any people who have careers or in school?

mcitymom · Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2008 3:43 pm Post subject:

My career is Engineering. 20 years ago, I completed a degree in Chemical Engineering. About 12 years ago, I finished a Master's Degree. After continuing to work and having 2 great kiddos (who are now 11 and 7), I continue to work, but I also wonder for how long. Last year, I was having a stinging sensation in my head and thought for sure I was dying of a brain tumor. After MANY doctors and a long road to a diagnosis (like so many of us have had to face), they finally found a sky-high ANA which led to other tests and to my lupus diagnosis.

Right now, I'm continuing to work full time. My boss is a cancer survivor with crohn's disease and I think that gives him a unique insight into my recent diagnosis. He's very supportive of my time away to take care of appointments and lab work. Because of his supportiveness, I'm able to manage right now. But, I think about it daily. Can I keep going? For how long? I've noticed my flare ups coming closer together and wonder if it will reach a point that I have to get formal accomodation at work, or go on disability. I agree with the previous post who said, "I'm not old enough to be on disability". I feel that way too. I'm only 42. I don't feel that I'm ready for disability. But lupus may make me ready before I logically think I should be there.

Good luck with your studies. I thought the suggestion to take on-line courses was a great suggestion. Maybe you could take most courses on-line and still be able to finish your degree.

carebear70 · Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2008 8:21 pm Post subject: career

Another thing to consider as you make this decision about your career...

since you may have some lupus related health challenges, it may be wise to make sure you have a career that allows you to make enough money working part time at a job that is not too physically challenging. And pharmacy seems to fit that.

I am not dx'd with lupus, but have recurrent health challenges. I am so so glad that I decided (long ago) to get the education I have. It allows me to earn a living without working full time. And I love my job (working with children with disabilities.)

Very Happy

vegagirl22 · Posted: Fri Jul 18, 2008 7:27 am Post subject:

Dont give up, you have to realize that there are going to be days when you cant go. i went to the school's health/disability center and found out what i needed to give my teachers in case i missed more days than other students, i had to have my doctor fill out a form and the school typed up a nice letter letting all my teachers know that extra abscenes were due to my disability. that really helped out. I did that after i got a cold shoulder from one of my teachers, i was about to put up with someones elses ignorance of not understanding lupus. I just finished my master in social work ive been in school a total of 7 years sometimes full time, and sometimes part time, but dont give up if this is your dream! I plan on working, but that will be another story i will let you know about!
hope this helps! Wink

Faith · Cobra Joined: 25 Sep 2007 Posts: 461 Location: California

Don't give up; all of us are different and have different life stories. I am 41 and many days I feel as if I am 70. Especially when I am shuffelling instead of walking.

I used to work 8+ hour days, run, swim, and workout at the gym; those days are gone and walking is enough. The more auto-immunes you have, the more challenges you may have in your life. My dr told me to find a part-time job; after being terminated over 2 years ago while working in an engineering firm drafting and designing landscape and sprinkler designs due to my illness and being "emotional."

It is a financial hardship to work part-time and I feel as if I am a burden on my family; I hate it. I would love to work more hours than I currently do; at this time with several auto-immunes kicking my butt, it is physically impossible. I have also noticed I can't remember names and forget tasks that I have done over the last 2 years unless I write down the instructions for everything. The neurologist that I just saw told me I had amnesia and that it was typical of Lupus patients with memory issues. I feel guilty because we really struggle and yet I wish there was a way out of it. I have a lot of respect for those of you that are working and/or going to school. Wow!!!! My hats off to all of you.

Faith Cool

dandoon_88 · Goldfish Joined: 13 Aug 2005 Posts: 64 Location: Kuwait

Hello,

I was diagnosed in my last year of high school and went on to university. I've managed to study full-time and work part-time on campus and now I have one year to graduation. I also plan to study medicine afterwards. I believe that nothing can stop me from achieving my dreams, not even lupus. But I have to add that I've been very lucky in terms of flares. The last one I had was during finals last semester and I managed to make up once I got better. I have a very understanding boss too.
_________________
I was diagnosed with lupus nephritis, confirmed by bloodwork and kidney biopsy, and mild lupus cerebritis (epileptiform) in June 2004.
Medications: CellCept, Prednisone; Phenytoin; Lipitor; Adalat retard, Zestril, Aldomet and Tenormin.

laurid8967 · Posted: Sun Jul 27, 2008 5:49 am Post subject:

