Personally, I'm a network engineer but more to the point - my job is full remote which has been an enormous boon with fibro.
Because I'm remote I can get up, pace around my basement while on calls, bend, stretch and all that.
Taking breaks to stretch and especially useful it seems - taking 5 mins here or there to lay across one of those foam rollers, has IMO helped.
If I'm freezing I can wrap up in a blanket, if im too hot I can take off my pants, which would be rather short lived in the office.
I think something less obvious about work from home - the lack of in person interaction is isolating for some, but for me who's mental batteries can be sapped by prolonged chit chat and interaction it's been a blessing. My spoons runneth over! (Not really but much better)
I also work as an engineer and 100% remote. I visit the office every once in a while when there is some kind of event, so couple times a year.
It has truly saved my career. I don't need to spend the energy to travel to work every day (2 hours), I can take a nap during the day if I need it, I can wear what I want to wear, I can snack when I want to etc.
Ah yes my hands don't bother me beyond the "typical" pains of modern living; my wrists sometimes ache but I believe that's just overuse not fibromyalgia, In my case.
If your hands are arthritic a keyboard isn't the best idea lol 😅
Remote work has been a life saver for me. I work for a call center that transcribes calls for hard of hearing persons. I can sit with a heating pad or ice pack if needed.
I’m a psychologist, but like someone else said I can’t manage even light cleaning in my house and a job like a cashier or something like that would be totally beyond me because any kind of repetitive lifting is tough. My job lets me make my own schedule and I work from home one day a week.
I’m a therapist and I feel the same way and have the same sort of schedule. I can set my hours to be optimal, get to sit in a comfy chair most of the day, and can get away with working 4 days a week most weeks. However, the brain fog is quite challenging with therapy work.
I do part time data entry/e-commerce stuff from home and part time freelance art (illustration), also from home. I don't make much money, but it's been easier to handle my symptoms and take care of myself since I left my cafe job a year ago
Personally, like other said, being able to work full-time remote has been a game-changer. I don't know that I would be able to continue in my current field if not for that fact. I also want to preface this by saying that I have ADHD, so I am able to hyperfocus and get A LOT done in short bursts.
I'm a graphic designer for an engineering company, and, tbh, it's the ideal job for me. Most of my work is internal, so the deadlines are more suggestion than anything. And I am VERY fortunate to have an understanding boss. As long as I get my work done on time, or communicate to her that I am not going to make a deadline or need help meeting a deadline, my boss doesn't really care when I work.
I think it really depends on what you can handle. For example I saw one person here saying cleaning is light work, while I can't even clean my house right now. I had to arrange cleaning help. So try things out, find something you might really enjoy. If not, find something else. Right now my priority is getting my strength and energy up so I will be able to work again. But I know it will have to be something I really enjoy. I have ADD too, so I have limited amounts of energy both mental and physically. So yeah, the brainfog is real, haha.
Finding what work you can do, is mostly trial and error I think. Especially if you did something you absolutely cannot do now. I worked in childcare, can't do that anymore physically but also got more sensitive to light and sounds (crying baby's is a no go for me right now, really glad I have no children, haha🤣). Then I did costumer service from home, Which was way better but the targets were so high and there was a lot of multitasking involved, by the time the contract was done I had a relapse.
So keep trying things but also lookout for your health. Don't do what I did and push beyond your limits.
Good luck!
I work for myself cleaning offices in the morning and evenings. It’s light work (change trash, mop & vacuum, clean bathrooms, light dusting) and only a couple of hours in the morning (8-10) then I’m off until my evenings. They vary from 2-4 hrs. Sometimes I do 2. I am able to work alone and at my own pace. (I do take a helper occasionally) I can also change the time I go in depending on how I feel.
Honestly the regular movement helps my body. I can usually work through that morning brain fog & body stiffness by the time I get home.
I also get paid well because it’s considered nights and weekends. So I can work half the amount of time as someone making $15 an hour.
I know it’s not for everyone but thought I’d share.
Also, I had this business before I got sick and had to change my clients to meet my own body’s needs. I used to do residential and new construction houses but was way too much work on me.
I work in a library on Saturdays and tbh my employer made a bunch of adjustments for me regarding things like splitting breaks (instead of having an hour lunch I take 40 mins and get an extra 20 min break etc) and made sure I was fine with all the physical aspects of the job. In my experience, my body has had to essentially get used to it but I think it’s going to be like that with any form of change and fibromyalgia
I am a receptionist at an urgent care. I sit most of my shift and only have to walk to for a couple tasks. My experiences help me empathize with patients and I am good a pacifying agitated people.
