fibro-what job do you have?

[dolphinrescuegirl]

Hi all, I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia about 3 years ago. Since then, my disease has gotten worse and I can no longer work. Those of you who work, what do you do? I want to work but can't stand on my feet for long periods of time and only have an associates degree in child development. I'm also burned out on kids so I don't want to work with them.

At Christmas, my mom suggested medical billing and coding. She said there are on-line schools that I could get the education for and then do it from home. Does anyone have any experience with this? I would like to hear the good and bad. Thanks in advance!

 

[OK!]

Unfortunately, I don't have personal experience with medical billing & coding, but a friend of my mom's does. She worked from home while going through treatment for (I belive) brain cancer. She seemed to enjoy it; I can see if I can find out more info for you 'cause I know I didn't give you a whole lot.

Good luck with whatever you choose to do!

 

[SeaSpray]

I have fibromyalgia and fortunately I work at a job that allows me to mostly sit at my desk all day, and even put my feet up underneath the desk, and I can get up and move around a bit whenever I want to. I work in the accounting department of a finance company.

I enjoy the work, and I appreciate the fact that I'm able to sit most of the time, but also move when I need to. Probably most desk jobs would offers these benefits.

 

[dolphinrescuegirl]

Unfortunately, I don't have personal experience with medical billing & coding, but a friend of my mom's does. She worked from home while going through treatment for (I belive) brain cancer. She seemed to enjoy it; I can see if I can find out more info for you 'cause I know I didn't give you a whole lot.

Good luck with whatever you choose to do!

I would love any info you can get, especially the school and how she found a job. Thanks so much!!! I look forward to hearing from you!

 

[stacy347]

I can't really offer up any info on the medical billing job ~ just wanted to offer up good wishes to you from a fellow Fibro sufferer.

I am in retail and most days after work I can barely function which really stinks but right now I'm only working 1-2 days/week so it is giving my body a bit of a break (if not my checkbook, LOL).

I was diagnosed almost 10 years ago and it has been quite a struggle ~ I actually stopped working for quite a long time but then got a "temporary" PT job to help cover our 2006 WDW trip and because of the economy, I never did quit, LOL.

Good luck on the job front, I hope you find something that you can handle!

 

[WhateverLolaWants]

Check out any local community colleges you might have. I signed up for medical billing before I was finally able to put my BS to use and the classes were all online. I was interested in coding because I hear it pays more, but those classes were only available at the Metro campus and I'm not too fond of being downtown by myself. It's only a certification so it won't take too long to complete the coursework. Beware of those Sanford Brown and any other things that advertise on television. I've known people who have tried to sign up for those types of school and they were trying to rip them off.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

Just wanted to offer a . Fibro sufferer here, but my Drs. took me off of work permanetely about 8 years ago and will not allow me to return. (I have a few other issues above and beyond the Fibro). I must admit, the not working has gone a long way in not progressing at the rates that many of my friends have. Good luck in your search..

 

[tiggspring]

I've had fibro for 15yrs now and was put out of work 13yrs ago when my sysmptoms became completly out of control the more I did and my memory issues sometimes interfered with things as simple as filing out my time sheet when my dd5 went to school this year I thought I'd be able to go back to work but I crashed and spent most of the time the kids are in school in bed so work is not an option. I've been on the fibro thread since aug. You might want to check us out. We have a great group that shares lots of info and can laugh at all the crazyness this illness brings to our lives.

 

[Bareacuda]

Another fibro sufferer here, diagnosed just under 24 years ago.
Im an artist, and sitting at my wheel is a No. So I do mainly hand work when I can. That's getting limited... RA has taken the use of several of my fingers on my left hand. Old age sucks and Im not that old

Good luck in finding that "right" job. And to my fibro friends a very gentle

Ann

 

[dolphinrescuegirl]

Thanks for all the support! Somewhere it was suggested that I look into my local college as they have online courses for this. I'm terrified of getting caught in a scam and this might help prevent that.

