Work related question

How did your employer react to your fibro? Have you been able to carry on working, have you changed jobs to fit with your changed health or have you stopped working?

*I had to stop working. I am a licensed Nail Technician and I have nerve damage in my right arm...so I can't use it like I used to.

*Well I'm still managing my degree but I guess I'll find out how work goes from August when I'm on my placement year, really scared I'm not going to be able to cope :-(

*I used to be a typist/secretary and I had to give it up because I cant type like I used to for as long as I used to and I find it hard to get to work in the morning on time. I was always getting into trouble for being late so I gave it up. I have retrained to be a balloon decorator and trying to keep my new fledgling business going.

*Gone from head of department (teacher) to being a cover teacher. am just off work way too much to be any use to the kids

*I've been unemployed for nearly a year and having a very hard time finding a new job.

*I've realized that most of what I know how to do is getting more difficult and most employers would not accept the things I can't do.

*I had to stop working, I managed a shop everything became to much. I also have 3 prolapsed disc and chronic back pain . But still cannot get DLA. soft hugs to everyone. And thank you Fibroduck I received my wee duckie today he is so cute , I will be taking everywhere with me and also to all hospital and Doctors appointments.

*I Have changed jobs a few times.Been in current job two years,but have been off work for the last two months don't know yet if I will be returning.I only work three hours a day

*I am the same work proved too much and at the moment not looking Pray the summer whether will be kind to us gentle hugs to all and Fibro duck get well soon we miss you x x

*My boss is so lovely knowing I have Fibromylagia and ME and now I am cutting down my hours because I am having a cochlear implant operation in 3 weeks.

*No longer working, worked for NHS for 5 years. Couldn't cope any more. Was off sick for a while and then finished on ill health grounds.

*My boss was useless,so were my colleagues,I was forced to resign in the end after a lot of bullying to do so,not a nice experience,(that was 5yrs ago),not been fit to work since. I would have had to give up my job eventually, but I felt the way my situation was handles was terrible.

*I have COPD as well as Fibromyalgia, and after five and a half years at my last employment, I became unable to maintain their performance targets - I was sacked!

*My bosses call it my fibre optic illness lol. They takes mick out of me but it all in jest they keep me going in a way . They're always there for me on by bad days. I changed my job role through FM from team leader in busy restaurant to receptionist in the adjoining hotel. Would like to think I could go on working there for long time to come x

*I am at home with my two little boys at the minute but when they are older, I will need to re-train as I won't be able to carry out the jobs I previously worked in - Nursing Auxiliary and Beauty Therapist - as both involve standing for long periods and a lot of manual work.

*Sorry to hear of how some of you were treated. I haven't worked in very long time. Besides Fibro, I have 5 bulging discs in neck and 5 in back with one bone on bone, diabetes, HPB, I can't even get in the floor to play with my 2 yr old grandson.

That's what hurts the most and the fact that I can't remember my 22 yr old daughter in her baby bed...if it were not for pictures and videos I wouldn't remember. I so hate that, but, I keep going through the pain, I won't give up.

*They were only worried that they would be out of pocket and were glad to see the back of me when I had to stop work because of Fibro!

*I haven't worked in a long time, thought it was worsening arthritis, had 4 lots of surgery for that. But now I know it's also Fibro, and has been for years.

Retired/disabled for some years now, lucky I got DLA for life, if not since my husbands death I'm not sure how I would have survived but think I would have had to try to find work which I could cope with. Fortunately I also have pension from my husband, so don't need to claim incapacity etc. so not constantly nagged from DSS to work.

*My employer is trying to get me early retirement on health grounds. Not sure what will happen if the application is denied, I keep phoning and asking but all I get are promises that the boss will call me back - but he doesn't. At the moment I am on three month sick leave.

*My boss didn't believe me at first ( was working in a pub ) then he cut my hours every week making it impossible to carry on as the atmosphere was awful, so I left and am now too poorly to work. I get DLA but it doesn't go far.

*My employer likes to try and push me to far since I was diagnosed.I tell her when I can't do something but she gets angry.I know when something is too much but my boss thinks because I am young I should be able to do whatever she asks.

I get pushed sometimes beyond my limits because she is too lazy to do her job and find someone else to do my tasks.I won't quit working even though I know she would love that.I do the best I can because my clients count on me to be there for them.

*It is dreadful how some people have been treated. I am in the process of leaving work on ill-health grounds, though it is taking them an age to get around to it - did say I could just resign, but somehow that didn't feel right to me, also they wouldn't owe me any money! But they have been good really, especially my line manager. Thing is, Fibro isn't my primary diagnosis and I have had lots of surgery so things may have been different if it had been?

*I am very lucky! Have been working full-time at a School for Special needs children for the last 4 years. Last year January finally diagnosed after lots of time off. My managers have been brilliant and have done everything they could to help me, but at last visit to Occupational Health it was decided I'd better reduce my hours to part-time instead of reaching for an impossible goal. So since last week Monday I am now officially a part-timer, And even 14 hours a week is hard at the moment.

Now if you don't mind I have a question for you all:
Because FM caused me to work less, where can I apply for financial help please???
I have applied for Permitted Work and Disability Living Allowance, but am still waiting to hear from them. Hope you can help, cause it's a Jungle out there ;o)

*I had to quit my dream career that I started just 2 years before I was diagnosed. I ended up going into business with my husband instead. Though I work harder than I did, I have way more flexibility. For instance, I can sleep in longer after sleepless nights, take a day off if I am in worse pain than normal. I can also work from home in my pyjamas.

I don't know how I could manage if I had to work for someone else. Most people don't believe there is anything wrong with me because I LOOK fine. Sometimes I wish my hair was falling out so people could have some indication that I really am not fine!