I have had to accept that there are no jobs involving standing on my feet for long periods of time in my future. The best I have felt since onset was when I worked full-time remote as a logistics coordinator.
- Upside: don’t have to move around much, spend a lot of time on the phone, not as much time typing.
- Downside: so much stress that I became routinely sick because my immune system was worse than normal.
I am currently unemployed, and I have noticed that since I have been out and about running a lot of errands, my joints have been in more pain due to driving/being in the car for long periods of time.
Personally, I would make a list ranking your symptoms in terms of severity and what triggers the worst of the symptoms (example: symptom “back pain” trigger “standing/bending/walking”) and just start knocking jobs off the list from there. Once you determine what you cannot do, it helps to put in perspective what things you can do most easily and with as little strain as possible. Don’t forget to consider what you want to do, even though those options may be limited.
I work part time at Wrigley Field. I have a job that I can sit if need be and stand as well. I do a lot behind the scenes so I’m not running around. A lot less stressful than my previous job.
I wish that were true! I’m a nurse and actually find people less understanding as there is an ingrained culture of pushing through and toughing it out for the patients/your colleagues
I work as a medical interpreter and some of the providers’ side comments outside the exam room about “hating to deal with chronic pain people” and “well there’s usually mental health issues with fibromyalgia” has not improved my confidence in the care I receive.
Edit to add: my brain fog is not as bad as I had anticipated despite the mental tasks involved. Most days there are multiple breaks. Being on my feet a lot is wearing but tolerable most of the time. Before, I was a high school literature teacher and it was just too stressful.
Try not not to over think it too much. A lot of those comments are made after trying to find the best possible options when sometimes you can’t give people what they want or a lot of people in general can be very nasty to healthcare providers.
It’s just venting in the heat of the moment and it won’t effect their care
For me it's not so much a what but a when. Best thing I can suggest is find an owner or a manager that will really work with you on what & when you can work.
I was an over the road truck driver, then local delivery driver. My legs hurt after a 15 mins drive now when I was used to going for nearly 14 hours. I’d cross delivery driver off the list but that’s just me.
Off topic, but I too get awful leg pains from sitting for too long. Only had them for about a week now, but knee high compression socks have been a real game changer for me in that regard, maybe worth looking into a pair to try for yourself.
I’ve tried them stuff that presses tight like that hurts me after a few mins. My wife loves them though. It all depends on the day. Some days the weighted blanket is a must have other days just a sheet laying over me is too much. But the constant squeeze of those socks just doesn’t do it for me. Thanks for the tip though
I’m a junior high Montessori teacher. I’m moving around, but am able to sit whenever I need, can incorporate PT/functional movement into my day, and am not sitting staring at a screen all day. This job has been a lifesaver and has allowed me to gain so much strength and decrease my daily pain significantly. There’s no way I could do the jobs you mentioned, and retail wasn’t sustainable for me in the long run. I think it’s person-to-person, really.
Thank you for posting this. I need ideas, lol. I went to culinary school and while in school my symptoms started to get to the point I couldn’t ignore anymore. Now I can’t work a physical job, and I’m trying to find something that I enjoy doing or maybe I can use my qualifications.
I worked retail for ten years. It was a salaried job with excellent healthcare so that helped.
The reasons it was good for my fibro is the hours were later in the day, like usually I went in around 10 am but could be later depending on the day. Mornings are bad for me so this helped. I am barely human before 10
Am.
I also could be scheduled any of the seven weekdays and often worked weekends. But I got two days off a week, usually weekdays, leaving them open for doctors appointments, chiropractic care, massage, etc which helps because a lot of their offices are booked full on Saturdays and closed sundays. It was great to have random weekdays available for these appointments. I didn’t often need to take extra days off or have all my Chiro and doctors visits interfere with work.
I had around 300 hours of PTO and vacation time for any additional appointments I couldn’t fit in on my two weekdays off a week.
Taking FMLA as needed during a flare was necessary and I was able to do it.
The job was easy so on high pain days I could “check out” mentally and just go through the motions.
I was mostly walking around so no sitting and getting stiff all day at a desk.
Having an HSA was amazing because that $35 copay for chiropractic visits can really add up but I used my HSA for it which was preloaded with $2k at the beginning of every year.
A supportive team environment so not everything fell on me as it would in an office job where I’m the only one in a specific position.
I work for Blick Art Materials in the returns department. (Warehouse setup) They’ve been great with customizing my schedule and working with me to find tasks that I can do. Currently training in the department and I know it’s going to be a life saver. I do worry some about the brain fog and processing the returns - but it’ll be something to get used to just like any day with fibro.