 

[RNMOM]

Another Fibro friend here. I quit working in 06 before I was dx. I was about to start another nursing job for an insurance company when my hand swelled up and was so painful I couldn't use a keyboard with it. I didn't take the job. Then I was dx with psoriatic arthritis and a year later with fibro. As a nurse, I know I can't work safely taking care of people. I can't even remember half my own stuff and have these complete losses of what I was saying often. I stop in mid sentence a lot. My DH is good about it but I don't think he understands how dangerous it would be for me to be making medical decisions for people...

I am having good results with my hands lately. My Rheumy gave me a series of shots in my affected hand and it helped aobut 90 %. I just have one swollen finger now but my toes are doing it. This winter it has been more of a problem with my knees and my shoulder. I too love getting old. NOT. Using a cane aggravates my shoulder and so on.

I agree with the suggestion of looking into your community colleges. You might also call a couple companies and inquire about their preferences. Good luck to you.

 

[disneymarie]

Hi all, I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia about 3 years ago. Since then, my disease has gotten worse and I can no longer work. Those of you who work, what do you do? I want to work but can't stand on my feet for long periods of time and only have an associates degree in child development. I'm also burned out on kids so I don't want to work with them.

At Christmas, my mom suggested medical billing and coding. She said there are on-line schools that I could get the education for and then do it from home. Does anyone have any experience with this? I would like to hear the good and bad. Thanks in advance!

I have fybro among other health issues. I am on SSDI, but work pt. Currently laid off over 18 months. I code not do the coding, the sitting long periods, holding frame of arms, you may as well drive a school bus for the flare it causes.

I know you do not want kids, but what about families. I did supervised visitations for court orders. It was at a non-profit. There may be other areas as that. Also, I currently work as needed which is rarely anymore, to take pictures of accident scenes, vehicles, slip and fall, fires, etc as a field investigator for an adjuster agency. Pays good. but I only had three calls in three months, I am rual. If near a larger city especially after the storms, I would be too busy.

One med to use is Lyrica, I was unable to tolerate and could not tinkle on it. I have had a hot tub for years, biofreeze, other meds. Also at home my routine is altered.
Generally, the fybro diagx in conjuction of other medical diagx...RSD, CRPS, chronic fatique, for some. This flares generally from hyper sensitive nerves where they insert into the muscles. The muscles try to splint to protect the nerves so tendernes, inability to sit, stand, sleeping is even difficult from trigger points.

How are your hands, fingers. Particulary the ring and pinkie?

 

[NatashaDisneyCM]

Hi all, I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia about 3 years ago. Since then, my disease has gotten worse and I can no longer work. Those of you who work, what do you do? I want to work but can't stand on my feet for long periods of time and only have an associates degree in child development. I'm also burned out on kids so I don't want to work with them.

At Christmas, my mom suggested medical billing and coding. She said there are on-line schools that I could get the education for and then do it from home. Does anyone have any experience with this? I would like to hear the good and bad. Thanks in advance!

I am pretty bad, was diagnosed when no one really knew what it was, back over 20 years ago. I also have osteoarthritis in every joint in my body! I also need two knee replacements, back and wrists are gone and I have daily chronic bad pain. I was a hairdresser for 18 years, and in my 40's I am back in school for cell / molecular biology. / biomedical. I do hold a degree, it just is not high enough...gotta go for the masters! I also work part time retail and stand. I will never NOT work. It is not me, I leave work crying in pain....and take no meds. I do massages, I find that takes the edge off. I did get my cert. in medical billing and coding, but hated it. it gave me a 6 month migraine. and I also cannot just sit, I need to do both. I am in school so I can work in a lab, either hospital . research or I want to be on the board of health. ( I also hold a degree in chemistry). so I want a job, with two things...money(being I am the only one left in my family and support myself) and the other is a combo of not to much movement, but includes sitting and standing...

years ago I almost let this take me over, doctors said No work....I will not and cannot listen! that wold just kill me, and I have no one to help support me. so I have no choice SSDI I cannot live on!

