I have been treating for one year, and have made more progress than I thought I ever would! THANK YOU to lymenet for pointing me in the right direction!
I'm now able to do a yoga class twice a week, play with my niece, and walk 2-3 times a week (although I know my lyme sx are worse the day after walking..).
I'm to the point where my SX don't stop me from making most of my scheduled activities (HELLO WORLD! ), but most is still not all.
I'm still herxing on meds (tindamax has been a killer!) and can't imagine being able to work during that time.
I feel really guilty. I haven't been a contributing member of society in years. I want to take at least SOME burden off my mother, who I have depended on for 6 years.
I think if I can dance around with a 2 year old then I should be using that energy working, but then.. Ugh, the bad days!
I've been fortunate enough to rest when needed and wondering how losing that might affect me? I'm afraid of tiring out my body and losing all the progress I've made.
How do you decide? What percentage of your old self should you be at before starting? I'm tired of trying to decide this!
My next LLMD appt is at the end of this month, and do plan to ask his opinion then. But what are your experiences?
Posted by fflutterby (Member # 28081) on :
I started to work four months in. We had no choice we need a second paycheck. Try to find something part time and flexible if you can. It may make you feel good to bring home a little cash. Plus get out of the house and try to feel normal for a couple hours. I am treating Babs now and I have many days where I dread going in, but I do it anyway and I survive it.
Blessings whatever your decision, many of us do work through this.
Posted by sixgoofykids (Member # 11141) on :
When my health became reliable from day to day, I went into pilates teacher training. It was challenging because I got tired from it (well, a lot of it was working out, everyone did).
Some have to go to work earlier for financial reasons. I was fortunate that I didn't.
Posted by aklnwlf (Member # 5960) on :
I didn't work for 10 years and am working part-time and doing great. Course my treatment ended in 2007 and I went back to work last year.
Am doing just fine working part time and thinking of working more hours.
Oh, one thing I did was go to a temp agency and try a temp job to see how I did.
It was scary going back to work and not knowing how I'd be able to deal with it physically, emotionally, etc.
One thing I've noticed is the residual damage like some off and on joint pain and memory problems and eye strain looking at the computer monitor.
Give it a try if you feel up to it. Don't beat yourself up if you can't manage it at the moment.
I feel fabulous that I can even work at all. I didn't think I'd ever be able to go back to work.
Good luck!
Posted by jackie51 (Member # 14233) on :
That is a good question. I thought I was ready to go back, but my husband definitely doesn't think so.
I had a full day conference last week and the next day I was a mess. It was too long a day for me. I have felt horrible since. I thought I was there, but I guess not.
So, see what your mom thinks. She may have some insight as to whether you appear to be better. It does sound like you're on the right track and would be back soon.
Good luck.
Posted by bellajo (Member # 28738) on :
It's hard to decide. I closed my business in Sept. of '10, started tx in Nov. of '10.
I worked two temp jobs from May '11- Aug. '11 and it was tough, but I never missed a day. After I had one bad week.
I've been working very part time since Sept.'11, mainly due to no full time jobs available.
Tomorrow I start a full-time temp job, possibly through the end of April. I hope I'm ready.
Posted by rera2528 (Member # 29886) on :
Let me start by saying that I was VERY lucky to have my diagnosis within eight months of getting sick, because I think that influences my answer to this.
I never stopped working. I am a high school teacher, and I first got sick on summer vacation. I HAD to go back to work, although I should not have, because I was making myself crazy at home. I had to focus on something else because I was afraid I was dying every second.
I worked from August to March without treatment, and it was REALLY hard. Actually, the first two months of treatment was even harder.
I am lucky, because I get the summers to recharge. This fall has gone well (I think I am getting relatively close to done with treatment). I tire easily, and I need to take days off when I feel run down. By Friday night, I am just exhausted, and I sleep a lot on the weekends. However, my symptoms continue to improve.
I would agree with trying something part-time. I am fortunate to have a lot of sick time available, so I take about 4 half days a month to keep from getting sick. If I didn't have those available, I would consider cutting back to part-time.
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