Want to work again!

[ancientgimp]

Originally Posted by peegy p

Low Blood Pressure

I have recently started taking Midodrine for my unpredictable episodes of hypotension. More often than not, my blood pressure is lowest in the morning which negatively effects my ability to do transfers. The medicine usualy kicks in within 10-15 minutes for me. If you build in extra time into your morning schedule you could than consider a regular workday schedule.

Just a thought.

Someone on CCC posted an exercise video from a Kaiser-Permanente web site that had a female quadrapalegic woman running a fitness program. It is a great video. I didn't find her hands distracting at all, but then again I have semiquad hands [I am an incomplete quad C5-6 with semi-opened fingers, not the typical quad paws.]. People respect our confident "I am just like you attitudes" when we exude confidence. Yes they see the wheelchair and crippled bodies, but the direct eye contact, easy smile and projected confidence usually win them over rather quickly.

If you want a career badly enough, than you will find a way to make it happen. It just may take some time.

Maybe think about an advanced degree in psychology, your compassion, resiliency and intelligence could be an asset. You could be an entrepreneur and work your own hours. As a former voc rehab counselor I will personally lynch the counselor who would not approve your plan. I think you could be a great therapist.

[peegy p]

I found the video ink which Felieh posted last year in the exercise forum:

I just learned about this video that Kaiser Permanente has produced with exercise routines specifically for SCI individuals. No fancy equipment is required.
http://info.kp.org/facilities/Vallej...resistance.xml

[november]

Originally Posted by ECUrach85

I jut feel like someone I going to take one look at my hands and feel uncomfortable. My biggest battles are nerve pain and low bp in the mornings. Pain is debilitating. It goes away after an hour of being still nd awake to a moveable level of pain but you never know when it comes to bp. I need a job that's either deter noon or like a 10am kinda job. At least for now. I'm hoping to get this book written ASAP!

I forget if you use a binder and midodrine? The problem with midodrine is it only lasts so long...and if you do things like eat, your bp will drop too. Drink tons of water, especially before you get up in the am. Mine still tanks or is super low most of the day. People don't understand how much of an impact it is on your body.

Are you in contact with Voc Rehab?

[crypticgimp]

EC why not work for a nonprofit that deals with inner city kids in after school programs? they are ALWAYS looking for help, it's after school so you don't have to worry about your am issues. you can start volunteering and use that to build your confidence. it also will help build your resume and confidence as well.

i volunteer in an inner city school in the science classroom. just by being there i feel i am dispelling stereotypes and the kids really do enjoy it!

[t8burst]

Originally Posted by ECUrach85

I jut feel like someone I going to take one look at my hands and feel uncomfortable. My biggest battles are nerve pain and low bp in the mornings. Pain is debilitating. It goes away after an hour of being still nd awake to a moveable level of pain but you never know when it comes to bp. I need a job that's either deter noon or like a 10am kinda job. At least for now. I'm hoping to get this book written ASAP!

I have a ton of pain in the morning and it takes me at least an hour as well to be able to function enough to simply get dressed. I just get up at 5am, so I can start working by 8am.

[ECUrach85]

Yes I am on max midodrine and I take florinef in the am. My bp totally drops after eating! So annoying. In yall's opinion, even if I start volunteering everyday, won't my 1.5 yrs off kill me? If I could wait to work I'd love to go back to school to be a counselor. Thatd be awesome

As far as sticking with recreation that's difficult. You really need to be able to help someone if they need it and most jobs require CPR. I can barely breath on my own with these lungs! I'd love to make a wheelchair exercise video though. I'd thought of that in rehab when they had us exercise to an awful one.

I have an apt at voc rehab today

[Patrick Madsen]

I think for many of us after we were injured, we had to make career changing decisions. What we thought was a worst possible scenario, turned out to be something that was very rewarding and possibly something we never would have thought capable.

If anything, this is another chance to decide who you want to be in life. Voc Rehab is great but don't let them pigeon hole you into something you would hate doing. When I took the vr tests, they told me that they'd have to wait fgor the results but it looked like I would be a great accountant, order taker or some other desk job. Which is okay for some. Those jobs were the lowest on my interest tests lol.

If volunteering, you don't have to go in everyday. Counseling is a wonderful opprotunity. A fun, rewarding volunteer position is reading or assisting kids in school. They get over the chair issues quickly and the hugs are worth it alone. I loved the Primary and elementary levels. We could see eye to eye until around the 4th grade lol.

You have a lot of things going for you E. You are educated, smart and motivated. It will be interesting what vr has to say.

[canuck]

Advice that will probably sound trite but shift your focus from what you can't do or think you can't do to how to do stuff. Recreation Therapy is a viable option, one of the inventors of quad rugby/murder ball works as a rehab therapist at a rehab center in Vancouver, BC.

[crypticgimp]

actually ec, more employers are looking for people who have done volunteering while they were unemployed. it shows that you were doing work, still trying to do something within/out of your field(and therefore gaining new skill sets in the process) so it makes you a more desirable hire than someone who may have a longer work record but then didnt work for a few yrs.

and yea, the kids get over the chair quickly and they just really enjoy that you're coming there for them and them only. i highly encourage you to just go for it, tell them what you CAN do and always know you can have the kids be your assistant if you need it. recreation includes so many different things. think outside the box and let ur imagination go!

[ECUrach85]

They did suggest clerical work. But I assured them I needed work that involved me using my brain. I'd prefer doing something that helped people too. I am a super positive person but it's nearly impossible to stay in the field of recreation without being able to perform CPR at the very least. If I could choose any job in the world besides speaking it would be to be a counselor. I also have a love for or king with seniors. That's what I did before I was hurt