To return to work or not return that is the question?

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Comments

  • Feelingalone74
    Feelingalone74 Member Posts: 243
    #22
    janaes said:

    Feelingalone,

    Feelingalone,

    Im glad you were able to make your desision about work. I remember it was such a relief when i made the decision. It was such a burden lifted of my shoulders. 

    Thanks Janae!

    Thanks Janae!

    It's not an easy decision to make for sure. I hope now the burden is lifted and I can be more at ease as u mentioned.  Thankfully I was reassured by my union rep that I wouldn't loose my pay or insurance being if I go over my sick days I have stored I can get days from our sick bank. That's a huge relief!

    Now to figure out some hobbies at home so I'm not so bored! :-)

     

  • MAbound
    MAbound Member Posts: 1,168 Member
    #23
    Feelingalone74 said:

    Thanks Janae!

    Thanks Janae!

    It's not an easy decision to make for sure. I hope now the burden is lifted and I can be more at ease as u mentioned.  Thankfully I was reassured by my union rep that I wouldn't loose my pay or insurance being if I go over my sick days I have stored I can get days from our sick bank. That's a huge relief!

    Now to figure out some hobbies at home so I'm not so bored! :-)

     

    Geneology as a hobby

    I picked up doing geneology as a hobby when I needed to find out family medical histories for my geneticist. My mom had started researching our family geneology in the 70's and 80's and she would have loved how much easier computers make research these days. There's a lot you can do online from home without having to travel to small town historical societies, cemeteries, or county courthouses in search of records. I have found it an addictive hobby and am working on a book to leave for my grandchildren because I have found a lot of unexpected and fascinating ancestors. If genetic testing is in your future, I highly recommend putting together something about your relations going back to at least as far as your grandparents generation to find out medical histories for that and then see if you want to keep digging deeper. It can be a lot of fun connecting with relatives you may have lost touch with!

  • janaes
    janaes Member Posts: 799 Member
    #24
    Feelingalone74 said:

    Thanks Janae!

    Thanks Janae!

    It's not an easy decision to make for sure. I hope now the burden is lifted and I can be more at ease as u mentioned.  Thankfully I was reassured by my union rep that I wouldn't loose my pay or insurance being if I go over my sick days I have stored I can get days from our sick bank. That's a huge relief!

    Now to figure out some hobbies at home so I'm not so bored! :-)

     

    Yea i was so glad my work

    Yea i was so glad my work worked with me for my time off.   When it works out you might as well do what works. 

  • Feelingalone74
    Feelingalone74 Member Posts: 243
    #25
    janaes said:

    Yea i was so glad my work

    Yea i was so glad my work worked with me for my time off.   When it works out you might as well do what works. 

    You're right Janaes . I feel

    You're right Janaes . I feel blessed that I have the days and can get more from the sick bank if needed. 

    Hoping these next 4 months go by faster than I anticipate though!

     

  • Fayard
    Fayard Member Posts: 438 Member
    #26
    Hola,

    Hola,

    I hope you are feeling better already. I am also a teacher and did not work while in treatment, 6 months. I decided not to work, because kids are always filled with germs and get sick often. Just keep in mind that your inmune system will become fragile during treatment. In which state are you? I am in CA. I applied for catasthrphic leave 2 times in a row, the maximun. This allowed to get paid full salary during 2 full months of work. However, you do have to start the school year and work certain number of days, so your benefits are not compromised. I also was able to use sick/emergency/personal leave days, so out of the 6 months I was paid half salary only for half month. I was very fortunate to be able to stay home during treatment, because none of the treatments was delayed. My inmune system was always strong enough to continue.

    I would like to add that I also felt very bored at home during treatment. However, I had plenty of time to educate myself about cancer, make changes in my life style and enjoy plenty of rest. I also visited my students every now and then (Middle Schoolers), and they loved to see me getting better. I also loved seeing them doing well and learning! If you are also in CA, please let me know if you need further information.

    God bless you all!

  • Feelingalone74
    Feelingalone74 Member Posts: 243
    #27
    MAbound said:

    Geneology as a hobby

    I picked up doing geneology as a hobby when I needed to find out family medical histories for my geneticist. My mom had started researching our family geneology in the 70's and 80's and she would have loved how much easier computers make research these days. There's a lot you can do online from home without having to travel to small town historical societies, cemeteries, or county courthouses in search of records. I have found it an addictive hobby and am working on a book to leave for my grandchildren because I have found a lot of unexpected and fascinating ancestors. If genetic testing is in your future, I highly recommend putting together something about your relations going back to at least as far as your grandparents generation to find out medical histories for that and then see if you want to keep digging deeper. It can be a lot of fun connecting with relatives you may have lost touch with!

    Mabound,  what a great hobby

    Mabound,  what a great hobby you have found. Learning about my ancestors certainly would be fun.  

