ENDO Messages for May, 2007: Re: Advice on working strategies

Re: Advice on working strategies

From: D (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Thu May 10 22:44:07 2007

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In reply to: Cari: "Re: Advice on working strategies"

It is quite possible to work while on pain medication - I do it everyday! Pain meds are the only thing making it possible for me to work right now. The "high" of any of these drugs wears off pretty quickly, a tolerance to the side effects develops. I'm on a fentanyl patch I change every three days, and dose is so even that even when I put on a new one I don't feel anything different.

It's also very common for women with endo to have their pain undertreated, and it should not be that way! I work closely with a pain management doctor who prescribes and manages all of my pain meds, and he's brought my pain levels down to where I can work fulltime again, whereas seven months ago I was lucky to work 2 or 3 days a week - mostly I laid on the couch.

Many doctors don't feel comfortable prescribing pain meds for chronic use, especially at the doses endo pain can require. If your doctor won't help you, look for a pain management doctor who will. Chronic pain can become a disease in and of itself when it's left untreated! Here's a link that explains more about pain and pain management:

http://www.painfoundation.org/

Emma - is there a reason you aren't considering surgery to have the endo removed?

Hope this helps!

At Thu, 10 May 2007, Cari wrote: >
>I can tell you it is tough. I too went from bad to worse. At one job I
>was able to file for FMLA leave where I had a couple of days a month I
>took off when pain was at its worst and they cannot fire you or do
>anything. You have to have worked there a year and have paperwork
>approved by doc and HR dept.
>
>I just resigned from my most recent job because my surgery will take
>three weeks to heal and it is a long drive to work for me. I did not
>have to leave, I did what I felt was best and I need a job closer to
>home, period.
>
>I know it is hard to work in pain and you can't really take pain med at
>work. The few times I broke down and took pain med at work, I had to go
>sleep in my car at lunch and fight to be awake all day...it was awful. I
>wish I had money to just take a few months off but reality is that I
>can't so...
>
>I wish I had great advice, but maybe talk to your boss if you can and
>try to explain what is going on. Also, discuss with your Human
>Resources manager if you can.
>
>At Thu, 10 May 2007, Emma wrote:
>>
>>Hi
>>
>>My condition has become so much more debilitating after 10 years of pain
>>that working is becoming almost impossible. I am now very concerned
>>that I will not be able to stay in my current full time employment if it
>>continues and am starting to consider what my options are. My wage is
>>relied upon by another and feel pressure from all angles. Any support
>>or advice would be appreciated.

-- Find an endo specialist in the ERC's EndoDocs group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EndoDocs/

Try an excellent endo support group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/erc/

Next message: anonymous: "side effects AFTER Lupron treatment?"
Previous message: Laura: "Endo back?"
In reply to: Cari: "Re: Advice on working strategies"

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