Good morning gang. Today I must make a decision. I was diagnosed at the beginning of this year and took 5 weeks off work in March/April to see doctors, get MRI’s, and blood work. The reality of my situation has not fully set in yet. Then I went back to work but due to the cocktail of medications I was on, I had no real control over my mind or functionality to do anything. Within a month things got worse and I slipped into clinical depression. I could not stop crying. One of my doctors had doubled my dosage of Savella to 200MG/day and that tipped me over the edge. I started seeing a therapist a couple of months ago and she recommended that I get some antidepressants and take time off work to let the Prozac time to work. So I did. I have stopped crying but feel that the faucets could turn back on at a moments notice.
I have been on Short Term Disability for 3 weeks now. I have taken myself off two medications that really did not do anything for me except make me loopy, constipated, vision problems, and insomnia. I feel a lot better now and am actually lucid. I have 6 days of feeling better under my belt but my biggest problem is sleep. I am so sleep deprived and have not slept through the night in over 10 months. I have been given Rx’s to help me sleep but nothing has worked to date.
I still wake up stiff and aching all over. It takes me 3-4 hours just to “stabilize” myself and take a shower. Making myself presentable would take another hour at least. I no longer need a cane to walk around but don’t feel that the mixture of medications I am on are correct yet.
Back to the decision - Do I take more time off work (like another 2 weeks) or do I go back and risk a setback? My employer is very sympathetic right now and just wants me to come back when I am ready. But they will be upset if I come back only to take more time off later. Any input is welcome.
I am so sorry to hear all this! I am glad your feeling some better:) in my opinion I think it would be too soon to go back . Take at least a couple more weeks off. You need to be getting better sleep before you think about work. Did you ever try melatonin? Check with the Doc? I hope you feel better and get back to a better night sleep. Take care. Huggssss.
I always went back to early and it caused problems the last 2 years i worked i would work then be off 6 weeks till i finally came out completly.
I would take the extra time off also review your short and long term disability at work ours covered 12 weeks in a year and could actually be one week a month I am out on long term right now.
I was going through the same thing and I loved my job I was getting sick repeatedly being off work covered under FMLA used short term disability kept trying to go back because I loved my job and my co-workers not all but most and then I found out all this stuff has time constraints on them converting from short term to long term next thing you know while I was home sick they had terminated me but thank God I was being evaluated for long term disability when they did otherwise my situation would be worse what the devil meant for evil God used for good my health may be bad but my long term disability was approved and I am now applying for SSDI is still hard I have worked since I was 16 and approaching 50. I say all this to say that I believe I was working against myself able to walk into work but the mental and physical destruction it has done to my body I am a certified nursing assistant of 27 years to many it’s nothing but because I love taking care of people it is everything and when I would get off work I could barely walk to the car much less get in and drive.I guess I’m trying to say look at the whole picture. I hope this made since.If so I hope it helps.God bless
Hi there I am new to this group and I am so glad I found it. My heart goes out to all of you who are in this situation. I was diagnosed with fm 2 years ago. I have been on short term disability 2 times in the last year. I went back to work in may and I have only been able to work about 10 days. I am thinking of going on sis but I am so afraid to give up my job even though I can’t work. Any way I was wondering if anyone else had successfully gone on ssi and also what do any of you do that helps you. I feel for you Kas. I am sending you good vibrations. Be kind a
I, too, am sorry you are suffering so much. I think it is human nature to think we are much better than we really are, when we feel somewhat improved from where we were, especially when 'the where we were' place was so painful and horrid. I think in an employer's perspective they might prefer you to be off longer and come back when you can be there and do your job. I support the idea of you taking more time off to get yourself to a better state. Then reassess in a couple of weeks. It is awesome that you have such a supportive employer. Big hugs.
I too love my job. I found a career that I am passionate about so it is not like work to me. my employer gives 26 weeks of STD at 100% salary and then 52 weeks of LTD at 60% salary. However, I am never going to be the same if I don’t work again.
I have tried Ambien, Melatonin, and now Nytriptoline. Nothing has worked to date. I have no energy but am starting to take Cellgevity supplements to combat that problem. I still need to see an infectious disease specialist because I travel the world for work and still believe that I could have picked up a parasite during my travels. I just wasn’t the same and most of my health issues started after coming back from Angola in June of last year.