    I do hope to find some hobbies to keep myself occupied. This is a great suggestion

  • Feelingalone74
    Feelingalone74 Member Posts: 243
    #28
    Fayard said:

    Hola,

    Hola,

    I hope you are feeling better already. I am also a teacher and did not work while in treatment, 6 months. I decided not to work, because kids are always filled with germs and get sick often. Just keep in mind that your inmune system will become fragile during treatment. In which state are you? I am in CA. I applied for catasthrphic leave 2 times in a row, the maximun. This allowed to get paid full salary during 2 full months of work. However, you do have to start the school year and work certain number of days, so your benefits are not compromised. I also was able to use sick/emergency/personal leave days, so out of the 6 months I was paid half salary only for half month. I was very fortunate to be able to stay home during treatment, because none of the treatments was delayed. My inmune system was always strong enough to continue.

    I would like to add that I also felt very bored at home during treatment. However, I had plenty of time to educate myself about cancer, make changes in my life style and enjoy plenty of rest. I also visited my students every now and then (Middle Schoolers), and they loved to see me getting better. I also loved seeing them doing well and learning! If you are also in CA, please let me know if you need further information.

    God bless you all!

    Fayard

    Fayard

    So far after 2 treatments I'm feeling well . I think the insomnia I have had for months is worse than the side effects I've experienced  .I'm hoping by not working my immune  system will stay strong enough too so that my treatment isn't delayed as well. And I can get it over with and return to work and my students I love feeling healthy. Between my personal sick days or and the days I can get from our sick bank that I contributed to I should be ok and enough days not loose pay or health coverage

    Fingers crossed.

     

  • zsazsa1
    zsazsa1 Member Posts: 568 Member
    #29
    Feelingalone74 said:

    Fayard

    Fayard

    So far after 2 treatments I'm feeling well . I think the insomnia I have had for months is worse than the side effects I've experienced  .I'm hoping by not working my immune  system will stay strong enough too so that my treatment isn't delayed as well. And I can get it over with and return to work and my students I love feeling healthy. Between my personal sick days or and the days I can get from our sick bank that I contributed to I should be ok and enough days not loose pay or health coverage

    Fingers crossed.

     

    I think you made the right

    I think you made the right choice.  I work with sick children, and I knew there was no way that I could protect myself from catching viruses from them.  So I stopped.  When you are neutropenic from chemo, you can get very, very sick if you catch something communicable. 

  • Feelingalone74
    Feelingalone74 Member Posts: 243
    #30
    zsazsa1 said:

    I think you made the right

    I think you made the right choice.  I work with sick children, and I knew there was no way that I could protect myself from catching viruses from them.  So I stopped.  When you are neutropenic from chemo, you can get very, very sick if you catch something communicable. 

    zsazsa1, I agree with you.

    zsazsa1, I agree with you. Like you I know there's no way I can really protect myself from all the viruses and germs that my sweets students bring to school with them.

    My district begins school this week so it's going to be a hard week for me as I long to be  at my 2nd home that I love and enjoy being at.

    Praying these months go by quicker than I anticipate the will! 

    THe days can be long when I have to limit my access to the sun so being indoors the majority of the day makes for a long day. I try to keep busy though. so far im able to keep up with my house and early a.m. or late p.m. walkls so that makes me happy!

  • Mercorby
    Mercorby Member Posts: 111 Member
    #31
    MAbound said:

    Geneology as a hobby

    I picked up doing geneology as a hobby when I needed to find out family medical histories for my geneticist. My mom had started researching our family geneology in the 70's and 80's and she would have loved how much easier computers make research these days. There's a lot you can do online from home without having to travel to small town historical societies, cemeteries, or county courthouses in search of records. I have found it an addictive hobby and am working on a book to leave for my grandchildren because I have found a lot of unexpected and fascinating ancestors. If genetic testing is in your future, I highly recommend putting together something about your relations going back to at least as far as your grandparents generation to find out medical histories for that and then see if you want to keep digging deeper. It can be a lot of fun connecting with relatives you may have lost touch with!

    The Rabbit Hole

    Ha!  The whole geneology thing is very interesting and mysterious.  I have just taken that up.  Too many nights staying awake following possible connections.  Found three different cousins that were adopted.  One we knew, but didn't realize she was adopted.  And the other two were surprises - even to the adoptee.  It turned out that that person's biological father was the father that raised the adopted cousin that we knew.  The third adopted cousisn opened up a family secret.  So, you never know.

    On the cancer front, too many relatives that I already knew had cancer both my mother's parents generaton (both sides) and my mother's generation.  Fortunately, that isn't true on my father's side. Also, my generation on my mother's side doesn't have much cancer.  So there's hope.

  • Mercorby
    Mercorby Member Posts: 111 Member
    #32
    Took 6 months off

    Hi, it's a tough choice finacially sometimes.

    I took 6 months off of teaching 3rd grade.  I could have used another month, but I needed to work for benefits.  I was tired.  Fortunately, everyone was understanding.  In the beginning of my leave, I tried to do things like parent conferences by phone and lesson planning, but I had to give it up.  I think I'd make the same decision again if I had to.  Right now, I'm hoping to retire at the end of two years - June 2021.  But our school district will be renegotiating the medical portion of the contract, so I'll wait and see how that turns out. I pay $25 a month for medication that costs way more than that.

