I am 50 and disabled. One thing that happened to me was I became depressed and more isolated with out my work. I am a therapist and the brain fog made it where I couldn’t remember patient info from one week to the next and wasn’t able to document after left and right wrists fusions. I wish I could have worked longer. Proud of you for working as long as you have.

To CherryBerry and mcadwell. Talk to your dr first about disability. Call HR. I hired a law firm in Utah to help with my SS disability claim. They did a great job doing everything. It’s a lot of work to do yourself. My claim was approved the first time. I received a call from a man at the SS office who told me that my claim was approved and explained more about it. I had to give him my checking account number. Be cautious about that. I started receiving my benefits soon. I don’t get that much cause I didn’t work many years when my kids were little. Look into it. RA is a debilitating disease as you know. I can’t remember if I got Medicare then. This isn’t charity. You paid into it. I can’t do housework so my housekeeper comes every other week. She takes good care of me.
I wish you well and will send prayers to you. Jan

Some company's have good insurance plans and disability plans. I am 59 and had to stop work due to the fatigue and joint pain. I hope you can get some help or look into SS disability maybe? I could not see me working to 65 - 67 and then not have much quality of life. I get the rest I need now and my pain levels have really decreased. Best of luck to you but please see what s out there to help replace some income.

I have had RA for about 24 years diagnosed at age 26. I had to quit work three years ago at age 27. I guess I knew it was time to quit when I could no longer do my job and was just too sick to work. I had to apply for disability, which brought on a myriad of negative self feelings. However, it took less than a month to get approved so that made me realize I had made the right decision.

I always have to ask myself this question, "What's the alternative?" and it helps me to focus on the situation.

I'm 54, have had RA/fibromyalgia for 20+ years and some days I'm so tired my brain doesn't kick in until bedtime - and those days mean no sleep that night, meaning I get even more tired. Rinse and repeat until my brain decides to stop. Then I sleep too long and my body feels worse for it. Meaning I can't sleep because of the pain. Ad nauseum.

I won't ever be able to retire either because of fthe medical system that's sucked up all extra cash.

My workplace is a non-profit and has several employees with disabilities. I am fortunate enough that they understand medical difficulties and they've gone over and above to help our situations.

I hope the best for you and wish you luck!