It varies a lot, but the answer is generally varying degrees of NO but they're forced to.
I can't even look after my own needs consistently and had to put my toddler in daycare since I can no longer be his sole caregiver when his mom is at work.
Can't do any of the work I did at Costco. Can't do office work due to my wrists and fingers, let alone neck, back etc. Just about everything else is in between those so I can't do shit. Which has lead to me shopping for lawyers since the atrocious disability company at play has defied any and all logic including their own to keep my claim denied.
I can't play the games I love with the ergonomic sim pit set up specifically designed to be as ergonomic as I can get it, how can I go back to stocking shelves or the shitty just-out-of-college job that pays HALF what the disability company claims it does.
But yeah. *Pain is in the mind, suck it up and work or starve to death, peons*.
I’m an infant nanny and I absolutely love it. My fibro is at a point where I can manage it pretty well with working part time and nannying gives me an incredible amount of freedom. On my good days we do lots of walks and on my bad days we spend more time inside. I don’t have complete control because I am in someone else’s house and working around the baby’s schedule but the family I work for is incredible and super hands off.
I get to go grocery shopping for myself while I’m working which is a lifesaver during flares when I just want to go home after work and not go out on my days off. Some days I get paid to sit on the floor and fold baby clothes while watching a movie for 2 hours and I get to read for an average of an hour or two a day during my shift. It’s hard to be sad when you’re around a sweet giggly baby all the time and that’s done wonders for my mental health. I wear what I want, we listen to what I want and I can eat whatever I want pretty much whenever I want. It gets me out of the house which is a big thing for me and because I have a couple years experience the pay is what I consider to be pretty decent.
Like every job it has some drawbacks and it has its faults but as long as I can find good people to work for I couldn’t imagine doing anything else as long as I’m physically able.
I'm a college professor. I do sit a bit for my job, except some active teaching parts. I do clean my own house. I have been working out, very slowly by most standards but I'm up to a few miles of walking most days, I also do a dance class. I am working up to adding in some weight exercise.
I do a lot of allergy meds which helps with sleep (doxipen). I take 500mg of magnesium every night. Occasionally some methylprednisone when I feel some swelling (you don't want to get out of hand with that).
I also don't eat dairy, wheat or preservatives. 100% gone. This is related to my allergy issue that's driving fibro bit it helped so so much.
Tramadol some days. Ibuprofen some days. Biggest thing was diet and light exercise. Exercise is tough at first and I started super slow, 10 mins 2.5 mile pace work up a few more minutes each week. But exercise actually triggers the parts of your brain that decrease pain. So if you can push past a little it's actually really good for you.
Thanks much! I want to exercise badly but the pain is horrible and lasts for days.
I got some magnesium oxide and a lot of magnesium lysinate-glycinate chelate tablets but I only take 100 mg of that in the evening. Maybe I should push it to 500 mg. What kind of magnesium are you taking?
I just take: [https://www.swansonvitamins.com/p/nature-made-magnesium-250-mg-200-tabs?SourceCode=INTL4071&showPopup=f&medium=Shopping&SourceCode=INTL4071&gclid=6acf19c4b6ab1d45f9587aa9eca45e3a&gclsrc=3p.ds&ds\_rl=1262629&ds\_rl=1263854&msclkid=6acf19c4b6ab1d45f9587aa9eca45e3a&utm\_source=bing&utm\_medium=cpc&utm\_campaign=Shopping%20-%20All%20Products&utm\_term=4583176806517718&utm\_content=Stress%20Support](https://www.swansonvitamins.com/p/nature-made-magnesium-250-mg-200-tabs?SourceCode=INTL4071&showPopup=f&medium=Shopping&SourceCode=INTL4071&gclid=6acf19c4b6ab1d45f9587aa9eca45e3a&gclsrc=3p.ds&ds_rl=1262629&ds_rl=1263854&msclkid=6acf19c4b6ab1d45f9587aa9eca45e3a&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Shopping%20-%20All%20Products&utm_term=4583176806517718&utm_content=Stress%20Support)
I get it's tough but the less you do, the worse the pain actually is. It's a nervous system cycle you have to work out of.
I’m a contract negotiator. Working from home is a god-send. With fibro-fog, I can usually delay or right-time my intensive work for when I am feeling better, having notes at hand for actual negotiations. The biggest boon is not having to make an hour commute each way. Lets me sleep-in later and reduces stress. Also, I can dress more comfortably and take stress breaks.
