terceltina
New Member
Happy, and now with 4 cats.
Posts: 43
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Post by terceltina on Sept 2, 2014 1:00:41 GMT -5
So, faced with endometriosis, I am setting about getting rid of the stressful wasteful parts of my life. I have been floundering around since I was 19, with 3-5 jobs, and not getting anywhere.
I have been waitressing for several years, but when I was going into surgery I took a leave of absence, and I'm thinking of making it permanent. I have tendonitis in both arms, and in one achilles foot tendon. So it's not like I was having a happy fun time of it anyways.
I have my own business doing computer work. I have a large job contracting out to do an inventory system. I'll stay the course of it, I hope to get back there in a few days, but I don't want to go into tech support full time. It's the same field as my boyfriend, and I'd rather he gets the work, and I don't have the stress.
I volunteer with an animal rescue group. I totally can't quit this. 3rd day after my surgery, I got to go cuddle 5 of the cutest kittens who had been rescued after being abandoned. Totally therapeutic.
I am a firefighter. Volunteer, anyways. There's no paid positions for it in my town. But I really love doing it. Sure, it's harder work than waitressing, and much more demanding, but it doesn't feel like it. I get to work with amazing good people who I enjoy working with, and in a structured healthy environment. If I get healthy and in shape again, I can try for the paramedic training. That's my goal, anyways.
So yeah, that's my life in a nutshell. Right now I'm coasting by on savings, as I had some warning about the surgery and the recovery time. But I'm also scared to hand in my notice at the restaurant, as they are really nice people. It's just I was working with sitcom level annoying coworkers who would stress me out. And the customers, yeesh. And the having to put on a smile was starting to really get to me. When you're in pain, smiles get a much harder.
But I realize that there's certain stressful parts of my life that I'm not going to get rid of. I live in an old house, and it frequently has issues. Not much I can do about that. I live with a guy who has his own medical issues, and in an unspecified time, I'll be taking care of him post surgery, only his recovery might be much longer. Not much I can do about that stress there. But I can choose my job to match my needs a little better. Maybe there's a career out there waiting for me. But I have to change what I was doing.
Anyone have any success stories of post-diagnosis career changes?
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Post by omaklackey on Sept 3, 2014 11:53:10 GMT -5
Hi, So I went back to school four years ago after I was diagnosed. And not just any program... I went to school to become a RN. I now work 12 hour days on my feet all day long but because I love it I seem to just zone out the pain until I get home. I do have to recover after though but totally worth it to be doing what I love. I always had a love of healthcare but having some good RN's and some horrible ones, I just knew I could do "better". (ah the arrogance of the untrained... lol) anyways, all this to say: having a job you want to do and love, makes a huge difference to getting through a long day when you struggle with this horrible disease. My husband is a Paramedic. The one thing you need to be a paramedic (besides being slightly crazy) is the ability to stay up all hours of the night with no sleep. He sometimes goes for a day or two with no sleep depending on the shift. I do know that there are some jobs that do like 12 hour shifts though, especially hospital based companies. Also need a strong back! But you get more days off as a Paramedic like I do as an RN so It might be a good fit. That's how I handle the physcial side to being a RN is I get four and six day weekends... time enough for me to recover! Are you an EMT now? EMT's need less training, don't get paid as much though but still get the good schedule.
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Post by omaklackey on Sept 3, 2014 14:08:56 GMT -5
Also there is something I forgot to say. Having something to do keeps me from sitting around thinking about how much I hurt. Keeping busy doesn't in any way make the pain less, it just makes a distraction from it. I never regret getting myself busy!
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terceltina
New Member
Happy, and now with 4 cats.
Posts: 43
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Post by terceltina on Sept 4, 2014 12:40:36 GMT -5
I have first responder 1, which is the very beginning. But there aren't slots open at the moment, I'm in a small town. I can take the training though, and be ready. And get my experience in with the Fire Dept. All on volunteer basis, of course, so no pay. But I can find something I'm sure.
Yes, having a job where the pain seems to fade away is what I want. Working as a waitress, I was so miserable all the time because I didn't feel challenged, or respected. It made lifting 4lbs of plate seem heavier than hauling 100' of hose.
