I'm 6 months into treatment (currently pulsing 750mg Flagyl/day on Doxy 400mg/day otherwise along with 2000mg/day Ceftin full time). I was diagnosed with Bart. and Lyme.
I am better but not 100%. I'm currently in a fairly intense job that requires about 50 hours of week per work. I can do it with few problems.
I now have an opportunity that could significantly advance my career but would be much longer days (up to 12 hours), work on the weekends and a constant high stress environment.
The question is, if I take this new, high-stress job am I digging a grave for my recovery?
I know rest and relaxation are important but has anyone on this board successfully progressed in their treatment while working in overdrive for months at a time?
I am tempted to take the job but worried that I may crash and burn and wipe out the progress I've already achieved.
posted
I would say a lot depends where you are physically and mentally. What does your doc say.
I will say from experience- 12 to 14 hour days 6 and 7 days a week - that the long hours and stress start taking a heavy toll even without a disease like Lyme. 50 hours is a cake walk compared to 80 to 90 hours. And with a job like that you can expect to spend a lot of time "working in your sleep".
Also, you mighy want to do some math. There are 168 hours in a week. Say you work 80 hours a week, that leaves 88 to eat, sleep, commute, spend time with your family, try to unwind, etc.
Then you have to deal with Lyme. Can you do it? really, no one can answer that but you.
I'm not trying yo discourage hard work. I admire it. But...
All the best! Posts: 51 | From Reno, NV | Registered: Dec 2008
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Just talked with my LLMD. She said that strictly looking at the health issue (and not other factors like family, etc.), I am well enough to take the job and should not expect to backslide as long as I can take the stress in stride.
I know in the end its my call but hearing from others on their experiences certainly helps.
Posts: 48 | From Baltimore, md | Registered: Jul 2008
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ping
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6974
posted
quote:Originally posted by Starch: Thanks.
Just talked with my LLMD. She said that strictly looking at the health issue (and not other factors like family, etc.), I am well enough to take the job and should not expect to backslide as long as I can take the stress in stride.
I know in the end its my call but hearing from others on their experiences certainly helps.
Hi Starch,
While I can appreciate your LLMDs opinion, it sounds like what I call "a perfect world" scenario. Backsliding? Just because you shouldn't backslide doesn't mean you won't. As long as you take the stress in stride... Doesn't that depend on what the stressors are and how long they last, as well as things you do (if you have any time left to yourself) to combat the stress?
I'm not a doctor, but I have a high stress job and have Lyme. I'm trying desperately to transfer into an easier position closer to home so I can maintain my health better.
Since you're asking for advice, mine is don't do it. Take something easier on yourself until you're very well recovered. IMHO.
"We are more than containers for Lyme" ping
-------------------- ping "We are more than containers for Lyme" Posts: 1302 | From Back in TX again | Registered: Mar 2005
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luvs2ride
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 8090
posted
NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
You can do everything right and if you are constantly stressed, it will over-ride all the good you do. Stress is a killer. It is scientifically proven that stress suppreses the immune system and floods the body with bad chemicals.
No, No, No. Avoid stress like it was a lyme infected tick. Learn techniques to help you deal with the stress in life that can't be avoided. Leave the high stress jobs to people who aren't yet sick. They will be soon enough!
-------------------- When the Power of Love overcomes the Love of Power, there will be Peace. Posts: 3038 | From america | Registered: Oct 2005
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
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A lot would depend upon how strong you are now and only if you can hire others to do everything for you - and I mean everything - and get massages at least once a week.
the way you describe it: ". . . would be much longer days (up to 12 hours), work on the weekends and a constant high stress environment. . . ."
Although it would significantly advance your career, it will, undoubtedly shorten the life of ANYONE - even a person in tip-top health.
Where would your time for daily exercise and medication (quieting) come in?
How will you get your time with nature that we all need?
Where would your time for eating only the most healthful foods come in?
Will they have a personal chef for you at work? With organic veggies and fruits galore?
Will they pay for the massage that would be necessary?
What about someone to do your errands and laundry?
I assume you are single to even consider this, however, unless you want to stay single the rest of your life, I suggest insisting on having this job reformatted to fit the requirements of a healthy and balanced life.
[editing to add: I see in your second post that you do have a family.
Questions: do you HAVE to take this job?
Will your family go on with their lives without you, then? Because even when you will be with them you will not be able to be with them.]
Without boring you with my tales of falling from high stress jobs . . .
