PPPP and having a Career

[jessican]

I am just curious, what do those of you with PPPP do for a living.....

I have had P and PA since I was 16 (for 13 years now) but thanks to prednisone , developed PPPP about a year ago while I was in the midst of going to school to become a medical assistant (and eventually a nurse).

I have an excellent medical team and we do everything to keep my PA and PPPP flair manageable, including pain control and treatment for depression. I must say that there are not many jobs that you can take time off when you need, or don't require you to use your hands and feet (when flare comes around every couple weeks)

Right now I babysit, but given I already have my B.S. in Public Administration I feel as if somehow I am a waste of space.... Have you all found your purpose with this disease? With all of its unpredictability it's difficult to ever be hopeful that I will be out there helping the world like I had always planned and not being helped instead...

Please comment !

[Tyberious13]

Kudos for making a living. Myself, I've had some really great jobs in the past that I just have NOT been able to hold onto. Everyone over the past three years now I have lost due to some form of problem in dealing with P. If it's not the physical discomfort that gets inthe way (especially during bad flare-ups when it strikes my joints) then it is the psychological elements that stand in the way. Sometimes the side-effects from the various treatments/medications too. It's been getting progressively worse, little by little, as time goes by. Lost my last job just a couple of weeks ago after much absences and poor job performance from not being able to focus. The apartment was gone after that, then my fiance' (who I still am trying to work things out with).

Before all the really bad flare-ups I used to work as a bartender and bar manager at a couple of different places down in the Rio Grande Valley. LOVED that work. Made really great money (even better than ANY of the "real" jobs I've had since then) and had a lot of fun. Then the P got bad and I found I could no longer function with an "in the spotlight" environment like that. I'm damn near a recluse now.

My doc has suggested I try for disability benefits, and I'm thinking maybe that may be the way to go until I'm certain I have my P under control. I just can't help but feel that taking a step in that direction means that I've been "beaten" by this disease. I wanna do more than "get by." I wanna get my own place again (staying with family now) and take care of my dame whom I love dearly and do not want to lose.

[RichJ]

hi jessican,
i guess some times i think of my self as the little train that says i can do it. im on my feet for like 9 hour a day and do alot of walking in a day. i have had to bad attacks of p on fingres and bottom of my feet. i work there for 21 years doing the same thing. i was not aloud to come back to work this year for about a week. because i had no skin on the bottom of my fingers. they didn't know for about a mouth before that it was gone (skin). i hide my hands so that know one at work could see them. im sitting woundering why i every worked like i did when i was in so much pain. because they don't give a s--t for me. im realy not sure. great thread

have a good night all

richard

[jessican]

We do have a purpose though , right?

I mean, setting aside my religious convictions, I have a hard time believing that this disease is all just an unfortunate dealing of the deck. I want to think that there is some reason for this, that maybe PPPP was a means to to an end or a beginning of something; I would just really love to know what that something is.

I've thought about other careers I could possibly pursue, counseling really sticks out for me, but requires more school and commitment. When you have the P and the PA, living in the future always seems unrealistic and impossible.

Another problem that I have noticed since developing the PPPP/PA is that I an almost ADD type brain, always so much going on in my brain, so many ideas, not much coming to complete fruition.... Anyone else have this problem? Just curious? Maybe it's just an issue of having to much time on you hands!

Much love to all my P friends out there!

[Tyberious13]

[QUOTE=jessican]When you have the P and the PA, living in the future always seems unrealistic and impossible.

Another problem that I have noticed since developing the PPPP/PA is that I an almost ADD type brain, always so much going on in my brain, so many ideas, not much coming to complete fruition....[QUOTE]

QFT =(

[grannyfranny]

Hi Jessi and welcome. I know how you feel, I've been there.

NEVER GIVE UP,,,,,keep searching for help,,whether it's a good doctor or financial assistance.

It took me 42 years to find it. If you give up trying,,you will never know what will help you.

Take a look at these pictures.http://www.psoriasis.org/forum/showthread.php?t=20993

I am still doing great and can walk without bleeding, cracking feet. No pustules in 2 months. I was getting a couple of places, now and then but now no new ones!!!!!

I found that Croc shoes worked for me.