Do a lot of people work while being treated? I am 26, college grad, and really want to continue my career... will I be able to do that???
Kim
Posted by lymeinhell (Member # 4622) on :
I did throughout my treatment, although the initial monthly herxes had me out a couple days. After that, I'd usually miss one day a month, as I got hit with a herx always accompanied by dizziness, which prevented me from driving. But often times I was able to work from home.
After all I went through just getting diagnosed, my bosses were just happy to have me alive and getting well. As I really did go through he>> for 9 months before I finally got smart and saw an LLMD.
Every one is different, but I personally feel (for my own situation) that knowing I HAD to get up every day and go to work gave me an incentive to tough a lot out and kept my mental state positive and active.
Best of luck to you (and welcome to Lymenet) Posted by Andie333 (Member # 7370) on :
Kim,
This is a big concern, but I don't have enough information about your specific situation to even hazard a guess for you. This disease manifests so differently in different people -- and a lot depends on timing and quality of treatment.
I had left a corporate job and was self-employed prior to my Lyme diagnosis.
I have managed to keep working throughout the seven months I've been on treatment, but I did have to give up a third of my job --writing workshops for kids.
My Lyme-brain was no match for the active imaginations of 15 to 20 kids at a time. I miss doing that and hope to be able to pick it up again in a month or two.
I still kept other work. I let everyone know exactly what was going on, and, as with Julie, there were times people cut me a lot of breaks. I will always be grateful...
For me, working has been a vital part of my recovery. I have to drive to my appointments, so I had to somehow hold it together enough to do that. In early recovery, an hour-long session could sideline me for the rest of the day.
Still, I'm grateful I've been able to do this. It's helped me stay out of my own head and kept me motivated...tired but motivated.
I recently turned down a post that would have necessitated my being somewhere for four hours each day. The money was good, but I don't trust myself with that inflexibility. I think I'm still too sick.
I suspect everyone here has a different story...
Andie
[ 23. January 2006, 11:44 PM: Message edited by: Andie333 ]
Posted by SForsgren (Member # 7686) on :
I have a full time job - even at my worst, I made it to work almost every day - I was not all that functional, but I made it. With treatment, I have had ups and downs, but I was able to continue working. At this point, I am feeling pretty good most of the time.
Posted by Monica (Member # 224) on :
Everyone's situation is different. In my case I have had to work and have been able to get to work for the most part despite the fact that I use a walker. Everyone at my office is very helpful and understanding of my disability.
I think working is a mixed blessing. Yes, it keeps my mind busy and thankfully my Lyme hasn't clouded my thinking. Physically it's taxing even though I sit at a desk all day.
Posted by cantgiveupyet (Member # 8165) on :
im way too sick to work. I was out on disability for 12 weeks.....with minor symptoms compared to now...dizziness and sensitivity to light. Im a lot worse now, i tried working and it made me worse....too much walking to the bathroom....i work in a very large building, the size of a small mall. I cant drive so that makes it difficult too.
My company so far is allowing me to work from home..because my dr filled out a form..but i will probably go back out on disability so I can get well.
everyone is different, everyone has different symptoms...it all depends. I know for me, i would rather be home resting, then dragging mysef, crying in the bathroom or at my desk because i am just to sick to work.
Trust me once you start treatment, you will know the answer to this question.
Posted by 5dana8 (Member # 7935) on :
I was not able to work due to the illness and the herxing.Which for me was unrelenting. I do envey people that are able to keep working but when I go down,I am out. I needed lots of rest
Posted by Michelle M (Member # 7200) on :
Hi Kim.
I'm a single mom. I think my first post here was something like "afraid to start treatment!" because I was so scared I wouldn't be able to work.
However, being the determined sort (in addition to preferring not to live under a bridge somewhere) I have worked throughout 7 months of treatment for neuro lyme.
I'm fortunate to not have some of the bodily pain and symptoms some here suffer from; mainly just very bad headaches, confusion, and exhaustion. However, with an understanding workplace -- who are all now very Lyme-literate (!) -- we have gotten through some rough months and are hopefully on the 'better' end of it. I would do PICC line infusions at work if I was running late.
Instead of going all 'grim' about my awful memory, I try and joke about it instead. We'll have a meeting and some date will need remembered and the secretaries will joke, "Don't tell Michelle, she'll forget before she gets back to her desk!"
Think positive and keep your dreams and goals. If there are plenty of people who work through Lyme treatment, why shouldn't you be one of 'em!
Michelle
Posted by Corgilla (Member # 4066) on :
Hi,
I've worked through my entire 3+ years of treatment so far.
I, as others here have stated, have been totally useless on some days. Other days, I am good. It can be exhausting and I've missed a lot of days.
I wish I could stop work for a while and just concentrate on getting better but that won't happen. I wonder sometimes that if I did this if it would make a difference.
While working, I tend to forget doses of meds and supplements but on the weekends, I'm even worse. I spend a lot of my weekends just recuperating from that last work week and trying to prepare for the next. With the work schedule at least there is *some* schedule. When I'm left on my own, my schedule falls apart.
I can't say for sure which way is best. At least I know that I'm not relying on anything but myself to make sure there's food on the table and a roof over my head. I'm also able to afford the insurance for my meds if not my doctor.
I'd really like to change jobs since the company I work for has had a wage freeze for 2 of the 3 years I've worked here. I'm not budging because since things are so bad, I have more leeway when it comes to absenses and sick days.
I guess it all depends on how sick you get and what job you end up with.
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