To Work or Not To Work

[risnerrose]

For those of you no longer in the work force, when and how did you decide it was time to quit working?  What symptoms finally lead to this decision?  

I've taken a couple of days off in an attempt to "rest up".  It seems like I've been pushing through fatigue for a month now, and I wonder if that is what will finally do me in.  Brain fog is my other area of concern.  

Just curious how you knew it was time.

Sherry

[Eyesnlegs]

I still work full time as an academic at a University but only because of the following:

I get:

7 weeks holiday a year
5 weeks off to research and write papers per year
These are spread across the year so I don't work more than 5 or 6 weeks without a break
I can work at home at least 2 days a week
I no longer stand up and lecture in a classroom but instead act as a higher education advisor and supervise projects / dissertations individually
I get Taxis to work paid for between me/ work/ a government project to keep disabled people working
My boss has a friend with MS
I have been there 14 years
I now have a PhD in an area important to the department
My colleagues are wonderful and know I am not lazy
I get 6 months fully paid sick leave a year and 6 months half pay.

I have worked far too hard to get there but it is paying dividends now as without all this I would be out of work by now.

Pat

[shermay]

I was in the Horticultural industry, running my own business.  I was working 18 hour days 7 days a week, and had studied hard to gain my Doctorate.

The crunch time came when I would open up in the morning and the humidity would hit me like a brick – and I would have to go back home to sleep!

It was a very sad time for me having to close the business down, as I loved my work, I used to call my plants ‘my little babies’ but that’s when my Husband came up with the idea of moving to the South of France, where now I have another business – not in the same industry though, we now rent out Summer Cottages’.

It’s much less stressful, apart from a Saturday when we have to do the change-overs, but nevertheless it has worked out for the best.  (and cleaning the darn pool)!

Debs

[risnerrose]

In my career as a teacher, I don't believe working part-time is an option.  Sometimes I feel great and can make it all day, but there are times I am caught completely off guard and exhaustion sets in mid-day.    

[The_Lorelei]

I'm currently out of work and my application is being looked through for SSDI.  I had already been out of work on short term disability when this started up.  I tried going back to work but had to leave because I couldn't see properly and I was in so much pain and frustration that I was crying.  I hate publicly crying but sometimes it happens.

Basically, now I don't feel that I can work because just going to store wipes me out for days.  I can't socialize (just sitting around talking or watching a movie) for too long because I don't know if it's the excitement or that so much is happening around me that my brain starts to shut down, I lose words, fall down, and the pain worsens.

If you feel that your symptoms are interfering with your body or your mind enough that your work would suffer, then it's time to consider that decision to leave the workforce.  Maybe it won't be an always decision but just for now.  I certainly don't want to always be on disability and I'm hopeful that one day we'll get these symptoms under control enough that I can look for a new job.

[Guitar_grrrl]

I work 3 days /wk doing cardiac ultrasound.  I try to take a wee break between patients to do paperwork.  I'm still whipped!  There are days when holding and controlling a transesophageal probe is darn near impossible.  The pros: I get to help others find answers to their cardiac problems, and that gets me out of my own head/problems.  

I'd like to make it 'til the end of the year.  We'll see.  I feel like I'm progressing fast, but I don't know what constitutes "disabled enough for SSDI".  I probably wouldn't qualify at this moment.

Good luck!
Guitar_grrrl

[candy158]

Hi Sherry,
I stopped work mainly because I just could not do it anymore.  I was a Nanny, and had been for 28 years.  It was the hardest thing I did, because I loved my job, but you can't expect people to pay us when we are not long reliable.  Through, fatigue, symptons, or anything else.  I could not lift or hold babies or children any longer.  I could not guarantee that I could drive everyday, so I was unreliable.  I would fall asleep at the drop of a hat, and that could mean that I wasn't watching the kids.  So, you see., each person is different, and take the time to think about it.  I was 49 years old when I quit....
now I am 51+ and I just got my disability, and it will be a God send, with being self
employed, there are no benefits to rely on.

So, good luck with your decision, it is one to be thought out.

You will be in my thoughts,
Candy

[grannyhotwheels]

Hi Sherry,
I think when you have to start asking yourself that question and when you have to take time off of work to "rest up", that's when it's time.  You may even try going part time for a while just to see if you can handle that.  For me, my MS progressed so fast I had to stop working within 4 months after my symptoms began.  We have to listen to our bodies, that will usually be all it takes to know.

I'll be praying,
Carol