Posted by Elaine (24.88.1.116) on June 18, 2000 at 12:48:55:
I worked 19 years with clusters and I am chronic. I did good work and was at work everyday. When I had my clusters I worked through most, the whole world could tell I was hurtting but I worked. There were times when I got a 10 I had to excuse myself for a hour or two but I worked late or came in early to make up for the lost time. There were days my boss did not understand, but because my work was good and I made up for time lost he never said anything. I have meet people here who have familys to support and I know they go to work everyday and have to deal with the demon to feed their familysI have never heard these people complain and want diaabity. I know how bad the pain is I have had them as long as three hours at a time myself, that was before I found the medication that helped me. I worked and studyed the board to get that information. I would like to see help for people who have clusters, but I still do not understand people using clusters to get disablity. Disablity should be for people who truely can not work at all.There are jobs out there that will hire people if they want to work and give you a break to deal with the cluster if you are willing to make up for the lost time. I don't think clusters should be a reason to stop work.
I don't work now not because of cluster, I am just lucky enough not to have to work any more. It maybe in the near future I need to work and when that comes up I will work.