So, I'm out at a conference all week. Today is the opening session. Started at 8am. I felt fine. Felt like I had energy left after I walked 3 blocks to get here. Arrived 30 minutes early and sat down to catch my breath. Moved into the main room shortly after they opened the doors. Oh, they blocked off rows of seats forcing you to fill up the room from the front. So, I'm sitting around the middle of the room. I should have sat at a end seat at least but I hate people having to crawl over me. So, I'm in the middle of the row.
The session starts. Feeling fine so far. A few awards. Nice. Glad they won.
Main speaker finally starts 30 minutes later. He's a great speaker. Funny. I'm an hour into the session now. Starting to struggle in my seat. My back hurts. My legs are starting to hurt. Try to encourage myself to focus but I can't. My stomach is turning big time. Slight palpitations.
I still have another 45 minutes in this session! They scheduled the session for almost two hours! I've used my spoons just sitting here! I'm not sure how I'm going to handle the rest of the day now.
I think I'll blow off the first round of break out sessions and go back and get a nap. Need to be productive at a 2pm meeting.
I've always heard that the brain can only pay attention as long as the butt is able to sit. Two hours is WAY too long.
Glad to know you're taking care of what's important --- your health!
I used the time in the chair to meditate. It is harder when you are presenter Like I am this weekend. I plan to bring my towel to all my talks.
Having a Douglas Adams day, Joe? ;)
I also have to attend professional conferences and I am lucky if I make it to 2 or 3 sessions in 2 days. I also try to sit in the back, near the door thanks to IBS and an overactive bladder. Fun, huh?
LOVE LOVE LOVE the Douglas Adams books. Especially the 4 book "Trilogy"... ;D ;D ;)
Douglas Adams weekend! -- http://www.valleycon.com/ I do not know which topics they have selected for me to present from this list.
One Hour Presentation Menu
Down My Rabbit Hole – Strange, insane memories of future events from my past, and whispers of conspiracies.
I Want a New Drug – beginners guide to hand and body reflexology. Bring a friend to touch their pain.
Beginning Couples Massage – Bring your significant other for gentle torture and stretching massage. Please leave your torture implements at home.
Electro-Herbalism – Is this part of our Star Trek Medical future?
Reiki 0.5, with hand attunements – Laying on of hands for beginners.
Resonate Towers – a simple device to promote growth and healing with the earth.'s natural resonance.
Self-Hypnotic Meditation – learn the simple techniques for pain relief, health and a process for creating your own meditations.
Pain Management Tips and Tricks – for those forced into better living with out chemistry.
Introduction to your Energy Body Anatomy – Hara Line, Chakras, Meridians, & Auras
My Other Vehicle is a UFO – A discussion of techniques for building a UFO. Some Patented techniques have been used in our past.
Spoon Theory and Pain Management – a presentation of these two documents and a discussion of how to slow down and regain management of your pain levels.
Life After Life – a moderated discussion of past lives, near death experiences, transitions and future lives.
Our Holographic Multiverse – a discussion of wave interactions, written on the sea of energy that we exist in. I promise not to invoke the calculus. You can look it up yourself.
Wow! Wish I could go! It sounds like you've got a lot of great information to share!
No wonder you need to bring along your handy towel. Just remember: DON'T PANIC!
42,
A66ey
:)
I always feel this way when attending the Sjogren's Syndrome National 2-day Conference. It feels like a marathon to me, especially the 1st day that runs from around 9 a.m.-9 p.m. I keep suggesting that they build in a little nap time for us.
I have been really struggling to make it through my 8 hour work day. I feel fine in the morning. By 2 o'clock I feel like crap.
Don't know how I'm going to make it 2 1/2 more years. :-\
Quote from: Babs659 on October 19, 2011, 04:39:01 PM
I have been really struggling to make it through my 8 hour work day. I feel fine in the morning. By 2 o'clock I feel like crap.
Don't know how I'm going to make it 2 1/2 more years. :-\
Oh yeah...
Babs659 is part time an option? Do you have an option for FMLA? I am sorry if I have asked this before but I do not remember. Is there some way that you can add restorative breaks to your day? I am sorry that I do not have better suggestions for you. (((hugs))) if nothing else works.
Yesterday's two hour nap did help me a lot! I managed to go back to the conference and attend one other session, followed up by a small rest before I headed out for a fun night with others. There is no way I could have done it without my nap and the "rest" period though. I'm sure today will be the same way.
I too am experiencing the lack of ability in getting a full day of work in on most days. Luckily, I can be somewhat flexible in my job.
I wanna go to the conference Joe S. is going to!!
All my favorite stuff!!
I work for the county, civil service position. I don't know who to ask about modifications, and I'm a bit scared to in this economy.
Quote from: Babs659 on October 20, 2011, 04:29:16 AM
I work for the county, civil service position. I don't know who to ask about modifications, and I'm a bit scared to in this economy.