I think that is the key here...how often and how long our flares last. Last summer was one of the first times I was without symptoms in YEARS. I thought it would last longer, and went out and got an excellent job as a home inspector. Went to NY for training, started being able to wake up and go to work like a normal person, make money again, and then....BAM! I began getting symptoms again. I have always had so much energy, and graduated from college with high honors, while working and being a Mom....but when Im in a flare...it is physically impossible to much of anything....
I ended up having to leave that job, as for one, I couldnt stay awake long enough during the day to be very productive and also the pain was unbearable. I was without any treatment at the time, but, regardless, I still wouldnt be able to predict WHEN I will feel OK and when I wont. The unpreductability is key....And some have flares more often or that last longer than others....Everyone is so different with this disease, you know?
Lauri
_________________
God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
The courage to change the things I can,
And the wisdom to know the difference...

Wendi · Posted: Mon Jul 28, 2008 6:41 am Post subject: go for it

I say do it while you can. I want to change careers, but my kids are teenagers and going to college themselves soon, or already there, so it is
not possible, and given my health situation at the moment, it is not possible. Do it while you can, they make awesome money, and you can set yourself up really nicely for later in life.
Wendi

Bridget · Posted: Mon Jul 28, 2008 8:58 am Post subject: Starting school this August

I quit/was asked to leave my job the first week of June. I am really just beginning to understand lupus and have yet to receive a formal diagnosis... and that is partially my fault for not being as actively pursuant as I should be. I'm just tired. I have similar concerns about school. This will be my first college experience (I'm 23) after 6 years of working as a Cert. Nursing Assistant/Medical Assistant/Pathology Technician. I'm afraid that the work load will be too much. That I'll cave in to the anxiety and fatigue like I did in high school. I'm also concerned that my fiance won't be as supportive as he could be. He is a wonderful, caring person but he finds a lot of this hard to, I guess you could say, hard to believe. It's an invisible illness and I can see how he could be wary of it. I come off as being lazy and he gets resentful. I understand his feelings 100% but there is really no other way to explain my feelings to him other than just to say "I'm tired. I'm sorry. I want to help you, but I just can't." Now that I will be taking on school and will be home by 1 o'clock everyday, I'm afraid that he will expect the house to be immaculate since I will have "all this time on my hands." I also have well-medicated bipolar disorder with some aspects of ADD that make school a challenge. So it will take me longer to complete tasks even though I'm told by others that I'm "brilliant" and should do something more with my life. I guess frustrating is the right word for it all. OK, done venting! Thanks!

Bridget

laurid8967 · Posted: Mon Jul 28, 2008 12:53 pm Post subject:

Hey Bridget -
Maybe your doc can put you on some meds to control symptoms so you wont feel so lousy all the time...
I understand about people not understanding your illness....it is very common...I am very fortuanate, as my hubby has NEVER doubted for a minute that I am sick...He saw me before all this happened - as a single mom, working nights and going to college full time during the day...He knows Im not even close to lazy, and that if I say Im tired, then I AM TIRED....Maybe you could get your fiance a book (The Lupus Book by Daniel Wallace is best) to see that though you may not LOOK sick - you ARE sick, and unable to keep up with what non-ill people can do.
Do you think this is the best time for you to be starting school? Mabybe you should wait until you are under a docs care, so your not as symptomatic. You say you have not been officially Dxd...does your doc think you have lupus? Are you on any meds now?
Whatever your "status" may be...please know you are always welcome here....Dxd or not...we understand how you feel....
I hope you find some understainding soon, and that you feel better as well.
Keep us posted as to how your are doing, OK?
Love Lauri
_________________
God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
The courage to change the things I can,
And the wisdom to know the difference...

Bridget · Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2008 5:01 am Post subject:

Thanks Lauri. I'm not on any meds (for lupus) as of right now. My doctor said that she thinks it's more of a Chronic Fatigue/Fibromyalgia type thing because my tests come back almost completely normal (except for the CRP with was 17.something.) I really don't feel like that's the answer, especially because there are no real effective treatments for those conditions. I'm on Provigil to fight fatigue and I take ibuprofen for pain. I also have some other psych meds to treat bipolar which are working quite well. I am thankful for this because bipolar is just as scary to me as lupus. My mother had severe bipolar disorder and commit suicide last June despite being closely monitored and medicated. I am just like her in every way, so it's important for me to take bipolar seriously. This whole lupus thing just throws me a curveball.

