Aa
Employment issues as tx gets more challenging
I realized I added to this to another thread to Isobel sorry... Are you sure this brain fog goes way?? I live in a foggy seaside area so I think mine is more intense! ;) Like the movie the fog, It is a constant lately!
I Have some thoughts I would respect your opinions/ ideas on,if you would be so kind to share them. I'm seriously thinking of cutting my work week down to 4 days, if It does not affect my insurance.
My shot on Thursday night (which is my second lowered dose shot due to higer enzymes from tx)makes my whole Friday and half Saturday a day and night of the living dead! And being in education is like being on stage 8 hours straight....always on...always an emergency around the corner...constantly having to have the answers to ALL the questions of the universe, that a 4th and 5th grader can throw at you!! "Is the world going to blow up in 5 years like the Aztecs said??? Is their a God? Is their a tooth fairy!!?? That is an easy one.. Of course there is tooth fairy!!!
What has changed, when we got 50 cents or a 1.00 or so..... now they get 10's and 20's for a tooth!!!! With 32 teeth minus 2 wisdoms, at 10.00 a tooth that is about 320 bucks!!! Even with the Tooth fairy can't escape inflation!!! Jeeezzze!
And believe me, as I notice many of us are all about the same age....as you with kids know, 4th graders are not what they used to be when we were kids! They are more like freshmans in college!!! Who among you knew about the Aztec doomsday prophecy in the 4th grade???? Damn Discovery channel !! LOL ;)
It is sad they are growing up so fast! Ttx is sucking all my energy and I feel terrible not being able to give them my all, my 100%. I actually forgot the word cow the other day!!!!! I could remember bovine (which they havn't learned yet) ...but not cow!!!!!!! Arrrrgggg it is so frusting as you know!
I did my 11th shot 3 days ago...do you think the sx will start getting worse, as I move on to 24? It feels like it is...the first few shots were a breeze. Just don't know what to do about work, I am so torn. If I worked behind a desk or computer sitting most of the day, I could hide the obvious changes...but I am fav teacher with many of my kids...there is no hiding where they can't find me when they need me!! I have to be constantly available and in the forfront... constantly on my feet... dashing here and there between classes, meetings, and my office is as far from my classes as can be, by the time I get their I am wiped out. Breathing so heavy I feel like I have emphyzema. (don't smoke) Doc said it is all from the meds. My doc also said I am so much more vulnerable, after my shot, to catch something from the little sweethearts, who carry every germ on earth!! So taking Friday would be a good idea. But again if it effects insurance coverage I can't do it.
Luckily I still don't look like Daddy Warbucks! A good thing, but do feel the thinning. Someone mentioned they did not start seeing any differences till month 3/4....that would be me. I was blessed with thick hair so I hope that will slow the process....no one see's any changes yet. Actually, if I do say so myself, ;) I still look darn good!!! LOL But I have nightmares I will awake one day and look in the mirror to see the female version of Dorian Gray fading away!! YIKKKES!
I had no idea my energy level would be so low. Going down to 4 days, if possible, will give me the weekend to recoup. But I wonder would this affect my employment record... do they have to keep all this on record? If I were to want to move on to another school or proffession some day?
Any one in or have been in any employment problems becuase of tx. They don't "know" at school, they know i'm on chemo..that is it!
A "blood disorder" no questions asked, just how you feeling take of you first.... nothing said specifically. My colleauges have been great. My doc said I don't have to tell anyone.....except dentists and anyone dealing with blood issues...if I have an accident etc.
Well Isobel if you want to share those sites Trish sent that would be great! Didn't get anything on the private profile site. I am feeling very left out :( Can't even send you guys a hug of thanks!! But know I am sending them in the cyber winds!
How are you feeling Trish?? Anything New on the thyroid sx???
Thanks again for your advice in advance gang!
Best to all.... sending healing thoughts to all...