I know someone who returned from travels in Africa, not Angola, sorry I can't recall exactly where and when they returned experienced terrible muscle and joint aches and felt ill most of the time. This went on for almost a year of her repeatedly speaking to her GP, until finally they have discovered a parasite, and now they can give her meds and she, I believe is starting to feel better. I think that meeting with an infectious disease specialist is a great idea. I hope you get some answers soon. Big Hugs.
Its been so long for me now since i finally went out that i had forgotten how much my job was who i was.I thought would never get over it,but i don't think about it much anymore.If you have LTD i would go out if possible.You gotta work on yourself,thats enough.
I’d take off the extra two weeks if you can. It may be just what you need to help get the meds right.
Also, I wanted to mention I too had tried many sleep medications and nothing worked until I was given Amitryptiline\Elavil. It works very well for me and many others here on the boards. I sleep through the night with minimal morning drowsiness. I also take two Valerian herb capsules to calm me at night along with the Elavil. I sleep like a dream. You may want to ask your drs. about Elavil.
I took off work in April of this year and I was on a mission...to find out the cause of all this pain. I have been dealing with pain in various places for 2 years. It was unbelievable to be hurting here one day then the next it is something else and my friends at work got tired of hearing me tell them about my pain. I had been to several Drs and got no where. I did manage to have surgery to remove my uterus and then another to remove my right ovary all in an attempt to get rid of right side groin pain. I told my Group Leader I was not coming back until I knew what was wrong with me... now this was after I started having pain in my buttocks that would run down my legs and tremors or twitches... and a few times of having to leave work because I could not do my job...(I work an assembly line building V-8 engines, a lot of twisting, pushing, pulling and being on my feet 8-10 hours a day). It took me a month going to Dr. after Dr. , MRI's , x-rays... along the way I had 2 Drs mention Fibro. without telling me I had it and one put me on Cymbalta. It helped...then I had to know if I actually had Fibro. so I went to my GP. and told him I need to know if I have Fibro or not. again he did not tell me I had it but added Trazodone to help me sleep. So I left there frustrated and set myself up an appointment at a Rheumatologist. I did my home work on the DR. and made sure he was a Fibro friendly Dr. (that is very important). I got my diagnosis...and then some...I have fibro...and Bursitis in both shoulders, right hip, knees, golfers elbow in my left elbow, tennis elbow in both the left and right elbow, gluteal bursitis, siatica... and the kicker Sacroilitis BILATERALY!!!
I was so relieved to FINALLY get a diagnosis of what is wrong with me and this is not all in my head... but the reality did not quite hit me...I went out of work April 15th and got my diagnosis on May 12th and began taking Nourotin 300mg 3 times a day for the first week then 600mg 3 times a day along with the Cymablta and Trazadone which I take before bedtime...through all of this each med. I had to get through the side effects...anyways I have to stop rambling...I got injections as well a total of 5. I was set to return to work on June 3rd. I lasted a total of 5 days...but everyday was a challenge. By the end of the fourth day the sciatica started and I suffered through the weekend and went in on Monday but by Tuesday the sciatica and sacroilitis took me out of work again... I was finally approved for my Short term disability... I found that out yesterday...funny enough it only went through yeaterday and now I have to extend that because none of my Drs. say I am to return to work this Monday and I have no release papers so I cannot return to work... I am going to a chiropractor 3 times a week... My pelvis is twisted my spine curved and I have a half inch leg length issue along with inflammation of the SI joints. I am getting adjustments and tens therapy along with massage and just began decompression...I also just got 3 more injections and got back next week for 3 more...all of this is in an attempt to get me back to work... My GP (I changed to a Fibro. Friendly Family Doctor) told me at our last visit that People with my diagnosis usually never go back to the type of work I Do...she told me while we are working to get me back to work that I need to start thinking about another type of work I can do...I broke down... REALITY...IN MY FACE... BUT... I am a fighter and refuse to go down without a fight... I enjoy my job... and I have to have to insurance or I wont be able to see my Drs. My job requires me to be 100% when I return... well define that! I will NEVER be 100%. I will forever have Fibro. and I am not sure about this SI joint issue...I believe that if we can get that took care of I will be able to get back to doing my job. I will have pain... I cannot change that. It will come in flares which I do not understand that yet but I am sure as time goes by I will.
