Back to the grindstone....

Guzzle
Guzzle Member Posts: 710
in Head and Neck Cancer #1

All, any thoughts about returning to work? I'm not quite ready to return yet 2.5 weeks post treatment but am planning ahead. Any examples of how long before a staged return? I had neck dissection/tonsil out/3 cisplatin/33 rads. IM very active and eating well. Neck still a bit stiff. I know there will be lots of experience amongst you. Thanks, G.

Comments

  • Duggie88
    Duggie88 Member Posts: 760 Member
    #2
    Hi Guzzle

    I finished treatment March 30th and did alot of work from home throughout my treatment but public appearances about a month after. Sounds like your doing quite well so I would say gp fpr it when you feel ready.

          Jeff

  • thennies61
    thennies61 Member Posts: 285
    #3
    Duggie88 said:

    Hi Guzzle

    I finished treatment March 30th and did alot of work from home throughout my treatment but public appearances about a month after. Sounds like your doing quite well so I would say gp fpr it when you feel ready.

          Jeff

    I finished up about 2 weeks

    I finished up about 2 weeks ago.Have a target date for Aug.Doing work around the house.Have the engery but strenth isn't just there yet when lifting my arms.Thin it's from the nodes taken out and have to rebuild the shoulders and arms.I do have to have the doctor sign a paper clearing me for work.

  • phrannie51
    phrannie51 Member Posts: 4,716
    #4
    I went back to work

    6 weeks after the end of treatment (35 rads and 6 chemo treatments lasting from the end of April to the end of August).....fatigue was the down side......took till about January for that to lift.

    p

  • Guzzle
    Guzzle Member Posts: 710
    #5
    phrannie51 said:

    I went back to work

    6 weeks after the end of treatment (35 rads and 6 chemo treatments lasting from the end of April to the end of August).....fatigue was the down side......took till about January for that to lift.

    p

    Tough Lady

    I always said you were a tough lady P. I plan to look ay it after my 6 week check up which I'm awaiting the date for.

  • ratface
    ratface Member Posts: 1,337 Member
    #6
    Guzzle said:

    Tough Lady

    I always said you were a tough lady P. I plan to look ay it after my 6 week check up which I'm awaiting the date for.

    Many considerations here

    What type of work do you do? I found my cognitive ability very slow and had memmory issues. I also had some physical issues such as tiring quickly.  Go back if you can physically perform the work, I remember a fellow here who was a bricklayer, probably had a pretty tough time. Do not go  back if your failure to use your cognitive skills could endanger others or put yourself at risk. Are you an air traffic controller perhaps? If you will ever consider filing for disability this is the time to start documenting limitations.

     

    If you need to pay the bills this will work itself out as it did for many here who were self-employed and just had to go back. If you are lucky enough to work somewhere that allows long term paid medical leave then by no means hurry back. Use this oppurtunity to heal and get stronger. I remember it was painful just backing out of the driveway after a neck disection. Think about spending an hour in traffic. Will you need a special accomodation at work? You have many rights under ADA and federal guidelines and now is the time to use this. Will you be able to eat and keep your mouth and feeding tube clean?

    Lastly prepare yourself for the work experience not being the same as it used to be. This may not be true for everyone but it was monumental for me. I simply could not take  much of my job seriously anymore. I realized how mundane it really was and eventually moved on.  I think we get into PTSD issues here. I needed a brief stint of professional help at this point. Good luck in your journey back. Trust yourself to make the right decisions.

     

     

     

  • Guzzle
    Guzzle Member Posts: 710
    #7
    ratface said:

    Many considerations here

    What type of work do you do? I found my cognitive ability very slow and had memmory issues. I also had some physical issues such as tiring quickly.  Go back if you can physically perform the work, I remember a fellow here who was a bricklayer, probably had a pretty tough time. Do not go  back if your failure to use your cognitive skills could endanger others or put yourself at risk. Are you an air traffic controller perhaps? If you will ever consider filing for disability this is the time to start documenting limitations.

