Drug Problems and Work Problems
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| Mon, 10-17-2005 - 1:33pm |
I just found this board and and glad to have found people who under stand RA. I was diagnosed 12 1/2 yrs ago. Last year my doctor and I decided I need to move up to the next tier of medications, Plaquinel was no longer doing the job. I've now been through 5 meds in the last year. Methyltrexate cause exptreme fatigue. Sulfasallizine, put me in the hospital for 5 days with a severe allergic reaction. Another, Advar, I think did nothing. Enbrel, 50 shots cause severe injection site rxn. Now I'm on Enbrel 25, twice a week and still having injection site rxn, but not as severe. I'm frustrated and hurt. My job (scientist) is not going well, my supervisor is not happy with my productivity, which, needless to say, is not equivelent to that of my 30 something ADHD coworkers.
My DH wishes he could make the hurt go away, but still doesn't really understand the frustration. I wish I could stay home, but money and insurance preclude that.
Thanks for letting me vent,
Wendy

Wendy, I'm so glad you found us.
Molly
Dear Wendy,
I would imagine 12 yrs down the track as molly also says you would have a pretty good understanding of RA. However I have looked after women who have had RA for many years and just didnt have access to information and techniques on self management of RA that this board offers. Obviously your RA is progressing and your pain levels increasing, and the memebers here just may be able to help you gain a bit of control again.
I am also in an industry for work where I need to function mentally and physcially ( how ever you spell it !!doesnt look right.) for my whole shift. I have now for a few years taken 2 soluable panadol every 4 hours at work, this way I can function with reduced pain.
There has also been chronic pain conditions doing well on Duratol SR 665 mg /tab x 2 BD. I have tried these a few times and they give me good relief. It is hard to function around the house with pain let alone in the work force, and as many of us need to keep working even as our RA progresses then it is really important to try & keep your pain in check.
I stager my breaks, when I can : I have 2 10 min breaks instead of 20mins as well as my meal break. And I ring in now and say bad day I wont be in to work ! ( and still feel guilty ) Maybe you can negotiate with your boss reduced working hours / days or later starts in the morning, after you have "warmed up" a bit. In a braver world we would tell the supervisor to go jump, but alas good manners excludes that, and at the end of the day they just want the work done. However disability in the work force should be supported and if you have a chat to them you may get the support you need.
Wendy it is hard for us all, and we all just do the best we can on any given day, because tommorrow may be a bit better. Lell
WENDY, MOLLY AND LELL GAVE YOU EXCELLENT SUGGESTIONS AND WEBSITES. I HOPE THEY HELP YOU THROUGH THIS BUMP IN THE ROAD. YOU HAVE DEFINATELY FOUND THE RIGHT PLACE TO VENT. THERE ARE A LOT OF GOOD LISTENERS HERE AND WE DO CARE AND UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ARE GOING THROUGH. I ALSO TAKE ENBREL AND HAVE USED THE ENLIVEN SERVICES. PLEASE GIVE THEM A BUZZ. THEY ARE VERY HELPFUL.
FEEL BETTER SOON
CLAUDIA