Can You Make a Living and Live with Fibromyalgia?

Having a disability of any type makes it hard to get up every morning and go to work. Because Fibromyalgia is my only disability, I am going to focus on how hard or rough it can be to work and have Fibromyalgia.

Fibromyalgia, for those that do not know, is a chronic pain condition that causes pain on an almost daily basis, memory problems, and a host of other problems. Fibromyalgia does not have a clear-cut cause, but many think Fibromyalgia is caused by body trauma (such as a car wreck), stress, depression, or low immune system.

Living with Fibromyalgia can sometimes be compared to have the flu year round. For me, Fibromyalgia sometimes feels like I have the flu, other times it feels like someone has beat me with a stick, and often times my Fibromyalgia just feels like unbearable pain.

Fibro Fog is a part of the diagnosis of Fibromyalgia for many people as well. Sometimes I feel like the worst part about Fibromyalgia isn't the pain, but the confusion/memory deficit/foggy feeling of Fibro Fog.

So, when you are in constant pain of any degree and you have Fibro Fog on top of that, it makes it hard to hold down a full time job. Many people with Fibromyalgia are able to tough it out and go to work every day regardless of how much pain they are in. Not all of us are tough cookies like that. And, it should also be pointed out that depending on the type of job that you have, it may not be best for you to go to work. Some jobs only require a warm body to clock in each day, but others actually want someone that is going to be physically and mentally 'there' each day.

Keeping your job and having Fibromyalgia is going to be difficult, but for some with Fibromyalgia, it is possible. Speak with your employer about your condition. You really need to be honest with yourself and your employer about your Fibromyalgia. If you do not feel like you are going to be able to perform your work to your best abilities, you might need to ask your boss to decrease your responsibilities. If you cannot lift much weight without feeling the pinch of Fibromyalgia, you need to inform your boss of this. Your boss may be able to cut out that part of your job or give you some sort of aide or assistance when lifting.

I was a nurse when I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. The Fibro Fog is what tipped me off that something was not right with my mind or my body. I had daily pain that could at times be utterly horrible, but, I pushed through that aspect of my life. But, when I started forgetting things and felt disoriented, I knew I had to see a doctor. Several trips to my family doctor and telling him all of my symptoms and getting tests upon tests done, it was soon realized that I had Fibromyalgia and arthritis. I chose to stop working because the memory deficit scared me too much to take care of patients.

Nine to five jobs aren't the only jobs in the world though. You could do what I have done. After a year of living with the diagnosis of Fibromyalgia and learning the ins and outs of this crazy little condition, I decided to start writing. There are several places online, such as Associated Content, that you can submit your writings to and get paid to do so. Now, if it weren't for my husband's income and insurance through his work, I don't know how we would make it or how we would pay our bills. Right now his income is sufficient to cover the necessities and my meager income from online writing is paying for any extra expenses we may desire or need.

There really aren't many jobs out there for people who suffer from the severe effects of Fibromyalgia. For this reason Fibromyalgia is sometimes being accepted as a real disability in the government's eyes and some sufferers are obtaining disability income checks. If you are thinking about signing up for disability due to Fibromyalgia you need to prepare yourself for a long wait. Even before the recession it was hard to get accepted for disability, these days it is almost impossible. Never give up your plight to obtain Disability Benefits. These benefits are there for people like you who simply cannot work anymore. You may want to hire a Disability lawyer to help you with your case. These lawyers specialize in getting you your Disability benefits and most don't charge anything unless you win your case.

Some people CAN make a living while living with Fibromyalgia. But, you may not be able to keep your current job. The demands of your job and the understanding from your employer will ultimately effect whether or not you can continue with your current career. Like I said before, you have to be honest with yourself. It is understandable for you to want to continue with your job to make ends meet, but, if you are putting yourself or someone else in danger by performing your job, you may want to consider another line of work. If you suffer from Fibro Fog you really have to understand how this will affect your job and those around you. If your job entails taking care of others or if others at your work depend on you and your "brain" you really need to think things through.

I would like to add that Lyrica has really helped me with my Fibromyalgia and Fibro Fog. It wasn't until after I started taking Lyrica that I was able to begin freelance writing. It softened some of the pain and helped me to clear my mind up a bit. You can read my article about Lyrica and Fibromyalgia here.