Hi everyone,
I am new to the site. I have been reading others comments for a couple hours now, and thought that I might ask a question. I am 45 years old and have had Fibro since I was 13, with MANY other issues and diagnoses along the way. This has really gotten the better of me the last couple years and am barely functioning at all. Summers used to be when I felt somewhat better and this summer I still spent most my time on the couch. Winter is coming and I am dreading all that comes with it. I work in the School District and it is only the 3rd week of school and I just missed a WEEK already with severe dizziness, lightheadedness, headache, ear pain and nausea. I couldn't even stand up. People I work with do NOT understand at all. I have more absences than anyone there, but I do my best. It doesn't help that I work with Pre-school children and I catch everything. This year they have me working with a little boy that pulls my hair, hits, and kicks. It is so very physically taxing. The Dr. believes that's why I got sick already, was that this put my body into overdrive. I don't know what to do. I don't think I can physically do this job anymore, and I know they are not happy with me for missing a week of work already. Is getting Disability for Fibro difficult? I have like 8 volumes of records through the last 20+ years of all these issues and sicknesses. Even my family, except my sister doesn't understand either. They think its my eating habits, my sleeping habits ( I can't sleep at night, but want to sleep all day), my medicines, lack of moving, etc. They seem to think I brought this on myself. My sister didn't understand either until she started having pain issues herself, and then about 8 years ago, she apologized and told me that she always thought I was a baby and that I overdramatized how I felt. Now she totally understands. But I don't think people can understand something they haven't experienced. Anyway....I was wondering if any of you knew of a Fibro Specialist in the Wisconsin area? I do not respond to any of the medications out there. I take Tramadol, but it does what seems like nothing anymore. I took Vicodin for many years, but don't want to be taking that strong of meds, and realized I was getting migraines from it. Any help would be great! Thanks for listening!
Fibrogirl29
I'm currently in the process of fighting for disability. I'm coming up on almost a year fighting to get it. Right now I'm waiting for my lawyer and the govt to plan a court date. It's been a long road, and they don't want to give it to me due to age and lack of working (I'm 24 and have had 9 jobs in the last six years). I'm hoping a court date will settle it. I'm like you, I have trouble sleeping at night and am so exhausted during the day. If I do too much, I pretty much knock myself out for days at a time. I couldn't imagine working with small kids...it's bad enough that my husband works in a call center, I get every illness that he brings home.
I would start the disability process asap, because it is going to take time, even with lots of records. You may have more luck because you've had it for so long.
I'm also in the process of (hopefully) getting disability. I agree with Allesmere, it's a long process. My advice is to find a lawyer who specializes in disability cases. They only get paid if you win. They'll take 25% off the initial lump sum (with a cap of 6000.00)
I am really impressed that you can make it in to work at all. I haven't worked in over a year (that's when I started getting sick).
Get a disability lawyer now and start the process. Don't wait. Wishing you the best :)
-rosie
Do you have FMLA at work? I am out on mine and getting paid thru our company.
Thanks everyone for all the information so far! I had been told by one of my Dr.s about 10 years ago to go on Disability, but I just kept trying to make it through. But I have reached the point where I don't think I can anymore and I feel so guilty being out sick because nobody there even really thinks I'm "sick". I have been there for 14 years. I do love my job and last year I was only working 3 and a quarter hours a day and had Friday, Sat. Sun. off. This year I got moved to the room with the behavioral kids, and we are being hit, kicked and more everyday. Plus they increased my hours to 6 a day and no longer Fridays off. It literally took me Friday, Sat. and Sun. of doing nothing to get ready to go back to work on Mon. They also gave me a half hour of recess duty, and I cannot take all the weather changes..the cold, dampness, humidity, etc. The job has just become more than I can handle.
I have 3 children myself that are 24, 21, and 18. They too are a lot of stress to me the last couple years, and I can barely function anymore. Dr.s are not helpful, I stopped trying. When my children would have friends over, they would all comment eventually that all I do is lay on the couch. That makes me feel lazy. I tell my husband that all I need are the 3 C's. My couch, computer, and my cats!
Can anyone tell me how to start getting disability? Do I need to quit my job first? I was kind of hoping they would let me go so I could get unemployment. I'm almost embarrassed to try for disability when no one believes I am really sick. People even stop my mom out in public to tell her that I look horrible and what is wrong with me. My mom has never understood this either. Although I do think my dad has it and has never been checked for it. If I do anything that takes exertion, I am down for a couple days after. I don't even have the energy to go see my son who lives an hour and a half away, or sometimes even talk on the phone. My children yell at me, cause when people call, I tell them to tell them I'm taking a bath, cause I just don't have the energy to talk.
What is FMLA and how do I check to see if I have that? I am only part-time, does that matter? I am dreading already having to go in tomorrow. I appreciate any answers you have to share with me. Thanks again for listening, it's so nice to read about people going through the same thing.
Fibrogirl29
Hi, my wife and I went through the same thing. I for a long time thought that she had many other problems. She was diagnosed with IBS,( Irratitable Bowel Syndrome), HyperThyroidism, Arthritisis in her chest, just to name a few until she finally got to a doctor that found that is was all a part of her Fibro. Then I started studying up on this disease and realized just what it really was.
We applied for Social Security Disability and hired an agency, it took almost a year but we finally got approved. So yes it can be done but it ain't easy, hang in there and keep fighting.
I commend you for your staying power i would have quit long ago. My wife was working for Wal-mart and was coming home so tired she could hardly make it through the door before she would crash. She finally quit and went on state disability. luckily I was making enough that we were ok until she started getting some money in.
I'm sorry that your family doesn't understand or support you. They need to look into this disease and understand it before they condemn it. We are always her for support.