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Thread: when is it time to stop working?

  1. #1
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    Default when is it time to stop working?

    Well fellow Weggie's I need some assistance in an ongoing debate between my spouse and myself, over the years since my diagnosis we have tried to meet each other in the middle and hear each others point of view and make the decision together....up to now. My spouse feels that I need to stop working all together to focus on enjoying life, feeling good and having the energy to be with my family and friends. I on the other hand feel that I need to keep working to keep my sanity through all of this...I love what I do, I feel I help people navigate their way through their illness as I work in Disability Management. How silly I can help others through their disability but not myself?!?

    Either way I thought I would put it out to the group and see how many people are still able to work with this crazy WG and if you are no longer working when did you know it was time to stop.....was it your choice to stop working or did WG make that decision for you?

    Overall I feel that I am not as effective as I once was at work, I get tried easy and find it a bit of struggle to concentrate on a project for to long. I can make it through the day physically but I am pretty tried when I get home and don't feel much like evening adventures. I enjoy my job, I have for the most part great clients, my co-workers offer support, and I like that I have a distraction through the day. My employer is aware of my condition and is understanding in the sense that they have allowed me to have a very flexible schedule, and allow me to attend doctor's appointments ect.. My doctor's at this point are not overly present, I am in the process of searching for new specialists as the few I have seen since moving to another province have not been great nor did they understand or know much about WG.

    I am looking forward to hearing your stories and helping my spouse and I come to decision, after all I am asking the professionals

    Thanks everyone!

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    Hey cutehair...shouldn't that be a line to some cute person??? LOL! Just in a mood today. Welcome to the blog...you will get answers and caring and understanding here. As for working, if YOU think you can, then you should. If you screw up or over work your self, then you should do as your husband suggests. Actually, for most on here who still work, it has been/is a chore, but it seems to keep people focused and full of hope as work for many is a target to be regained. Unless a retirement is active for you (as it should be), then sitting around with WG as company isn't very ideal. I'm for working IF it isn't interfering with your recovery. Best to you.
    Knowing how to think empowers you far beyond those who only know what to think. -NdT


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    I too felt that I could work and keep my life as normal as possible. I managed for nearly a year and half. No remission, no break from the disease. My work place didn't help either. Infact they seemed to pile on the stress deliberately. Long story short, it has been one year since I stopped working and eight months after I did, I finally achieved a drug induced remission. Do I think leaving to take care of myself had something to do with it??? Absolutely! I'm not wealthy by any means. I'm not drawing disability as my hubby is retired military and currently works a civilian job. We live within our means and sometimes that means doing without niceties. I do miss making my own money, but if it meant getting active Wegs again, then no.
    I know it is not an alternative for everyone, but if you are in a position that you can take a leave of absence, then I highly recommend it. Taking care of yourself is priority.

  4. #4
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    That decision is a very hard one to make. I had to quit working 2yrs ago this month. I owned a business and set my own hours, but it was taking all my energy to just get out the door every day. My clients were see me get weaker and didn't renew my contracts, so they made the decision for me. It was a blessing in the end but, boy at the time my pride and heart was broken after 13 years of building my business. I since then have not had to be admitted from infections that I had picked up going into their offices.Maybe your husband is seeing the energy that it is taking from you and wants you to have more time for you. My husband was glad that I got rid of the stress and finally took the time to take better care of myself. Is there anyway to go part-time or work from home? I guess you know better than anyone what you are able to do. Best of wishes to you and your husband on your decision and Welcome to the forum!
    Jana


    Do not fear anything, just do it afraid!
    It does not matter how slowly you go, as long as you do not stop!


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    Hi Cutehair,
    I was diagnosed in 2010. I run my own business and for a year before I struggled badly and my business turnover halved. The following year and a half on meds was even harder. Luckily I had some friends that gave a helping hand and I was able to continue working thoughout those years.

    The drs did advise me to give up work and focus on my health. I came very close to selling up until one doctor said to me that he wasn't worried so much about the disease killing me but far more concerned about the damage the medication could do and that he could keep me alive for 30 years!!

    That made me think harder about finishing work because I really couldn't afford to retire.

    Since then, the last two years in med free remission I've managed to double my income and move ahead. I am really pleased I didn't stop work. Mind you, even now, every day is a struggle. I don't feel well at all and have not had many good feel days. So tired etc. I do wish I could financially stop work.

    Lately, I've the feeling my health is failing again but as I have said to my friends who also think I should quit work, I've decided to continue working until my body tells me to stop.

    What else can we do? For most people, there is no free ride out there.

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    Our commencement speaker here a few years ago said, "Pick a profession that you love enough, would do for free, and if society is willing to pay you for it, jump on the opportunity."

    Work for me is an outlet to get things done in my life. It is also the source of my insurance. On days when I feel bad, I still go to work, because there, I can do things to help me forget about the disease--even if it is only for part of the day.

    If I weren't working, I would be a very large depressed blob with nothing to do. I haven't been well enough to do the physical things I love to do, so for me, work is the only consistent thing going for me this past 30 months.
    MikeG-2012

    "You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have"


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    I think it's fair to say that everyone who gets a life changing diagnosis goes through a process of reordering their priorities in life. If you love what you do and find it rewarding, it may be good therapy for you as long as it is not causing you physical problems. For myself, I took a look at how I was spending my days in a stressful job that I did not like, and decided that the best thing for my health was to leave it. Having the stamina to engage in healthy exercise and other activities to manage my condition, not to mention being away from work stress, has really contributed to my recovery. Stress and fatigue are definitely triggers for symptoms, so anything we can do to minimize them is helpful.

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    I spent five and a half months in hospital when this disease got me and another two months watching day time tv. I could not wait to get back to work. I was still using a walking stick and could only work half my weekly hours to start with but work were great and gave me all the time and support I needed. As to retiering, I am only sixtyone and have a twenty year old son at the Newark school of violin making. He gets no financial support except from me and his mother, so for the next two years at least I can't afford to. Janet, my wife does not qualify for retierment until I am seventy, so if I can I would like to work till then. I really, really do not want to watch anymore daytime tv until I have to. Each of us is different and we should all follow our own hearts and dreams. If you can afford it, retire and get out there and let your hair down.
    Mike
    If you can't be positive be optomistic.

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    I didn't have a choice to work or not. As my WG progressive my Dr actually told me I had to stop, due to medications and being tired. There are days that it was hard for me too function. Also I had so many Dr's appointment and surgerys
    That it was hard to get time off and it was my health or career.

  10. #10
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    IMO, if you can manage to work, it is better for you. You have less time to brood over things and it gives a sence of being 'normal'. Had you considered reducing your hours/part time? Best of both worlds
    Behind every great man is a woman rolling her eyes.
    Jim Carrey



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