Have you tried your superior? That's who I ask. Although I've been told I was lucky to have a somewhat understanding boss. Maybe the human resources person? Check your personnel handbook for disability rules because in my position, it's a must that we be accommodated. I'm just assuming you live in the US. THE Americans With Disabilities Act protects qualified individuals with disabilities from employment discrimination. Providing reasonable accommodation is a must.
Babs, If a government agency will not provide FMLA, in the USA you have a MAJOR lawsuit! Get the FMLA paper and file. You can also get support from ADA laws.
With FMLA it's unpaid leave. I have plenty of sick leave. But my boss is not sympathetic. I called Employee Assistance and they led me to FMLA website.
I see my rheumy on Nov 14th and will ask for some sort of note. If I could just take a half hour nap or leave 2 hours early once in a while. Anyone have experience with this sort of ADA issue?
Babs, I understand your fatigue etc. It's so hard to work all day when you feel so awful. I am trying to last the rest of is school year, and en, I think that's it. I'm lucky I'm not teaching a class all day anymore, but fixing computers and teaching teachers and kids about different software.
My one saving grace this year is that I can pace myself, and vary what I'm doing during the day. But sometimes I just have to close my office door and put my head down for a bit. But what I really need is a bed to lie down on for a while!
Like you, I have a lot of sick leave, but the pressure to be there is great. I would LOVE to take some sick hours and go home early when I have just had it. As it is, I leave early quite a bit for doctor appointments.
Maybe we should ask for a perpetual doctor's not that excuses us from a few hours of work when we really need it!
Maybe we should ask for a perpetual doctor's not that excuses us from a few hours of work when we really need it!
That would be perfect!
That is what I did!
Joe - how was the conference?
So long, and thanks for all the fish.
KellyG
My first presentation "My Other Vehicle is a UFO" started at 10 am on Saturday. We were in one open room with other presentations. The SCA group came in with amplified sound for their fighting demo and no one could hear any thing. I answered questions at the massage table.
The second presentation "Star Trek and Electro-Herbalism: Our medical future" I did twice on Sunday at 10, and 11 am. I answered additional questions at the massage table.
I did a number of massages and the people could not believe how good they felt after less than 15 minutes of body work. (Manual stretching of muscles and joints).
On the drive home, I had to let my wife drive. I tried 5 hour energy first. It lasted only 45 minutes. I had used too many spoons. Sleep was not an option for me as I did not have enough spoons to even sleep.
Bless your heart, Joe. You made it through! Now get some well deserved rest and build up your spoons.
It's hard to commit to being a speaker at these things. They assign you times and you have to be ready. We all know that we can't control when we will use our spoons for the day.
I know exactly what you mean when you say you didn't have enough spoons to even sleep! Happens a lot. Fatigue with insomnia.
Babs659,
I don't know if this helps, but here is my FMLA experience. Even though FMLA is unpaid, I got 40 percent of my usual check through a short term disability company my employer uses. Then I could use my sick time to make up the difference. It would have been great if the insurance company had paid me on time and returned calls..
Good luck.
KellyG 8)
Sounds like a typical insurance company.
Quote from: KellyG999 on October 25, 2011, 09:27:40 AM
Babs659,
I don't know if this helps, but here is my FMLA experience. Even though FMLA is unpaid, I got 40 percent of my usual check through a short term disability company my employer uses. Then I could use my sick time to make up the difference. It would have been great if the insurance company had paid me on time and returned calls..
Gee, Kelly. I wonder if that would effect my pension amount??
Babs - it couldn't hurt to check it out. The 10 weeks of leave did me a WORLD of good.
I know that in my school district, if I go on short term leave, it affects all of my sick leave, and anything else in the district. The months don't count towards my "pension" or defined contribution. If it extends into long term disability, I'm no longer an employee.
That would be awful since I'm so close to getting the retirement benefits in the district and state. So I can't afford to use even the short term disability. I've been reading the fine print as I need to get my hip replacement revised. I have a lot of sick days, but I'm afraid the recovery could be harder than expected, and ruin retirement plans.
It's all the fine print and little "clauses", they add to these short term and long term disability contracts that can catch you by surprise.
That's what I'm afraid of.
Babs,
I used to be a HR manager for a city. When you're in civil service for government it is A LOT harder to fire someone so you shouldn't worry about that. My husband is in the private sector and I used to be shocked at how easy it was to get rid of someone in that arena!
You need to ask your HR person about ADA accommodations. That person should be well-versed in the law. At the very least they can tell you how to begin asking for accommodations. You cannot be fired for your disability. Most public sector places have well-documented policies as to how things like ADA are used. I hope you're in such a place!
If your supervisor is unsupportive, stay away from there and just work with HR. That's where all the information should be found.
Good luck to you,
MB
Thanks JM. That's greatly helpful information. :)