When I hear from men and women newly diagnosed with Lupus, one of the most common questions I am asked is whether or not they will still be able to work. While every individual is different, there are some tips and suggestions I want to share regarding working when diagnosed with Lupus. As part of our partnership series for Lupus Awareness Month with Healthgrades.com, if you are currently wondering if you can continue working with lupus, read below.

Here is a preview of “Can I Still Work with Lupus” and a link to the full article:

Newly Diagnosed With Lupus: Can I Still Work?

Can you work with lupus? The answer to this question varies depending on the severity of your disease and how symptoms affect you on a daily basis. Lupus is known to be unpredictable, not only the way it affects the body symptomatically, but also in the mysterious and erratic timing of flare-ups.

If you have been newly diagnosed with lupus, you may not know yet how it will affect your body. It may take time before you can determine what type of work and work schedule allows you to properly manage the disease. If your lupus diagnosis is somewhat recent, your symptoms might be moderate to severe and you may not be able to work at the moment or at your previous level of productivity.

In these situations, it is critical to communicate with your physician, learn about treatment options, and determine if you may be able to continue working full-time in the near future. In the meantime, you may need to speak to your employer about transitioning to part-time work or ask for reduced hours temporarily. If your symptoms are mild to moderate, they may be managed with some minor work accommodations.

Let’s take a closer look at some common symptoms that may negatively affect daily tasks and productivity, and which accommodations or lifestyle changes could help.

Click here to read the full article.