Point here is take all the time you need before you go back to work. I went back too soon... I went back with no therapy, only meds. and had to leave again. I let my team mates down because I continually stopped the line. I kept forgetting things and I was so embarrassed. I was dropping more bolts than I had ever dropped. I am at a point where I do not know when I will return to work and not even sure that if I do I will be able to actually do my job... it is one thing to be at home going through treatment doing the stretches and then going to a job that is very physical and takes its toll on the body. So this time I am trying to make sure the SI issue is dealt with and hoping that I can be good enough to do what I do... while I am hopeful I also know the reality is that I will have to go out again and seek Long Term Disability...Not what I want to do.
Good luck to you... get your meds straight ask for physical therapy, get your FMLA papers to state your condition is chronic and episodic... and something about intermittent... that one allows you to take time off for Dr.s appointments. I am still in the learning phase of how all this works... but it is important to have that listed...unless you have the vacation time to use... I do not they have taken all mine away... well used it all but 3 days... and the intermittent will take that away as well.
Belinda - Thank you so much for sharing your story. I appreciate all the time it took you to write it all down. I have a similar story and feel/share your pain and frustration. Thank you for the advice. I hope you find all the answers you are looking for in your journey to recovery.
It's such a tough decision and tough times for you. I really feel for you. You obviously don't have the proper meds yet to help with your pain. From what you describe, I would say that you need more time off work at the present time. I don't see how you could function if you need 3 or so hours to not feel the pain. Wking up still in horrific pain is what clues me in the most, as you have breakthrough pain that is ruining your sleep. I'm not judging you either, been there and know how hideous it is to feel completely hideous. I think you need to spend your time trying to get a med that really helps you. have you tried Lyrica or Cymbalta? Lyrica can ake you feeld@mned loopy at frst, takes a onth or so to adjust. I still have days with that dynamic, but usully in the winter, which tells me it's the fibro, not the drug. And sometimes it's a choice of either loopy or in terrific pain. I'm telling you this just to prepare you for that possibilty.
It's possible that you ight be able to keep on working for a while but most of us finally have to call Uncle and quit. I believe that fibro is as life-changing as MS.
If your doctor can't get your fibro under control, maybe you should get a second opinion? You should be able to get more pain relief than you currently do, although I must add that nothing gives you a completely effective cure. Maybe 75-80 percent on a good day.
Feels like I'm missing something but I can't think of it.
I'm sorry to hear your in such a debilitated state. All the below suggestions are good. I have a question: Are there "toxic" people in your life? If you are dependent on them it is really a very sticky situation. Emotions factor so much into the ability to recover or even hold steady with FM. I am disabled with the pain and have about 3 "good" hours a day. Then, if I push it beyond, it only gets worse and worse, for days. But, I'm fortunate in that I can take the time off from working and just deal with the emotional aspects of being disabled and in great pain. One thing I have been able to "feel out" is that I cannot extend myself. I must heal, and make all accommodations to do so. I've been a caregiver all my life and under great stress. I feel that having the FM is a result of living in extreme stress since childhood, and now I am committed to unwinding this Gordian knot, and have gratitude I can work on it now, before it kills me. Like cancer, for me the FM is a life or death situation, I think I'm somewhat older than most of you here: 61. Also I just read Devstar's clinical guide to FM and am wondering if I even was correctly diagnosed! I might, after all, have chronic myofacial trigger syndrome. I am awaiting the results of a battery of autoimmune tests my Rheumatologist took to see if any rheum markers "light up", I"ve taken some preliminary ones before, ANA, Sed rate, and they've been normal. If not, we're working with just the musculoskeletal system! And I'll be relieved, because the autoimmune aspect of FM terrifies me. I can't open intoyour mind from here, but,if you're in the kind of pain you present, working would probably not help recovery, unless being at home is a worse situation for you.
Thank you all for your comments. I am not in a toxic environment. I am newly married and my husband has been incredible through all of this. I am going to take another 3 weeks off to see if I can stabilize my daily aches & pains.