posted
I'm just wondering how many of you have used IV antibiotics and continued working?
Posts: 83 | From Minnesota | Registered: Dec 2006
| IP: Logged |
posted
I just started IV on Tuesday and my head is super foggy. I have a few matters that I am trying to see through (I'm an attorney in solo practice), but I'm not taking on ANYTHING new at the moment and I just jettisoned all of my pro bono work.
I can barely walk from one room to the other, let alone take care of my farm animals and kids. So work seems out of the question. But my LLMD tells me to expect to start feeling better within a week or two. I pray that's true.
When I did my taxes this year I found that lyme took down my income by 10-15K. Thank goodness I am not the primary breadwinner. On the otherhand, when I look at the numbers, even charging my costs of IV for 6 weeks will be worth it if it gets me back.
I'm wearing a sock over my picc line so it's not so noticeable. Also if I throw over a suit jacket, no one will be able to see it. Of course, right now my eyes are half closed and that is noticeable. My next scheduled court date isn't until 6/25 so I hope I'm able to drive, and work.
Posts: 524 | From Hudson Valley, NY | Registered: Jul 2007
| IP: Logged |
posted
I did it and it wasn't too bad. I recall taking a couple personal days when I herxed pretty bad. I wore long sleeved shirts all the time which was tough because I had my PICC line in from April to August and I live in the North East. I told some co-workers but not a lot (most of them know I've been battling lyme for a while).
Chris
-------------------- dx in Dec 2003 tested 2x positive for bart Lightly Chelating 3 weeks off abx and 1 week on:
10 day course a month: Plaq/Ceftin/Rifampin/Biaxin with Tindamax on last two days Posts: 187 | From PA | Registered: Apr 2008
| IP: Logged |
posted
I worked with it. I had been feeling crummy for so long that I just brute forced the herxes (probably not a good idea and probably delayed my improvement).
I have a sit down type job, so I don't do heavy lifting or all that. I covered my arm with long-sleeved shirts. But my nurse did come to work once a week to chg. my dressing. Fortunately I have an office with a door and privacy.
I don't think you could work if your job was physically demanding, because you don't want to hurt the line...
Good luck. You can get through this!
Allie
Posts: 300 | From Northeast | Registered: Dec 2006
| IP: Logged |
posted
I teach middle schoolers and had to go 1/2 time after being dx. I need to work for insurance.
LLMD had me wait until summer vacation to start iv-said I would have a hard time otherwise. I hope the summer is long enough to get over the worse...
Been on ivs for 2.5 weeks and really feeling better then I have in a long time. I am also able to sleep in every day, not use my brain and body as much, and am doing infrared sauna daily. I'm trying to focus on just getting better. (Today is tough/herx)
I hope you can take the easiest road possible for your recovery- there are enough potholes built in without adding more.
posted
I've worked throughout most of my illness. Working as a vet assistant has been a little tricky with the IV, but everyone there is aware that I have it and are understanding about things (for example, I can't lift heavy animals).
I wear an ACE bandage over it anytime I'm out of the house. I've also had to take a few "sick" days, but I'm mostly managing. I sleep most of the time that I'm not working.
Posts: 306 | From Brownsville, PA | Registered: Jul 2007
| IP: Logged |
posted
Hiaw I did for the 9 mos I had it in except for six of those. I got so bad I went and got HBOT intensive treatment for the six weeks. I had two forms of Bart and babs (didn't realize then). Claforin was the best for me because you can just shoot it into the PICC line instead of having a stand IV. I did it in the bathroom at work and had my nurse visit my home since I had the time to take off and since my boss gave me such a hard time about everything.
-------------------- RV Posts: 249 | From Healing in USA | Registered: Mar 2005
| IP: Logged |
posted
I was on IV abx for close to 7 months and worked during that time.
Fortunately the nurses who changed the dressings once a week were able to come to my house on saturdays which made balancing work even easier since it didnt interfere with my work day.
I think whether or not you can work really depends on how you are feeling.
-------------------- Same nightmare, different day! Posts: 401 | From East Coast | Registered: Nov 2005
| IP: Logged |
posted
I had a midline in for 1 month and was still going to work with few days off here and there.
I work in Manhattan so the main thing was making sure that your arm, a few times while walking someone would bump into me and next thing I knew my line was messed up and I need to have the nurse come to redress it.
Also just make sure you don't do any lifting of over 5 lbs on that arm its hard to adjust but you eventually get the hang of it.
Good luck!
-------------------- When the going gets tough. . . I'll keep fighting! Ms. Geet3721
New LLMD, New abx, New life coming right up!!!! Posts: 714 | From La La Lyme Land | Registered: Jun 2008
| IP: Logged |
The Lyme Disease Network is a non-profit organization funded by individual donations. If you would like to support the Network and the LymeNet system of Web services, please send your donations to:
The
Lyme Disease Network of New Jersey 907 Pebble Creek Court,
Pennington,
NJ08534USA http://www.lymenet.org/
UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!
Printer-friendly view of this topic