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Sjogrens Topics => Living With Sjogren's => Topic started by: grafxmkr on October 11, 2011, 07:17:53 AM

Title: Tired and Tardy
Post by: grafxmkr on October 11, 2011, 07:17:53 AM
Hi all,

I don't post often but sometimes I just need to be heard by people who understand. I am tired.

I have always had problems waking up and moving in the mornings but of course it gets worse with stress. I am a chronically tardy employee. Today I will most likely get a talking to or write-up because I was 15 minutes late. I've had this job for near to 8 years. I have asked for salary or even flextime (I am management) but have been denied. My employer has been notified of my illness but quite frankly doesn't really care.

I set the alarm (2 of them), I just cannot get motivated to get out of bed. I sleep without waking up in the night, but it like I just need MORE! I work essentially 3 jobs: day job, freelance graphic design, & photography. The goal is to be self employed so I can make my own schedule (that and I need the extra $$$ to survive). The problem is with my current schedule, I don't go to bed until midnight and wake up at 7am.

For a "normal" person 7 hours seems to work... for me... not so much.

Life this past year has been a challenge to say the least, cheating husband, moving out, job moved its location, now divorce and bankruptcy. I have had many flares and the buzzing nerves have gotten worse and in more areas of my body.

Its not like I 'try' to run late in the mornings... it just seems to happen.  :(

Title: Re: Tired and Tardy
Post by: Joe S. on October 11, 2011, 07:47:36 AM
If you are in the USA, please file your FMLA paper work. FMLA will allow you the time you need to get going.

Does it help to go to bed early or later? I have found that if I go to bed later, I get up earlier. If I go to be early and I can rest the night through I get up late.
Title: Re: Tired and Tardy
Post by: grafxmkr on October 11, 2011, 08:47:06 AM
FLMA I don't think applies. We have less than 50 employees :(
Title: Re: Tired and Tardy
Post by: LisaMarie on October 11, 2011, 09:31:17 AM
I'm the opposite.  I can get myself to work on time.  But I can't last a full day!  I get hit with fatigue within two to 6 hours into the work day.  Hoping the plaquenil helps that.  There are days that I totally miss work too because I just can't wake up even after getting 8-9 hours of what I think is solid sleep. 

My number of sick days used in the past three months is more than what I used in my 15 years prior. 

Fortunately, my boss hasn't complained because I do mark my time out properly or make up for it when I can.  They have been good to date.  But, I work for a major university so I will look into fmla just in case I need to apply it to my time.

Have you mentioned this to your doctor? 

Do you notice that your tardiness happens the day after you do the other jobs?  Maybe you are wearing yourself out. 

Are they aware of your other jobs?  Maybe they are holding a grudge - if she can do those other things, she can get to work on time type of thing.  It's not right.  They don't understand the nature of the disease.  But that is what they may be thinking.

Hope they will work with you on it.
Title: Re: Tired and Tardy
Post by: Still in the hunt on October 11, 2011, 11:25:21 AM
People who have good health have NO idea what it is to live like this,, I am glad you are still able to work,, I wish I were,, but falling off ladders was my first idea that something was wrong,,
Title: Re: Tired and Tardy
Post by: grafxmkr on October 11, 2011, 01:41:23 PM
I wish my doctor was of more help. He just writes my scripts every 6 mos and wiggles my joints. He doesn't seemed concerned over ANY of my other symptoms. Then I tried my family doctor and they seem to be clueless as well. A specialist for every body part just doesn't sound like the thing to do.

It there a sjoggies list of good local one-stop doctors?