Some of you may know a bit about me.... most of you won't....

 

I have completed a Ford apprenticeship when I was a teenager, Qualified as an electronic engineer again as a teenager......

I spent years fitting car audio, alarms, Car phones, running 2 motor factors as a key holder, Service advisor for Nissan Dealership, Telewest / Virgin media installation dispatcher and repair marine navigation and control equipment.......

 

In 2004 I suddenly collapsed at home and began to suffer with SUNA and Cluster Headaches daily...... On average...... 32 a day, every day, since...... 10 years of uncontrolled and untreatable chronic headaches.....

To those that have never heard of them....... The SUNA is like electrocution through one side of your brain, takes away your breath and drops you to your knees in pain, turning bright red...... like a raspberry..... sort of..... lol

The Cluster headache is more stealthy and like to sneak up on you....... 1 to 4 hours long...... builds up on one side of your skull, feeling as though your brain is being pressurised and crushed, drilled into and every nerve screaming out pain.....

This then gets worse and worse until you either start rocking in a corner in pain, you cannot think, talk and only the headache and pain exist..... Banging head on wall helps as you focus on the split second of different pain.....

But that has been 10 years for me without a day off...... Then it eased off a bit...... less frequent, less pain, for a while..... so I returned to employment.....

I say that, but I was a full time Foster carer from 2007 till 2013 as it was something I could do at home whilst ill and give something back...... Not just take benefits.....

This then led to my Residential support worker role in a children's home for behavioural difficulty....... Teenagers that lash out and assault you..... lol

 

Anyway....... headaches have crept back in last year and I have hidden it as much as possible from friends and family...... but no longer can hide them..... lol

Same Cluster headache attacks Mondo gets...... Can't believe I have someone here that can understand....

 

I started a new job the beginning of Jan....... Sales role, target driven, KPI's all day....... Not me at all........ I am way too hands on customer focused..... Not quantity.... more quality....

 

I am now looking for a part time role locally to cover the bills at least.......

 

But I want to start up something small, business wise for myself..... I eventually want to be responsible for my own hours and work schedule, due to the headaches hitting randomly.....

I need to be able to stop start in between the attacks........

 

I am good at mending things, welding and fabricating (now anyway), Woodwork, painting and decorating, basic car servicing (brakes, oil filters, etc), problem solving / fault finding....

 

I am now 42 and don't have a damn clue what to do, what I can do or where to start.......

 

Any advice from the varied backgrounds and experience would be appreciated.......

 

Thoughts on career paths????

I didn't know most of that mate..... And don't really know what to say - other than that I wish you all the best in whatever direction life takes you next. Good luck my friend; I hope it works out for you.......

 

Richard:clover:

Mate, you have my absolute sympathies here as you already know. My "condition" cost me my career as a civil servant, but I was very fortunate to have something I could fall back on.

 

If you want to go the self-employed route, you need to build your portfolio (as it were) and get your name known. Most of my business is based on recommendation, rather than outright advertising.

 

The immediate problem comes from having bills to pay and, in your case, mouthes to feed in the meantime! But if there's any way you can build your presence up and get your name known as a provider of a quality service at a competitive price, then take it and that's your first step on the road to, hopefully, success! :)

 

I think you've had a far rougher time of things than I have, Russ... it's only when you understand what someone has to live with that you can truly get a grasp of how difficult and desperate it can be at times... as ever, if I can help then you know where to find me!

Thanks Richard..... that is why I spent the night in car at JAE with my oxygen cylinder for company..... as it is the only thing that helps with the pain.... lol

 

Again, thanks Si for the continued support...... I REALLY appreciate it, more than I can say......

 

I have started a maintenance company and reopened my car audio / alarm company.....

Thinking of gardening and anything else my skill set will allow to pay the bills..... lol

Sorry to hear that the new job isn't working out. As for the illness, I feel for you mate. I suffer from migraines but they are nothing compared to what you ( and Si) are suffering.

 

If you are doing alarms / audio's I may have some business for you.

 

Could I also suggest you look at the woodwork as well, you can make items to order and sell over the internet. There appears to be market for wooden products, especially if they are unusual and hand made.

Sorry to hear that the new job isn't working out. As for the illness, I feel for you mate. I suffer from migraines but they are nothing compared to what you ( and Si) are suffering.

 

If you are doing alarms / audio's I may have some business for you.

 

Could I also suggest you look at the woodwork as well, you can make items to order and sell over the internet. There appears to be market for wooden products, especially if they are unusual and hand made.

I appreciate the offer.... If you have any business I would love to discuss it.....

I have a workshop and make one off planters, kids work benches, rebuild old oak cabinets, build one off wardrobes / cabinets, etc.....

I built my own 6m x 6m workshop the other year...... been asked to make a few home offices for friends......

Its sad to hear all this Russ but hope you can sort this illness and make life better. Take it one day at a time and you have friends here for help and support. :clover:

Thanks Gary.....

 

The Z will be off the road for foreseeable future....... as finally removing the veilside kit......

 

I have my company on Facebook now for home maintenance if anyone who has my Facebook details wants to help spread the word..... You can see a few bits of work I have done and will be adding more later.....

I'm sorry to here about your health issues mate, I can't even come close to imagine what you've been going through.

Is there nothing that be done to help with your problem?

As far as business ideas go, if I think of anything then I will happily throw some ideas your way.

Best wishes coming your way mate!

Thanks for all the support......

To be honest I want to start living again and getting on with things but on my terms.... The condition starts to rule your life as you have to manage in between pain....

So I decided to live and make the pain fit in with what I want to do..... I know it is bad at night and I only get 2-4 hrs sleep a day....

So I need to work when I am okay and stop when it gets bad.....

 

Thinking manufacturing, building, designing and repairing are all good as I can stop when needed...... Unless it is sharp and dangerous machinery..... then I'm buggered..... lol

Being on the telephone to a customer taking an order and getting one of these just doesn't work...... they tend to think you are being rude going quiet or heavy breathing down the phone..... not in sudden pain....lol

Still I could do heavy breathing hotline??

Well I resigned from my job today........ and was offered a new job a few hours later with 5 hrs a week less and £500 a year more........ lol

I will now be in charge of facilities maintenance for a large car dealership, 14 rented properties and the owners mansion.........lol

I am soooo looking forward to getting out from behind a desk and actually doing something..........

I am now a happy camper again............ lol

good on ya bud

Sounds great Russ pleased for you mate.

Well done Russ, glad to see you are happy with your new job.

I have a week to crack on with the Z and get the front end replaced with the 99 spec front bumper...... Tomorrow I am on a mission.......lol

Well I resigned from my job today........ and was offered a new job a few hours later with 5 hrs a week less and £500 a year more........ lol

I will now be in charge of facilities maintenance for a large car dealership, 14 rented properties and the owners mansion.........lol

I am soooo looking forward to getting out from behind a desk and actually doing something..........

I am now a happy camper again............ lol

 

Congratulations Russ - good luck in your new job mate!!

 

Richard:clover:

Good luck mate!

Well done! Sounds like it's right up your street. Good luck.

Cheers everyone hopefully I will have more family and car time...... lol

nice one Russ!

Glad to see things are finally looking up for you mate :thumbup:

Good on you mate.

Is the museum part of your job the same one you applied for some time ago?

Good on you mate.

Is the museum part of your job the same one you applied for some time ago?

Museum?

Mansion......

OH DAVE.......... lol

No a different job completely....... this one was completely unexpected.........

You know what I meant Russ.

Either way well done mate, bout time the sun shined on the dogs arse that is you :lol: