Frustrated

[jenhum]

I had to quit my job today. I've only been working for about 2 months, and this was my first real job. It was only part time (25-30 hours a week) but it's just running me into the ground. My FEV1 baseline is around 57, and after a month of work it was 44. After 3 weeks of IV's and more work, it was 42. My numbers have never not gone up during IV's. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif" border="0">

I know I'm incredibly lucky that I'm able to quit. I have an incredible, supportive husband who makes enough money to support us. My boss was very nice when I told her today. I guess I'm just frustrated that I can't do it. I mean, not working is great....but it bums me out that it isn't really my choice anymore. At least not if I want to put my health first.

Thanks for letting me vent. Hopefully after I get my numbers back up I can find a different job with fewer hours and less stress.

 

[Jane]

Jenny, that's so disappointing for you. Maybe after some rest you can try again.

 

[Treble]

I'm getting hell from work for being slow on working today, because my stomachs cramping up, and my meds are making me lite headed ( as we speak). So I share you pain. :/

 

[coltsfan715]

Ugh Jenny I hate that for you. Honestly I can say I have an idea of how you are feeling. I started working about 2 1/2 months ago and had to take a leave 3 weeks ago because I wore myself down. I ended up in the hospital and after talking it over with my family and fiance I am going to be going tomorrow or Thursday to tell them that I am unable to come back.

It is a bummer - like you said to not have the choice anymore. I hope you start doing better health wise to at least make the staying home seem worth it. I jsut wanted to let you know you are not alone in the situation or in being bummed out by it.

If you want to talk drop me an email xiao07@hotmail.com . Have a good day.

Lindsey

 

[perl]

vent away! that is very frustrating. but i'd like to give you a big pat on the back for quitting & putting your health first. i know it can feel disempowering to do so, i've had to take off so much time in the last year, but you are smart to quit. hope you feel better soon!

 

[Treble]

Wow, my company just tried to fire me because I was sick today and couldn't get the work done earlier. Isn't this a fun day.
Pain or no pain, looks like im back to raceing the clock.

 

[anonymous]

I know how you feel and yes your are NOT alone!!! I had to stop working full time in 1997ish and then did some part time like you 25 hours a week then that had to go down to 15-20 hours a week then tried some independent contractor stuff like Mary Kay and that was way too time consuming to build a business. Now I just concentrate on my health and thank the Lord my husband too is supportive and can support us financially. But it is a HUGE Bummer and you feel so isolated and not contributing and too young to be "retired". I get EXACTLY how you feel. But it is all worth it to be able to not only live a longer life but a little better quality of life with CF than if you were working. Working would put me in an earlier grave and you just gotta think of that. I am in the process of applying for SSDI so hopefully that will help any financial burden my husband takes on!!!! It can be rough with one income these days! I feel bad!

Stay strong and know you are doing the right thing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jennifer 34 years old with CF and CFRD

 

[thelizardqueen]

I feel for you Jenny. I had to quit my job last summer because of my health. I was losing weight, getting run down, and down right stressed out. I had been working that job for almost three years. My boss I don't think was understanding at all, as I was the receptionist for a very small company, and anything that went wrong fell on my shoulders. It sucks to have to quit work for your health, and I know you wish that you could be normal and hold down a job, but just think of how much better your health will be. I haven't been working for about a year now, and slowly my health is getting better. I feel crappy when someone asks me what I do for a living, and I have to say that I don't, but oh well. Anyone who knows I have CF and diabetes gets it. And like you I'm lucky that my guy makes enough to support us both. I guess this is the part of CF that really sucks, and you just have to deal with it in some way. If ever you want to chat, feel free to email me or msn me at lizd1981@hotmail.com

 

[JazzysMom]

When I had to stop working in 1/2000 & I thought that meant I was losing my battle with CF. CF was finally taking control & it sucked. It took me a few months after going into the hospital to actually give my notice & even then I tortured myself silly because I felt (and at times still do) like a failure. My CF doc had to point out that I am just shifting my priorities. That advice helped for a bit, but it was really, really hard. Thank goodness my hubby had/has a good job with good benefits. I knew I had him around for a reason LOL! I am sorry to hear of your frustration.

 

[luke]

Jenny,

Sometimes our bodies just do not like change...I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers that your PFT's will rebound. Put your energy in feeling better. Give it a month or so of exercise and treatments and I bet your PFT's will come back up!


Luke

 

[Landy]

Nothing new is showing up on your sputum culture or anything like that?
I only ask because once I had IV's that did absolutely nothing for me & afterwards I did some investigating because I knew that wasn't right that I wouldn't feel any different after IV's & I found out I had MRSA and it would have been nice to know that when I was on IV's so I could have treated it.
After doctor Rx some oral meds for the MRSA I felt so much better. My point is maybe you are culturing something new & that's why the IV's didn't seem to do much??? It could be the job too, just thought I'd throw that out there.

 

[jenhum]

Thank you so much to everyone for the kind words. It makes me feel much better just to know that other people have been through this too! I want to have a baby in the next couple of years, so I feel like more than ever I just want to concentrate on getting my numbers at baseline or better before I can do that.

Lynda, they did a sputum culture after 2 weeks of IV's, and it came back normal, so I don't think that's the problem. Thanks for sharing though, I will definitely have them check again at my next visit just to make sure.