Livin' With RA

It’s crazy how much pain I am experiencing from just working at home. I don’t have a home office, desk or even a dining table and chairs so I am working on my room on my bed. I was not prepared for the increased pain and swelling in my hip and the increased pain in my tailbone. Luckily I only work 4 hours a day and I am so, so happy I still have a job. I just wish I had a better set up. So, how is working from home affecting your pain/stiffness/swelling???

Anyone else with autoimmune joint disease/chronic pain/RA have increased pain and fatigue when you have more stress and emotional turmoil? The last week has been tough on me and my family and now I am really feeling it. As if I don’t have enough to deal with! Damn. Settle down body, settle.

It’s unbelievably hard to be ill and be working sometimes. I’m only working part time currently which is good for me. However, I’m not eligible for FMLA which means I had to find a way around that and still be able to take the time needed for flares, or illness from this damn immune system that is broken. I ended up having an ADA accommodation written up and signed by my doc. Side note, if you’re in the same predicament keep that in mind. It will save your job should you need more time off. Anyway, that accommodation allows me to be gone 2 days a month for my illness. The thing is, I know that my bosses don’t understand and therefore feel a coldness from them. I always feel like they just don’t like me because I’m gone more than others. It’s so frustrating. And this is the issue. Even if I can get the paperwork for the time off I’m still going to have that underlying feeling of dislike from my bosses and co workers. I am lucky that most people I work with don’t question it and never seem angry but, my bosses do. I guess the point of this is no matter if you have all this documentation, you still have to deal with misunderstanding and a general air of suspicion when it comes to your illness. I’m not faking, not trying to get a long weekend and although I may look ok, I’m not. I wish that others could just have an understanding of what we go through and if they don’t I wish they could ask us. I’m so thankful to be working again. Most days I’m pretty good. Just need some understanding!