Working, Getting out and About?

Moopy23
Moopy23 Member Posts: 1,751 Member
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
My leave from work is ending soon and I am wondering about risk of infections. I am so terrified of missing a treatment, but I need to work. I am not sure about getting out of the house, either. I have to get out, or I go nuts. I get out early or late and avoid crowds, but I have gone to department stores and grocery stores and restaurants. (am trying to eat as much as I can this week before chemo)Is that risky, or am I being over-cautious? All the nurse told me was to avoid crowds and that days 7 through 14 would be when my immune system is the weakest. Thanks in advance for your thoughts and opinions.

Comments

  • mimivac
    mimivac Member Posts: 2,143
    Crowds
    Moopy,

    I have worked throughout chemo so far. I have my treatments on Friday and the first week I take one or two days off and then work from home the rest of the week. I am in the office weeks 2 and 3. I have also gone to grocery stores, restaurants, and department stores. I take a bottle of alcohol-based santizer with me and am careful not to rub my eyes or put my hands on my mouth. I don't get near people at work who are sick. The one thing I don't do is public transportation. I used to take the metro and bus to work, but I now have my husband drive us in every morning. I also quit my gym and work out on a home elliptical machine. It sounds to me like you are doing fine. I don't believe you have to be a recluse, and most people work through treatment (let's fact it, most of us have to). Just take a little extra care since it will be easier for you to get an infection or a virus and more difficult to get rid of it.

    Mimi
  • Wibby
    Wibby Member Posts: 27
    Working through chemo
    Moopy,
    I had chemo from Feb. to June in 08. I teach high school - a germ factory! The head of my school reduced my load to teaching 2 classes vs. 5 and I took 3/5 of a sick day from Feb. break on. Another teacher in my district at the middle school decided to take off the rest of the year. I never once got a cold or stomach "bug" during my chemo. I was very careful about washing my hands after every class. I also was known to nap in between classes. I still stayed after to help individual students, but was careful. Work forced me out of myself. Teaching makes me stay in the "now" and not think beyond the next moment. I found it very therapeutic (sp?). I did avoid grocery stores and large crowds from days 7-14, but like you I ate everything in sight when my taste buds came back. I was lucky that my treatments were every three weeks so I had one "normal" week out of three. After day 14, I ate out, went shopping and still managed to stay well.
    Teaching really helped me get through the chemo. I think anything that brings a taste of "normalcy" back into our lives during chemo, as long as we can handle it, is helpful.
    Libby
  • chenheart
    chenheart Member Posts: 5,159
    Social Butterfly?
    I did it all too~ but was more aware to be "extra careful" days 7-14 when my immune system was the most compromised. I had hand sanitizer with me too, and well was again, aware of my surroundings. The thing that kept me away from activities more than the fear of infection was the cumulative fatigue. It knocked me on my fat fanny and kept me down for the count! I too NEEDED to get out and about, and I was an in-home caregiver. I felt trapped without sunshine and wind on my face~ so out I went! I cared for an 83 yr old pre-alzheimers patient, and I had no trouble encouraging her to go for daily walks with me. Good for both of us, and we both had lunch and napped after that! LOL

    I also went to outdoor evening concerts, and picnics with my sweetie, for massages, and yeah, the "other stuff" grocery shopping, etc.

    Just listen to your body~ it may say some mean things to you, but it truly wants to be well and healthy :-)

    Hugs,
    Claudia
  • mmontero38
    mmontero38 Member Posts: 1,510
    Hey Mopey: I worked all
    Hey Mopey: I worked all through treatment. I bought a tub of lysol wipes and wiped down every surface before I touched. The telephone and keyboard also. I took a multi vitamin that the oncologist recommended and I only caught a cold once during the whole treatment. I washed my hands constantly and my co-workers were really good about staying away if they were sick. If I needed to go shopping I would go grocery shopping early in the morning or late in the evening when it's less crowded, same with the mall. There isn't much more you can do so don't fret. If you do happen to catch a cold, call the doctor if you develop a fever because they may have to put you on an antibiotic. Hugs, Lili
  • seof
    seof Member Posts: 819 Member
    Unless you feel too
    Unless you feel too sick/tired, or unless your Doc. tells you not to and gives you a very good reason, I think work can be very healing to the psyche (it reminds you that you have cancer, but you are not sick!) Being around other people and talking about "normal" stuff is healthy. I kept working in an elementary school. I am a speech pathologist, so I have smaller groups in general. I used lysol wipes between groups and everyone who entered my room used hand sanitizer. I got a respiratory infection once during a year of chemo, and it was quickly remedied with antibiotics. I went to movies, restaurants, church, and anywhere else I wanted. I think you should do what you feel like doing, just wash your hands and use a bit more caution than usual, but don't freak out.

