Difficulty holding down a stressful full time job

I did and had to stop working. I found walking all the time painful as well as sitting all the time. I had migraines as well. Unfortunately they were caused by intracranial hypertension. It was caught very late and my eyes are severely damaged. I could not get the gatekeeper at the office to help me get an appointment for 3 years.

I am in the same situation and considering what else I could do. One thing I will say is fibro is covered by the ADA and your employer has to make accommodations. My dr told me he can fill out any paperwork’s necessary for that. I’m fortunate to be in a situation where my leaders are supportive and I don’t have to play the disability card. But it’s still hard and I question if I can continue on with my career. I worked so hard to get where I’m at and it’s hard to let go.

I had a very stressful hospital job. I loved it before I had health problems.

It is dreadful to hear that happened to you. I appreciate you sharing your story. There is some comfort that someone else understands how much fibro affects your life. I feel like every aspect of my being has been altered & it gets so overwhelming sometimes.

I definitely get that. It is so hard to collapse after work or have every step hurt. I tried working reduced hours with a an extra day off, so I could rest between days. It helped sometimes.

Hi - I too had 2 years left until retirement, stressful job, when I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia. I was able to successfully claim disability from Social Security which will flip over to regular Social Security when I turn 67. The disability payments are not as much as I made when working, but they sure help.

my brain fog and my head cleared when I stopped eating gluten products and lactose products. I was 61 years old. Insulin resistance also brought it back at age 68. My fibromyalgia was diagnosed in 2004. But that also has been fairly well brought under control With learning last year. I have gout and taking the ZAZZEE tart cherry capsules to start and then asking my doctor to put on put me on the allopurinol medicine. A few weeks ago, I asked to be put on the metformin medicine for insulin resistance as my A1c was creeping up. Both medicines have 100% help me after suffering with fibromyalgia and associated problems for 25 years I also grew up suffering with edema and that exacerbate some of my problems so I have to watch my salt intake. When I was able to control my inflammatory Reaction which exacerbated the fibromyalgia, I could do walking, yoga, stretch, stretching, and light exercise exercises, which improved my circulation and stopped the fibromyalgia symptoms. Finally, I want to recommend an MFR therapist. Some of us have gluey fascia sheaths around Our muscles. The MFR therapist breaks down the glue which makes the muscles move as blocks and puts too much stress on the connective tissue. That has helped me tons and I no longer have connective tissue disorders. The doctors over 30 years have never helped me much and I go all the time. They do help me rule out what’s not wrong with me but they’ve never been helpful in resolving my problems. That’s been a constant search on my end and willingness to try a lot of different things. I relied on acupuncture a lot 20. - 25 years ago. . Learning I had gout that was never diagnosed was the most helpful part of resolving my fibromyalgia symptoms and that came after 25 years. I hope your miracles come sooner!

I absolutely loved working as a graphic designer. It didn’t take long before my wrists elbows and neck started hurting. After years of trying every pointing device, chair, keyboard tray, foot rest etc in the book, my upper body was destroyed. I was diagnosed with FMS at some time along the way. My pain issues all had a reason, they weren’t mysterious. I was laid off and knew I would never work in my field again. It took 8 years to get SSDI. My workers comp case was a joke. Ive had several surgeries on my wrists and elbows and could use more. Then I got tarsal tunnel in my feet which is crippling. But the worst is the Fatigue. Do you all have ‘underlying pain’ or are they individual/diagnoses like what I have had? Find the right meds!

Namaste Lmctx77,
I'm sorry to hear about your experience.
Have you spoke to your manager or HR and asked for accomodations so that you are supported in work or do you feel it is not safe to ask for that support? I understand how difficult it is to work in a highly stressful and fast paced enviroment especially when experiencing the symptoms for fibro, with brain fog, speech issues and poor concentration. Having to interact with people on the phone with no breaks that must be very challenign for you. But you neeed those breaks to rest and recoup for you to be able to function that's why you are so exhausted and the chronic fatigue that comes with fibro is debiliatating.

The noise from the music, who is refusing to lower it? For health and safety the noise should be at a comfortable level for all employees, from your post your employer doesn't sound employee friendly, or have I read this wrong? But you need support, they need to make accomadations and be more flexible for you to carry out your role. I live in England and the law requires it.

I gave up full time working 3.5 years ago as my fibro and lumbosacral spondylosis with radiculopathy (LSR) became too much and I now work freelance as a cultural producer part time, I also get personal independence payments which is a disability payment to support me daily life and all my expenses related to my disability. It's not easy as I am single and live alone, my home has been adapted to make life more manageable, I also using a walking aid. But I hear you with the pain, pins and needles, migraines, chronic fatigue which totally stops me in my tracks sometimes and coupled with the nerve pain and muscle weakness in my left leg due to the impinged nerve and neurophatic pain, my body literally shuts down to protect itself and I sleep to get through the symptoms. I do yoga, Qi Gong, gentle stretches at home and get referrals on the NHS that's our National Health Service in the UK a free service for nationals, for hydra therapy and acupunture. I use a TENS machine for the pain in my spine, I find cat cow the yoga move of great at reducing my pain for the fibro and LSR, but I don't dip my my spine I only arch and lifet it up due to my lower spine issues. Doing spine stretches with deep breathing help the pain when nothing else will, as movement is good for reducing my symptoms. I also, had a great private therapist who supported me with coping methods to manage my pain and symptoms, for 3 years, I currently can't afford her as my income has been reduced due to me not working as much this year as my conditon has got worse. I can't express enough how important it is to look after my mental health living with such debilatating health conditions.

I hope you find a happy solution to your issues at work, but HR really need to offer your more suppport
🙂

I also am constantly plagued with fatigue. Every morning is a struggle because I just feel so exhausted & a lot of times pain is worst in the mornings for me. The few household chores I am able to do have to be in increments with a lot of resting in between. I have been diagnosed with fibro plus spondyloarthritis which I was told causes a lot of my lower back pain. Plus functional neurological disorder.