Dragon Tamer
I Have some thoughts I would respect your opinions/ ideas on,if you would be so kind to share them. I'm seriously thinking of cutting my work week down to 4 days, if It does not affect my insurance.
My shot on Thursday night (which is my second lowered dose shot due to higer enzymes from tx)makes my whole Friday and half Saturday a day and night of the living dead! And being in education is like being on stage 8 hours straight....always on...always an emergency around the corner...constantly having to have the answers to ALL the questions of the universe, that a 4th and 5th grader can throw at you!! "Is the world going to blow up in 5 years like the Aztecs said??? Is their a God? Is their a tooth fairy!!?? That is an easy one.. Of course there is tooth fairy!!!
What has changed, when we got 50 cents or a 1.00 or so..... now they get 10's and 20's for a tooth!!!! With 32 teeth minus 2 wisdoms, at 10.00 a tooth that is about 320 bucks!!! Even with the Tooth fairy can't escape inflation!!! Jeeezzze!
And believe me, as I notice many of us are all about the same age....as you with kids know, 4th graders are not what they used to be when we were kids! They are more like freshmans in college!!! Who among you knew about the Aztec doomsday prophecy in the 4th grade???? Damn Discovery channel !! LOL ;)
It is sad they are growing up so fast! Ttx is sucking all my energy and I feel terrible not being able to give them my all, my 100%. I actually forgot the word cow the other day!!!!! I could remember bovine (which they havn't learned yet) ...but not cow!!!!!!! Arrrrgggg it is so frusting as you know!
I did my 11th shot 3 days ago...do you think the sx will start getting worse, as I move on to 24? It feels like it is...the first few shots were a breeze. Just don't know what to do about work, I am so torn. If I worked behind a desk or computer sitting most of the day, I could hide the obvious changes...but I am fav teacher with many of my kids...there is no hiding where they can't find me when they need me!! I have to be constantly available and in the forfront... constantly on my feet... dashing here and there between classes, meetings, and my office is as far from my classes as can be, by the time I get their I am wiped out. Breathing so heavy I feel like I have emphyzema. (don't smoke) Doc said it is all from the meds. My doc also said I am so much more vulnerable, after my shot, to catch something from the little sweethearts, who carry every germ on earth!! So taking Friday would be a good idea. But again if it effects insurance coverage I can't do it.
Luckily I still don't look like Daddy Warbucks! A good thing, but do feel the thinning. Someone mentioned they did not start seeing any differences till month 3/4....that would be me. I was blessed with thick hair so I hope that will slow the process....no one see's any changes yet. Actually, if I do say so myself, ;) I still look darn good!!! LOL But I have nightmares I will awake one day and look in the mirror to see the female version of Dorian Gray fading away!! YIKKKES!
I had no idea my energy level would be so low. Going down to 4 days, if possible, will give me the weekend to recoup. But I wonder would this affect my employment record... do they have to keep all this on record? If I were to want to move on to another school or proffession some day?
Any one in or have been in any employment problems becuase of tx. They don't "know" at school, they know i'm on chemo..that is it!
A "blood disorder" no questions asked, just how you feeling take of you first.... nothing said specifically. My colleauges have been great. My doc said I don't have to tell anyone.....except dentists and anyone dealing with blood issues...if I have an accident etc.
Well Isobel if you want to share those sites Trish sent that would be great! Didn't get anything on the private profile site. I am feeling very left out :( Can't even send you guys a hug of thanks!! But know I am sending them in the cyber winds!
How are you feeling Trish?? Anything New on the thyroid sx???
Thanks again for your advice in advance gang!
Best to all.... sending healing thoughts to all...
Dragon Tamer
Good evening beautiful people!!!
Well I found out today that if I take my sick days, which are 11 to date, that will be exactly what I need to get through tx, on Fridays, which ends in December. (Hopefully) My doc changed it to Thursday because of schedualing. And in fact I myself really wanted to be feeling good enough on weekends to play with the kids and have a life after working all week. I would rather miss a day of work than the weekend!! Especial with our beautiful Indian summers here...in the fall. I didn't want to miss that.