    Keep on keepin' on! seof
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    I am self employed...so I had to work as much as possible.
    Like everyone else, I just was careful. I felt pretty good except for right after infusions, so I worked fairly often.

    I remember one phone call, though...from my onc's nurse...late November

    "Hi, Kathi. Where are you now?"
    "Working at a client's site. Why?"
    "Are there many people around you?"
    "Yes"
    "Can you come back later?"
    "I suppose...why?"
    "Well, your white cell count is so low, that all it would take would be a sneeze from someone for you to get pneumonia."
    "I am leaving right now!"
    "Come to the office, we have Neupogin shots already approved to improve your count"

    I will say, though, that working was a 'normal' thing for me, so it was a great distraction...and kept my spirit up....

    Hugs, Kathi
  • Moopy23
    Moopy23 Member Posts: 1,751 Member
    Feeling Relieved
    Thank you all. I feel reassured and more confident about returning to my usual routine with some precautions. I appreciate the tips, too, on using Lysol. And Kathi, thanks for recounting your conversation with the nurse. I am definitely getting a cellphone!
  • rjjj
    rjjj Member Posts: 1,822 Member
    Moopy23 said:

    Feeling Relieved
    Thank you all. I feel reassured and more confident about returning to my usual routine with some precautions. I appreciate the tips, too, on using Lysol. And Kathi, thanks for recounting your conversation with the nurse. I am definitely getting a cellphone!

    What no cellphone??
    Dearest Moopie aka Lisa, you must have a cellphone. My Chemo Nurse and DR./hospital have reached me numerous times on my cell to remind and verify or change apt.s. We have a no cellphone policy at work and I have been caught many times once in a meeting where it went off playing "put the lime in the coconut and shake it all up" very loudly, guess they made an exception for me because i was met with just giggles and laughs. I excused myself and took the call anyway and it was the DR.!
    I also try to work when i can. I am a CNA and i find this very rewarding, but since the surgery where i can't lift more than 5 lbs (note from DR.) they have let me come and go working in activities as i please. I haven't been in for awhile since the last time I was in the RN sent me home because of to many sick people (including staff) I cried when i got home. I miss my old life. I intend to go back to being a cna as soon as allowed. The money has been tight and especially with no insurance. but i guess i will figure this all out later. My first priority must be taking care of myself.
    P.s. still shy about going to work in hats/wigs but this too shall pass.
    God Bless Jackie
  • Aortus
    Aortus Member Posts: 967
    rjjj said:

    What no cellphone??
    Dearest Moopie aka Lisa, you must have a cellphone. My Chemo Nurse and DR./hospital have reached me numerous times on my cell to remind and verify or change apt.s. We have a no cellphone policy at work and I have been caught many times once in a meeting where it went off playing "put the lime in the coconut and shake it all up" very loudly, guess they made an exception for me because i was met with just giggles and laughs. I excused myself and took the call anyway and it was the DR.!
    I also try to work when i can. I am a CNA and i find this very rewarding, but since the surgery where i can't lift more than 5 lbs (note from DR.) they have let me come and go working in activities as i please. I haven't been in for awhile since the last time I was in the RN sent me home because of to many sick people (including staff) I cried when i got home. I miss my old life. I intend to go back to being a cna as soon as allowed. The money has been tight and especially with no insurance. but i guess i will figure this all out later. My first priority must be taking care of myself.
    P.s. still shy about going to work in hats/wigs but this too shall pass.
    God Bless Jackie

    Okay, okay, okay...
    We'll get the Moopster a "real" cellphone. Today, if we can brave the 4" of snow we got last night. Being from Montana, you no doubt think 4" of snow is no big deal; being from Wisconsin, I agree. But 4" of snow in the Ozarks makes for some, uh, "interesting" driving.