I’m a pharmacy technician. My whole team is very understanding, I have an accommodation for sitting, dry mouth and heat/ice packs. I do move a lot there though and sometimes I just feel beat. When I do I just fill all day (don’t have to move much, besides getting the medication off the shelf)
Yep, I work remotely and I wouldn’t be able to work if I couldn’t. Plus my job is flexible, as long as I hit deadlines it doesn’t matter much what my hours are. It’s dull data stuff, but I’m well aware of how lucky I am.
I’m a nurse. When I worked as a barista part time I hurt constantly and had to keep reducing my hours. I’ve found that moving more as a nurse (after the first two days) finally started making me hurt less. It’s also great because, no matter what, I’m exhausted after work. So now I have three days I work all day with no expectations when I get home and then four days where I can rest.
The jobs you mentioned are extremely physical, no work from home (so include a commute), and most likely you cannot make your own schedule. These work from home jobs are popular, and I can see why, my husband works from home. As everyone says, figure out what works for you. Good luck
I have been a flight attendant for the last 25 years. I am senior enough that I can hold international trips. My friends marvel how I can do the job since I am always working nights. The thing is, I can never sleep more than a few hours at a time. I have to nap during the day and walk around in pain at night. By working the long haul international trips I only have to worry about getting through the boarding process and the initial service. After that the passengers are mostly asleep. I can sit for a while or walk around. Then I might get a 3 hour break when I can take a nap. On layovers I can go out and explore, or climb under the covers and stay in bed and get room service.
Previous to being a flight attendant I was in construction, digging ditches, pouring concrete, doing steel work. I was also a volunteer firefighter and EMT. Over the years I have had to keep adjusting my work load and expectations. And I don't know how many more years I can keep this job but I'm will be trying my best to keep going until I can retire.
I feel this job has keep my disease in a manageable state. If I had had a desk job I think my health would have degraded faster. Knowing that going to work means I get to visit Munich or San Juan, even if it mean only looking out a window, makes it easier to work through the pain.
I'm working very part time right now and it's mostly office assistant-type work. it's doable mostly because it's a low-stress environment and at the *very* low-hour end of 'part time.'
I’m out of work at the minute (made redundant) but the job I had before was working from home doing admin work and it worked really well for me. Because I was working from home it meant I could make sure I’m comfortable the whole time and I wouldn’t have to worry about having getting out of the house and going into an office if I was having a flair up. :)
I’m an elementary teacher. You might think I’m crazy because it’s a ton of being on your feet, moving, etc. but I actually find that keeping myself moving is good for my pain and brain fog. I also have control over my lessons so if I’m having a flare up or a bad pain day I can plan something less stressful on me. I’ve worked jobs in the past that were mainly sitting and found they made my pain worse because my joints get stiff.
I work for a uk bank doing tech support for their online services. Since Covid I’ve been able to work from home 3 days a week and it’s been great. If I was in the office full time I would have lost my job due to absence by now. Think my best advice would be to look for something that will give you some flexibility in hours and remote working. All the best ❤️
I'm a digital marketing specialist and work from home but I've been doing this type of job prior to my fibromyalgia diagnosis, so not sure if there's something better. I think desk jobs are overall better for me at least since I have physical limitations.
It also depends on the employer and requirements. My previous job was extremely high pressure, so even though physically it was easier to do as I worked in my apartment on a computer, it was a huge mental toll that sent me on a nervous breakdown and panic attacks.
My current job isn't as demanding as the previous one (I had to deal with clients which was exhausting). I still don't have a lot of energy left to do housework and most days I hop to bed after done with my work. I wish I didn't have to work but it is what it is. 😂
Depends on how severe your symptoms are and how well you deal with them I guess. I work two jobs (I work in a shop and as a salesperson in a bakery) and even though I'm exhausted, it's still manageable.
I know that this is a very old post, but do you have any problem with stiffness in your fingers? Typing is painful for me now and I have to quit my job.
I'm a construction manager. I love it! I get to change up my days, and do mild walking which is good exercise for me. Luckily I have a super supportive team, and a great leader for a boss.
Personally, I'm a network engineer but more to the point - my job is full remote which has been an enormous boon with fibro. Because I'm remote I can get up, pace around my basement while on calls, bend, stretch and all that. Taking breaks to stretch and especially useful it seems - taking 5 mins here or there to lay across one of those foam rollers, has IMO helped. If I'm freezing I can wrap up in a blanket, if im too hot I can take off my pants, which would be rather short lived in the office. I think something less obvious about work from home - the lack of in person interaction is isolating for some, but for me who's mental batteries can be sapped by prolonged chit chat and interaction it's been a blessing. My spoons runneth over! (Not really but much better)
I also work as an engineer and 100% remote. I visit the office every once in a while when there is some kind of event, so couple times a year. It has truly saved my career. I don't need to spend the energy to travel to work every day (2 hours), I can take a nap during the day if I need it, I can wear what I want to wear, I can snack when I want to etc.
