'I work for a National Health Insurance company'

'I am the Quality Assurance Manager for an independent testing laboratory. We perform analytical chemistry and microbiology testing for pharmaceutical, medical device and cosmetic manufacturers - basically products that are regulated by the FDA. My job is to ensure that our operations stay in compliance with all the Federal (and State, since we are a state-accredited lab for drinking water testing) laws and regulations. When one of the regulatory agencies comes and inspects our operations, I am the contact person. I write or approve all the procedures and methods we use, handle failure investigations, customer complaints, perform internal audits of our operations and either present or coordinate all training for our employees. We also function as the quality control laboratory for a Fortune 500 retailer, and perform their vendor qualification and release testing for their line of personal care products. I have a staff of 9 direct reports, and I report directly to the CEO. I am also responsible for compliance with safety regulations and develop those programs as well. It is a very high-profile position, very demanding. I learn something new every day. Lots of problem-solving and interaction with everyone from the glassware washers to senior management. I love this field, and have worked in it for almost 20 years. Never boring, and as I said, I'm always learning something, and I feel as though I make a contribution as well. Working for a lab is a first, I had spent the bulk of my career working in the same field, but for the manufacturers. I though it would be easier in the lab....WRONG ! Now instead of one production department, I'm dealing with 100. I was diagnosed with RA about a year ago, and it was a tough year to be sure, dealing with the mental fatigue was harder than the physical pain. Hopefully the meds I'm on now will keep working, so I can too.'

'I AM A 46 YEAR OLD WOMEN, WHO HAS PRACTICED PHARMACY FOR THE PAST 22 YEARS. AT THE TIME OF MY INITIAL INCAPACITY I WAS UP TO 46 HOUR WORK WEEKS. I WAS A CHAIN STORE PHARMACIST, BUT HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO WORK SINCE APRIL OF 2001, DUE TO NECK,BACK,ARM AND HAND PAIN. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE REPETITIVE STRAIN. I AM WONDERING HOW MANY OTHER RPH ARE OUT THERE WITH THE SAME OR SIMILAR SYMPTOMS.'

'Hi! My name is Heather and I live in the UK. I am a full time orchestral violinist in a professional symphony orchestra. My job is very demanding physically, and I have had to really fight to stay in the job because my body really complains!! I have Hypermobility Syndrome, chronic bilateral tennis and golfers elbows, shoulder impingement syndrome, chronic bilateral shoulder tendon inflammation, osteoarthritis in knees, hips and neck and back,a bulging disc at L5-S1 and possible Polymyalgia Rheumatica (ESR of 57)...but I treat life as a challenge and am not ready to give up and sit in a wheelchair all day!! I would rather be in pain and working than sitting at home in pain and whingeing!!! The most difficult and demanding aspect of the job is the travelling: we do a lot of international tours, icluding to the US, and this puts enormous strain on the body with long plane, train and bus journeys. In fact, I missed 2 major ones this year due to shoulder and lower back problems, and I am concerned about how long I will be able to go on doing those sort of tours...
I have physiotherapy 2x weekly and am on lots of tablets including prednisone, Darvocet and amitryptiline...i know i will not be able to work for ever, and treat every day in the job as if it were my last, so I give my all in every concert and try to enjoy it as much as possible, altho' soemtimes this is easier said than done when the pain levels are too high! Even the consultants are amazed i am still playing the violin professionally at the level i do: I consider myself very blessed to still be in a position to work, whereas many people do have to stop playing altogether. I am grateful for a very stubborn streak and the strength God gives me each day. My motto is: TOMORROW IS ANOTHER DAY!...if you have had a bad one today, wait and see what tomorrow brings, because things could feel very different! The pain levels may be the same, but coping abilities and feeling fluctuate, so I may be able to cope tomorrow even if today was a complete write-off! I am also grateful for supportive friends and family!'

'I'm an attorney.'

'I WORK IN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CURRENTLY I WORK IN COMMUNICATIONS AS A DISPATCHER AND 911 CALL TAKER. I HAVE BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH FIBROMYLGIA AND LUPUS. I WORK SHIFT WORK 12HR DAYS AND CHANGE FROM DAY TO MIDNIGHT'S EVERY 8 WKS RECENTLY BEEN HAVING FREQUENT FLARES AND CONSIDERING DISABILITY RETIREMENT AFTER 11YRS BUT I DON'T WANT IT TO RUN MY LIFE, I'M ON FMLA AND THAT DOESN'T LAST FOREVER'

'Project database administrator / technical consultant. Do not want responsibility of being a production dba as when tiried, do not feel
that I make the best decisons. But enjoy working on projects - the
technology, challenges by different client requirements, working with
people - team building is challenging and rewarding. Times of RA flares,
it is tough, but people are more knowledgeable about dibihliating
diseases and take the flare periods instride, which relieves me of
additional stresses and allows me to bounce back sooner. Heres to modern medicine, R&D, and the Information Age.'