    We've had a Tracfone for going on 6 years now, but it's old and crappy and its network is rather spotty. Any suggestions anyone has about "real" cellphones would be very welcome.

    Random cellphone story: last semester I was teaching a class when all of a sudden the theme from "Bonanza" started piping up from a girl's backpack. Usually I embarrass the students to death but this time I was genuinely interested. "Why the theme from Bonanza, Brandy?" She responded "Bonanza is my favorite TV show!" This from a normal looking 20 year old college girl. What's with these kids? Bonanza was oooolllld when *I* was a kid!
  • fauxma
    fauxma Member Posts: 3,577 Member
    Aortus said:

    Okay, okay, okay...
    We'll get the Moopster a "real" cellphone. Today, if we can brave the 4" of snow we got last night. Being from Montana, you no doubt think 4" of snow is no big deal; being from Wisconsin, I agree. But 4" of snow in the Ozarks makes for some, uh, "interesting" driving.

    We've had a Tracfone for going on 6 years now, but it's old and crappy and its network is rather spotty. Any suggestions anyone has about "real" cellphones would be very welcome.

    Random cellphone story: last semester I was teaching a class when all of a sudden the theme from "Bonanza" started piping up from a girl's backpack. Usually I embarrass the students to death but this time I was genuinely interested. "Why the theme from Bonanza, Brandy?" She responded "Bonanza is my favorite TV show!" This from a normal looking 20 year old college girl. What's with these kids? Bonanza was oooolllld when *I* was a kid!

    Like the song
    It's like the song lyric "Everything old is new again". I guess like so many other things even Bonanza got recyled. I don't know much about cellphones. When we bought ours, I just picked one and that was it. It is very old too and I guess I should replace it. My favorite ringtone is the one I have programmed for my calls from the doctors, "Runaway" from Spamalot. I use different ringtones my family, my daughter (All that Jazz because that is my grandson's name) and my hubby (Miles Davis because he is a huge fan). This rest just have a generic ring. I can relate to Jackie's story. While cell phones are forbidden at my work, they are discouraged. My doctor called and loudly from the desk came, Runaway, Runaway runaway from the .... My co-worker was too funny and said it was a message from above for all of us to leave work for the day. We all laughed and then went back to work. Oh yes, and I answered the call of course.
    I think you and your wife are just the cutest couple and you are so lucky to have each other.
    Stef
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    Aortus said:

    Okay, okay, okay...
    We'll get the Moopster a "real" cellphone. Today, if we can brave the 4" of snow we got last night. Being from Montana, you no doubt think 4" of snow is no big deal; being from Wisconsin, I agree. But 4" of snow in the Ozarks makes for some, uh, "interesting" driving.

    We've had a Tracfone for going on 6 years now, but it's old and crappy and its network is rather spotty. Any suggestions anyone has about "real" cellphones would be very welcome.

    Random cellphone story: last semester I was teaching a class when all of a sudden the theme from "Bonanza" started piping up from a girl's backpack. Usually I embarrass the students to death but this time I was genuinely interested. "Why the theme from Bonanza, Brandy?" She responded "Bonanza is my favorite TV show!" This from a normal looking 20 year old college girl. What's with these kids? Bonanza was oooolllld when *I* was a kid!

    The movie 'Mamma Mia'....
    Based on music from a group from 'my' generation...lol...

    I never throw out my clothes for being out of date...just save them for when they come back in (although, I must admit, I discarded my high platform shoes from the 70's...picturing a 50-plus gal tottering around in these is darnright horrifying!!!ROFL!!!).

    Cellphones come in all sorts of flavors these days. If it is just for this time, I would look at a 'pay as you go' type for Lisa...but, it was extremely handy for me during my treatments...I just set the ring level to vibrate while I'm working...Check the coverage areas for the providers in your area (they all have web sites that should show this). Here in my area, Verizon has the best, in parts of Arizona, it's Sprint.