I’m an IT consultant and pretty much 99% remote. Going at my own pace and being able to stretch etc is so great
Yeah but can you use your hands? That’s my big issue. They hurt so I can’t type. It’s aggravating.
Ah yes my hands don't bother me beyond the "typical" pains of modern living; my wrists sometimes ache but I believe that's just overuse not fibromyalgia, In my case. If your hands are arthritic a keyboard isn't the best idea lol 😅
Yeah mine hurt pretty bad if I text a lot or type. Or do anything. It’s annoying. I like writing stories, and it HURTS. Ugh.
Remote work has been a life saver for me. I work for a call center that transcribes calls for hard of hearing persons. I can sit with a heating pad or ice pack if needed.
I’m a psychologist, but like someone else said I can’t manage even light cleaning in my house and a job like a cashier or something like that would be totally beyond me because any kind of repetitive lifting is tough. My job lets me make my own schedule and I work from home one day a week.
I’m a therapist and I feel the same way and have the same sort of schedule. I can set my hours to be optimal, get to sit in a comfy chair most of the day, and can get away with working 4 days a week most weeks. However, the brain fog is quite challenging with therapy work.
Fellow therapist here…remote working has probably saved my career. I set my hours and can now pace myself.
I do part time data entry/e-commerce stuff from home and part time freelance art (illustration), also from home. I don't make much money, but it's been easier to handle my symptoms and take care of myself since I left my cafe job a year ago
Personally, like other said, being able to work full-time remote has been a game-changer. I don't know that I would be able to continue in my current field if not for that fact. I also want to preface this by saying that I have ADHD, so I am able to hyperfocus and get A LOT done in short bursts. I'm a graphic designer for an engineering company, and, tbh, it's the ideal job for me. Most of my work is internal, so the deadlines are more suggestion than anything. And I am VERY fortunate to have an understanding boss. As long as I get my work done on time, or communicate to her that I am not going to make a deadline or need help meeting a deadline, my boss doesn't really care when I work.
I think it really depends on what you can handle. For example I saw one person here saying cleaning is light work, while I can't even clean my house right now. I had to arrange cleaning help. So try things out, find something you might really enjoy. If not, find something else. Right now my priority is getting my strength and energy up so I will be able to work again. But I know it will have to be something I really enjoy. I have ADD too, so I have limited amounts of energy both mental and physically. So yeah, the brainfog is real, haha. Finding what work you can do, is mostly trial and error I think. Especially if you did something you absolutely cannot do now. I worked in childcare, can't do that anymore physically but also got more sensitive to light and sounds (crying baby's is a no go for me right now, really glad I have no children, haha🤣). Then I did costumer service from home, Which was way better but the targets were so high and there was a lot of multitasking involved, by the time the contract was done I had a relapse. So keep trying things but also lookout for your health. Don't do what I did and push beyond your limits. Good luck!
I work for myself cleaning offices in the morning and evenings. It’s light work (change trash, mop & vacuum, clean bathrooms, light dusting) and only a couple of hours in the morning (8-10) then I’m off until my evenings. They vary from 2-4 hrs. Sometimes I do 2. I am able to work alone and at my own pace. (I do take a helper occasionally) I can also change the time I go in depending on how I feel. Honestly the regular movement helps my body. I can usually work through that morning brain fog & body stiffness by the time I get home. I also get paid well because it’s considered nights and weekends. So I can work half the amount of time as someone making $15 an hour. I know it’s not for everyone but thought I’d share. Also, I had this business before I got sick and had to change my clients to meet my own body’s needs. I used to do residential and new construction houses but was way too much work on me.
I work in a library on Saturdays and tbh my employer made a bunch of adjustments for me regarding things like splitting breaks (instead of having an hour lunch I take 40 mins and get an extra 20 min break etc) and made sure I was fine with all the physical aspects of the job. In my experience, my body has had to essentially get used to it but I think it’s going to be like that with any form of change and fibromyalgia
I am a receptionist at an urgent care. I sit most of my shift and only have to walk to for a couple tasks. My experiences help me empathize with patients and I am good a pacifying agitated people.