'I am 29 years old and I was recently diagnosed with RA. I am currently working as a receptionist in a busy property title insurance company. I am still being challenged daily with new physical limiations and obstacles but I wont't give up. The RA seems to be progressing rapidly before my eyes and my hand are looking funkier every day. My boss is very understanding and compassionate. I'm glad I have my humor and bubbly personality to compensate for my scribbly hand writing and loud &quoT;popping&quoT; noises my body is making. I scared one of our clients when my knee popped like a tree snapping in two as I walked across the room. That was really embarrasing. I dropped a tray of refreshments all over a client because my hand hurt too much to hold it up. I am very afraid of what the future holds for my ability to support my 5 year old son. I am keeping the faith and I know that I'll be able to handle what comes. It won't be easy but, I'll keep pressing onward to show my boy that mommy is strong and give him the courage to overcome what ever he may face in his life. '

'I'm a Quality Improvement Program Coordinator at a state Medicaid agency. I have an RN degree, but no longer do clinical nursing. I went back to college and got a Business Management degree, which helped me get into another area of health care in the fairly early stages of my osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia. The management in my workplace is very liberal in allowing me flexibility in my work hours and I'm able to work at home when I need to, but I'd love to be able to retire or at least decrease my work hours significantly and have time to do the activities I know would help me. Working my 40+ hours a week leaves me too tired to do much else.'

'I have had to change careers several times in order to accommodate what I can and can't do physically. I worked as a Flight Attendant for a major carrier. My elbows, wrist and back got so bad I went on intermittent FMLA when I was in too much pain to open the door in an emergency, which was the most important part of my job. Or if I felt I hurt too bad to actually perform CPR if necessary. My Rheumatologist suggested disability 3 times. Not something I want to do now. I am 38 and have had JRA/Still's Disease since I was 8 and now they've added Fibromyalgia. I started thinking about what interests I had and a career choice that would last me until I was ready to quit working. I went to Real Estate School. I am a licensed Realtor in Phoenix, AZ. and have taken extensive training classes, obtaining additional Realtor designations so not only will I be able to do my job for a long time to come but I am determined to be one of the best Realtors in Phoenix.'

'I have been a &quoT;mom&quoT; for 25 years. I went back to college when my youngest was a sophomore in high school. I was diagnosed with RA during my software year. My grades dropped but I managed to get through and get a degree.
Now, I have a degree, and haven't been able to work because of the pain, fatigue and lack of motor skills ( if you sit by me when I have a knife in my hand, protect yourself cuz the knives go flying) &lT;-- same with forks.
I am a person who worked hard at raising kids and now with my degree I find I am not able to work. I do not have enough work credits to apply for SS. Life is hard.'

'Hi! up until five years ago I owned and operated my own small hairstyling business. I could no longer stand the pain in my back and neck so I had to keep decreasing my load until it was time to give it up...I am 44 yrs. old and have OA...and can't take the medications that relieve the pain...I also suffer from sever migraines and sometimes I wonder if it is somehow connected to the problems with my neck...so far I have not found a job that I can do, as my back, knees and neck give me the most problems. I am bound and determined to find something this fall that I will be able to do without too much pain...I will not give in to this darn OA! Keep on smiling if it kills me!!!! ;)'

'I am a pharmacy tech in retail...was working 70hr week but reduced it to 40...now the pain in my hips & knees & below is making even this difficult.It is so draining ..I am tired of being in pain 90% of the time.

I find relief in the garden, as we are well over 100 degrees (AZ) its a good escape from people too!'

'I am the mother of three wonderful children and the grandmother of one beautiful 6 month old granddaughter. I work full time as a supervisor at a large MH/MR facility.'

'I'm 63 years old, I retired a year ago. I was self-employed as a pizza shop owner for 40 years ,on my feet every day! Now I work about 35 hours a week as a cook. All of a sudden I'm in agony, the Doc says I have spinal stenosis. My hip and right leg hurt all the time. I'm out on temporary disability, I sleep alot, I can't stand the boredom I want to go back to work.'

'I am working full time as a research nurse in rheumatology for a medical school. I used to be a critical care nurse in a CVICU but left when my RA became too severe. Now I'm great!'

