Difficulty holding down a stressful full time job

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
🙂

Unfortunately the company & employee relationship where I work is not good. The area manager is who refuses to make changes to the volume of the music as well as other loud chaotic noise that just shouldn’t be done in this environment. My doctor has asked for accommodation of the noise cancelling head phones which the company did end up providing but they aren't the best but definitely help some. I am looking into possibly purchasing my own headphones of better noise canceling quality if I can find some. Also checking out different exercise or stretches that my body will tolerate. My dr is currently working on filling out a job accommodation request for additional breaks, dr appointment time & additional time off work as well as to be seated away from loud music & other loud noise. Hopefully that will help me manage to at least be able to make it through each day & hopefully make it my 2 yrs I have left.

I also have to make it a huge priority to take care of my mental health like you said in your post. Thankfully my husband has been very supportive.

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!

It's great to hear you have a supportive doctor, let them advocoate for you! Also, a supportive and loving husband.

Find the exercise or movments techniqes that work for you, it does cause some discomfort and pain from a couple of hours to a few days afterwards but the benefits of maintaining your muscle tone and strength, keep mobility in your joints you will thank yourself later on. (otherwise being non active will reduce your mobility in the future).

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 am assuming you mean myofacial release therapist? I personally like that type of body work in certain parts of my body. It is hard to find and costly, but If I could I would get it for upper back and neck. Apparently some people cannot tollerate it and others it can make things worse. One person made it worse, but mostly it helped me.

Unfortunately the company & employee relationship where I work is not good. The area manager is who refuses to make changes to the volume of the music as well as other loud chaotic noise that just shouldn’t be done in this environment. My doctor has asked for accommodation of the noise cancelling head phones which the company did end up providing but they aren't the best but definitely help some. I am looking into possibly purchasing my own headphones of better noise canceling quality if I can find some. Also checking out different exercise or stretches that my body will tolerate. My dr is currently working on filling out a job accommodation request for additional breaks, dr appointment time & additional time off work as well as to be seated away from loud music & other loud noise. Hopefully that will help me manage to at least be able to make it through each day & hopefully make it my 2 yrs I have left.

I also have to make it a huge priority to take care of my mental health like you said in your post. Thankfully my husband has been very supportive.

I am assuming you mean myofacial release therapist? I personally like that type of body work in certain parts of my body. It is hard to find and costly, but If I could I would get it for upper back and neck. Apparently some people cannot tollerate it and others it can make things worse. One person made it worse, but mostly it helped me.