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Irene Woodhouse, 61, has osteoarthritis and lupus. She lives in West Glamorgan.
‘I would still be working now if I was OK. It’s very lonely because all my friends work.
I was a telephonist/receptionist in a firm of solicitors. I had to give up work about 10 years ago due to my lupus.
I have had bad arthritis for years in both knees and hands. There was a period I couldn’t walk from the house to the station to get to work – my bosses had to take turns picking me up.
I could work, but sometimes the pain in my hands meant I had tears running down my face. I had to record all calls, so there was a lot of writing. The first half-hour of every day was very painful, then the tablets kicked in and it got better. I suppose a flexible start time would have helped.
Arthritis was an issue for most of my working life. I suffered for years without knowing about the help that is out there. I used taxis to get to hospital – I never knew you could get an ambulance.
At work they could see how it was affecting me. I enjoyed my work and the camaraderie but it was sometimes difficult getting to work. I was up at 7 getting ready, though I didn’t start until 9.15 am. When my husband was away with the forces, my young son had to dress me in the morning.
All in all, I did persevere through a lot of pain. I used to have gel handwarmers that helped my hands and we did get chairs with good support. I needed to work because of the mortgage. Even though Dave was a staff sergeant, we needed the money.’
