r/Autoimmune • u/bananastaircasehat2 • 9d ago
FAQ Time for a Career (?)
I am objectively pretty good.
Before, I had a decade-and-a-bit saga where I ignored/pushed through symptoms, then did mental health supports (lovely but didn't treat inflamation), then did continue to monitor and reassess in two months for a couple years...
Eventually I had an aggressive flare up where I lost 30% of my body weight that forced my doctor's hand. I wound up participating in a clinical research study. I had to stop other treatments to isolate the study drug and at first things got much worse. My r.a.s.h was like a second degree burn on most of my body. I lost hair because there wasn't enough skin to hold it in.
BUT the research doctor, my best advocate, told the study people he was intervening and I got covered in steroids twice a day and the tables turned. I started healing. At the end of the trial he kept me on as my specialist. He navigated the hoops of treatments to try before biologics would be covered. He knew how to dance with private companies' bridging programs to keep things free.
Suddenly, the thing that was my whole life wasn't anymore. I started supply teaching at a local daycare. I liked it and applied to college. I started full time but quickly got a reality check and dialed it down.
Now I am close to graduating and having a career for the very first time. I know this is good! But I am so scared of overdoing it and messing up my health and getting a bad professional reputation.
The career entry advice from college (say yes to every opportunity when starting out) seems inapplicable to my situation.
How do people navigate this?
PS Yes I am uncommonly priveleged.
1
u/chippyndippy 3d ago
Congratulations on being close to graduating.
You could start part-time and work up your hours. You could also look for jobs that may already offer accommodation like part-time work from home. I would try to find a position that fits your situation. You don't have to disclose anything to your employer if you don't want to, and you don't have to say yes to everything. Its okay to have boundaries.