posted
Hi....I am a special ed teacher....have had Lyme/Babesia since 1999....have gone from teaching academics to intellectually disabled kids. Have been having trouble with paperwork...short term working memory really bad...have not had issues with administrators or parents but really struggle. Today I was in a store with my students....almost walked off and forgot them....things like this have been happening more....this year has been much worse.. I had neuro psych testing a few weeks back...have not gotten results yet but wonder if I should be teaching. I take orals...have an excellent LLD. Am wondering about disability? Any teachers out there who have gone out on disablility? Our 3rd child starts college in the fall....not good timing but I am concerned whether it is ethical to be responsible for special needs children with my brain like this???
Thanks!
Posts: 83 | From Virginia Beach, VA | Registered: Dec 2002
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posted
Well, I don't guess any of us can tell you when it is time. I know I struggled to remember things while teaching with Lyme!
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96223 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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lpkayak
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5230
posted
i went thru similar struggls-but just cant type about it
cuz of arthritis
ended up leaving 2 yrs early...still had kids in college
i was hurt by a student and went out on that-head injury-but the disability was on arthritis cuz it waas so many places and easy to see on xrays
my experience is disability prefers to see something concrete-like xrays-more than fatigue or brain fog or neuro psyc...lyme esp because that is only tempory they said...3 weeks of abx and i would befine
i also see fibromyalgia get accepted more than lyme...i will pm you
actually there is one more thing. specific cognitive issues (like forgetting kids) do come and go for me. i have been thru stages when i constantly lose my keys, or miss the exit, or stop at green lite...
then i just stop having that problem. i dont know what makes it go away...the bugs move? or i get more sleep...or take my supps on time
so...you may be able to get a few more months or years in by changing something....i had to be very creative to keep going for 18 years sick with lyme
-------------------- Lyme? Its complicated. Educate yourself. Posts: 13712 | From new england | Registered: Feb 2004
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posted
This has to be a personal decision made by you. No one else knows just what you are capable of, or what disabilities you may be dealing with that could detract from the strengths and abilities you have been relying on.
Although I understand how concerning and upsetting it must be to forget your students, try not to react with an emotional response. Examine your situation from a practical viewpoint: Do you still feel capable of teaching these kids effectively? By writing extra notes/reminders for yourself, can you still function in the role in a way that you feel is still safe for your students?
If you feel you are at the point in your illness where disability is the answer, speak candidly about this to your LLMD, and see what his/her thoughts on the subject are. If your LLMD feels disability is in your and your students' best interests, maybe that is the way to go for now. You can always come back when you are ready!
Take care. I am praying you find the answer best for you and your students.
Posts: 962 | From Charleston | Registered: Jan 2002
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lpkayak
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5230
posted
good advice MM-i do remember struggling with the decision on and off for years. but answer to the question-was i doing right by the kids was always yes.
when it was time to go...i KNEW...there was no way i could keep on no matter what
good luck vitamom...
-------------------- Lyme? Its complicated. Educate yourself. Posts: 13712 | From new england | Registered: Feb 2004
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posted
Thank you....haven't lost any kids this week! It is always hard at the end of the year...tired. Good thing about Lyme is that symptoms are not always permanent....will post more after getting neuro test results..
Thanks again...
Posts: 83 | From Virginia Beach, VA | Registered: Dec 2002
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