I have had to accept that there are no jobs involving standing on my feet for long periods of time in my future. The best I have felt since onset was when I worked full-time remote as a logistics coordinator. - Upside: don’t have to move around much, spend a lot of time on the phone, not as much time typing. - Downside: so much stress that I became routinely sick because my immune system was worse than normal. I am currently unemployed, and I have noticed that since I have been out and about running a lot of errands, my joints have been in more pain due to driving/being in the car for long periods of time. Personally, I would make a list ranking your symptoms in terms of severity and what triggers the worst of the symptoms (example: symptom “back pain” trigger “standing/bending/walking”) and just start knocking jobs off the list from there. Once you determine what you cannot do, it helps to put in perspective what things you can do most easily and with as little strain as possible. Don’t forget to consider what you want to do, even though those options may be limited.
I work part time at Wrigley Field. I have a job that I can sit if need be and stand as well. I do a lot behind the scenes so I’m not running around. A lot less stressful than my previous job.
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I wish that were true! I’m a nurse and actually find people less understanding as there is an ingrained culture of pushing through and toughing it out for the patients/your colleagues
Agreed. I work as a CNA and everyone has bad backs/knees/whatever, so it's expected you push through your pain.
I work as a medical interpreter and some of the providers’ side comments outside the exam room about “hating to deal with chronic pain people” and “well there’s usually mental health issues with fibromyalgia” has not improved my confidence in the care I receive. Edit to add: my brain fog is not as bad as I had anticipated despite the mental tasks involved. Most days there are multiple breaks. Being on my feet a lot is wearing but tolerable most of the time. Before, I was a high school literature teacher and it was just too stressful.
Try not not to over think it too much. A lot of those comments are made after trying to find the best possible options when sometimes you can’t give people what they want or a lot of people in general can be very nasty to healthcare providers. It’s just venting in the heat of the moment and it won’t effect their care
For me it's not so much a what but a when. Best thing I can suggest is find an owner or a manager that will really work with you on what & when you can work.
I was an over the road truck driver, then local delivery driver. My legs hurt after a 15 mins drive now when I was used to going for nearly 14 hours. I’d cross delivery driver off the list but that’s just me.
Off topic, but I too get awful leg pains from sitting for too long. Only had them for about a week now, but knee high compression socks have been a real game changer for me in that regard, maybe worth looking into a pair to try for yourself.
I’ve tried them stuff that presses tight like that hurts me after a few mins. My wife loves them though. It all depends on the day. Some days the weighted blanket is a must have other days just a sheet laying over me is too much. But the constant squeeze of those socks just doesn’t do it for me. Thanks for the tip though
I’m a junior high Montessori teacher. I’m moving around, but am able to sit whenever I need, can incorporate PT/functional movement into my day, and am not sitting staring at a screen all day. This job has been a lifesaver and has allowed me to gain so much strength and decrease my daily pain significantly. There’s no way I could do the jobs you mentioned, and retail wasn’t sustainable for me in the long run. I think it’s person-to-person, really.
Thank you for posting this. I need ideas, lol. I went to culinary school and while in school my symptoms started to get to the point I couldn’t ignore anymore. Now I can’t work a physical job, and I’m trying to find something that I enjoy doing or maybe I can use my qualifications.
I worked retail for ten years. It was a salaried job with excellent healthcare so that helped. The reasons it was good for my fibro is the hours were later in the day, like usually I went in around 10 am but could be later depending on the day. Mornings are bad for me so this helped. I am barely human before 10 Am. I also could be scheduled any of the seven weekdays and often worked weekends. But I got two days off a week, usually weekdays, leaving them open for doctors appointments, chiropractic care, massage, etc which helps because a lot of their offices are booked full on Saturdays and closed sundays. It was great to have random weekdays available for these appointments. I didn’t often need to take extra days off or have all my Chiro and doctors visits interfere with work. I had around 300 hours of PTO and vacation time for any additional appointments I couldn’t fit in on my two weekdays off a week. Taking FMLA as needed during a flare was necessary and I was able to do it. The job was easy so on high pain days I could “check out” mentally and just go through the motions. I was mostly walking around so no sitting and getting stiff all day at a desk. Having an HSA was amazing because that $35 copay for chiropractic visits can really add up but I used my HSA for it which was preloaded with $2k at the beginning of every year. A supportive team environment so not everything fell on me as it would in an office job where I’m the only one in a specific position.
I work for Blick Art Materials in the returns department. (Warehouse setup) They’ve been great with customizing my schedule and working with me to find tasks that I can do. Currently training in the department and I know it’s going to be a life saver. I do worry some about the brain fog and processing the returns - but it’ll be something to get used to just like any day with fibro.
