Ear Pain after treatment and work

rmkbrad
rmkbrad Member Posts: 176
edited March 2014 in Head and Neck Cancer #1
I am 4 weeks post treatment and for the last week or so I have been having some stong pain in my left ear, this is the side with the tumor. Also I have a question about work, how many went back to work and how many called it quits. Just currous, I have a very high paced and stressfull job and my brother in law does not thing I should go back.

Brad

Comments

  • D Lewis
    D Lewis Member Posts: 1,581 Member
    #2
    Hey, Brad;
    Hey Buddy,

    Good to hear from you! Me too, on the 4 weeks post treatment. I don't have ear pain, but I have had some pretty intense ear stuffiness. Seems to be very slowly subsiding, but is still very noticable. You might just be stuffed up, and the ear pain is resulting from all the ups and downs in elevation you have been experiencing. Still going back and forth from the mountains to SF?

    I work in County government, in the Planning Department. Can be stressful if you let it, which I try not to. Also, a lot of exposure to germs and such, from dealing with the public. I miss the work, and they really need me back, as they are understaffed and I am the best they have. I finished out my FMLA 12-week leave right at the end of my treatment. I went ahead and asked for an additional 12 weeks, for recovery time. I will probably use it all. But, I do intend to go back, because I'm one of those sorts who really needs to stay challenged. And I have a great team.

    Have you given thought to the insurance issue? My County insurance coverage is pretty good. If I did chose to leave my job, I would have a serious problem finding alternative medical coverage. Or, I'd be paying through the nose to keep what I have now.

    Best wishes for your continuing recovery.

    Deb
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #3
    Working During & After
    I Brad,

    Like Deb, I work for local government, mainly computer modeling, forecasting and planning. The majority of my work is all computer related. I was fortunate enough to have had 1200+ hours of sick time on the books, and also filled out the information for FMLA. I ended up using about 300 hours of sick time, but a big chunk of that was initially up front when I had the tonsils out.

    My department set me up and allowed me to work from home the entire time I was in treatment and during recouperation (Jan - Sep 2009)....

    Like Deb, I am basically the only one that does what I do and it allowed me to stay busy, work when I could and not be on a rigid schedule.... I went back part time (in office and home) for a month or so, and eventually back in the office full time October 2009.

    It hasn't been a problem with me and I was really fortunate enough to have good insurance as well. I don't really plan on retiring anytime soon even though I have twenty plus years with my company.

    As for the ear pain, I don't have that, I do have various aches and pains occasionally, but nothing really out of the norm.

    John
  • Ann G
    Ann G Member Posts: 8
    #4
    LIfe is short
    Hi Brad,

    You are the only one to really know whether or not you should go back. If the job stresses you out and you can't handle the stress, then it's a good opportunity to figure out what else you might be interested in doing.

    I'm not sure at this point how much the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) protects people with cancer and requires that your employer make accommodations for you as some of the other people who responded were able to do. I did a google search on ADA and found that it is supposed to protect people with cancer. My husband's company didn't seem to care about that when they terminated him last week.

    If you do decide not to go back, definitely go on COBRA and long-term disability insurance. If you don't have long-term disability insurance, I'm sure you are eligible for SSI Disabiblity which will give you medical coverage. You may need to add supplemental coverage to make it more comprehensive which cost a lot less than regular medical coverage.

    My very close friend had lymphoma, had a stem cell transplant and five years later is still doing great, cancer-free. He sold real-estate in Arizona and was very successful. After his diagnosis and treatment he decided he couldn't go back to that work. It had been too stressful for him. He decided he wanted to follow his heart and a yoga guru he had met many years before. He left his wife, moved to California and then Tahiti to be with the guru and couldn't be happier.

    Hope this helps.

    Ann G
  • delnative
    delnative Member Posts: 450 Member
    #5
    Ann G said:

    LIfe is short
    Hi Brad,

    You are the only one to really know whether or not you should go back. If the job stresses you out and you can't handle the stress, then it's a good opportunity to figure out what else you might be interested in doing.

    I'm not sure at this point how much the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) protects people with cancer and requires that your employer make accommodations for you as some of the other people who responded were able to do. I did a google search on ADA and found that it is supposed to protect people with cancer. My husband's company didn't seem to care about that when they terminated him last week.

    If you do decide not to go back, definitely go on COBRA and long-term disability insurance. If you don't have long-term disability insurance, I'm sure you are eligible for SSI Disabiblity which will give you medical coverage. You may need to add supplemental coverage to make it more comprehensive which cost a lot less than regular medical coverage.

    My very close friend had lymphoma, had a stem cell transplant and five years later is still doing great, cancer-free. He sold real-estate in Arizona and was very successful. After his diagnosis and treatment he decided he couldn't go back to that work. It had been too stressful for him. He decided he wanted to follow his heart and a yoga guru he had met many years before. He left his wife, moved to California and then Tahiti to be with the guru and couldn't be happier.

    Hope this helps.

