On the look for a new job, just one problem...

[Gustov]

Hey chaps,

I'm sure there will be lots of jokes made out of this thread but I'm ready for them

Basically, I have a health issue (undiagnosed and please don't make this thread medical) which nobody seems to have an explanation for. I used to keep the health issue very personal but hell, now I'm willing to speak about it.

Essentially, I have a condition which makes me feel heated very easily - it's essentially a burning sensation in the face which is made worse by stress, anxiety but primarily, central heating.

I had to leave my previous job which paid quite well (£30,000 at 25 years old) because cold blooded women would have these horrible heaters on all day and not open a window - this caused me to overheat every day and when combined with stress and anxiety, left me leaving the office pent up and overheated every day.

I'm currently just working in a retail store whilst I get my head around a career which would work for me with the above in mind. Essentially, working in an office in the winter in a cold climate and not being able to control the temperature is going to be an impossibility for me.

I have a degree in Film and Television production so a pretty crappy one at that. My C.V is within the film industry and pretty solid in terms of achievements.

One thought was potentially become a PT but I'm aware that it takes a lot of time to gain clients and the pay isn't the best. You would think a PT would be the worst option but as long as the gym is air conditioned, I'm absolutely fine.

Does anyone have any suggestions? I know it's a very tricky one - I should state that I'm awful at manual labour. Interests are music, fashion, health and sport.

Ta!

 

[Gustov]

Have you thought about buying a fan?

Yes - doesn't really help to be honest.

 

[Gustov]

have you considered a career in a morgue?

does air conditioning have the same issues?

No thanks.

Air con helps - lots.

To the rest of the above - just because I get hot doesn't mean I don't feel the cold at all

Is there such a thing as a specialist outdoor cameraman or similar? Sort of related to your degree and you'd be able to self regulate your temperature.

Yea, there is but wouldn't want a job in it to be honest. Thanks for the suggestion though.

 

[Gustov]

Just to clarify before any more 'work in freezing temperatures' suggestions....sunshine makes me feel better, much better...as does air-con, it's just artificial heating.

Thanks regardless, I appreciate all the advice.

 

[Gustov]

so do you have a degree in something that youre not really interested in??

Otherwise I would have said the same as Participant, or try and get into wildlife documentary filming or something?

No - I worked in film for 3 years and my job (in film) was more focussed on the PR side of things than production.

 

[Gustov]

Wait - you left a job because you got too hot?

Didn't you raise with with HR? I'm sure they could have got you a windo seat with opening windows or something or at least monitored the office temp - they have (or did) a duty of care towards you. Even though there is no max office temp, they should have done something if you were that uncomfortable.

Pro tip - don't be a walk over in your next job.

I was going to reply to all of the above with justified answers but won't bother as you've tagged me a walkover without even awaiting my response.

I have to avoid a lot of food triggers too (caffeine / spice) and generally try and stay away from environments which are heated. Like I say, I used to see it as a real vulnerability and keep it very secret but I'd rather just be open about it now (even make a laugh about it, stressing out isn't going to help!)

 

[Gustov]

So you just feel hot or it's also accompanied by excessive sweating, hyperhidrosis style?

Just the heat and just in the face. Like I said, don't want to turn into a medical thread but I used to slap on loads of products for teenage acne which is now gone (can't have helped, may have made my skin more sensitive)

If sunshine and air con makes you feel OK then would you be open to relocation? See if there's demand for PR in Dubai or somewhere else that never has a need for central heating. It's a bit extreme but if you get a better quality of life then worth consideration.

Willing to re-locate yes but not to Dubai (I know you're just giving an example), somewhere like America or Australia would be better suggestions but I'd miss Europe lots

Self employed multi drop driver?

Good suggestion but I'm an egotistical arrogant ambitious chap. I'll leave it at that.

 

[Gustov]

Why didn't your last place of work compromise to help you?

