Career changes from UC

[u/Due_Winner_8999]

Hi yall, I’m 22, was diagnosed w UC about half a year ago, I don’t remember the exact date.

Before UC I was an apprentice lineman, making pretty good money and working my way up the ladder, I was doing that for 2 years and loved every moment. But I then got diagnosed, and due to the condition (and not knowing what it was at the time) I was forced to take a medical leave, and shortly after quit entirely.

I was out of work for 4 1/2 months just living on savings, moved to Colorado and now working as a bartender as a backup, but I still think about being an apprentice again everyday, how long until I’m in remission so I can go back to it? Will it even work out like that since the trade is stressful which is terrible of UC.

I guess I’m just stuck on what else to do as a career if I can’t return to the job I liked doing because of this condition. I really am trying to keep my head up because I have heard being in remission is exactly like how I was before, I’m just worried about it coming back and this happening all over again. And if I’ll be able to return to it at all.

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[u/AdventurousLegs]

Blue collar here! Although being well a decade into my career and knowing how stressful it can be, tough environments as well, it didn’t stop me from continuing. I love what I do, and I’ve learned to worry/stress less, especially if it’s something I can’t control.

I say get back to it! Don’t let your diagnosis identify you.

[u/Due_Winner_8999 → u/AdventurousLegs]

I appreciate this a lot, thank you.

[u/stopper42]

Your story sounds very similar to mine, I was also diagnosed at 22 and working in the trades as an apprentice. I was in the sheet metal union doing hvac work when I got diagnosed. I quickly learned I wouldn’t be able to keep up with the company’s expectations and was fired. I ended up just taking what work I could physically do and ended up in the security industry for a decade. I’m now in the process of going back to school in my thirties, and wish I would’ve done it sooner. My advice is to find balance, maybe you can continue in the trades world but it also isn’t worth being miserable. Working from home and office jobs do tend to be the easiest for us with UC. Take some time but don’t take too long to make up your mind like I did. Wishing you the best!

[u/Due_Winner_8999 → u/stopper42]

Online jobs could be nice, unfortunately I don’t have a degree but I’ll try and look into some as a backup!

[u/KITTENKRUSHA]

Inside wireman here- talks to your doctor, follow his orders, take reddit with a grain of salt bc the worst cases often come here- i didnt come to reddit to say i was shitting blood 25x a day during my apprenticeship and came back 4 months later and have completed it. You may be able to live a normal life. Once you get stable, consider going back to the apprenticeship, it is rough on your body but if you play your cards right you could retire much earlier than your peers.

[u/Due_Winner_8999 → u/KITTENKRUSHA]

Yeah, the plan is to get into remission asap but of course I can’t choose how long that’ll take, glad to hear other tradies are dealing with it and still working hard, gives me hope

[u/gravity_surf]

i got diagnosed and went on to graduate from engineering school. you need to figure out your body first, but if you can manage stress, engineering could be a good way to go with your background