I guess I probably have some mental blocks related to being employed. I've been at this restaurant since I started working at 23. Before that, I was failing miserably at running a graphics design business with a friend, so it wasn't really working at all. I feel so grateful to the bosses of the restaurant, and I think they're nice people, but, I have to be able to tell them if I'm coming back or not. And I'm scared. Part of me has always been the person where, they ask me to come in at short notice cuz of an emergency, and I'm there. I have a hard time saying no.
I am on call for fires and first responder calls, so any time when I'm not working, I have a radio and I have to be prepared to be out the door. I really like that. Don't tell anyone, but it makes me feel like a super hero. But that's different to being scheduled for 5 hours of pouring coffee with slimy customers, mentally under-stimulated, and doing repetitive tasks. One has to be ready for anything, at any time. One works with one's team at a high level, lots of trust and cooperation. No one is fighting for tips, it's all about doing the job.
Everyone has told me that I should use my skills for better things, that I could have any job in the world. Most 9-5 jobs don't really appeal, because I want to make a meaningful contribution to the world, and I want to stay fit in my work. It's not like my mom was a great role model. She was in a lot of pain, and depression. After the divorce, she did mostly accounting type things, but never found a passion. I wonder sometimes if she had endometriosis too, she would never have told me, and there's no way to know now. She died when I was a kid, of heart attack, at a very young age. A great loss, as she never got to really be very happy in life, and the stress of trying to take care of the household, and live with her depression killed her. I don't want to end up like that. I want to have friends, and make a family, and a nice home to live in, I want to have a job I love, that makes me feel good about being me.
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Post by omaklackey on Sept 6, 2014 12:35:45 GMT -5
A really great job I had as I was becoming an RN was ER tech in our local small hospital, they want your CNA and like if you also have EMT. Its a great chance to get experiece in EMS.
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terceltina
New Member
Happy, and now with 4 cats.
Posts: 43
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Post by terceltina on Sept 7, 2014 11:28:19 GMT -5
Our community suffered a great loss when the greater entities decided we no longer would have a hospital. It's over an hours drive on winding road to get to the nearest hospital, if the road isn't shut down because of mudslide, avalanche, accident, or whatever. And only one ambulance, so if it's out of town, it's a much longer wait. It' part of what drives me to be on call all the time for the community. Because we are the first response, we are there for the community, 24/7. I mean, I could commute, but then I also would be out of the community for longer, and not able to be on call as much. But, I got promoted within the fire department, yay! Now I have a fancy title, and more responsibility. I'm a Lieutenant now.
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terceltina
New Member
Happy, and now with 4 cats.
Posts: 43
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Post by terceltina on Sept 9, 2014 11:51:27 GMT -5
What a daunting day. I got an email from a friend delivering a message, saying that the restaurant is losing 2 workers, and that I need to get back there. Aaaahhhh! I barely managed to do 5 hours of a computer job, how can I expect to be carrying plates and 9lb jugs of coffee? I just have to say no to them, that's all it is.
But then my partner's hernia is so bad, he's not lifting anything. Aaaahhh! Who is going to lift up the computers he picks up for repairs, and move the box of preserves we were given? Who is going to finish cleaning the house for winter, and installing the new furniture? I guess that's me again. I am not ready to invite my father over to put up furniture for me, it would hurt my pride and sense of self-sufficiency too much.
One side of me is all sensible just say no, avoid work, but when it comes to the household, I'm all throw caution to the wind, I'll do it. I really just want to go downtown and have a nervous breakdown. That's not really an option though. I'd never hear the end of it.
Oh well. Got to get dressed and go downtown, and talk to the restaurant. Yesterday I lifted some boxes for my grandmother. How could I not? She's living alone, with only half a lung, her shoulder was dislocated, and she's not going to be around forever. I'm in valid pain, at least that will remind me to keep my head, I hope. Sure, I can lift things, but I shouldn't take a job doing it just yet.
Right? Ay yi yi. And my partner is a restaurant person. Head cook for years, waiter for years, loves the atmosphere and was good at his job. He can't understand my hatred of the profession, because he's never had to wear skirts and be the target of drunken idiots. He's never been harassed by the wives because they're upset the men are looking, or the target of babies learning to throw things and you're expected to smile because you're a girl.
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