JUST DIAGNOSED, FEEL LIKE I'M DYING, SHOULD I CONTINUE TO PUSH MYSELF TO WORK?

Ah, the big question, should I continue to work. I think we each have to make this decision at some time after a dx of CFS. I kept working as long as I could but eventually had to quit. Some people can continue with pacing & rest but not all. This is something you are going to have to decide for yourself by seeing how you do while working. I had to quit because I was no longer able to do a full day of work, as a matter of fact, as time went on, my hours at work were less & less. I tried to make it to work, I loved my job, but finally I realized I could no longer do it. I was so sick & so tired, I functioned like a zombie. Fortunately, I was able to get disability, not what I was making before but it enables me to stay home & deal with my illness. Since I don't work, I do feel better, somewhat because I can rest as I need to. I hope you can answer this question for yourself, believe me if you can't work it will become clear to you & you can make your decision then. I tried to hang on long after I should have quit, I thought I would get better but that never happened. Take care & keep me posted. Hugs, Denise

Hi Michelle, I know how it feels to call in sick, sleep all day & then feel like you haven't rested at all. When i finally told my boss I had to quit she told me "thank you". I knew I had been putting her in a bad position & she was really good about it. My husband was alive then & so I didn't try for my disability for several years, he was working & we were able to live on his income. He died in Nov. of 2009. I started the process of getting my disability several months later & received it in 6 months after that. I applied for mine online. It is not as intimidating as I thought it was going to be.

I feel better because I don't have the stress of being anywhere at a given time. Just the stress of an appointment will throw me into a crash so I pace myself & dole out my energy as needed. I take sleep meds that help me to sleep. I allow myself to sleep all that I need, which means I can sleep sometimes for 24 hours if I am crashing. I live within my means. I used to tell people yes all of the time if they needed something but I now say no. It was hard at first but I had to do what was good for me. I enjoy my life now. I spend my energy on my faith & my family. I read alot & am now getting back into house plants, I had about 30 or so plants that I just didn't have the energy for & gave them all away before I killed them. Now I think I can take on a few again & I am very excited about it.

Keep me posted as to how you are doing & if you need any help, have any questions, etc. Hugs, Denise

Michelle, I am glad your work put you on medical leave, it will give you a good idea about the exact limits of your strength. Even after I got my disability I still kept thinking I could go back to work. I wanted my life back & I lived in denial for awhile. It takes each of us some time to really believe we are that sick, so you will probably go through that. I am more sick & tired then in pain. It used to be the other way around but as time has passed my Fibro has lessened, I am one of the lucky ones where that is concerned. However, my fatigue has grown. My crashes can last a few days to even a few months. When I start to crash I take it as easy as I can & rest as much as I need, that seems to help. I take Tizanidine 4mg, it is a muscle relaxer, it helps me to go to sleep. I, also, take Trazadone, this helps me to stay asleep. I sleep anywhere from 10 hours to 24 hours at times. I am on citalapram an antidepressant. I have tried different things that people have said helped them but I have found nothing that has helped me much. I live within my boundaries & live my life one day at a time. Hope you are having a good week at home, hugs, Denise