when I was diagnosed with lupus I was in my 3rd year of finishing up my apprenticeship to become a roofer. I was told i'll never finish it. My body will shut down. And so it did as I pushed on. So I left roofing and did carpentry/construction work. Still pushing my body physically and mentally I wore myself down really bad to where I was having constant flares. My previous boss offered me a Maintenance job after he heard reasons why i wasn't giving my full 100%. He was understanding. He said don't push yourself hard. If you feel sick or tired go rest for awhile. He knew I would finish my work orders anyways. He worked with me when It got too bad. Didn't lose my job. He retired. Now I have a new boss... it was difficult at first. But it's been over a year and she is understanding as well. I know not to push myself too hard or stress out (that's the biggest thing there.. STRESS.. it causes huge flares). I still do physical labor, but I PACE myself. It's been 3 yrs now.. and i'm actually balancing my lupus. I still work full time.
I'm not giving up. Even though my brother is always telling me to quit and apply for SSD/SSDI.
My previous boss told me some advice before he retired, "DON'T PUSH YOURSELF..I MEAN IT..PACE YOURSELF AND YOU'LL BE OKAY!".
And i'm doing just that. (I still get my mini fares here and there, but I can bear with that).

I do everything I know works for me. I take a day off from work if I need to. I have a 45 minute lunch and I take time to eat, put my feet up, and relax. I take a vitamin supplement daily. I rush home after work and take a nap. I wear super comfortable shoes. I don't usually go out after work on week days and run a tight schedule: Monday clean bathroom, Tuesday laundry, Wednesday living room, Thursday my room, Fri. nothing. Sat. kitchen and shopping and sleep.

I tried the SSDI but you can't make a certain amount of money and it takes 2 plus years to build your case....so how do you live during that time. They told me you have to basically be terminal to get it fast or you have to live with family members and borrow money...etc. I can't do that. I force myself full time. I also looked into home based business. I started doing two that I enjoy. Not easy but I keep trying to build a team. My ultimate goal is to build a team of Lupus warriors or auto immune warriors so we can build something that allows for us to sustain a lifestyle of work from home and rest and make money.

Wow! Thanks everyone for sharing! I manage a very fast, paced real estate office and have to work to live. I do not have a life on the weekends because I have to rest so much. Fortunately I have the most wonderful husband that takes care of me and all the house chores when I am unable. I think we should all put our heads together and come up with a home based business that could sustain us. :) I can do it, but coming up with the "what" to do is my issue!!! :) Hang in there Lupus Warriors and keep fighting the good fight!!! You all are so inspirational and uplifiting!!! :)

I work full time and I am not doing myself any favors. I sleep and get up feeling like I never went to bed. Everyone treats me like nothing is wrong with me, they just expect me to keep doing even though they know I am exhausted. How do you get it through to your family that this disease is becoming more than I can handle? I can't afford to not work. It's impossible to get disability. But yet there are people out there getting it and abusing the system. With this lupus u need health coverage and it's so expensive as it is. I have lupus kidney disease and vascular damage and a few more symptoms that are aging me before my time.