Funny the sides for me in the begining were a breeze...now after shot 11 I am feeling the wrath of Riba....my hair is thining as welll. :( no one can notice but me...I know it is vain and I should care more about the real sx....I do but you know we woman and our crowns!
Still Waiting on last weeks labs....could be anemia Nygirl. He said the last numbers were not bad enough for the helper drugs...but they were low/high enough,,,, too lower my dose??? So not sure of this weeks numbers yet...no ringing in head, my eyes are blurry though and I am getting headaches more often and never did before. And have shared your almost sleeping on the highway experience!! Scary!
I don't know...all I know is work is so insane right now and I too run out of steam by the middle of the day...yes palpitations, short of breath going up stairs and walking to fast ( I was a gym goer and very fit before all this....My cardiac rate was fine...biked,tennis, no problems... I think a four day work week, just 'til i'm done in December, will make a world of difference.I feel better after talking to my supervisor they seem to be concerned with my health first and formost. I found out it wont affect my insurance because I am using my own sick time.
I hear you on insurance companies, they frighten me! I can't believe your meds were that much!!! It is a sin how we treat our sick in this country...When living in Europe I had universal health care so it spoiled me. Luckily my insurance covers most of everything because I work for a city.....BUT if I am not still UND in December that could change who knows! Don't trust any of them!
Thanks for the thoughts guys...will let you know about the labs.
Hope everyone had a beautiful day and if it was rough, you could find some sunshine through the clouds. They are always there if you look hard enough!
Love and sunshine!
Dragon Tamer
Well I found out today that if I take my sick days, which are 11 to date, that will be exactly what I need to get through tx, on Fridays, which ends in December. (Hopefully) My doc changed it to Thursday because of schedualing. And in fact I myself really wanted to be feeling good enough on weekends to play with the kids and have a life after working all week. I would rather miss a day of work than the weekend!! Especial with our beautiful Indian summers here...in the fall. I didn't want to miss that.
Funny the sides for me in the begining were a breeze...now after shot 11 I am feeling the wrath of Riba....my hair is thining as welll. :( no one can notice but me...I know it is vain and I should care more about the real sx....I do but you know we woman and our crowns!
Still Waiting on last weeks labs....could be anemia Nygirl. He said the last numbers were not bad enough for the helper drugs...but they were low/high enough,,,, too lower my dose??? So not sure of this weeks numbers yet...no ringing in head, my eyes are blurry though and I am getting headaches more often and never did before. And have shared your almost sleeping on the highway experience!! Scary!
I don't know...all I know is work is so insane right now and I too run out of steam by the middle of the day...yes palpitations, short of breath going up stairs and walking to fast ( I was a gym goer and very fit before all this....My cardiac rate was fine...biked,tennis, no problems... I think a four day work week, just 'til i'm done in December, will make a world of difference.I feel better after talking to my supervisor they seem to be concerned with my health first and formost. I found out it wont affect my insurance because I am using my own sick time.
I hear you on insurance companies, they frighten me! I can't believe your meds were that much!!! It is a sin how we treat our sick in this country...When living in Europe I had universal health care so it spoiled me. Luckily my insurance covers most of everything because I work for a city.....BUT if I am not still UND in December that could change who knows! Don't trust any of them!
Thanks for the thoughts guys...will let you know about the labs.
Hope everyone had a beautiful day and if it was rough, you could find some sunshine through the clouds. They are always there if you look hard enough!
Love and sunshine!
Dragon Tamer
Ditto to nygirl's comment about taking the shot on Friday. By Monday I feel a little better able to cope. My family knows I am comatose on Saturdays and Sundays!
Your symptoms of fatigue and breathlessness sound all too familiar. Often this is a sign of anemia. If you can get Dr. to give you Procrit or Epogen that may help. It has made a world of difference to me (took 4 weeks of epogen recently).