    Hugs, Kathi
  • Marcia527
    Marcia527 Member Posts: 2,729
    Aortus said:

    Okay, okay, okay...
    We'll get the Moopster a "real" cellphone. Today, if we can brave the 4" of snow we got last night. Being from Montana, you no doubt think 4" of snow is no big deal; being from Wisconsin, I agree. But 4" of snow in the Ozarks makes for some, uh, "interesting" driving.

    We've had a Tracfone for going on 6 years now, but it's old and crappy and its network is rather spotty. Any suggestions anyone has about "real" cellphones would be very welcome.

    Random cellphone story: last semester I was teaching a class when all of a sudden the theme from "Bonanza" started piping up from a girl's backpack. Usually I embarrass the students to death but this time I was genuinely interested. "Why the theme from Bonanza, Brandy?" She responded "Bonanza is my favorite TV show!" This from a normal looking 20 year old college girl. What's with these kids? Bonanza was oooolllld when *I* was a kid!

    I would also 'google' the
    I would also 'google' the coverage area and the phone for comments from users. We had an AT&T phone in Texas which worked great but didn't work worth a darn in Connecticut. We were told it would work from a rep and renewed our contract. When we phoned to complain, he told us we had service, they didn't say it would be good service. This made us mad and we canceled and changed to Sprint. We ended up paying $200 fee but we told them that would be the last dollar they ever saw from us. Now in Texas we have Sprint also which we haven't had any problems with. So it pays to check what other users have to say, not the reps.
  • mmontero38
    mmontero38 Member Posts: 1,510
    Aortus said:

    Okay, okay, okay...
    We'll get the Moopster a "real" cellphone. Today, if we can brave the 4" of snow we got last night. Being from Montana, you no doubt think 4" of snow is no big deal; being from Wisconsin, I agree. But 4" of snow in the Ozarks makes for some, uh, "interesting" driving.

    We've had a Tracfone for going on 6 years now, but it's old and crappy and its network is rather spotty. Any suggestions anyone has about "real" cellphones would be very welcome.

    Random cellphone story: last semester I was teaching a class when all of a sudden the theme from "Bonanza" started piping up from a girl's backpack. Usually I embarrass the students to death but this time I was genuinely interested. "Why the theme from Bonanza, Brandy?" She responded "Bonanza is my favorite TV show!" This from a normal looking 20 year old college girl. What's with these kids? Bonanza was oooolllld when *I* was a kid!

    LOL, "Bonanza?" I used to
    LOL, "Bonanza?" I used to watch that when I was 5 yrs old. Wow, that was a while back. Anyway, check the web sites on the cell phones. In my area of NJ, Verizon works the best since it has more antennas but in your area you may find that another company may work better. Also, check out all their plans, because sometimes the pay as you go tends to be more expensive then getting a limited plan. Hugs, Lili
  • phoenixrising
    phoenixrising Member Posts: 1,508
    I didn't work during chemo
    I didn't work during chemo as I had a lot of problems with it and I work in a hospital so it didn't seem like a good idea at the time. But I went out as usual to get groceries or whatever when I felt up to it. I almost got sick once when I travelled to see my son and grandson. You know little kids, it seems like they are always picking something up. It was well worth it to see the little guy though.

    Sorry I wasn't around to welcome you. Some days I just get to read a couple of posts and that's it, but I have found you and your husbands posts delightful and I'm sorry you've had to join us. As you probably have heard these gals are the greatest and can help you with pretty much everything. Best of luck to you with your treatment, hope it all goes well.
    jan
  • Moopy23
    Moopy23 Member Posts: 1,751 Member

    I didn't work during chemo
    I didn't work during chemo as I had a lot of problems with it and I work in a hospital so it didn't seem like a good idea at the time. But I went out as usual to get groceries or whatever when I felt up to it. I almost got sick once when I travelled to see my son and grandson. You know little kids, it seems like they are always picking something up. It was well worth it to see the little guy though.

    Sorry I wasn't around to welcome you. Some days I just get to read a couple of posts and that's it, but I have found you and your husbands posts delightful and I'm sorry you've had to join us. As you probably have heard these gals are the greatest and can help you with pretty much everything. Best of luck to you with your treatment, hope it all goes well.
    jan

    Hi, Jan
    Thank you, Jan. I am so grateful for the replies and welcome I have received. Everyone is so kind and generous and truly understanding. You all are a godsend.