Hello - being recently diagnosed and reading horror stories about people having to reduce work or give up work, I am wondering if any of you are on DMARD therapy and able to work full time say over 35 hours a week?

Or have you had to cut down? Just trying to get a feel for things..

Thanks,
Darshin

I work part time at 2 different jobs- from 7.30 am till 12 noon. I was doing this before I was diagnosed though.

I think I would find full time work extremely difficult due to the fatigue though.
Many people do work full time.

Thanks all inc sara-R - very uplifting. I find mornings the hardest - can't seem to get going till 10am. My job in IT isn't really physical but mental. Fatigue is something I am feeling more now rather as lack of sleep is a major factor.

Hi DArshin, I work in an office, 22.5 hours per week tues, weds, thurs. I get in at 7.30am and finish at 3.30pm which works for me as I miss the traffic at these times. Would love to cut it down even more but cant afford to!

Heather xxxx

Hi Darshin

I am a slightly different kettle of fish in as much as I was diagnosed 23 years ago and at the time was severely ill. Almost immediately after diagnosis I went on sick leave and was medically retired twelve months later. I hated giving up my career, a position which I had worked hard to achieve, but such is life. As I say, that was many years ago and things have now changed dramatically with the availability of improved medication and better prognosis all round.

I assume from what you say that you are still waiting for your medication to kick in and effectively control your disease. This can be a long haul unfortunately and is still to some extent trial and error, what works for one doesn't work for another. Once the disease is properly controlled a return to work should not be a problem and you should be able to live a near normal life. The thing is to remain positive and keep the pain relief well topped up. This is something people often don't realise; for pain medication to be effective it needs to be taken regularly (not just when you are in pain) and kept at a level where there is little or no pain. If you don't achieve this a change of pain medication may be needed. This is the sort of thing a pain management clinic would advise. Here's a link about pain management from the NRAS website.

Similarly, loss of sleep due to joint pain shouldn't be an issue. There are many different types of pain relief available including some that are particularly helpful when taken at night ie amitriptyline and nortriptyline. I usually have dihydrocodeine with paracetamol and nortriptyline, good for getting me off to sleep (especially as I'm on steroids whose sole task in life seems to be keeping me up awake all night ) . Fatigue from RA is something different from that caused by lack of sleep but should be controlled once the meds start to kick in for you. Have a look at this link about fatigue from the NRAS site.

As Rose says don't become disheartened; you will almost certainly be able to continue your employment once the disease is properly controlled. For now aim for that and stay positive

Lyn x

Hi Dashin,

I work 35 hours - full time. I was diagnosed just over a year ago and so far I'm doing okay. I also do quite a few things outside of work - hobbies and such. I find the best thing to do is to listen to what my system is saying - if I need to rest I try and take it easier.

Hi there ,i was diagnosed 2 years ago. It was a very scary time. I hid it really well, but felt awful alot of the time. I have only worked part time since having my eldest daughter who is nearly 18. I currently work 24 hours a week over 3 eight hour days. I am very well at the moment and have had no flares or ill effects. I work in a busy dental surgery and i am on my feet a lot of the time. I spose i am one of "the lucky ones" I take my methotrexate at night now as it made me feel quite sick whilst i was busy at work. i don't take plaquil anymore. I haven't told my employers about RA. My manager knows as there was something which the other workers did but i didn't want to put stress on my joints. I don't think she knew what i meant (RA) and so i didn't elaborate. I don't carry anything and i don't run a round. Working full time would kill me and so my three days are quite enough for me!

Hi Darshin,

I work in schools and nurseries have done for years. At times I have worked full school hours and others so many days. Like you with the hands my hands used to be so stiff upon wakening, sometimes it took all day to be able to move them and I used to dread going to sleep as I knew it would be the same again in the morning. Good news is it will get better in time, being positive is as good as the drugs. I know it hard at times but it does help. They are on top of RA nowadays and things do improve. At the moment I work 2 days but after the summer I am going back to college full time, that will be a pull to begin with

I went through major ups and downs at the start too but find ways to help yourself. It is difficult but not impossible, keep in there you will get there.

Lorna

hi
If you have a good employer it should be fine I finally retired on wednesday at 66 .I worked 28 hours a week with my local council working with people with a variety of long term conditions .Ihave had RA for about 18 years .Drugs and support are so much better now you should be fine .
Some times I was away from work as to exhausterd but not often .Make sure that if you are off sick due to RA it should not be counted the same way as other sickness .Some companies only allow so much time on sick then jobs can be at risk .Make sure they know you have RA and take it into account .
Do not do as I did for some years always ask for help if you are havingf a bad day .It took me years to actually do this very silly of me !!
Collegues always want to help but do not always like to offer as we all try to independant and bash on regardless .
very good luck KATE

Hi

I am a manager with a really stressfull job (social care) I have not stopped working yet but have spoken to occ health who agree that I should temp reduce. Have to agree this with my manager... Will update you.

Steph