At what point do you throw in the proverbial towel?

[armslee]

I am tired alot. In pain at least 90% of each day which of course gets more much more intense with driving, lifting, sitting, typing, walking etc. Most days I just deal with it. Today isn't one of those days.

I am being treated by a pain clinic but my results are not what I hoped they would be. So what does one do? At what point do you finally reach your breaking point and say, "Enough is enough? I am doing myself more harm than good by continuing to work. If I stop working my full time job, how will I support myself?"

I have 2 part time jobs now that don't take much physical effort but don't pay enough to even eat on. However, some money is better than no money. I pay for a long term disability policy at my full time job. This has always been my back up plan, but it has a 90 day waiting period.

Guess at this point I am fishing for personal experiences anyone can share.
Thanks.

[Kara29]

I was supposed to work 40 hours a week and it got to the point of where I could only make it to Wednesday and that was it for me. There were days where I practically crawled to my car and shook in pain the whole way home. This is when I said enough was enough. Then I heard of the plan my employer was hatching to start layoffs and heard I was the first to go. So I asked my doctor to write a note of short-term disability so I could figure out what to do. Later it became long-term disability and then I was done with work completely. A year later I recieved permanent disability from the government. We had to make some changes but eventually got to where we needed to be. We had to leave Boston and move back home to NY. My Husand got a job here that was nice. We don't live the rich life, but we get by. We get family help sometimes when it's absolutely needed. I never thought we would make it after I stopped supplying the income but we did it.
I pray that you find a way and that it works out for you somehow!

HUGS!

Kara

[ChrissySunshine]

Hey Wendi, I'm so sorry you're not well. About "throwing in the towel"....it's a very personal and very hard decision.

IMMEDIATELY PRIOR to reading your post, I had just got done posting an intake request on a Disability Advocacy site in my state......I'll let you know how I make out. I'm about to throw in that proverbial towel myself.

I've always said that I don't know how you can work, Wendi. You must give yourself ALOT of credit for working as long as you have. It is a positive thing that at least you have that LTD Policy thru your employment.....90 days wait is ALOT better than the looooong wait I've heard others have had to wait prior to getting SS. I'm interested also in learning of other's reply to this post.

I hope you feel better soon Wendi!

[armslee]

Thanks Kara.

Well this is the week of all my doctor rechecks and guess with today's pain that won't go away, it has just got the ol' brain humming. I see my pschologist today, gyn-uro tomorrow and pc on Friday. I definetly think that I am going to discuss this with the therapist and gyn-uro and see what their input it.

My husband has about had a heart attack everytime I bring the subject up so I don't get any emotional support there. Many times I have difficulty even believing that he understands this disease. But at some point, I am going to have to begin to make some profound discissions. I know that we will be scheduling my hysterectomy soon. My pap this week is going to determine that and maybe that should be the time that I really try to work this out.

Kara, I know what you mean about not "living the life". But we are entitled to live A LIFE no matter what we have to do.

So much to think about.