Hi everyone,
I am very grateful for the comments I received "RA- The visitor that out stayed it's welcome". It was like a sunny day. Thanks!
I wasn't feeling too well last week. I called my Rheumy, and she suggested that I go to my PCP. He told me that i had a viral infection. He prescribed rest, lots of fluids, and more rest. My Rheumy took me off of the Enbrel and Methotrexate for a week. I was pretty disappointed about that, because i been on and off the "Enbie" and "Metho" since i started in April. This "sets back" the benefit of the drug...if any. Well we will see what happens.
I have alittle delimma. I have been out of work since Mar 2009. It has been 7 months. I work in the health field. I like my job and i want to return, but i am afraid of not being able to remain there. This disease is so unpredictable. I have taken alot of time off already, "calling in" isn't one of my options when i returned. When is the right time to return to work? Is the pain always going to be there? Should i realized that things aren't going to be like they were? Please Help.
I completely understand why you want to go back to work. Not that only does it make you feel like productive member of society, but getting out there and speaking to other adults can really do wonders for your mood and your ability to cope with RA. However, as you mentioned, your RA may affect your ability to do the kind of work you normally do.
You may be able to get accommodations in your job - I have to be really general here, as I don't know what you do - which means you can change the way you do things, get modified workhours, etc. As long as you can do the essential duties of the job, how you do it is less important. You can read more about working with RA, your rights under the law, your employer's duty to accommodate and find resources that will help you with this process in one of my recent posts in the Beginners Guide to RA series. if you think that somewhere in the future, you may have to change the kind work you do, you may want to also check out the post that followed which is about going back to school to help extend the amount of time you can work.
If you have any more questions, feel free to send me a message. Good luck!