     

    If you need to pay the bills this will work itself out as it did for many here who were self-employed and just had to go back. If you are lucky enough to work somewhere that allows long term paid medical leave then by no means hurry back. Use this oppurtunity to heal and get stronger. I remember it was painful just backing out of the driveway after a neck disection. Think about spending an hour in traffic. Will you need a special accomodation at work? You have many rights under ADA and federal guidelines and now is the time to use this. Will you be able to eat and keep your mouth and feeding tube clean?

    Lastly prepare yourself for the work experience not being the same as it used to be. This may not be true for everyone but it was monumental for me. I simply could not take  much of my job seriously anymore. I realized how mundane it really was and eventually moved on.  I think we get into PTSD issues here. I needed a brief stint of professional help at this point. Good luck in your journey back. Trust yourself to make the right decisions.

     

     

     

    Thanks

    Rick, that is a really considered response. I am a police officer in the UK but now in a managerial role. I will ba able to have a long term phased return and will have access to a state of the art rehabilitation centre. If I need professional counseling that will be on hand. I can retire in 3 years and would like to see my full service put if possible rather than take early retirement. I am trying to build fitness as you know and jogged for 3 min today. Was your job physical? The main thing I will need to ensure is that my decision making is sound. But that will be well and truly tested. By the way I got around the 50 miles so thanks for the encouragement. Regards, Gary

  • Guzzle
    Guzzle Member Posts: 710
    #8
    Guzzle said:

    Thanks

    Rick, that is a really considered response. I am a police officer in the UK but now in a managerial role. I will ba able to have a long term phased return and will have access to a state of the art rehabilitation centre. If I need professional counseling that will be on hand. I can retire in 3 years and would like to see my full service put if possible rather than take early retirement. I am trying to build fitness as you know and jogged for 3 min today. Was your job physical? The main thing I will need to ensure is that my decision making is sound. But that will be well and truly tested. By the way I got around the 50 miles so thanks for the encouragement. Regards, Gary

    PEG

    Rick forgot to say managed to get through without a peg luckily

  • ratface
    ratface Member Posts: 1,337 Member
    #9
    Guzzle said:

    PEG

    Rick forgot to say managed to get through without a peg luckily

    LMAO

    I was employed exactly in the same capacity but with mandated periodic street patrol. I was a supervisor and a manager. I was in no way ready for split second decision making involving my own life and more importantly the lives of those I supervised or public served. I also felt at a disadvantage physically. I had that sickly radiated aura about me with unsteadiness and lack of confidence I had never felt before., the kind of thing experienced criminals can sense and pick up on. I had lost my advantage, my edge, my sixth sense, my gut reaction capability and wasn't comfortable at the street level perfomance of my job. On the managerial side which would involve the majority of my time I no longer found the work challenging. I left 3 years early from  collecting full benefits.  This will be a very personal decision for you depending on your circumstances. I urge you to take full advantage of all your current benefits and ease yourself back into your responsibilities. I worked one year post treatment eventually making it back to full duty capacity. Once I had accomplished that benchmark my own personal decision was to move on in life. All the best my friend!    

  • donfoo
    donfoo Member Posts: 1,771 Member
    #10
    at your own pace

    Given you have good benefits and the ability to ease back just start at half days and see how you feel. You may be just fine but most get very tired and need much rest and sleep. I suspect you'll back at it in no time! Don

  • Guzzle
    Guzzle Member Posts: 710
    #11
    donfoo said:

    at your own pace

    Given you have good benefits and the ability to ease back just start at half days and see how you feel. You may be just fine but most get very tired and need much rest and sleep. I suspect you'll back at it in no time! Don

    Easing back

    Don, Ill be starting on 2 hour days but I wont be taking a lunch break! My employer wont rush me. They need me to be fully functional. Even getting sent off to specialist convalescent centre. A week or two gym/massage/pool/outdoor stuff. Should increase my fitness at least!

  • denistd
    denistd Member Posts: 597
    #12
    Guzzle said:

    Easing back

    Don, Ill be starting on 2 hour days but I wont be taking a lunch break! My employer wont rush me. They need me to be fully functional. Even getting sent off to specialist convalescent centre. A week or two gym/massage/pool/outdoor stuff. Should increase my fitness at least!