And as far as the school thing... I've paid the application fee 5 times for college and haven't gone through with it in the past. This time I'm gonna do it if it kills me. I have to. And I will. My father is supplementing my income enough so that I can go to school full time and not have to work. There is no better time than right now. I have no kids and no job to worry about. My fiance makes enough money that when coupled with the contribution my dad is making, we can live fairly comfortably. So I can't give myself the option of NOT going to school or I will regret it forever. Especially since this is a progressive disease. The next time I have the oppurtunity to go to school like this, I may be even sicker. I'll just suck it up and get it done because a degree will make it possible for me to work part time and still make enough money to live. Without a degree, I'm working 40 hours/week til I die... to put it bluntly.

I think I will buy him that book "The Lupus Book." He isn't a big reader so I'll read it first and highlight the stuff I want him to read. Then it won't be so DAUNTING for him. He's got a bachelors in Biology and two Associates, but he won't read a stupid book. Go figure! LOL.

Oluwa · Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2008 6:26 am Post subject:

Not meaning to hijack your thread, jaideni

Bridget..there are drugs to treat the symptoms of fibromyalgia, such as Lyrica, combined with Mobic, Flexeril, Elavil and Lortab.

Lyrica is used to control seizures, treat nerve pain and fibromyalgia. It is the first FDA-approved treatment that can help relieve fibromyalgia pain

Lortab is a narcotic pain reliever (aceteminophen & hydrocodone)

Flexeril (cyclobenzaprine) is a muscle relaxant. It works by blocking nerve impulses (or pain sensations) that are sent to your brain

Elavil (amitriptyline) is a trycyclic antideppressant. It is helpful for improving sleep. Elavil has been found to lose effectiveness over time. Other tricyclics include desipramine (Norpramin), doxepin (Sinequan), imipramine (Tofranil), amoxapine (Asendin), and nortriptyline (Pamelor, Aventyl.

Mobic is an anti-inflammatory.

Sleep and exercise play a very important role with fibromyalgia symptoms. When I get good sleep from flexeril and swim for exercise, I feel almost wonderful. My wonderful.

Daniel Wallace, M.D. also published a book on fibromyalgia, called All About Fibrimyalgia. Check that one out too.

I think it is important to look for wellness everywhere, in many books, in one's story, in one's experience...trial and error. You'll find the right combination.

Enjoy this day,
Hugs,
Oluwa
_________________

racinie · Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2008 3:54 pm Post subject:

oh my gosh, I went through that whole fiasco at the start of my freshman year. (i'm a junior now.)
Don't be afraid. The key is to be flexible with your major. Make sure that if you decide not to be a pharmacist you have a back up plan, so you're safe and secure. Don't be hasty to stop pharm becuase of lupus though, unless it really really is impossible for you.

I want to go to med school, but i'm not 100% confident i'll get in, or be healthy enough to contend. I was a biology major, but i was afraid of getting too sick to finish school or go to grad school and end up without a good job. Now my undergrad is in nursing, so i'm sure to get a job and much needed health insurance when i graduate. I went into remission (thank god), so I'm still pushing forward for the med school.

You can totally stay in school, as long as you're well enough and have the motivation
good luck!

jaideni · Ferret Joined: 16 May 2008 Posts: 107

I have started school. I droped my two on campus classes already because of the pain of walking and the overwhelming sleepiness. I still have five classes three online and two telecourses so I still have a full plate but I think I am handling it well so far. I haven't decided yet if I should change my major although I have been thinkinn about what else would I be interested in doing. So far everything I think of still reqires atleast five more years of school. Anyway thanks to everyone who posted and left me some wonderful advice and good luck to all

hatlady · Tiger Joined: 16 Oct 2004 Posts: 810 Location: Illinois

jadenei, that is such fantastic news! It does take time, and 5 years looks so long right now, I'm sure. But just think - it is only a few years.

I once had a friend complaining about how old she'd be in 6 years when she finished school, she was going back as an adult. I asked her how old she'd be in 6 years if she didn't go to school? Rolling Eyes

Take your time at it, pace yourself. 5 classes at once is a heavy load! I don't blame you for dropping the two on campus - all that walking can be dreadful.

Much luck and enjoy the studying (would you believe research is always my favorite part? Smile

)
_________________
~"I find hope in the darkest of days, and focus in the brightest. I do not judge the universe." (Dalai Lama)

jaideni · Ferret Joined: 16 May 2008 Posts: 107

Thanks Hatlady! You made a good point. I might have to steal that one soon Laughing