    Ann G

    I'm still at it
    Hey, Brad.
    I'm a reporter, which is one of the most stressful positions that doesn't involve being shot at (not regularly, anyway).
    I went back to work about three months after treatment ended, and now, almost two years later, I'm still at it.
    It was tough at first, what with "chemo brain" and fatigue. However, my handy iPhone app tells me it's 400 days to the day I retire, and I'm beginning to look forward to it. I love what I do, but I'm less enamored of the people for whom I do it. And, my profession has changed dramatically, and not all of the change has been positive.
    I'm looking at my retirement as an opportunity to do more for myself and more for others. I'd like to help people with cancer, whether it's just driving a patient to his or her chemo appointment or using my writing and reporting skills to benefit cancer patients and survivors.
    Having cancer has opened up a whole new set of interests for me, and I look at it as a blessing, not a curse.

    --Jim in Delaware
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #6
    Hi Brad
    I have the pain in the ear in fact right out of treatment I had pain for a long time in both ears, ENT can't find anything wrong, sometimes it feels like someone was sticking me with something other times it was a dull hurting. The right ear cleared up a few years ago and stopped hurting, but the left ear still has a lot of problems and pain to where all I can do it to grab my head and hold it down. The only thing I find to help the pain is Aleve.

    On Work, if your job is high Stress, give it up as the stress is very bad for your body. I was a technical Manager for one of the world larges offshore diving companies, very high stress, so I stepped down from all the stress and what a great feeling, all I do now is computerization maintenance. It is up to you Brad if you can give it up and find something else to do. Don’t just do nothing find something to keep your mind busy and your body working, but something that is not stressful.

    Just my point of view on what I have done. God bless and be with you my friend.
  • Scambuster
    Scambuster Member Posts: 973
    #7
    Blocked Eustation tubes
    Hi Brad,

    I started going a bit deaf in both ears about a month or so out fm treatment. I had my ears flushed as had some wax build up. No great improvement. Scared. I went to see my ENT guy and he took one look in and said "you have fluid trapped in your inner ear - equalize" ! I did, and my ears screeched and squealed and my hearing came back !! A mega relief. This could be similar to yours with the pressure causing pain but have the ENT guy check as you don't want to blow a drum if your case is not the same. I had mild discomfort, so no real pain.

    I had 6 months before I was ready to go back to work. Advice is NOT to go back too early. You have to be ready. I am now 8+months out and back in full swing and feeling great.

    Hang in there Brad, it does get better.
    Scam
  • delcan87
    delcan87 Member Posts: 4
    #8
    delnative said:

    I'm still at it
    Hey, Brad.
    I'm a reporter, which is one of the most stressful positions that doesn't involve being shot at (not regularly, anyway).
    I went back to work about three months after treatment ended, and now, almost two years later, I'm still at it.
    It was tough at first, what with "chemo brain" and fatigue. However, my handy iPhone app tells me it's 400 days to the day I retire, and I'm beginning to look forward to it. I love what I do, but I'm less enamored of the people for whom I do it. And, my profession has changed dramatically, and not all of the change has been positive.
    I'm looking at my retirement as an opportunity to do more for myself and more for others. I'd like to help people with cancer, whether it's just driving a patient to his or her chemo appointment or using my writing and reporting skills to benefit cancer patients and survivors.
    Having cancer has opened up a whole new set of interests for me, and I look at it as a blessing, not a curse.

    --Jim in Delaware

    6-21-11
    Hello Jim in Delaware. I decided to reply because of your last sentence! I am so fortunate since that is how I feel about my diagnosis. From June 6, 2010 you must be close to your retirement. Congratulations! Sept '11 I will be retired 2 years from nurse's aide work. I planned to work part-time forever, but my mom needs me. I was diagnosed with cancer late in April, today I am 5 weeks post surgery and feeling really good. Tomorrow I start chemo. I'm only a bit nervous. The "infus-port I have is scarier to me than the medication for some reason, very new thing for me. Well, very helpful to read everyone's texts. I also want to "give back" when I am finished treatment. Hope you are doing well. JV
  • Pam M
    Pam M Member Posts: 2,196
    #9
    delcan87 said:

    6-21-11
    Hello Jim in Delaware. I decided to reply because of your last sentence! I am so fortunate since that is how I feel about my diagnosis. From June 6, 2010 you must be close to your retirement. Congratulations! Sept '11 I will be retired 2 years from nurse's aide work. I planned to work part-time forever, but my mom needs me. I was diagnosed with cancer late in April, today I am 5 weeks post surgery and feeling really good. Tomorrow I start chemo. I'm only a bit nervous. The "infus-port I have is scarier to me than the medication for some reason, very new thing for me. Well, very helpful to read everyone's texts. I also want to "give back" when I am finished treatment. Hope you are doing well. JV

    Hi delcan
    Sounds like you're starting chemo with a perfect attitude. Hope it goes smoothly (as smoothly as possible) for you. Do well.

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