Work- Related question..

[Psyborg]

That has to change. It's not even negotiable with Wegs.

I've watched some members on here resist the change and suffer for it. Either the initial treatment drags on or they keep flaring, etc.... Then you get in a vicious cycle where the Wegs increases, so it interferes with your life, which increases stress, which increases Wegs.....

I've had relentless high stress since I was dx'ed and it's caused me nothing but trouble. Much of the stress I'm under is unavoidable--fallout from the Wegs. I've had to learn not to add to it and how to better manage what I can't avoid. No one likes to hear "You have to change." But Wegs is here to stay and is going to run the show if you don't.

Well that's definitely food for thought. I might have to back off of what I've been pursuing at work and tell them my body can't handle it anymore. Thank you for the feedback.

[Col 23]

Hi all, interesting thread. I am not working at the moment. My doc has advised that for the next 6 months at least that I go at 10% and no stress and let the medication do its work. I also noted somewhere that while on Methotrexate that you need to rest. I find the same if I overdo it one day Im wiped out for two or three. Cant get up and move much, feel tired and listless and more aches and pains come in.
cheers Col 23

[Sangye]

Col, your doc gave you great advice. The only thing I'd say differently is that it's not just mtx-- any of the treatments require rest. Active Wegs burns up a lot of the body's resources. We don't expect flowers to grow in a forest that's on fire or even still smoldering.

[Col 23]

Thanks Sangye. I suppose I was referring to mtx because thats what Im on. I do notice the diffence when I rest but still tend to think there is no tomorrow when Im feeling well as I want to get so much done in case I cant cope the next day. The problem is the mind is so active but the body soon lets me know to go slow.
cheers Col 23

[Lightwarrior]

Thanks Sangye. I suppose I was referring to mtx because thats what Im on. I do notice the diffence when I rest but still tend to think there is no tomorrow when Im feeling well as I want to get so much done in case I cant cope the next day. The problem is the mind is so active but the body soon lets me know to go slow.
cheers Col 23

I love Sangye's metaphor of a burning forest, my vivid imigination requires me to share the beautiful, sturdy green buds breaking through the nitrogen rich soil left from the fire. If we lay low and rest we can break through and reach for the sun again.

Seriously, I get the wanting to get everything done on a good day before the bad day hits. I become obsessive about making sure everything is in order before the storm. I actually do better at work because my co-workers and my boss aren't intimidated about making me leave early or not coming in, in the middle of the night if there is a diaster etc. I've learned that I can do a lot of "walking people through it" over the phone. I worry that at some point my co-workers will tire of being my guardian angels..but for now I am lucky.

[elephant]

I use to try to get a bunch done....just incase I would get sick. I just break up the house work. Even though I am in medical remission, I still have to rest. If I do to much I get wiped out. LIke Sangye stated this is a life thing...even if we are in remission....it can come back...."I'LL be back"...from the Terminator movie.

[Jack]

I used to suffer a lot from the Good Day/Bad Day syndrome and still do to some extent, but I realised that half of it was being caused by overdoing it on Good days and resting on Bad days.

[Sangye]

I've gotten much better at the Good Day/Bad Day thing. I listen to my body better on the Good Day so that I don't overdo it. Sometimes that's just unavoidable. If I have to spend the day at JHU, it's going to be exhausting for me no matter what.

I've figured out how to plan "cushion" days surrounding a busy day. If I go to JHU on a Friday, that means I don't do anything big the day before (eg, groceries, lots of laundry). Depending on what shape I'm in, it might mean I need a 2-day cushion so I can store up strength. And it also means I don't do anything big the next day or two.

I actually see my week in terms of Doing Days and Cushion Days. The Cushion days keep me from crashing and burning, or from being constantly disappointed.