'I work as an Assistant Manager for a small retail store. I am often standing at the register for 4 to 8 hours a day and I have developed heel spurs. Does anyone have any suggestions of how to help with the pain of this? '

'I'm an MRI Technologist. I make pretty pictures, and I love my job.'

'I work for the United States Postal Service. I've been there for 15 years. I am an expeditor. I hope to continue working for as long as possible!'

'I a</font><font size="2">m a Branch Manager for a mid-sized bank.'

'I am a Health Care Risk Management Consultant. Iam also a speaker/educatorat conventions, seminars, and for major corporations.'

'I teach 8<sup>th Grade math'

'Hi - My name is Vicki and I drive a school bus. I have been in a bus for 18 years, and for the last three have also worked full time as a teachers aide (paraprofessional) in the high school. This enables me to have board paid insurance. I had insurance as a 3 hour cook/driver for the three years prior to going to the high school, but seven hours in a classroom is much less physically stressful than the kitchen work. I gave up stairs this year and copped a key to the elevator. It takes longer than the stairs, but I don't hurt nearly so much!! The folks I work with and for are really good about the tired and painful days. I can drive without much trouble, and the kids seem to know that I feel bad and most of them try to behave. There are only 30 or so on the bus, so it is a good job and pays nicely. My husband is a full time farmer, so I have the most of the housework to do, but he is a pretty good cook, and can take care of that part if necessary. He is understanding about naps on weekends, and going to bed early. I would LIKE to work from home on the computer!! But as long as I am able to drive, I will probably continue to work.'

'I am a teacher aide in kinderarten in a public school.'

'My name is Cliff, I currently work for Orkin Pest Control in Augusta, Ga. My career path started in the Military, Army Infantry, including 3 years as a Drill Sergeant. My interests changed after a number of years and joined my brothers in uniform as a Police Officer. After service approximately 15 years in Law Enforcement, I felt the wrath of Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Soon found myself having toes amputated, joints fused, methotrexate treatments you know the routine. Of course, my ordeal spans 9 years, and today I find myself just finding alternate ways to get things done.

My biggest battle starts early in the morning, a hot bath just to get my joints moving.

Just wanted to finish by saying that I now work in an office handling new customer sales and service issues. I love this job because I work with a highly skilled group of men and women committed to the highest level of customer service one could ever expect. The folks in the office know my limitations and accept them, especially my poor memory. My branch manager is one of those guys that commands respect my treating us like adults and individuals with diverse backgrounds and skills. Thank you for letting me share my experiences'

'Until I had a surgery go badly, I was a Software Engineer for a big
multinational computer company. Designing, writing and testing software. I worked on big business software used by companies all over the world. If you have ever used a cash point machine or booked an aeroplane ticket, you have probably indirectly used software I have worked on. And, in the world of computers, the state of your body does not matter. As long as you have the knowledge, skills and ability, there are tools which allow you to produce software despite the disability. So what if you have to use a wheelchair to get around? That doesn't affect your brain. For the partially sighted, there are screen magnifiers; for the blind there are screen readers; for the deaf or hearing impaired, computer sounds can put up a visual indicator on the screen. For people with hand problems, there are tools out there that minimise keyboard and mouse or track ball use, although there is a learning curve to get there. And for those who prefer a job slightly less technical, there are always the manuals. They may not be shipped as hard copy anymore, but manuals are important. They still go out on CD-ROM. There is also the continual learning that this sort of job demands and the support to earn further qualifications. My MSc was paid for by the company I worked for. Yes, it was hard work to get it while working full time, but I managed to get it around various health problems and work deadlines. It took rather longer than I had hoped, but I got there in the end. Despite the hard work and tight schedules for product delivery, the camaraderie with work mates (where colour, religion and everything like that is also irrelevant) is wonderful. That is one of the things I miss. Meeting up at lunch and chatting about anything and everything. Going for a cup of tea and ditto. I worked in this field over twelve years before I had the bad luck to be signed off work. But, if I am ever well enough to return to work, there will be a job for me. If I am lucky, it may even be in the same department with the same manager. I know in which direction I want my career to go, I just need my body to co-operate so I can get back into work.

In the UK, you are expected to have a good BSc degree in computing or a numerate subject. I would imagine that the requirements in the rest of the world are similar. I also had to do a written exam which tests for logic and related skills before my second interview and, in the final interview, I had to display other skills which are also needed in this
field. Team working and leadership qualities are required, although
generally not at the same time. Communication skills and many others are needed. Intelligence is not everything, but ability is. If you have the required skills and the ability, then Software Engineering or one of the related jobs may well be a way forward for you, enabling you to rejoin the world of work. I hope to get back into work at some point, but we need to get my RA under control, heal from this surgery and have the other wrist arthrodesis done and healed, then I may have a chance, as long as the rest of my body doesn't continue to deteriorate.'

