For those of you who are still working, could you tell me what kind of work you can still do? I would love to have a part time job. I have a wonderful business background and frustrated that I had to sell my business. Thank God my mind hasn't been effected and I do some really good volunteer work. But I can do that at my own pace. I cannot imagine getting dressed everyday and driving to a job. I type well and thought of doing office work from home. I even put an ad in the paper. But to be honest, my wrists hurt so much even when I do short typing on the computer. So maybe it is better that nobody answered the ad! :) When I think about my best asset, it would be answering phones and giving information. What about you? Do any of you have a suggestion? Thanks! Susan Lee
I work part time (25-30 hours/week) as a paralegal. For the most part I have been able to do the job although, sometimes, at the end of the day, all I can do is sit and put my feet up.
I cannot believe this is my first post.
Welcome Patti and thanks for your reply! What a wonderful job! I totally understand though, your end of the day fatigue. I guess pacing yourself is the name of the game. I am always working at that! But, I have had RA for about 30 years and even though everyone reacts differently, I am at a stage where I need to rest off and on during the day. And even though I have a volunteer job in charge of a staff, I do have the option of turning off the phone and resting before continuing my day. I have considered a homebased job because I surely do miss bringing home a paycheck!
Please continue to post. We are so glad to meet you! Susan LeeI am a court reporter. I go out and take jobs, then I transcribe
and edit them at home. It is a great job, but I don't know if I
will be able to stay strong and fit enough with my hands to do it. Arizonara, I so hope you have many more years ahead of you to work that great job. Everyone is different so I wouldn't worry ahead of time. But, if things should change I would pick something you loved out of the job you are doing right now and go with it. And those clients that you have worked for are a perfect place to start networking if that should come to pass. I though, have moved to another state and hopefully my volunteer work will have some clout. As for the rest of you (Crunchy, Trish, Patti and Pammy) your replies were so welcome and I will give each of them some good thought. Funny though, after reading your notes I finally got to my feelings. This is the deep down suff so hang in there! :) I am a very positive person and I love to work. I just have one problem...I get real excited on good days and think I can conquer this job situation. But on bad days I wonder how I could ever hold a job. Do you all have those days when you can't keep up? I have always prided myself as a person who hangs in there no matter what and finishes my promises. I don't want to let anyone down because I can't finish the work. That is my hang up and I would so appreciate hearing your views on this subject. Susan Lee
I wonder if you would be interested in substitute teaching? There is a great shortage. In CA you need a bachelors degree and take a test to qualify. You get to pick and choose the days and locations you work. You don't have to write any lesson plans. Here the pay is about 0. per day for 7 hours (including lunch). I work full-time (40hrs) as a Dep Manager in a large retail store, I am on my feet all day and do lifting and carrying. I was only recently dx'ed with RA (Feb) and am currently off sick, I was off for 7 weeks and then after starting MTX decided to go back, well I was ok for the 1st week back, a little tired but that was to be expected, however the second week, I was in one day and off sick the next, it was awful, my knees swelled up to the point I couldn't walk and even stretch them out and my wrists and fingers also began swelling up, hence I was having another flare
I have come to the conclusion that I do have to eventually change my job and was also wondering what I could get into, I thought about going into an office but then also thought about my wrists and fingers which seem to swell all the time it seems. I've also thought about a call centre manning phones, whatever I do I will only be going for part-time as I'm not sure my body can cope with full-time, hopefully when we get my meds sorted, I know its early days. Gosh, I don't think I have helped you at all, maybe even put you off, sorry
Caz Here's what I do. I wear those compression gloves that you can get in any pharmacy. They really make a difference. I do finger exercises. For several months, I could barely use my hands at all. My doctor had me use paraffin baths, you know those ones you can get in Walmart for doing nails. Oh, these are wonderful and really help. He also had be wear wrist splints at night. Definitely check with your doctor about doing that one. But even so, the physical trials getting dressed every day, driving (I have long commute) and being so much pain convinces me that I won't be able to do this forever. Besides, sitting at desk all day, makes other joints less flexible. If you can break your day up with either rest periods (oh, I wish!) or at least getting up and walking away. Changing activities helps considerably. My goal is eventually to work at home doing writing and design as a freelancer. To prepare for that, I am reducing as many daily expenses as possible since I don't have a family for support. If I did, I would quit the job and just do other activities. But I have no choice.
This is a good topic because it is at the top of my list of
concerns. Can I continue to work with my hands, and do others
with RA do work with their hands?
Patti -- Welcome to the forum. Jump in anywhere anytime. We
are always glad to see some new faces. I am pretty new here too,
but I have been on here a lot because this is still so new to me.
I work full time... I used to travel extensively, but that is tapering off, due to the RA. I'm an admission representative for a college. The best part is that I live two blocks from the office, so I can walk everyday (which is good for the joints) and I go home for lunch and take a nap! Some days are better than others, of course, but I meet with prospective students and their families, answer questions through phone calls and emails, send mail, etc. I recommend finding a place close to home. The midday nap saves me! Also, my boss is very understanding. Days when I just feel terrible she finds someone else to meet with students so I can just stay at my desk. (Also, getting up frequently keeps me from getting too stiff... I try to plan small tasks so I can keep achieving things. I keep a small cup for water so I have to refill it several times. And then once it kicks in... I have to go to the ladies' room several times too!) Good luck!I am a nurse, so I am on the run pretty much the whole time I am at work. The only thing that saves me is that I work for an agency so I pick when and where I want to work. Maybe you could sign on with a staffing agency and that way you would get to pick the days you want to work and if you find a job that is suitable to your needs, they often are looking for a permenant replacment. The other job that I have always thought looked low stress was working in a jewelry store. I dont know why, it just seems fun and maybe you would get an employee discount!!You know, I never thought about a temp agency. That isn't a bad
idea. You can choose if you are able to work.
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