To be honest I think the answer to whether or not you can work all depends on how much pain you can tolerate. Before I came down with fibromyalgia I was working as a certified nursing assistant after I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia I worked one year. Eventually the responsibilities of that job with me having fibromyalgia became too much and I had to stop working. Even with all my medications that I was prescribed I could not handle the pain that came along with that job because it is a very physical one. Currently I have not worked in the last 2 years but I would like to give it another try with a job that is less physical. I hope that I was able to help you.

Coping....by totally changing how one views life! Asking God for help for this...learning not to push, taking things easy..

Hi, by the time your are diagnosed you may have been dealing with it. I was working and i thought i was going to realky be able to work. The medication came along then more appointments and pain that I couldn't deal with. 11 months later I had to stop working. I left with a heavy heart. I loved my job. A year later still waiting on disability and about to loss my home but i know God always provides. Stay positive.... save money if you can so if you do have to stop you can get by. Take care and God Bless

I was only diagnosed with a heart murmur a year ago. I work 26 hours a week in a very busy kitchen. Iam feeling that way i wont be able to cope. Ive slowed right down. I know my work is suffering. Ive just finished a a very busy shift and iam sore and exhausted. My dr thinks i shouldnt let it beat me. Hes refered me to a painclinic. So i will see how this goes.

It depends on your age, and your underlying health. Also, how physical your job is. If you have an office job and you are young, getting B12 shots will help with your energy. I know that rheumatoid arthritis is an auto-immune disorder, but you didn't mention if you are taking any heavy duty drugs (like Enbril) for that. And I don't know how those kinds of drugs feel to the people taking them. I have regular osteoarthritis in my hands and wear compression gloves during the night and massage and stretch them in the morning. Mine are the kind with the tips of the fingers exposed, because I don't like my hands over-heating. I've used aspercreme under vinyl gloves then under regular gloves when the pain is really bad.
I must tell you, though, I've had fibromyalgia for 20 years and I'm 63 now. I've been on disability for many years. All of my health care is paid for as well. Because of other problems, my doctors told me I couldn't work and wouldn't clear me for working all these years. Now I've been told I have a heart murmur, and an echocardiogram found an aortic valve regurgitation. I will have to see a cardiologist. If you've had a murmur most of your life, then that probably isn't a problem otherwise, you'd have been sent to have more testing.
Being informed of all your options and knowing yourself are your best tools. Good luck.