Nygirl is tough! I have missed way more than 3 days because of this. I have spent more time than that in the hospital. Many more days I was just too tired or sick to get up. A 4 day week might help a lot.
Good luck to ya!
Your symptoms of fatigue and breathlessness sound all too familiar. Often this is a sign of anemia. If you can get Dr. to give you Procrit or Epogen that may help. It has made a world of difference to me (took 4 weeks of epogen recently).
Nygirl is tough! I have missed way more than 3 days because of this. I have spent more time than that in the hospital. Many more days I was just too tired or sick to get up. A 4 day week might help a lot.
Good luck to ya!
I must have missed this before but why aren't you doing your shot on Friday night so that you have Saturday and Sunday to rest in bed? That's what I had to do so I could get to work on Monday morning.......I called it my 'day of rest' and I just did NOTHING except lay in bed with a remote control and snooze on and off and it helped me make it through.
Whatever you do just be POSITIVE it won't ruin your insurance - you know when they are paying for an expensive treatment (I figure mine cost almost $200,000) like this they will do anything they can to screw you up and knock you off. That is why I came in every single day - I was too afraid something would happen and even though I suffered alot in the 72 weeks I didn't lose my job/insurance. (I did miss 3 days when I had the drastic anemia problem but there wasn't anything I could do because Ikept fainting and couldn't drive...should have taken off a LOT longer than that I remember falling asleep so hard on the commute that I'd have to pull over and nap for ten minutes!)
ps sides usually get EASIER to deal with after the beginning because we learn where we need to add rescue drugs and tricks to make life easier for us - are you keeping a good eye on your hemo because it sounds like you are feeling the affects of anemia if you are THAT tired and having trouble breathing. Do you ever hear ringing in your head? Heart palps? What's your hemo number at?
GOOD LUCK TAMER!
Whatever you do just be POSITIVE it won't ruin your insurance - you know when they are paying for an expensive treatment (I figure mine cost almost $200,000) like this they will do anything they can to screw you up and knock you off. That is why I came in every single day - I was too afraid something would happen and even though I suffered alot in the 72 weeks I didn't lose my job/insurance. (I did miss 3 days when I had the drastic anemia problem but there wasn't anything I could do because Ikept fainting and couldn't drive...should have taken off a LOT longer than that I remember falling asleep so hard on the commute that I'd have to pull over and nap for ten minutes!)
ps sides usually get EASIER to deal with after the beginning because we learn where we need to add rescue drugs and tricks to make life easier for us - are you keeping a good eye on your hemo because it sounds like you are feeling the affects of anemia if you are THAT tired and having trouble breathing. Do you ever hear ringing in your head? Heart palps? What's your hemo number at?
GOOD LUCK TAMER!
No, I had a peg reduction because of a low anc-absolute neutrophil count. Technically it wasn't that low..not enough to cause concern for most probably, but I am in a trial and they have guidelines to follow.
I am allowed Neupogen after the 12 week mark. It is the helper drug to raise wbc's and Procrit is the helper for rbc's(anemia) I just did shot #7, so I am trying every trick in the book to raise my levels. I should get my latest results tomorrow. Fingers crossed that they are normal this time. :-)
As far as sleeping goes....I have never slept better. Weird. During the day I am tired, but speedy from the meds. I stay up til 11 at night to do my last dose of the trial drug-and I am out like a light. But it does always seem that the best sleep comes right before we have to get up. LOL!
Memory..yeah, I remember that :-)
I am allowed Neupogen after the 12 week mark. It is the helper drug to raise wbc's and Procrit is the helper for rbc's(anemia) I just did shot #7, so I am trying every trick in the book to raise my levels. I should get my latest results tomorrow. Fingers crossed that they are normal this time. :-)
As far as sleeping goes....I have never slept better. Weird. During the day I am tired, but speedy from the meds. I stay up til 11 at night to do my last dose of the trial drug-and I am out like a light. But it does always seem that the best sleep comes right before we have to get up. LOL!
