My symptoms were so minor I believed I was going into remission, or at least the cold fronts wouldn't do much harm to me. You couldn't really call what passed a cold front because we kept the AC on, but my body certainly felt it. I'm taking my heaviest meds and sitting on a heating pad in hopes of stopping it from becoming worse before work, and it's completely drained my motivation to do any of the activities I usually enjoy.
All the hope I had earlier of lasting a whole year at a job is basically gone now. If such a minor front could hurt me enough to distract me from my favorite activities, then how bad is it going to be when the major ones start rolling through? I know I positively won't be able to work the 20 hours a week that I do now. As a cashier, there's a lot of walking and standing involved. I already asked about accommodations for a wheel chair and all they had to do was point at the space in the stall.
There's only two registers in one stall, and it's not wide enough for a wheel chair or short enough for one. They could possibly let me sit on a stool, but half of my job is walking around straightening up product. In short, once I get that bad, I think they'll let me go.
My mom has already proven to be very disappointed in me and on the verge of labeling me a hypochondriac from last year despite me being fine this whole summer. If I did lose the job I'd face verbal abuse all day since she works even less hours than I do.
I know stress makes IC worse, but how can I not be stressed in this predicament? If I just had someone to say, "It will be alright. Just do what you can," my stress levels would be so much lower. My family is also saying that I'm "projecting" what will happen to me and so it will happen. which sounds more like they think magic is real to me. I wasn't thinking anything bad was going to happen until that surprise cold front hit and I had to run to the bathroom every two hours and had the worse day at work yet since we only have two people working there at a time, making bathroom breaks guilt-filled.
I wanted to go back to school for teaching since I was doing so much better, but I don't think that will ever be possible. I'm going to have to look into web design or some other stay at home job that isn't a scam just so I don't feel worthless all over again.
For support, help, and education through the eyes of one Interstitial Cystitis Warrior.
What is Interstitial Cystitis?
Interstitial Cystitis is the worst bladder infection you've ever had, except no bacteria is present, there is no cure, many foods make it worse, and separate treatments have maybe 1/3 of a chance of helping. The only true "treatment" is treating the pain, as its usually the only thing that will work. Even patients who've had their bladders removed still experience the pain. Doctors don't know what causes it or how to get rid of it but have many theories.
Need to find a doctor in your area who actually knows how to deal with IC humanely? Click here.
These are the new guidelines for diagnosing IC. If your doctor isn't using these then I suggest you find a new one who keeps up to date.
You can find the IC safe collaborated recipes between me and my step dad here.
Showing posts with label job. Show all posts
Showing posts with label job. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Interstitial Cystitis Returns
Labels:
anxiety,
cold front,
depression,
discrimination,
frequency,
ignorance,
interstitial cystitis,
job,
misunderstood,
pain,
parents,
spasms,
stress,
wheel chair
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Working a job and trying to have a life with IC
Thing about chronic illnesses and support groups is that when a person starts to feel better they no longer visit the group/write about their illness, and so I haven't been updating much though I assure you I'm still around.
There are times during the day when I can't even feel my bladder, which is amazing for someone with IC. I'm not entering remission though. We had a 20 degree drop from high 90s to 70s after a storm and I hurt a lot.. meaning barometric pressure still will control my life. I still have no plan for winter but to save up as much as I can in the summer (which isn't going too well via credit card bills from last winter).
It is clear I can work during the summer. I haven't missed a day yet for any reason nor did I suffer needlessly at a job, my IC was handled by meds. Though sometimes I'm about to fall asleep at work due to meds, at least there is no suffering. I'll stick with it for as long as I can, but I must be honest with myself and fully consider the possibility of not making it all winter. There is something I can get to allow a large amount of days of excused absences via note from doctor... forgot what it was called, but saw it on the ICN. That could possibly help me get through the winter.. but my poor co-workers are already on a skeleton crew as it is. I'd hate to do that, unless they really wanted the hours, which I'd be more than happy to handover. It all comes back down to corporations not wanting to pay for overtime..affecting those of us who are sick and would like to keep the position through needed downtime due to disability.. A few of my workers kept mentioning they wanted more hours instead of being given bare minimum to keep them at part-time status and without benefits..but its cheaper just to add more part-time workers..
There are times during the day when I can't even feel my bladder, which is amazing for someone with IC. I'm not entering remission though. We had a 20 degree drop from high 90s to 70s after a storm and I hurt a lot.. meaning barometric pressure still will control my life. I still have no plan for winter but to save up as much as I can in the summer (which isn't going too well via credit card bills from last winter).
It is clear I can work during the summer. I haven't missed a day yet for any reason nor did I suffer needlessly at a job, my IC was handled by meds. Though sometimes I'm about to fall asleep at work due to meds, at least there is no suffering. I'll stick with it for as long as I can, but I must be honest with myself and fully consider the possibility of not making it all winter. There is something I can get to allow a large amount of days of excused absences via note from doctor... forgot what it was called, but saw it on the ICN. That could possibly help me get through the winter.. but my poor co-workers are already on a skeleton crew as it is. I'd hate to do that, unless they really wanted the hours, which I'd be more than happy to handover. It all comes back down to corporations not wanting to pay for overtime..affecting those of us who are sick and would like to keep the position through needed downtime due to disability.. A few of my workers kept mentioning they wanted more hours instead of being given bare minimum to keep them at part-time status and without benefits..but its cheaper just to add more part-time workers..
Friday, June 22, 2012
A job!
I was hired at a small retailer thanks to a few connections (education doesn't matter in this job environment, it's all about who you know as long as you have a diploma or GED). Work is manageable for now and part time but I'm very worried when the cold fronts start rolling through. I don't think I can stay on my feet all day while flaring. For now though, I'm doing fine but busy (forgot my mom's birthday).
And apparently Dr. Drew dropped the ball when an IC patient called in. I don't catch the channel nor did I watch it yet, but there's a lot of upset folks on our support forums.
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