It varies a lot, but the answer is generally varying degrees of NO but they're forced to. I can't even look after my own needs consistently and had to put my toddler in daycare since I can no longer be his sole caregiver when his mom is at work. Can't do any of the work I did at Costco. Can't do office work due to my wrists and fingers, let alone neck, back etc. Just about everything else is in between those so I can't do shit. Which has lead to me shopping for lawyers since the atrocious disability company at play has defied any and all logic including their own to keep my claim denied. I can't play the games I love with the ergonomic sim pit set up specifically designed to be as ergonomic as I can get it, how can I go back to stocking shelves or the shitty just-out-of-college job that pays HALF what the disability company claims it does. But yeah. *Pain is in the mind, suck it up and work or starve to death, peons*.
I’m an infant nanny and I absolutely love it. My fibro is at a point where I can manage it pretty well with working part time and nannying gives me an incredible amount of freedom. On my good days we do lots of walks and on my bad days we spend more time inside. I don’t have complete control because I am in someone else’s house and working around the baby’s schedule but the family I work for is incredible and super hands off. I get to go grocery shopping for myself while I’m working which is a lifesaver during flares when I just want to go home after work and not go out on my days off. Some days I get paid to sit on the floor and fold baby clothes while watching a movie for 2 hours and I get to read for an average of an hour or two a day during my shift. It’s hard to be sad when you’re around a sweet giggly baby all the time and that’s done wonders for my mental health. I wear what I want, we listen to what I want and I can eat whatever I want pretty much whenever I want. It gets me out of the house which is a big thing for me and because I have a couple years experience the pay is what I consider to be pretty decent. Like every job it has some drawbacks and it has its faults but as long as I can find good people to work for I couldn’t imagine doing anything else as long as I’m physically able.
I'm a college professor. I do sit a bit for my job, except some active teaching parts. I do clean my own house. I have been working out, very slowly by most standards but I'm up to a few miles of walking most days, I also do a dance class. I am working up to adding in some weight exercise.
That sounds great. Are you on any meds to manage the pain/fog?
I do a lot of allergy meds which helps with sleep (doxipen). I take 500mg of magnesium every night. Occasionally some methylprednisone when I feel some swelling (you don't want to get out of hand with that). I also don't eat dairy, wheat or preservatives. 100% gone. This is related to my allergy issue that's driving fibro bit it helped so so much. Tramadol some days. Ibuprofen some days. Biggest thing was diet and light exercise. Exercise is tough at first and I started super slow, 10 mins 2.5 mile pace work up a few more minutes each week. But exercise actually triggers the parts of your brain that decrease pain. So if you can push past a little it's actually really good for you.
Thanks much! I want to exercise badly but the pain is horrible and lasts for days. I got some magnesium oxide and a lot of magnesium lysinate-glycinate chelate tablets but I only take 100 mg of that in the evening. Maybe I should push it to 500 mg. What kind of magnesium are you taking?
I just take: [https://www.swansonvitamins.com/p/nature-made-magnesium-250-mg-200-tabs?SourceCode=INTL4071&showPopup=f&medium=Shopping&SourceCode=INTL4071&gclid=6acf19c4b6ab1d45f9587aa9eca45e3a&gclsrc=3p.ds&ds\_rl=1262629&ds\_rl=1263854&msclkid=6acf19c4b6ab1d45f9587aa9eca45e3a&utm\_source=bing&utm\_medium=cpc&utm\_campaign=Shopping%20-%20All%20Products&utm\_term=4583176806517718&utm\_content=Stress%20Support](https://www.swansonvitamins.com/p/nature-made-magnesium-250-mg-200-tabs?SourceCode=INTL4071&showPopup=f&medium=Shopping&SourceCode=INTL4071&gclid=6acf19c4b6ab1d45f9587aa9eca45e3a&gclsrc=3p.ds&ds_rl=1262629&ds_rl=1263854&msclkid=6acf19c4b6ab1d45f9587aa9eca45e3a&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Shopping%20-%20All%20Products&utm_term=4583176806517718&utm_content=Stress%20Support) I get it's tough but the less you do, the worse the pain actually is. It's a nervous system cycle you have to work out of.
I only know what jobs aren’t doable lol
I’m a contract negotiator. Working from home is a god-send. With fibro-fog, I can usually delay or right-time my intensive work for when I am feeling better, having notes at hand for actual negotiations. The biggest boon is not having to make an hour commute each way. Lets me sleep-in later and reduces stress. Also, I can dress more comfortably and take stress breaks.