    Good

    An old bill huh. You are doing magnificently old lad. I think the convalescent home is a great idea. is Suarez coming back to Liverpool next year? He is a really world class player.

  • PJ47
    PJ47 Member Posts: 376
    #13
    It depends....

    Like many of the posts the type of work you do makes a difference on when to return.  I have to talk alot during the day and make public presentations so my water bottle is always my side kick, but I find it very drying to speak most of the day and welcome documentation time.  Mental status has not been a problem but I did not have chemo. I did have a temporary mental status change following the surgery due to the Versed they pushed on me.  Could not balance my checkbook or track well for a month.  

    Are you taking any pain pills or anti-anxiety meds?  That should be a consideration as well.  Would imagine you are tested for these?  I had to take a drug test and breathalizer test before going back to work.  

    Stress can exacerbate my stiff neck as can carrying around heavy equipment.  It sounds like your job can be quite stressful.  Good that you can go back gradually.  Enjoy your time off.

    PJ

  • Guzzle
    Guzzle Member Posts: 710
    #14
    denistd said:

    Good

    An old bill huh. You are doing magnificently old lad. I think the convalescent home is a great idea. is Suarez coming back to Liverpool next year? He is a really world class player.

    Italian

    Denis after eating an Italian maybe sooner! A lot of clubs will try to buy him in the summer. Hopefully he will stay. Class. Not 100% match fit even!

  • Guzzle
    Guzzle Member Posts: 710
    #15
    PJ47 said:

    It depends....

    Like many of the posts the type of work you do makes a difference on when to return.  I have to talk alot during the day and make public presentations so my water bottle is always my side kick, but I find it very drying to speak most of the day and welcome documentation time.  Mental status has not been a problem but I did not have chemo. I did have a temporary mental status change following the surgery due to the Versed they pushed on me.  Could not balance my checkbook or track well for a month.  

    Are you taking any pain pills or anti-anxiety meds?  That should be a consideration as well.  Would imagine you are tested for these?  I had to take a drug test and breathalizer test before going back to work.  

    Stress can exacerbate my stiff neck as can carrying around heavy equipment.  It sounds like your job can be quite stressful.  Good that you can go back gradually.  Enjoy your time off.

    PJ

    meds

    Thanks PJ. I am thankfully med free! First thing I did post treatment was to get off pain meds asa. I was lucky I didn't need them! G.

  • wmc
    wmc Member Posts: 1,804
    #16
    Glad you're doing good. But don't push too hard.

    Glad you are doing so good, but don't rush it too soon. Now I naver had chemo or RAD, but neck dissection on both sides and 86 glands and full laryngectomy. I pushed to get back to work in 10 weeks and the first two were hard. Might have been a week or two too soon, but I felt ready. I have other health issues [stage 3 emphysema] and it looks like I might be done with working. Doctor's have taking me off work because of my lungs, not the cancer. I beat the cancer. You will know when you feel ready to go back to work depending what you do, but take a few extra days and don't push too soon. Be well, and stay well.

    wmc

  • Crazymom
    Crazymom Member Posts: 339 Member
    #17

    6 weeks after last rads....I was tired and they let me leave at 3

    ;30 so I did not stay till 5:00 for the first 4 months.   The worst was how tired I was.  Ann

  • donka
    donka Member Posts: 15
    #18
    6 weeks...maybe

    I'm aiming for 6 weeks.  I have my follow-up to radiation appointment on August 8th, after finishing rads on June 25th.  The nurse I talked to last week said if I don't have to go back to work before the follow-up, I should stay home, chill out and let myself recover.  I'm totally okay with that :) 

    I think the most important thing is to not push it.  Go back when you feel ready, mentally and physically.  I've read lots of your posts and you sound like you're doing great and are pretty active, etc.  But that being said, I would resist the urge to go back to work too soon.  I had a girlfriend who went back too soon, found she wasn't ready and regretted it, and ran into massive issues with her insurance company when she tried to stop working again.  So, I'm planning on taking as much time as I need now and then maybe a wee bit more than I think, because it could be very difficult to change my mind later.

    donka

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