One of the offices I volunteer in at the moment is as hot as the damn Northern line when you walk in, it's ridiculous so I feel your pain.

Incidentally, is it potentially some form of neuropathy? Have you been referred? When I got really stressed out once, I got hot hands and feet. It was very surreal. Stress does crazy things to you.

I've been searching for a medical answer for 5 God damn years man....the condition led me to lose my way in a very very bad way (won't go into specifics but drugs and alcohol abuse got pretty bad)

Now I've been real honest with friends and family and am looking into counselling and a job which I can walk out of the door of at the end of the day and not been raging with anger due to the environmental conditions.

In the spring / autumn and summer it's manageable - in the winter it's just hell, it even ruined my trip to New York when I went in Feb.

Well he does have a point.
Did you go to Management about it?

Yes but I don't want to bore you with all the ins and outs. A lot of work was done from other people's offices (pitching to clients where I can't ask them to change the temperature)

I worked in PR so communication is essential, I can't work from home or have a secluded area to myself.

I worked with lots of women who were constantly cold even if it was like a furnace in there. Heavily outnumbered and given death stares when opening a window.

 

[Gustov]

Become a Chippendale?

PROBLEM SOLVED

On a serious note though, it's a baffling condition which sucks balls. Has screwed my career pretty badly

 

[Gustov]

Thanks mate ^^ - main triggers are too much caffeine, stress, anxiety, tomatoes, nuts, citrus fruits and most of all, warm rooms.

 

[Gustov]

I think you can get medication for that.

Like I say, don't want to make medical but I'm on a beta blocker which helps a bit.

Been offered benzos and SSRI's many times. No chance I'm popping them...ever.

 

[Gustov]

Why?

Because they're awful drugs.

Benzos = highly addictive and tolerance builds quickly

SSRIs = side effect profile is so high that you're very lucky if you avoid getting something pretty dramatic. Most also have sexual side effects. Oh, then there's the battle of eventually coming off them or staying on them for years until you become numb and void of emotion.

Please don't start a conversation surrounding this.

 

[Gustov]

I appreciate your concern but I'm afraid it's something I'm just not willing to consider. I'd rather keep the symptoms and deal with them through counselling than take SSRIs (I mean no offence to anyone who has made the decision to take them - they have their place)

Correct, being low and anxious makes my condition worse but I need to learn to accept and manage it if there is no medial diagnosis (which seems to be the case...I have seen dermatologists, immunologists, endocrinologists and had countless appointments with GPs)

Next up is food allergy and hopefully neurology.

 

[Gustov]

So whilst I haven't been given a medical diagnosis, it looks like I have pathological blushing.

http://chronicblushinghelp.com/

I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy - still have no idea what I want to / can do career wise! Looks like I'm going to have to do something outside in a warm climate though.

Surgery is an option where they cut the nerve which causes blushing but you're pretty much guaranteed to get compensatory sweating as a side effect. BAH!

 

[Gustov]

Been taking 40mg of propranolol a day for a while, they definitely help.

Going to up to 80mg

 

[Gustov]

Are you over weight?

No, I'm 6ft 1 and 75kg.

It's a central nervous system issue. It's tough for me because I'm frighteningly ambitious but this condition is laughing straight in my face.

Tried doing it the manly way? Block the pain and carry on?

Is it just sensation or does your face actually get red beyond reasonable levels?

Yes, yes I've tried.

It's more the sensation than the redness tbh. I don't actually look that red most of the time.

Something like one of these?



hook it up to a hose pipe and you will be laughing.

Hilarious mate.

OP have you tried taking an anti-histamine? I have similar issues with my skin going red and feeling like it's burning up. Probably totally different though if you only get it in your face.

I used to take one daily and from what I can tell, they really helped.

They did however make me completely lose my sex drive. If you read up on this, you'l see it's widely reported.

Start your own business. Nothing beats doing what you want when you want.

If only I had rich parents who would help me with that initial investment