How Many Of You Can Work?

[galatea]

Does anyone know what proportion of people with POTS are able to work?

I had to drop out of university and haven’t really been able to do anything because of the extreme fatigue.

[Guest Hanice]

Nope. Cant do not'n.

[MomtoGiuliana]

I am not sure what the statistics are. Many people w POTS, according to my specialist. get better over time and with treatment.

I was unable to work for about a year. Since then I worked part-time and since 2006, full-time. I do take sick days due to POTS, but it is rare.

[trice125]

I was able to graduate from college and work for a year and a half before I couldn't work anymore.

[lejones1]

I can't work. I tried to go back twice since this started, once full time and once part time. But I would just end up just laying down on the floor for a couple of hours at a time, so I finally accepted it was time to quit.

It's really depressing. I'd love to get well enough to work again but I have no idea how I'd explain this to a future employer!

[Akgirl]

Not a chance!!

[Psalm 23]

I lost the ability to work 8 years ago. For many years prior to that I worked part time but had to call in sick a lot towards the end.

[Agreeky]

I am able, but I have been let go from last two jobs. They both said I had attendance issues, which is always due to doctors appointments. Or having to go home due to pain. I get a lot of abdominal issues...

[Chaos]

I haven't been able to work for the last 18 months but keep hoping I'll improve and be able to go back at least part time.

I thought I remembered reading a statistic in the past that around 30% of POTS patients were so badly affected they couldn't work but that may be wrong. We may have a slightly skewed outlook on here since those POTS patients who are working probably don't have as much time to hang out on forums regularly.

[bebe127]

I was a teacher many moons ago before I had children. I have been a stay at home mom since and I homeschool my children. I was dx. 4+ years ago. After getting sick, I always semi-joke that if I worked and my kids went to school, I'd have to quit work and homeschool the kids. I really don't think there is any way that I could work full time. I do teach at a homeschool co-op one day a week for 12 weeks during the school year (classes are held for two semesters of 12 weeks and I only teach one semester) and even that wears me out completely. Now I only go out if it is necessary and even then I have to back out a lot. I've never missed teaching a Friday though.

[green]

I worked full-time for awhile. But, I also lost multiple jobs because my symptoms made me a poor worker.

Now, I'm full-time working on a Ph.D., but I have no doubt that I could teach full-time if I needed too. Owing to brain fog and mental fatigue, I'll never be able to grade fast enough to work a mere 40-hour work-week, but no one who can get work works just 40-hours a week in America anymore so I'll stay late and grade papers while my colleagues go to their second job, or go home to raise the kids or whatever.

[Kay107]

I can work. I have been living with pots since I was 9 so I don't really know what it would feel like not to have it, it is my 'normal'. I have flares that do make life harder but hopefully those don't become permanent.

[Anoj]

I'm working 20 hours a week. Working part-time has been a godsend.

[lissy]

I've never been able to hold a job for more than 2 months, thats been since 16 and I'm 34 now...I really feel dissatisfied with my sucess outcome, and I always think about trying to get a degree in a profession that can accommodate my medical needs. Still debating on it :/... Glad to hear some of you are able to work even part-time I think its beneficial psychologically.

[UnderwaterThing]

Before I was disagnosed in 2011, I didn't work for an entire year. I was working on a PhD at the time. I had to go on medical leave mid semester and I had no idea what was happening. It took a very long time to get a diagnosis, good doctors, and proper treatment. I started teaching part time last year and then took on too much last Spring semester and ended up on medical leave again. I just got a full time teaching position at a community college, and those positions are very difficult to get, so I am going to work incredibly hard to stay healthy enough to do what I love. I do average about 2 sick calls a month though unfortunately. I feel for those of you who are completely unable to work,

[Elish]

I can work, but just barely. I am a utility worker, and some days I have really good days, where lifting a bag of garbage is nothing. Other days, I can barely lift 12 ounces.

[Hope]

I couldn't hold down a job right now as I am disabled. Since my cardiologist confirmed that I my symptoms have been that of POTS since I was a teen, I have worked most of my life with it either in flower shops, or as a secretary. It was always a struggle, but now it would be impossible. I was actually able to obtain a doctor's note this week just for Jury Duty, and I like Jury Duty. I like being part of the justice process. I was only on one jury before, but I loved it!

Anyhow, like Bebe, I also homeschool my last child. I also have a small home bussiness I am currently resurrecting. I had started it before I became disabled. I do basic sewing alterations and repairs. I also started selling my wares on Etsy, but that is a slow process as I have not started advertising for that. I am trying to get my shop filled up first and it takes time, and ENERGY to make things. In the future I would like to give home school lessons for basic sewing & crochet. I have a curriculum worked out for it, and I had been practicing with giving the youth of my family lessons before I became disabled also. I am hoping by next year to offer those classes to my home school groups. I figure if I never get better, I can do these things when I am up to it. And if I get better, I may be able to use my sewing skills to get back into the work force.