Working while on tx

[Trish77]

I'm wondering how it is for those that keep/kept working while on tx.  Wondering if your employer or co-workers knew and if you're managing to hide it if you didn't tell anyone.  I'm working through the scenarios while awaiting bx results, making use of the time to decide which way I'll go depending, but I hope to keep working.  I guess that's a very individual thing depending on each person's circumstances.  Did anyone do this without their employer knowing anything at all or am I being incredibly over-optimistic?

[Lady Lauri]

Hi, bare with me in commenting as I started tx Tues.up too late and tired and no pro in this yet:}
BUT, I hope some of the pro's will chime in here. Your grade, stage are both low, in other words no rush for tx. The trial's going on now -Vertex, Alinia, Albuferon ( I'm in) and others are very promising. Albuferon is in phase 3, expected to be out @ 2009. These will than be bi-weekly and even  monthly shots, less sides, better tolerated, comparable and better results  for type 1 and non-responders ( I am 2b).
With the possibility of not ‘putting your life on hold’ so much for a year, and an easier time at it, have you considered/ researched all these things? Just some thoughts and forgive me if I have missed other post of yours on this-I try to keep up :}, just so many of us and so many post.
Also, I really hope you have some support people in this with you (as you said-live alone, no relationship) as I can't imagine going thru this without mine. You'll have all of us :} but some genuine hands on TLC helps so much.
Best of luck to you however you go.
                                                                             lauri

[Trish77]

Scary really, reading these comments.  Total reality check and good thing.

My results are comparatively good.  I'm Stage 1, Grade 1.  Genotype 1a/1b.  I did get copies of my reports - both bx and blood test, thanks to all for the suggestion.  

I've been thinking hard the last couple of weeks about what I want to do and I'm going to aim for tx come Jan. 1 at latest. I know it's no picnic but all the factors in my life line up on the pro side and the only thing on the con side is that my life goes on hold for a year (and some) and that it could be a helluva ride.  And those con factors will exist later as well and if it's going to impact my job, my current contract job is the one I want impacted, not the fulltime perm job I'll go after when I'm done tx.  I'm mentally ready to take this on and I'm a bit scared that if I wait there may never be a better time than what I have right now.  I have no relationship right now and I live alone and for me, those are on the pro side. For me, this is the latest I want to be doing this in my life as I'll turn 47 end of January and if I was going to choose a time to disrupt my life in this way...now would be it.  So will continue to get my ducks in a row and once they're as good as it gets, I'll get started.

Thank you so much to everyone for the input on all my questions the last while. What I appreciate most is the blunt honesty and no candy coating.  It has allowed me to reach a placid place for which I'm very grateful.  I hope I can extend the same sort of grace at some point to others and I wish all of you the best in return.

Trish

[cbert]

i worked through two tx and maintenance, it was no fun and frankly i barely maintained...........also i never told anyone, but i did make a cover story about being anemic, which was actually true due to the effect of the meds. I agree with those who never disclose.................but if your about to get fired i would raise the fmla flag as a defense..............to be honest i'm not sure i could do it again.

[wyntre9]

I agree with everything Deb said.

I haven't worked in ten months and won't even think about going back until I've finished the 72 weeks.

it's been a rough ride for me, too, but everyone is different.

I wish you all the best.

wyntre

[t-hcw]

Everyone is different. I have to take call and after working all day I sometimes have to go back in and work all night, then back in with maybe with an hour or two of rest (not necessarily sleep). My job is physically and mentally demanding. Serious errors can cost someone their life or me a job. I usually push myself as hard as I can. I'm not as young as I once was. You just do the best you can. Sometimes I can't think straight and I have to take a day off. I no longer feel guilty about it either.
Most of the time it's just a little harder than normal but not impossible.
There are so many factors that go into your ability to work full time. Just do the best you can and don't compare yourself to anyone else. You may breeze through tx without any problems. If not, take care of yourself, a year-year and a half will go by (they go by quicker with age) and it will just be a memory. Good luck.
Terry

[dperry10]

Just take it how it comes.. some have barely any sx , others get one thing after another, best thing it seems as a new one comes in, another subsides.  So just see how it goes.  I am currently working, but at week 13 I did take off for 5 wks.   I have been back at work for for almost 6 months now I guess, without doing calculations this early in the morning.      I have about 8 - 10 shots to go, depending on whether he lets me stop at 48, but for some reason he is using a 12 month marker rather than actual weeks.     I was thinking of going back out again on leave, but I am starting to feel alot more energy these days, and infact last saturday, I cleaned my whole house by myself., the week before we got rid of alot of junk around the house, and took a trip to the dump to get rid of the clutter.   It is doable, just hang in there,   If you start to become anemic,   your body adjusts to the meds they give you for that, and you start to become accustomed to feeling so fatigued.   I pray you have minimal sx and that you can continue to work.