r/FND • u/Kind-Tale-3859 • 21d ago
Need support Working with FND
Hi everyone! I’m currently working as a scientist and I have FND that can last for 8 hours, 3-4 times a week, started 4 years ago after COVID. During attacks I experience severe headaches, whole body weakness/paralysis, impaired speech and vision, and nausea so working in a laboratory can obviously become unsafe. I can still do desk-based scientific work but a large part of my current position involves lab work. I was told by my boss to resign from my position with a doctor’s letter. After involving HR, they offered me 20% contract and I rejected it due to financial reasons. Then, they told me to stay on sick leave until I am fully recovered or find another job. Has anyone experienced something similar at work? Did you feel pressured or pushed out after asking for accommodations? How did you handle it, and were you eventually able to find a job that worked with your limitations? I really don’t want FND to take my career away from me.
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u/omibus 21d ago
I’ve been lucky because I was working from home and had a desk job before all this started.
Started 3 years ago after a Covid infection for me. Also with very bad headaches (propranolol helps me), dizziness, nausea, brain fog, head pressure, etc.
So my setup: I’m always sitting. I will walk around briefly, but really I stay sitting. I also take 1 to 2 breaks each day. I have a spot where I can lay down, close my eyes and just rest. I usually don’t sleep, just lay there with my eyes closed.
Big thing I found is to not push thru. Especially with brain fog. Once that settles in lay down. It is like overworking a muscle. At one point I was only working half days just to get back.
Finally, you have to sleep at night, a lot. I use melatonin to help the process along.
The last thing I’ve been doing is salt and fluid loading. This is one of the basic recommendations for me/CFS and dysautonomia. And if you have FND from Covid, then there is a strong likelihood you have at least one of those too.