This almost makes me want to become an advocate... I don't know maybe that's where I am meant to end up. Afterall my degree I am working towards is right up that alley. I was planning on becoming a case manager for developmentally delayed individuals and I do love the field I work in but, I also enjoy helping other. Heck, you would be a great advocate too!!
tntlamb said:
You do not want an Advocate Amiga. Their job is to help with paperwork. They have little to no training and certainly NONE that applies to patient needs and disability. I'm reasonably certain there is some misunderstanding, I don't know of any patient advocate that would predict disability for PsA or one who should. There arr folks who spent 12 or more years in college to be able to make that call
Its a growing field Amiga. Depending on where you are at contact one of the private care agenceys (childrens mental health)
What you ar doing is brutal, you can do the same thing under the title of "family support specialist" but you work with one kiddo and one family at at a time. There is great advancemet "case manger" etc etc. Many of them will actually pay for your school as you advance to "therapist". The jobs are both emotionally disturbed (read mild to moderate spectrum) and/or DD The case managers are the coolest jobs I think. I'm not sure who the agenceys in your area are but I'm sure your DFS office can point you. I-home, or Bridge Waiver are the funding sources. The same ageceys are also doing the school stuff.
I just quit working for ARC-CSS. It really was fun working there but, I was doing 5-6 overnights a week cleaning up the group homes. There just didn't seem much for a demand on me moving up there and becoming a case manager there. I switched to a new company here in town that has their own paid training to become a case manager. I planned on staying here to become one but, keeping my eyes open just in case something else grabs my attention. :-) They make about 35K a year for this company which is much higher than ARC-CSS. I live in a rural area so that's really good money for this area. Plus my husband gets disability and he opened his own business so, with my income we might actually become middle class!! LOL that might not be a good thing with our economy! Thank you so much for the links though!
Please understand that I’m not trying to be confrontational. This is a story that we hear a lot here, and it’s so frustrating to hear the defeat in people who are so young and full of potential. In fact, I’ll dig mine out and post it. You are the one who will decide what your future holds, not your doctors or any other practitioners. Now, life is probably just a whirlwind and getting through the day is enough, but it does get better. It is amazing what even slight improvement in your symptoms will do for your spirits, and when you achieve this relief, you will be able to take this on and have more hope. When that time comes, take a moment to breathe and then start to look to the future. There is one, and it doesn’t have to be bleak.
CHARGER73 said:
Right, well all I can do now is follow the advice of the professionals that are prescribing my medication and treating me. I will work and do as much as long as I can. I saw my specialist today & maybe I am not doing so well. It is better to be prepared and listen to what is going on. I have a wife & 2 young children to support.
If that is what my path leads me to then I will cross that bridge when I get to it.
I was diagnosed just recently. However I have been living with this for a long time & much damage has been done to my joints already.
“There are people who genuinely need disability, and for them I am sorry that the process is so very hard to get through.” I may be one of these people.
“It takes years to be approved and that is only after trying and failing numerous drugs, physical therapy, AND going to job counseling with a person who determines that there is no job that you could possibly do. No one should be telling you what the future holds this early on.”
So my physician & Advocte that I trust are feeding me bad info?
They want me to start remicade & physical therapy. However, since I am moving in 3 months my doctor said to wait until I move to start all this if the climate a newly approved meds in AZ do not help.
Hi....just thought I would put in my 2 cents worth....
I too have been the sole breadwinner while my husband finished school...and now we have the school loans.....I get the responsibility factor and the frustration of not being able to function as we once did...it can be very overwhelming. DON'T give up! Some days are just so hard.....but there are treatments that can give you a break from the pain which gives a whole new perspective when we can think straight. There is a lot of wisdom and compassion from people in this group....I hope you will find it as I am.
That would be a cool job. I thought about becoming a nurse advocate before I found my current job. Luckily, I do get to do a good but of advocacy and education in this job, so I’m happy with it. What are you going to school for? I noticed that in one of your blogs, but I didn’t see details. Curiosity is killing the GrumpyCat!
SublimeAmiga said:
This almost makes me want to become an advocate… I don’t know maybe that’s where I am meant to end up. Afterall my degree I am working towards is right up that alley. I was planning on becoming a case manager for developmentally delayed individuals and I do love the field I work in but, I also enjoy helping other. Heck, you would be a great advocate too!!
tntlamb said:
You do not want an Advocate Amiga. Their job is to help with paperwork. They have little to no training and certainly NONE that applies to patient needs and disability. I’m reasonably certain there is some misunderstanding, I don’t know of any patient advocate that would predict disability for PsA or one who should. There arr folks who spent 12 or more years in college to be able to make that call
Ah...I was on the defense. I have been as of lately. Thank you for understanding.
The piece that I did not soak in form my physician was that I do have the drive & that positive energy is what will get me through the beginnings of this. Feels like years have gone by in just a few months.
I focused on negative uncertainties & brought it to forum...I apologize.
I realized this even more when I finally went into work today. I have been going in with this chip on my shoulder. I had a very long discussion with my supervisor & I have my supervisors 100% support behind me & I am in not in any danger of losing my job & that if needed we can adjust duties and so forth. I have been carrying this chip & I have no reason to be like that.
GrumpyCat
Please understand that I'm not trying to be confrontational. This is a story that we hear a lot here, and it's so frustrating to hear the defeat in people who are so young and full of potential. In fact, I'll dig mine out and post it. You are the one who will decide what your future holds, not your doctors or any other practitioners. Now, life is probably just a whirlwind and getting through the day is enough, but it does get better. It is amazing what even slight improvement in your symptoms will do for your spirits, and when you achieve this relief, you will be able to take this on and have more hope. When that time comes, take a moment to breathe and then start to look to the future. There is one, and it doesn't have to be bleak.
CHARGER73 said:
Right, well all I can do now is follow the advice of the professionals that are prescribing my medication and treating me. I will work and do as much as long as I can. I saw my specialist today & maybe I am not doing so well. It is better to be prepared and listen to what is going on. I have a wife & 2 young children to support.
If that is what my path leads me to then I will cross that bridge when I get to it.
I was diagnosed just recently. However I have been living with this for a long time & much damage has been done to my joints already.
"There are people who genuinely need disability, and for them I am sorry that the process is so very hard to get through." I may be one of these people.
"It takes years to be approved and that is only after trying and failing numerous drugs, physical therapy, AND going to job counseling with a person who determines that there is no job that you could possibly do. No one should be telling you what the future holds this early on."
So my physician & Advocte that I trust are feeding me bad info?
They want me to start remicade & physical therapy. However, since I am moving in 3 months my doctor said to wait until I move to start all this if the climate a newly approved meds in AZ do not help.
Good on you SublimeAmiga
My experience in working as a carer is they don’t promote the workhorses, I worked my guts out for years, never shirking the stinky and heavy jobs and working above my pay grade. I was only offered promotion of running a care team when I handed my notice in to start at the dialysis unit. I nicely told them to stuff their job where the sun don’t shine and have never regretted the move.
Thanks! Been at the new company for 6 months and my boss promised to promote me as soon as a position opened up. Well in march I move to 2nd shift as a team leader.
Louise Hoy said:
Good on you SublimeAmiga My experience in working as a carer is they don’t promote the workhorses, I worked my guts out for years, never shirking the stinky and heavy jobs and working above my pay grade. I was only offered promotion of running a care team when I handed my notice in to start at the dialysis unit. I nicely told them to stuff their job where the sun don’t shine and have never regretted the move.