 

[dolphinrescuegirl]

Wow, there are a bunch of us out there! Thanks for all the suggestions. For me, I can sit for long periods because I can't stand for more than 10 mins at a time. My fingers and joints are ok. I just have the all-over muscle pain, can't stand, and alslo suffer from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Therefore I usually nap every day and this is after getting 12 hours of sleep! I had a sleep study done and it shows I hardly ever go into the deep sleep that we need where the body repairs itself. I like the idea of medical coding and billing because I would be sitting long periods. Plus the fibro hasn't reached my hands and fingers yet so I can type without problems so far. I will be looking into local college courses.

 

[SaraJayne]

Wow, there are a bunch of us out there! Thanks for all the suggestions. For me, I can sit for long periods because I can't stand for more than 10 mins at a time. My fingers and joints are ok. I just have the all-over muscle pain, can't stand, and alslo suffer from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Therefore I usually nap every day and this is after getting 12 hours of sleep! I had a sleep study done and it shows I hardly ever go into the deep sleep that we need where the body repairs itself. I like the idea of medical coding and billing because I would be sitting long periods. Plus the fibro hasn't reached my hands and fingers yet so I can type without problems so far. I will be looking into local college courses.

 

[Trish Bessette]

Another fibro here. It's the pits. However, I have the best job in the world! At a desk most of the time. I think just loving where I work helps out.

I'm in an awful flare up right now. Sore just sitting still doing nothing

 

[phorsenuf]

I had to quit my full time job some years back because I got so sick. I didn't want to give up working because I liked it but I was pretty limited on what I could do. Full time was definitely out of the question. Even my good old stand by of waitressing was no more.

I'm now working in the cafeteria at our high school. When I went to apply I was up front and let them know my limitations and they were fine with that. I work 4 hours a day. I mostly cashier and they let me have a stool so I can sit when I need to. All the girls in the kitchen are very understanding and will help me out when I'm having a rough patch. They've come to even recognize when I'm having a bad flare. Lifting and sweeping are my two major issues so I don't have to deal with that. If I do have any heavy lifting then either someone will do it for me or some days I suck it up and do it myself, which of course is a bad idea.

I hate having to depend on people though just so I can do my job. It makes me feel like a failure but that's me and I just have to get over the fact that there are things I just can't do anymore. I've always been a strong independent woman so it really is a blow to my psyche.

I don't know what I will do when I move though. I've been very fortunate with this job (3 years now). I will more than likely try to get into another school when I get there. But we have been kicking around starting a business so I may go that route.

Fibro sucks.

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

I am pretty bad, was diagnosed when no one really knew what it was, back over 20 years ago. I also have osteoarthritis in every joint in my body! I also need two knee replacements, back and wrists are gone and I have daily chronic bad pain. I was a hairdresser for 18 years, and in my 40's I am back in school for cell / molecular biology. / biomedical. I do hold a degree, it just is not high enough...gotta go for the masters! I also work part time retail and stand. I will never NOT work. It is not me, I leave work crying in pain....and take no meds. I do massages, I find that takes the edge off. I did get my cert. in medical billing and coding, but hated it. it gave me a 6 month migraine. and I also cannot just sit, I need to do both. I am in school so I can work in a lab, either hospital . research or I want to be on the board of health. ( I also hold a degree in chemistry). so I want a job, with two things...money(being I am the only one left in my family and support myself) and the other is a combo of not to much movement, but includes sitting and standing...

years ago I almost let this take me over, doctors said No work....I will not and cannot listen! that wold just kill me, and I have no one to help support me. so I have no choice SSDI I cannot live on!

You just described my DH. While I don't suffer I do see the daily toll. So hugs to everyone here.

 

[snapppyd]

Hi Kim, I didn't know you were going thru this.

I was told I had chronic fatigue and fibro in 1989. The first year I spent 3 months in bed, luckily I was on workman's compensation and didn't lose my job. I was a secretary/A.A. for 32 years. Like you, sitting at a desk was my best option. I can't stand for long periods of time, it kills my lower back.

Please know that attitude is everything. This can be a very depressing condition, most people just don't understand how hard it is for us to keep up.


Sorry, I don't know anything about the medical billing, but wanted to give you a

 

[tiggspring]

Sorry to those who have been having a rough time with their fibro. Many of us on the Fibro thread have been having a rough time this winter too. If you didn't know about us you should check us out. Very positive group. Sending hugs to all