood....wouldn't it?

I am sorry....I just start rambling and don't know when to quit.

Have you applied for disability? My doctor mentioned it to

me.....and he says its very difficult to get on to.....he said you

have a much better chance if you file in a larger city for some

reason? Why do things have to be so hard? We are paving the way I

soppose. Good luck......and have a wonderful and restful couple days

off. On the bright side.....we do have this group and eachother.

sincerely,

Dawn