Memory..yeah, I remember that :-)
What is this all about holding on 2 more weeks for Neupogen? Is that one of the helper drugs? I am still so cluless about alot of the meds. They reduced your Meds because of your elevated Liver enzymes as well right? As you know, the memory waxes and wanes ;)
Hey 26 is a mile stone too!! It would have been 20 years this year for me and my ex but I decided to leave (Europe) and move back to the States. (I still wonder why sometimes LOL) We are still best of friends....another story another time, if we ever get pm working!!!! :)
Your lucky you have the Friday time...that sounds perfect..and I will probably go in when i ma having a good day as well....maybe just do a half a day...it is the mornings that are killers... I rarely sleep even with the Valium on shot night. I am counting the stars,creating symphanies in my head.... going nuts!!! till the sun comes up!! THEN about an hour beore the alarm goes off I will drift offf! That is even worse for me!
Well enjoy your evening and thanks again!
DT
Your lucky you have the Friday time...that sounds perfect..and I will probably go in when i ma having a good day as well....maybe just do a half a day...it is the mornings that are killers... I rarely sleep even with the Valium on shot night. I am counting the stars,creating symphanies in my head.... going nuts!!! till the sun comes up!! THEN about an hour beore the alarm goes off I will drift offf! That is even worse for me!
Well enjoy your evening and thanks again!
DT
Congratulations to your parents on reaching the 50 year mark.
My hubby and I are just 26 years behind!!!
My hubby and I are just 26 years behind!!!
I went looking for the message I sent to you and it is gone...weird-I wonder why?
Here are the links-from trish to me to you- regarding dose reductions. The 3rd is regarding compliance. Let me know what ya think...
http://www.natap.org/2006/DDW/DDW_28.htm
http://tinyurl.com/5sbws6
http://www.hcvadvocate.org/hepatitis/factsheets_pdf/Adherence.pdf
I would definately check into taking Friday off. I do my shot on Thursdays as well and while technically I have Fridays off, I go in for maybe 2-4 hours. That is perfect for me-don't think I would want to do the full day. And I am not around kids...being moderately neutropenic--they scare me, LOL!! cough, cough....
It will be interesting to hear what other teaching professionals have to say about your situation.
I just did my 2nd shot of reduced peg (#5 andd #7). If I can hold on 5 more weeks I can get neupogen. Eating shiitakes and tomato products-hopefully it will help. Reductions $uck :-(
Please keep us posted. I'll keep an eye out for your posts since you can't message.
Take care,
Isobella
Here are the links-from trish to me to you- regarding dose reductions. The 3rd is regarding compliance. Let me know what ya think...
http://www.natap.org/2006/DDW/DDW_28.htm
http://tinyurl.com/5sbws6
http://www.hcvadvocate.org/hepatitis/factsheets_pdf/Adherence.pdf
I would definately check into taking Friday off. I do my shot on Thursdays as well and while technically I have Fridays off, I go in for maybe 2-4 hours. That is perfect for me-don't think I would want to do the full day. And I am not around kids...being moderately neutropenic--they scare me, LOL!! cough, cough....
It will be interesting to hear what other teaching professionals have to say about your situation.
I just did my 2nd shot of reduced peg (#5 andd #7). If I can hold on 5 more weeks I can get neupogen. Eating shiitakes and tomato products-hopefully it will help. Reductions $uck :-(
Please keep us posted. I'll keep an eye out for your posts since you can't message.
Take care,
Isobella
you could actually take the FMLA, which is 12 weeks, if you need it. It is without pay, but they would have to still keep your benefits the same. I have taken it. I do get disability pay. I am in sales and there is NO way I can be on stage every day, so I know how you feel.
Good luck. Talk to HR. They have to keep it under wraps. Its a law.
Jean
Good luck. Talk to HR. They have to keep it under wraps. Its a law.
Jean
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