Beginning Treatment Friday 12/11

[fashion345]

Just incase I have to share info with my employer regarding treatment, which I do not plan on doing  unless it is necessary, any suggestions on what info to give or say?  I am not certain that I want to state the  obvious for privacy, and gossip issues.
I appreciate any feedback on this.  

Thanks everyone!

[fashion345]

Thanks,, its a tough issue to deal with especially with the group I work with.  
I appreciate you insight.  

[medicmommy]

When people asked who weren't "in the know" and I didn't want to tell them, I just said I was on chemo for my liver. It avoided uncomfortable questions and garnered understanding as to why I wasn't myself and I looked like poo. I couldn't work because, as a Paramedic, I would have been exposed to some really nasty bugs when my WBC was too low to fight off infection very well as well as would have been too weak  to pick up a 300 lb person. (At times, I'd get winded just holding my arms up when I was shampooing my hair in the shower!) :)  ~MM

[fashion345]

Thanks so much for your thoughts.  I decided to begin now as I have several vacation days and time off in Dec.  My daugher is engaged and planning  a wedding in 2011, so I want to get going so I can finish and recover prior to the wedding.  I am determined and just hope that I can work part of the time if not all of it.

[FlGuy]

If it was my decision to start treatment on 12/11 there are two things I would do; put the start off until after the holidays and then decide that I would tell no one at the job.

[booocooo]

Hi Fashion345!

I am in the boat of "better working through Tx if possible."  It DEFINITELY helped my mind during Tx.  I'm a teacher, so I had shots on Thursday after school and took Fridays and Mondays off.  It seemed like Friday was okay, but Saturday/Sunday kicked my butt.  Monday I was slugglish but recovering and by Tuesday, I was ready to get out of the house.  So I worked T, W, Th, and am very thankful I did.

I understand about not wanting to share....I felt that, being that I work at a school with hundreds of kids, and ignorant parents freaking out, etc...I told my boss that I had to go through a chemo treatment and would be using sick days.  Many people probed (I was surprised at the lack of manners people had), but I just said that I didn't feel like talking about it, as I am living it everyday!

Thank God I'm clear now, and am happy to share my experience, but it has defintiely taken time.  Good luck!

Booo

[fashion345]

Exactly my thoughts.  I enjoy my work and feel that it really takes my mind off my health issues as well.

[newleaf09]

Oh, and I agree with damosaab that work is great for taking your mind off of TX.  I got pretty self-obsessed on TX and just would have worried at home. Once the end was in sight and I took off I layed around the house, read a lot and watched a lot of Tivo.  It was all I was up for.  Don't think everyone becomes as worthless as I was.

[newleaf09]

I was very responsive to the interferon and may have gotten sicker than most.  No shot reaction but blood crashed on every possible front.  I was on TX for 28 weeks and went out at week 25 and stayed out for 15 weeks.  I think I did my job pretty well over the first 6 mos., just taking off on doctor days and on days when I had nothing scheduled.  I probably could have worked through the whole business but I got pretty pitiful there by the end.

[damosaab]

hello fashion every body different when sides kick in for me it was about 10 weeks but still manage to work very hard some days but nothing better to take your mind of tx

[fashion345]

At what month toward the EOT did you have to take the leave?

[newleaf09]

I told my boss that I had liver disease that had to be treated for me to survive and that I would be on some very serious medications to treat it for an extended time period.  He understood that I would be taking sick days as needed and when I went out on extended medical leave towards the end of treatment, he backed me up and recommended to the upper administration that the leave be granted.

Others who worked with me noticed how pale and tired I was and, if they asked, I said I was on some very serious medications.  They assumed I was on chemo (which I certainly was) and that I did not want to talk about it (I definitely didn't).

[fashion345]

Thank you,, very helpful and the chemo was something I was thinking.  Hope I can work and if not, I have been with the same company for over many years and they should be fine.  

[nygirl7]

Many of us have said that we've had to do chemo because it technically IS chemo and that covers a broad range of things it could be.  But if you aren't planning on saying something until you have to (if you have to) hemolytic anemia is a pretty good one because it would make you really tired and pale and all the lovely things that do indeed when we get it (if).

Chances are they are going to figure something is going on with you.  Laws are in place to protect from something like this becoming gossip, but as many of us have found out the hard way.......it's not always the case.

The advantage to telling your employer is that they have to sign you up for FMLA - which should protect you if you cannot work. They have to guarantee you A job (not YOUR job) if you have to go out on disability but...the warning there too is that they could have you come back to some bs type job and they in a few months say the position wasn't necessary and you were being laid off.

There is a lot of gamble with all of it and truthfully it depends on the people and organization.

Good luck.