Working with this condition
So how has this affected me and my work at 1-fix? Firstly, I am very lucky to have Craig and Sarah as my bosses. They have created a trusted work environment where I can be honest about what is happening to me and they reassure me that they still see me as a valuable member of the team. They also help me in making sure I can still carry out my role, even on days where my symptoms are bad.
Part of my symptoms are IBS and anxiety. I have always been a very confident person, and when I found these symptoms popping up out of the blue it really knocked me back. I found face to face meetings were becoming difficult, and so the increase in Teams meetings over the last year has helped me massively.
I struggle to control my body temperature, so I have been able to move my desk next to the radiator in the office. I also have a heater and a blanket too if I needed it.
I also am very sensitive to sound and smells. I use noise cancelling headphones if I am struggling with the sounds of the office or at home where I am currently working. This helps sooth my central nervous system and helps to stop a flare up from coming.
When I moved to full time hours, Craig agreed for me to do my weekly hours on a flexitime basis. This means if I need to have a longer lunch to rest if I am struggling, I can make the time up at the end of the day etc.
On days when my fibro fog is bad, I have a list of not-so-complex tasks that I can work through. On these days I try to take my time and not be so hard on myself. I am lucky that my colleagues are very patient with me and as we have worked together for a long time, they can understand what I am trying to say when I can’t string the sentences together. They often notice when I am not doing too well even before I do.