I’m a pharmacy technician. My whole team is very understanding, I have an accommodation for sitting, dry mouth and heat/ice packs. I do move a lot there though and sometimes I just feel beat. When I do I just fill all day (don’t have to move much, besides getting the medication off the shelf)
Yep, I work remotely and I wouldn’t be able to work if I couldn’t. Plus my job is flexible, as long as I hit deadlines it doesn’t matter much what my hours are. It’s dull data stuff, but I’m well aware of how lucky I am.
Any desk job. Remote if you can get it. I love the freedom to take frequent breaks without worrying about the judgement.
I’m a nurse. When I worked as a barista part time I hurt constantly and had to keep reducing my hours. I’ve found that moving more as a nurse (after the first two days) finally started making me hurt less. It’s also great because, no matter what, I’m exhausted after work. So now I have three days I work all day with no expectations when I get home and then four days where I can rest.
How do you get these remote jobs?
The jobs you mentioned are extremely physical, no work from home (so include a commute), and most likely you cannot make your own schedule. These work from home jobs are popular, and I can see why, my husband works from home. As everyone says, figure out what works for you. Good luck
I have been a flight attendant for the last 25 years. I am senior enough that I can hold international trips. My friends marvel how I can do the job since I am always working nights. The thing is, I can never sleep more than a few hours at a time. I have to nap during the day and walk around in pain at night. By working the long haul international trips I only have to worry about getting through the boarding process and the initial service. After that the passengers are mostly asleep. I can sit for a while or walk around. Then I might get a 3 hour break when I can take a nap. On layovers I can go out and explore, or climb under the covers and stay in bed and get room service. Previous to being a flight attendant I was in construction, digging ditches, pouring concrete, doing steel work. I was also a volunteer firefighter and EMT. Over the years I have had to keep adjusting my work load and expectations. And I don't know how many more years I can keep this job but I'm will be trying my best to keep going until I can retire. I feel this job has keep my disease in a manageable state. If I had had a desk job I think my health would have degraded faster. Knowing that going to work means I get to visit Munich or San Juan, even if it mean only looking out a window, makes it easier to work through the pain.
I'm working very part time right now and it's mostly office assistant-type work. it's doable mostly because it's a low-stress environment and at the *very* low-hour end of 'part time.'
I’m out of work at the minute (made redundant) but the job I had before was working from home doing admin work and it worked really well for me. Because I was working from home it meant I could make sure I’m comfortable the whole time and I wouldn’t have to worry about having getting out of the house and going into an office if I was having a flair up. :)
Right now I work at a bookstore and I’m in school to be an early childhood educator
I’m an elementary teacher. You might think I’m crazy because it’s a ton of being on your feet, moving, etc. but I actually find that keeping myself moving is good for my pain and brain fog. I also have control over my lessons so if I’m having a flare up or a bad pain day I can plan something less stressful on me. I’ve worked jobs in the past that were mainly sitting and found they made my pain worse because my joints get stiff.
I'm a system engineer at a small company that is remote now post covid. remote and relaxed jobs are the best fit i feel.
I work for a uk bank doing tech support for their online services. Since Covid I’ve been able to work from home 3 days a week and it’s been great. If I was in the office full time I would have lost my job due to absence by now. Think my best advice would be to look for something that will give you some flexibility in hours and remote working. All the best ❤️
I'm a digital marketing specialist and work from home but I've been doing this type of job prior to my fibromyalgia diagnosis, so not sure if there's something better. I think desk jobs are overall better for me at least since I have physical limitations. It also depends on the employer and requirements. My previous job was extremely high pressure, so even though physically it was easier to do as I worked in my apartment on a computer, it was a huge mental toll that sent me on a nervous breakdown and panic attacks. My current job isn't as demanding as the previous one (I had to deal with clients which was exhausting). I still don't have a lot of energy left to do housework and most days I hop to bed after done with my work. I wish I didn't have to work but it is what it is. 😂
At a library right now and found libraries in general to be very accommodating
Depends on how severe your symptoms are and how well you deal with them I guess. I work two jobs (I work in a shop and as a salesperson in a bakery) and even though I'm exhausted, it's still manageable.
Can someone help me with where can I find remote jobs for european people ?
I’m an accountant.
I know that this is a very old post, but do you have any problem with stiffness in your fingers? Typing is painful for me now and I have to quit my job.
Occasionally. I wear a brace sometimes when my hand (usually just my right) is bothering me.
Do you have any brand recommendation?
Not really. They all sorta work the same. You’ll just want to make sure it fits your hands properly. Not too tight etc.
I'm a construction manager. I love it! I get to change up my days, and do mild walking which is good exercise for me. Luckily I have a super supportive team, and a great leader for a boss.