RA and work

[debby]

Hi i have RA and possibly AS.
I havent worked for 7 years since i had my son..all my children are in full time education now, my eldest being away at University.
I know i have my hands kind of full here with my youngest who is 7, and i also care for my elderly parents, my mother has RA and is disabled etc.
I have always worked in care..being it in hospital or nursing home settings. I know i can no longer go back to that, as the RA even tho taking Methotrexate, is still very painful in my hands. I also have a prolapsed disc L5..and suffer from sciatica on and off, also cervical spodylosis in my neck quite badly.
I have been looking for a job for a year or 2 now, but i cannot find anything that i have experience etc in...also that will suit this disease.
I feel like life is passing me by...i also need to help bring in some £ into the home as times are hard.
I have days probably like you all, where i could curl up and die..especially with the fatigue...then fab days where i feel like i could run a marathon.
My confidence has been knocked...and i am also feeling very down.
I want to do something..but i cannot find anything that is suitable.
I mean even if i was to apply for one..i know there are rights for people with illness/disabilites...but it doesnt mean they have to give you the job..and they would pick a healthy person over me anyday...but what employer would put up with hospital appts/blood appts/episodes of wanting to lie down and sleep.
I feel i am fighting a losing battle..and that the best thing to do is just to accept that i may never work again. But having been a very active person, its a really hard road to go down.
I was going to the gym until beginning of november...but i had to stop due to £ reasons...i have gained 1 stone.
I did have a great afternoon with my son on saturday..we went sledging over the fields...and crikey do i have one gammy hand today! :D Thats what i get for pulling him around on the sledge for a few hours LOL ouch :rolleyes:
Well i feel like all ever do these days is moan :D
I am off for some lovely home made veggie soup.
Hope your all keeping well...and thanks for my moan..again ;)

[kageyd]

Oh, Debby, I wish I could help! "Hands" are so important in the care work that you did, as well as being able to stand. Perhaps a medical office could give you some at-home work to do with record keeping or bookkeeping, or phoning people about medical appointments, or checking up on how they are doing. A friendly voice on the phone is very valuable in care. You might ask at a local hospital, or any doctors you know. Even if it is volunteer work, it would make you feel fully 'human' again. Let us know how things go.

[leighdu]

Sorry about your situation as you certainly have your hands full, but congrats on wanting to keep going ! Sounds like you are definitely a fighter. Anyhow, what I would suggest is looking for telecommuting jobs. You seem to be a pretty good writer and there are lots of at home writing jobs out there. There are also tons and tons of customer service jobs available, but you have to have a land line telephone and high speed internet in most cases. There is also data entry, sales, etc. You should check out sites like www.wahm.com and www.ratracerebellion.com. Both sites are free and the members on there really help each other to land work at home jobs and weed out any scams. Good Luck!

[prasanth5]

By reading your post I get a feeling that people withe RA have the ability to work and work with gret involvement. It is very pleasing to note that they work with sincerity too. It gives a hope to all the RA sufferers that their work and duty will never be affected by the development of this ailment.