People with lyme have taken a huge hit to the HPA axis - the body mechanism that controls our response to stress and helps with energy.
I am glad to hear that your LLMD thinks you can do if you "take the stress in stride"
But - no one can. Stress has horrible effects on everyone.
Shame on your company for even having a job for someone to work 12 hour days - and weekends.
Shame on them for having a job that is assumed to be of high stress at a time when we all need to shake the stress out - and find inventive ways not to kill our workforce.
I hope you can find a way to have them refit this to non-slave hours. I hope they wake up and see that only a healthy work environment and attitude will be for everyone in the long run.
Have then given serious thought in how to reduce the stress that seems to be inherent in this job?
What about the person who did this before? What happened to them?
And - what sort of plan is there if you do crash? Will the company offer you a several month leave of absence with pay? (Hopefully, you'd be able to save money along the way.)
Not to be defeat your dreams of advancement, but there must be a net under you in case this does not go as you wish. Perhaps, if you take this jop, you might even be a force in helping your company to create a better environment.
I do wish you luck, peace and even joy in the decision you make.
I hope whatever you do that it helps create a more meaningful and rewarding life for you and your family.
METALLlC BLUE
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6628
posted
Me personally, I wouldn't take it unless I was absolutely certain I would be fine. Staying well for 4-6 months and suddenly relapsing back to ground zero while working a high stress job would devastate me.
-------------------- I am not a physician, so do your own research to confirm any ideas given and then speak with a health care provider you trust.
Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
-
This book may help you plan for how to best support your adrenals and avoid the excess cortisol that comes from stress. It's the excess cortisol that shreds our arteries - but there are ways to avoid that.
---
This book is specific to lyme and other chronic stealth infections.
The author discusses the endocrine connection and effects of cortisol from the stress of this illness.
The Singleton book (The Lyme Disease Solution) also discusses the importance of the endocrine connection and support measures.
You can read customer reviews and look inside the book at this link to its page at Amazon.
TerryK
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 8552
posted
I agree with luvs - NO, NO, NO.
High stress is not good even for those who aren't sick but an illness that needs a healthy immune system requires reduction of stress, not increasing it.
Terry
Posts: 6286 | From Oregon | Registered: Jan 2006
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map1131
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 2022
posted
Starch, I've been there and done that. I took the big time promotion, when I really should have keep to the job I had.
I could do that job with my hands tied behind my back (it was easy street compared to where I had been for years). But no, I had worked for 15 hard yrs just to get this specific promotion.
I had spent 8 yrs being trained to do this "big" position after so and so retired.
Big mistake!!!!!! 9 mths later, I crashed and ended up on SSDI. I couldn't and shouldn't of ever done this to myself.
I regret that I put the company, my pride, money and status before my health.
Pam
-------------------- "Never, never, never, never, never give up" Winston Churchill Posts: 6495 | From Louisville, Ky | Registered: Jan 2002
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posted
I think my high-stress job is complicating my Lyme big time......honestly....Rich
Posts: 208 | From Hudson Valley, New York | Registered: Mar 2008
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
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It may help to separate what you know your inner self could do with a healthy body (that will not falter) and what your real body can really do.
Like map, I had a promotion and worked long hours. That lasted all of 4 months. I've not been able to work a day since then - and that was 1993.
I need people to work for me. I have to ice my hands for hours a day to be able to type for a total of 30 minutes - no more than 5 minutes at a time. I can't stand more than 5 minutes or even carry on a conversation due to neuro problems.
And, yet, two weeks ago with the buzz of energy and hope coming from Washington, I felt, surely if I just worked harder that I could be there in Washington the next day and be part of the change that I hope is coming. I wanted to be back to work - full speed ahead - at something.
But it still takes 2 hours to uncurl my hands every morning. I can only shower half the days due to energy output. It's nearly 8 pm and I can't stand long enough to make dinner tonight. And, yet, I am so much better than I was that it's nearly a miracle I've come this far.
(Although it was not until '97 with 3 TBD were dx - and years without treatment, thanks to the IDSA stronghold in my state.)
You, at least, have a doctor and are getting treatment. Still, the characteristics of the spirochete must be considered - so that you stay on top.
I am not trying scare you, but when you take a true assessment of your power, quiet yourself and really ask your body what it thinks about all this - what answer does your body give you?
I know that your personality, your spirit may be very excited about this - just make sure you body can cash the checks your inner drive and desires write.
And, what is the plan if it does not work? Could you work from home some days, etc.? Could you hire your personal support team?
