suitable jobs for people with cfs

[neil25]

Hi there,

That must be really tough for you. I think i might be in the same situation after i graduate form uni. I would suggest reducing your hours and taking the pressure off a little. Maybe working part time but as you said you need to pay the bills so that might be difficult for you.

[zukeepurr]

I wish I could reduce my hours, but this job won't allow it. In fact, I've tried doing that in the past with other jobs, but it generally just worsens the issue because of the added stress of less income. I also tried returning to college in my 30s and had to drop out because of the same problems. I could never make it to the early a.m. classes and then I just missed too much.

I actually went to bed 3 hours earlier than I normally do and woke up feeling the same. I'm here at work again, wanting to sleep so badly.

Thanks for your reply. I hope to find some relief somehow.

[Wynton]

Hey zukeepurr, sorry to hear about your plight.

I know this potentially costs quite a bit, but have you ever thought about medications? To stay focused on work (or to do anything well, or enjoy myself for a while), I take adderall, and I find it helps hugely. I get this prescribed from my sleep doctor who I started seeing before I knew I had CFS. Fortunately it is covered by my health insurance, but it was difficult. Plus you may not even have health insurance
The other drug I take is the antidepressant prozac. Initially I was very much opposed to taking medication like this (my parents made me because they thought I was just depressed.) But I definitely do think it helps in those moments when you just have had enough and don't want to go on - it helps me be illogical like that. (On the contrary, I haven't found sessions with physiatrists to have bourne any fruit. There's nothing really that anyone can tell me that will make me feel better about my CFS.) On the bright side, I think antidepressants are much easier to get a hold of, and cheaper, I believe.

[neil25]

I really feel for you. I know i'm gonna be in the same situation when i finish uni. I suppose if your like me you have learnt to go into survival mode and just get through the day. It really does suck hopefully science can uncover this mystery illness one day. Do you take vitamins and supplements? I take quite a few and also take herbal medicine which helps for energy and reduces pain a little.

[zukeepurr]

I am on Prozac and have been on various SSRIs over the years. I also have taken a variety of vitamins, as I have clinically been found to be vitamin D deficient and my ferritin is chronically low. I have tried the "one-a-day" energy formula multivitamins and now have been taking a vitamin B complex in hopes to restore some type of energy. I am prescribed 50,000 U of vitamin D weekly and have had multiple intravenous iron infusions with no success.

It's hard to say in the vicious circle of mental vs. physical which came first or which is more debilitating. I'm depressed because I'm so tired, and I'm tired of being so depressed.

I had to take part of Thursday and all of Friday off of work because I had conjunctivitis (pink eye), which gave me some relief as far as having a "valid" excuse for staying home. The fact that I didn't make any money those 2 days is only slightly weighing on my mind.

No, I don't have any health insurance at this time, so I am unable to meet with my therapist, whom I have seen for at least 4 years up until last fall when I lost my insurance. I know that talking about my underlying issues is key for 'healing', but it's just not practical right now, which really adds insult to injury.

Thanks for all of your advice, and I wish you the best of luck.