'I am a surveillance operator in a casino full time'

'Hi there! My name is Maria del Carmen Hurtado and I´m writing
from Perú. This is the first time I contact you, although I have been receiving your interesting newsletter for quite a while. I would like to tell you that I´m currently out of work, well, always have been, since I was affected with RA at an early age. For that reason, I couldn´t finish my studies (I was a nursing student) and had to stayed long periods of time in the hospital because of ongoing flare ups. However, I managed to study translation at a technical school and now I work once in a while as a free lancer, but it isn´t enough to cover all my expenses. I´ve tried desperately to find a steady job, but this is very difficult to do in a country where people think that a person with a disability is not much of a good employee and look down on you as though you were some freak. It´s sad, I feel sad and disappointed but anyway, I keep on going. I´m most thankful for letting me share other people´s experiences and ways to live better with arthritis, your valuable advice has made me feel that I´m not alone any more. Thank you very much!'

'I work on cars, rebuilding engines, pulling transmissions, brakes etc. Sometimes it's very hard just lifting a tire to put it back on. Pushing cars in and out of the shop is very hard on me at times.' -Martin

'I'm a Benefits Analyst for a Fortune 500 company. Although it's not part of my job description, I make sure that we consider the needs of all employees - including those with disabilities or health problems when we are looking at the coverage that we provide.'

'A switchboard operator 8 days a month and regular Mystery Shopper for several companies.'

'I'm a Motor Vehicle Operator. I drive 40 hours a week, doing wheelchair's lifting packages working with disabled clients and senior Citizens.'

'I am a computer programmer'

'I am a secretary, I am down to typing with just two fingers because they are so crooked but I work for very understanding people.'

'I am a EMT-Basic, working on my Intermediate, then on to Paramedic hopefully! I work 3 days a week on the ambulance. I love helping people and it gets my mind off of the pain. I have Fibromyalgia.'

'I work on a telephone helpline for people with arthritis.'

'I design, program, and maintain 5 Web sites for NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. I edit technical papers for two scientists, and I prepare graphics to go into the technical papers.'

'I'm a school RN at very large K-6 school 1600 students spread out on two campuses'

'I was an intensive care nurse with 25 years experience, since 1/14/02 I am now on disability and looking to change to non-bedside nursing'

'I work for one of California's largest health care foundation. I work 40 or more hours on the computer as a Systems and Training Administrator for our data base program creating special reports, backup for technical issues, and provide training on our data base program.'

'i work for Conagra frozen Food on a producition line'

'i am a registered respiratory therapist i am currently on short term disability trying to overcome a major ra flare up.'

'I am an Intensive Care/Cardiac Care Registered Nurse ---although I have been out of work on FMLA since October 31st'

'human resource manager'

'No, on short term disability, currently filing for social security.'

'Yes. I work as Software Development Analyst.'

'I am employed full time as Speech/Language Pathologist and Ass't Pre-School Director'

'yes.. I'm a school nurse'

'Yes, office manager for a university'

'Quality Control Lab Tech for Archer Danials Midland Company'

'I am a tool and die maker on short term disability since sept 2000'

'pharmacist at a large chain store. I 'only' work 40 hours a week, most pharmacists work more.'

'I work as an employee benefits analyst for a Fortune 500 company.'

'I am an Early Intervention Teacher in the Birth-Three Program.'

'Yes. I'm a secretary for 40 hours a week then a full time mom, housekeeper etc.'

'Yes, I am the business manager for an oral surgeon's office.'

'Yes. I am a Client Services Rep for a printing company.'

'Yes, I work full-time as a loan officer in a bank. I am also Secretary to the Board of Directors, and take minutes at all the Board of Directors meetings, as well as committee meetings. I am the one who types all the bank policies, employee handbook, and basically everything that needs to be typed and processed.'

'yes. I am employed full time. I am an account specialist. this means I sit at a computer all day.'

'yes. I am a hairsylist and nail tech.'

'I'm an outside plant field and planning engineer for communications companies.'

'I am an assistant office manager for a company that does court filing, process serving, investigations and court reporting. I run the court reporting department and 'supervise'; 18 court reporters.'

'Yes. I do clerical work in office environment.'

'I teach first grade in a public school system.'

'Yes, I'm employed at a hotel in Myrtle Beach. I work both front desk and reservations.'