It is far, far easier to plan to avoid a relapse than to repair the body after having one.
posted
NO! i'm with those above!! right now you can cut it; but MURPHY'S LAW is going to kick you in the butt, and the STRESS isn't worth the strides you have made to date.
you have a family! wouldn't they like to enjoy you as is NOW then you having a heart attack on the job since many of these meds/stress cause heart attacks.
get thru the harder times now, and then when this type of thing comes up AGAIN, give them hell to do it IF you chose to.
you asked; we're not a bashful group here.
best wishes on YOUR/WIFE'S decision. xox
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posted
If it was me I'd go for it, but be ready for the possibility that I wasn't ready. But you can't let 'em know; I made that mistake once-- it invites blatant, uh, ...'justified'...(yeah, RIGHT)... discrimination! But you can't let that possibility stop you either! Thus, my thoughts are with you, and I'd say don't let anything out of the bag (unless, it is already-- then just minimize it!) DaveS
Posts: 4567 | From ithaca, NY, usa | Registered: Nov 2000
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This input has been extremely helpful as I work through all of this. I recognize that this career opportunity is hardly a good one if my body falls apart. Meanwhile, I feel like if I say no and get better quickly I'll dwell on what might have been. Still mulling things over.
In the meantime, just got a call from my LLMD this morning. My monthly bloodwork showed very low white blood cell counts and other bad indicators. She's ordered me to cease abx until I meet with her on Monday. Not sure how I'd deal with this if I was at work for 12 hours per day.
Posts: 48 | From Baltimore, md | Registered: Jul 2008
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posted
I'm just coming across this now. I just canceled an interview I had on Monday for what would be a great job for me.
There were multiple circumstances that would have made it difficult, but the one that won was simply the fact that I'm enjoying my first "herx" and am just in no shape to make it up the stairs, never mind across the country and into a clean pair of non-pajama pants.
I am contemplating canceling the other east coast interview I have for the following week, and just putting off all major career steps for a while. Fortunately I am able to take a leave from work without too much risk.
But it sucks!
-------------------- Wildlife biologist working in tropics since 1997; tick bites in Nicaragua in March 2007, started getting sick May 2007; diagnosed with Lyme based on serological testing in Jan 2009; treatment starting Feb 2009. Wish me luck! Posts: 116 | From Seattle | Registered: Feb 2009
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Geneal
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 10375
posted
I just went back to work part-time in January.
First time since Katrina.
I have a very difficult time managing my meds,
Getting enough rest,
Getting in all the things I used to (laundry, grocery, etc).
It isn't so much that the job is high stress
As it is the "added" responsibility hits me physically.
I am not "backsliding" as a whole.
However, some days are like torture.
If my family didn't absolutely need me to do this (money),
I wouldn't.
The problem is this. If you take this job and have a relapse,
Would you be able to "move" back into your current position?
Hard choice. Pray about it.
If it is meant to be the doors will open for you.
The blood work issue may be a sign that the time is not right for you....now.
I hope that everything works out for you the way you want it to.
I guess for me a grounder is something my Mom always says to me.
She always tells me to ask myself if I knew I was going to die tomorrow,
Would my last thought be "Gee, I wish I could have worked another day".
I used to let my ability to do a job, high stress, long hours, etc.
Be part of who I am.
That is no longer true.
Lyme doesn't define me, neither does the position I hold.
Hugs,
Geneal
Posts: 6250 | From Louisiana | Registered: Oct 2006
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posted
It has been difficult for me to accept that I cannot perform at the level I was performing pre-Lyme, but I am getting used to it. The pace is entirely different, but I am learning to adjust. I had the opportunity to go high stress and not lose anything. The high stress did make me backslide. Whether or not it would you is something you can't know until you try it. You don't want to be stuck up a creek without a paddle.
-------------------- Dying is easy. Living is harder. Posts: 257 | From owensboro kentucky | Registered: Mar 2008
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Vermont_Lymie
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9780
posted
It is your choice of course. Personally, I would say no to the new, higher stress job. At least until you are symptom-free.
I was living undiagnosed with lyme and babs until significant personal and professional stress hit. The diseases and symptoms then became progressively debilitating. Stress seems to be a common factor and major trigger in encouraging tick-borne diseases to become more virulent.
Once you recover more fully, you have the rest of your life to take more challenging positions. There will be more opportunities.
Unless this one is too good to pass up, I would not do it. I am working too, and it can be a difficult balancing act. Best wishes.
Posts: 2557 | From home | Registered: Aug 2006
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