A little bit of Backstory
I have been in the veterinary field for nine years. I have always known myself to be very ambitious and hard-working. I took a lot of pride in the workload I created for myself at work and home. Even when I got into my house, my fiance would instantly get annoyed because I would put my bags down and go to town to clean the house. Phrases like “Do you ever stop working?” were typical comments. My weekend would be filled by the minute with plans. In March of 2024, I became very sick. At first, I noticed my physical intolerance. I wasn’t able to keep up with my schedule anymore. It got so bad getting up in the morning was intolerable. Between the low energy, chest pain, trouble breathing, and extreme dizziness, my life began falling apart. After many doctor visits, I finally got an official diagnosis of POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome) in August of 2024
Challenge Brings Change
Once I got an official diagnosis, I started doing my research on POTS. My doctors couldn’t tell me a lot about POTS. All doctors told me was to get up slowly, drink more electrolytes, no more caffeine, eat smaller meals, wear compression socks, and eat a lot of salt. These are the basics of POTS and symptom treatment. However, doing all of it, I was still unable to work like I used to. I couldn’t bring myself to shower most days. Going to the grocery store or doing basic chores was an absolute nightmare. I tried as long as I could to keep my work schedule the way it was at a breaking point.
Speaking with my manager about cutting down my hours at work was my first step. For me, the best option was to cut the number of hours I worked within a workday. With this specific process, I learned the importance of asking for help from my Fiance, my family, and even my coworkers. Coming to terms with the fact that I needed help was one of the hardest things to get to mentally, and I still struggle with this. I began asking co-workers for help with restraint or for them to take the room if I wasn’t feeling well. I started asking my fiance for help with more chores, which he didn’t love but was still willing to help. Once I made those small changes, I began to realize that the areas that my body was telling me no. That was where I needed to switch something up within my routine.
Navigating work
Since being diagnosed, most of my challenges have come from my job. If anyone has told you that Veterinary medicine is playing with puppies and kittens, they are full of shit. In veterinary medicine, your body is pushed to the limit daily. From crouching in unnatural positions to ensuring your doctor or a fellow tech is safe. To hold back a giant dog from eating someone. Or the lovely feral cats trying to escape into the ceiling so you turn to an Olympic gymnast to prevent them from injuring themselves. There is also the prominent mental strain. The hard conversations like telling owners their pet is terminally ill and the heartbreak of saying goodbye to those patients you’ve seen since they were a puppy or kitten plan. Very commonly dealing with frustrated or inflexible clients. All of these took even more of a toll on me.
Over time, I have decreased the number of rooms I see. Instead, I try to balance my day with more computer tasks to do my best to balance my sitting-to-standing ratio whenever possible. It’s vital to learn your body and mind’s limits. Listen to what your body and brain are informing you. I take frequent small breaks throughout my shift(even if it’s 2-5 minutes). I also decided to get on FMLA through my work. FMLA is a no-brainer for anyone working with chronic illness. It has given me freedom on flare days when I can’t leave my house. Above all, listen to your body and what YOU need. Balance looks different for everyone, so take the time to learn more about yourself and your new relationship with your body.
Connect with others
Getting diagnosed was a terrifying, lonely, and extremely confusing time. It is so important to talk about it. Whether that is friends, family, or a therapist, talking it out can lower your stress. I was very fortunate and had a coworker who had POTS. She made my life a lot less lonely. I am very grateful to have had her support. Having the ability to talk to someone made not only work but life overall not feel so lonely. I also met with a therapist weekly. This learned lesson is why I started this blog! I want people to know that you are not alone. Talking with someone also applies to those working in veterinary medicine, not just those diagnosed as chronically ill. Vet med is an exceedingly demanding career, and people working in this field do not get enough credit for all that they do. Burnout is real in this field, and it’s okay to talk about it! Never be afraid to reach out to others.
Conclusion
Living with chronic illness isn’t a walk in the park; neither is a demanding job. Whether you work in vet med or you’re living with chronic illness or neither, navigating through life and balancing work and day-to-day tasks isn’t always straightforward. Taking the time to listen to your body and learning what you can and can’t handle does change what you can tolerate. If nobody has told you, It’s okay to do what you need for yourself! That might look like cutting your work hours, asking those around you for help, or having someone to talk to. You will slowly begin navigating your life a little easier. It’s the small changes that turn into a snowball effect. Taking those first few steps can be hard to do. What you need to do to find balance will look different than the next person. These steps can help anyone pave their way into navigating a more balanced life.