  • Feelingalone74
    Feelingalone74 Member Posts: 243
    #33
    Mercorby said:

    Took 6 months off

    Hi, it's a tough choice finacially sometimes.

    I took 6 months off of teaching 3rd grade.  I could have used another month, but I needed to work for benefits.  I was tired.  Fortunately, everyone was understanding.  In the beginning of my leave, I tried to do things like parent conferences by phone and lesson planning, but I had to give it up.  I think I'd make the same decision again if I had to.  Right now, I'm hoping to retire at the end of two years - June 2021.  But our school district will be renegotiating the medical portion of the contract, so I'll wait and see how that turns out. I pay $25 a month for medication that costs way more than that.

    Hi Mercorby. It definitely

    Hi Mercorby. It definitely was a hard choice to make. Sitting home all day while everyone else is working is hard but I knew the risks of being exposed to the kiddos germs would put me at risk. I'm looking forward to my treatment ending in mid December and hoping to be able to return in January. 

    I hope your school year is off to a great start and you're feeling well!!!

  • MAbound
    MAbound Member Posts: 1,168 Member
    #34
    Mercorby said:

    The Rabbit Hole

    Ha!  The whole geneology thing is very interesting and mysterious.  I have just taken that up.  Too many nights staying awake following possible connections.  Found three different cousins that were adopted.  One we knew, but didn't realize she was adopted.  And the other two were surprises - even to the adoptee.  It turned out that that person's biological father was the father that raised the adopted cousin that we knew.  The third adopted cousisn opened up a family secret.  So, you never know.

    On the cancer front, too many relatives that I already knew had cancer both my mother's parents generaton (both sides) and my mother's generation.  Fortunately, that isn't true on my father's side. Also, my generation on my mother's side doesn't have much cancer.  So there's hope.

    Rabbit Hole Indeed!

    I so get the whole staying up the whole night to follow connections. It's like you are on a scavenger hunt that you just can't quit. It's the best thing for distraction when one is anxious or can't sleep and makes for interesting conversations at family get togethers. I recently found a family connection for my son with his best friend"s new wife! I just love finding out things like that.

  • Molly110
    Molly110 Member Posts: 191 Member
    #35
    Feelingalone74 said:

    Hi Mercorby. It definitely

    Hi Mercorby. It definitely was a hard choice to make. Sitting home all day while everyone else is working is hard but I knew the risks of being exposed to the kiddos germs would put me at risk. I'm looking forward to my treatment ending in mid December and hoping to be able to return in January. 

    I hope your school year is off to a great start and you're feeling well!!!

    Yikes. I hadn't thought much

    Yikes. I hadn't thought much about this, proably because not working is not an option. I work for a wonderful organization serving people with disabilities, many of whom are often ill. So far my blood chemistries are good, so I'm hoping that I won't be especially suseptible to infections from work. I do now wash my hands constantly and use lots of purell, as well as trying to avoid colleagues and others who are sick with colds, etc.

    Since I don't really have a choice, I guess it makes it easier not to worry. My treatment ends not too long after yours. Good luck!

  • Jairoldi
    Jairoldi Member Posts: 221 Member
    #36
    Molly110 said:

    Yikes. I hadn't thought much

    Yikes. I hadn't thought much about this, proably because not working is not an option. I work for a wonderful organization serving people with disabilities, many of whom are often ill. So far my blood chemistries are good, so I'm hoping that I won't be especially suseptible to infections from work. I do now wash my hands constantly and use lots of purell, as well as trying to avoid colleagues and others who are sick with colds, etc.

    Since I don't really have a choice, I guess it makes it easier not to worry. My treatment ends not too long after yours. Good luck!

    Take extra precautions

    I worked part time, when I felt up to it, while doing chemo. I brought everything I needed for lunch. I made sure not to go in the office kitchen, washed my hands often, and used a lot on hand sanitizer. I'm glad that I didn't have to work so could keep my hours to a minimum. I used long term disability, my vacation and sick days, to get to through without loss of income.

  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #37
    Molly110 said:

    Yikes. I hadn't thought much

    Yikes. I hadn't thought much about this, proably because not working is not an option. I work for a wonderful organization serving people with disabilities, many of whom are often ill. So far my blood chemistries are good, so I'm hoping that I won't be especially suseptible to infections from work. I do now wash my hands constantly and use lots of purell, as well as trying to avoid colleagues and others who are sick with colds, etc.

    Since I don't really have a choice, I guess it makes it easier not to worry. My treatment ends not too long after yours. Good luck!

    I worked throughout my chemo

    I began chemo in December 2015, and worked all through the treatments.  I did work in a professional office environment, so it was safer to be around my coworkers.  But I worked for a CPA processing tax returns, and the stress and long hours were hard as I frequently worked 50-60 hours a week.  I scheduled my chemo days so I had the weekend to recover and was lucky that I didn't get sick, just a lot of shooting pains in my legs.  I actually didn't even use all my 2 weeks of sick leave for treatments.  Working through chemo is doable, but if you are working with sick clients, or kids, I would take extra precaution.  I didn't have radiation.  Hugs Nancy

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