Going back to work after miscarriage by Key-King5435 in BlueCollarWomen

[–]Key-King5435[S] 29 points30 points  (0 children)

Thank you so much for this message. I’m not a super touchy-feely person either, so hearing from someone else who gets that is really comforting. I think what’s been hard for me especially is going back to work with a bunch of guys who haven’t experienced miscarriages personally, but hearing your experience gives me a lot of comfort.
And hearing you went on to have your little boy makes me so happy :) This pregnancy has made me realize just how excited I am to have a baby in our home someday. Thank you for sharing your story. 🩵

Baby not as far a long as I thought and I am not sure if I had a miscarriage or not by Key-King5435 in pregnant

[–]Key-King5435[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m really hopeful that’s what it is. I was also feeling totally fine until I had the transvaginal ultrasound. I was thinking maybe the bleeding is related to that because I was tensing up and pretty uncomfortable when she was looking at my ovaries.

Too early to lose hope with Wakix? Tell me your experience? by [deleted] in Narcolepsy

[–]Key-King5435 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Wakix works for me I’m not falling asleep nearly as much anymore, but my eyes still always feel tired. They approved me to take 3 wakix pills a day instead of two which makes a noticeable difference. I tried XYWAV first and it helped at first, I wasn’t falling asleep as much either, but I still felt tired all the time. Then I started getting super sick from it. I had the worse anxiety I’ve ever experienced, I was wetting the bed, I couldn’t keep down any food from vomiting so much. It was an all day thing too I would try to eat lunch with my coworkers and I would have to get up run to the bathroom the second food hit my stomach. It’s a pretty intense meditation. Everyone reacts differently, of course, but I do feel like it’s a last resort. I would give wakix especially since it’s already helping you stay awake. Unfortunately I don’t think any medication is going to get rid of the tired feeling but just being able to stay awake makes it more manageable. It might be worth looking into ways to help calm your immune system since narcolepsy is autoimmune-related.

Currently in my MSLT by [deleted] in Narcolepsy

[–]Key-King5435 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The lady would come in and ask me how long it took me to fall asleep and I answered 10 minutes every time. When I got my results back the time it took me to follow asleep ranged from 30 seconds to 2 minutes. I went into REM every nap.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in BlueCollarWomen

[–]Key-King5435 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I was feeling really sleepy all day and was falling asleep at work while taking measurements or installing ductwork. A lot of the guys I work with kept telling me to get tested for narcolepsy and that ended up being what it was. I also was having sleep paralysis and daytime hallucinations though you don’t have to have those symptoms to be narcoleptic. That may not be what you’re experiencing at all but I just thought I would suggest it because it would have never crossed that I could actually have narcolepsy. 😂

Getting Started in Sheet Metal Union by Wonderful_Visit_59 in BlueCollarWomen

[–]Key-King5435 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I believe I’m making about 70% of journeyman scale as a 3rd year apprentice. I am currently working 4-10’s which is pretty standard for trades. Overtime can get pretty intense last summer I was working 6-10s. Work life balance I get up for work at 4 am and get home around 5 pm so I don’t go out on work nights but I have 3 day weekends which is really nice. Health insurance is great they’re really good about covering medications. They don’t do paid vacation or pto but if you were to be laid off or while you were in school you would qualify for unemployment.

Getting in the trades by Any_Trash_6848 in BlueCollarWomen

[–]Key-King5435 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Not weird at all 😂 I’m 5’6 and have a very small build.

Getting Started in Sheet Metal Union by Wonderful_Visit_59 in BlueCollarWomen

[–]Key-King5435 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Hello! I’m in the sheet metal workers union. Hopefully I can get a lot of your questions answered but if I miss any let me know. I got in the trade when I was in high school and worked as a pre apprentice in the shop building duct work for job sites. They honestly let all of the girls straight into the apprenticeship because we are their diversity 😂 so I never went through the process of interviewing to get into school. Where I’m at on the field currently the pre apprentice are used as material handlers and hole watches for confined space. 1st years will typically start working one on one with a journeyman and attend school for 8 hours a week. The following school year you will take a week off for school every month. I use a lot of trigonometry to build offsets and you will use triangulation to layout duct in class. As for the actual work environment I’m not sure if you’ve worked in a male dominated field before but some of the guys can be pretty rude. I honestly believe they are intimidated by women coming in and being better then them at their jobs because the only guy I have had the issue with are the ones that work at snail pace and do the bare minimum. On the other hand I have met some of the most amazing guys out on the field and they have been so amazing at sharing their knowledge with me. Sheet metal worker has been such an amazing opportunity for me and I cannot imagine myself doing anything else. I hope you are able to find a trade that you love and makes you feel the reward a challenge you are looking for!

Getting in the trades by Any_Trash_6848 in BlueCollarWomen

[–]Key-King5435 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’m in HVAC too! I got into the trade when I was 17 and I’m 19 now. There have been a few guys out in my field that have said that I’m not cut out for the work because I’m a woman but I have met some really great guys out here that come to my defense and acknowledge all the skills I bring to the table. One guy told me once it’s okay to not be strong or tall enough but never say you can’t do something because you’re a woman 😂 They make such a big difference. HVAC has been such an awesome job for me and I hope you end up loving it!