Hi all, I've been a member here for a long time, but haven't posted for quite a while.
I'm a full time high school Spanish teacher, 17 years. Dx in 2011. fatigue is by far my biggest problem, along with pain in my right side (the hug, maybe?)
Lately I've been feeling The Brain Fog a lot--hard to concentrate for long periods, too much sensory input puts me on overload (yeah, 30 teenagers in a room will do that to ya), NO ability to multitask, etc. You all know the drill, I'm sure.
Off and on for a couple of years, but lately all the time, I've wondered about cutting back to part-time, or going SSDI entirely. Problem with that is, I CAN do my job.....I simply can't do anything in addition. I come home at the end of the day and I'm worthless--lay on the couch, read/watch tv, play on computer, and that's about it, except I do take my dog for a short walk (about 10 minutes) every evening. My weekends are spent taking naps and grading the papers I didn't have the energy for during the week.
During the summers, I actually have the energy to do stuff--take short vacations with my husband (also a teacher), work on the house some, I even take students on trips abroad.
I guess my question is....how do you KNOW when it's time to cut back on work, or cut it entirely? We can't afford for me to simply quit all-out unless I go to disability. But I feel like, in my 'quest' to keep teaching, I'm missing out on life.
ANY advice or insight welcome!!!
I'm a full time high school Spanish teacher, 17 years. Dx in 2011. fatigue is by far my biggest problem, along with pain in my right side (the hug, maybe?)
Lately I've been feeling The Brain Fog a lot--hard to concentrate for long periods, too much sensory input puts me on overload (yeah, 30 teenagers in a room will do that to ya), NO ability to multitask, etc. You all know the drill, I'm sure.
Off and on for a couple of years, but lately all the time, I've wondered about cutting back to part-time, or going SSDI entirely. Problem with that is, I CAN do my job.....I simply can't do anything in addition. I come home at the end of the day and I'm worthless--lay on the couch, read/watch tv, play on computer, and that's about it, except I do take my dog for a short walk (about 10 minutes) every evening. My weekends are spent taking naps and grading the papers I didn't have the energy for during the week.
During the summers, I actually have the energy to do stuff--take short vacations with my husband (also a teacher), work on the house some, I even take students on trips abroad.
I guess my question is....how do you KNOW when it's time to cut back on work, or cut it entirely? We can't afford for me to simply quit all-out unless I go to disability. But I feel like, in my 'quest' to keep teaching, I'm missing out on life.
ANY advice or insight welcome!!!
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