*I still work virtually full time. It's hard sometimes but I try not to take time off. Feel like I'm giving in to the FM if I do that. I work with some fab people and we are great friends. They are very understanding.

*I stopped work totally a year ago, Id retrained and loved my job too, but it was just not fair me being off more than I was ever there. I resigned because I felt bad for those carrying my weight. Employer was great though, have often been offered hours back there.

*I'm just about to go down to a 3 day week, working helps keep my marbles, lol

*After demoting myself, dropping my hours and then being signed off for 8 months after a mini breakdown and a severe increase in my daily symptoms that left me unable to walk wothout crutches and pretty much confined to the house, my contract was terminated on capability grounds in December 2008, my GP refuses to sign me as fit for work as he
thinks I am not going to get much better than I am now.

Work were not at all supportive until I brought the DDA into play and then they couldn't help quick enough!!! didn't help though.

*I work 4 days a week, 3 from home and 1 in the office, 30 minutes train ride away, it's still hard but I am so lucky to be able to work pretty flexibly. I doubt I'd get another job if I was ever made redundant though. What can you do when you don't know what tomorrow is going to bring?

*I was a self employed gardener when I was diagnosed. needless to say I not only lost my job, but lost my business too. I haven't had any employment since as I have more bad days than good and don't see the point in even applying for a job as I feel I won't be able to put in the hours, even if it was part time :(

*Only work 4 hours, 4 days a week and can just barely tolerate that cause sometimes go over 4 hour mark and I am really hurting have to use cane to get into car.

*Unfortunately my career as a midwife was topped short after Fibro took a hold! Not much use for a midwife who can't hold a baby without risk of dropping. NHS didn't want to know me:(

*Unfortunately I had to stop working - I was a student nurse - and there was no way I could do that, but it took 8 years to get a diagnosis.

*My employer is quite good I work flexible hours so can go in later or leave earlier if i need to can also most times ring in on the day or ask the day before for a day of they have raised my sick levels from 8 days to 27.

I had to leave my previous job because of my FM and had to change my type of work totally to allow me to work, I don't know what I'd do without flexi hours definitely couldn't do a normal 9-5 job.

*Question, if you was working 16 hours you would be able to claim working tax credit as you are doing 14 hours this wouldn't be enough hours depending on your wage you may be able to claim job seekers allowance but if you earn more than they would pay this option would be out have a look on www.directgov.co.uk or pm me and I will look into it for you when I'm at work blessings.


*I've worked in various jobs over the years but all proved too much. Voluntary work where in control is best for me and doing creative writing at my own pace.

*I am a welder, work mostly in ship repair, a very hard job, for anyone. I am one of very few women in the field. I fight through it on my own mostly. Don't tell a lot of people, just drop my shield to hide the tears on bad days. Most of my bosses and co workers don't fully understand how great my struggle is or the amount of pain I endure, cause I look healthy.

It's to hard to explain so mostly I don't bother. This years lead hand for the winter rush was very understanding, but I don't accept special treatment, My motto is if I can't do the job, I shouldn't be here. Come spring time I usually take some time to recover. Even though its very tough and I suffer quite a bit, it feels good when I make it through and still do my job very well. Like I tell the guys..suck it up buttercup!

*I actually got fired because of missing so much work. So now I am on disability *thank God*


*Kept having to change my own schedule (was working part time) I broke my wrist while moving and was told (not fired) that if I was able to keep a regular schedule to let them know. (we were moving an hour away and my hubby was still working there so I would have had consistent rides) never went back. several years later after applying for disability I became classified as disabled.

*I'd worked in the NHS since 1988 worked as a nurse and midwife. I have multiple problems one of them being FM, I'm on Fentanyl and Tramadol and been told by the pain specialist not to expect to ever return to work. The NHS sacked me 18months ago after long term sick, but the real punch in the face is the fact I'm not ill enough to receive my NHS pension as they believe I'm able to go back to nursing. my wonderful partner gave up work 8 months ago to care for me and my kids. We now have not only health worries but money worries too.

*My female Manager has been really good and has tried her best to understand. Her son and mother keep poor health, so she understands the hardship that poor health brings. She always gives me a hug when she visits my workplace (as she works on another Site in Cheshire) and always has time for a chat to me. She is helping me look into finishing on ill-health and is giving me all the support she can.

*My Fibro is a direct result of a work related injury. I stopped working because of the hip injury but have yet to go back (2 1/2 years later) because of both the hip and the Fibro. Just talking today with my therapist about the very real possibility that I won't be able to return to teaching. :( VERY frustrating as that's all I've wanted to do with my life.

*I have carried on working and its been OK,I work for 34.5 hours a week split into three long days of 11.5 hours, I don't work two days in a row and attended a pain management programme to sort out pacing and other ways of coping, its been OK,I've been off sick with flares a few times over the last few years but I seem to be managing this really well.
I put it down to my meds, I have a really good GP who has been very supportive and keen to keep me mobile,l keeping active helps as well, I went thought a spell when I wasn't active at all.

I spent lots of time in bed or lying on the settee and my symptoms got much worse I got fed up in the end and made the decision to exercise when I can,now I do gentle exercise ( walking) my symptoms have calmed down a lot, I still have background pain but not enough most of the time to stop me from working, my employers have been really good so far and I do try my hardest to keep myself fit so I can work ,it works for me most of the time , I only have me to pay the bills and mortgage so I have to work , I have no choice.

*I forgot to say I'm a nursing auxiliary, reading all your replies makes me worry, how on earth do you get by being unable to work,it must be a nightmare trying to survive on incapacity benefits

*My employer doesn't know. I do supply for the LEA and just never told them. I work as I can and as much as I can manage