fflutterby
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 28081
posted
I want to know who works? I have spoken to at least one who worked through the whole thing.
I can't even imagine working, the way I have felt the past 3 days. I am so fatigued and sad, depressed and afraid.
I think most of my fear comes from knowing we cannot get by without me working. Also, whether the rest of my family has this. I am so frightened lately. Is this a Zith thing? The fear?
-------------------- Psalm 46 1 God is our refuge and strength Posts: 1367 | From North Jersey | Registered: Sep 2010
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posted
I work, in an atmosphere that is understanding and helpful, and fairly low stress. I run a nonprofit and my board has been great, through med reactions, appointments, and all our little issues that we all know way too well. Weekends are for rest, and my hubby makes sure that happens. I am a blessed Lymie!
Posts: 30 | From Maryland | Registered: Aug 2010
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posted
I have the blessing of working from home. Just got a great job from home. I know I'll do this because I'm determined to. But working outside of the home would be a different story. I'm feeling quite blessed to have a "desk job" from home.
Posts: 256 | From Texas | Registered: Jun 2010
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posted
I work from home, but my husband ends up doing a lot for me.
I do have to go to meetings, and have lots of meetings at my house.
I do great at meetings somehow. I think the adrenaline kicks in, and then I just pay for it for the rest of the week.
I end up , on average, working about 15 hours a week outside the home.
It is torture! That is why I am on a high dose of cymbalta. I also take oxycontin and oxycodone all day long.
I make 5x as much money as my husband, so I need to keep my job.
However, my husband and I share all our money, so my husband loves to come to my rescue, like a knight in shining armour, and does lots of stuff for me.
He is doing half of my job for now and most of the house work. I am very blessed. He even built some flower gardens for me, and helped me do planting.
I was having tons of anxiety, and cymbalta helped with that immediately. I think Lyme caused the anxiety for me, not the zithro that I am taking.
I also have to do the morning car pool, which is really tough as well.
-------------------- I am not a doctor. I have no clue. Posts: 606 | From somewhere out there | Registered: Sep 2009
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posted
I am an elementary school teacher and quit my job in 2003 because my health was failing. Since then, I substitute when I am able. Two years ago I worked nearly all year. Last year I worked only two days. So far this year I haven't worked at all. Teacher lay-offs have made it very difficult to find a sub job; it's rare to have a day when a laid-off teacher isn't available coincide with a day I am feeling well enough to work. I was offered a year-long substitute position in September, but my health isn't good enough for that kind of commitment yet. I'd love to find a job I could do at home.
Posts: 212 | From San Francisco Bay Area, California | Registered: Aug 2010
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posted
I'm a stay at home mom but, no, I cannot do even that job now. (Not that it's such an easy job.) Others have to run car pool, fix food and clean house for me. I used to be the volunteer extraordinaire at the kids' school but no more. I miss it so much. These days a good day is when I can get dressed and make it downstairs. Once in awhile I can even go out for a quick burger with the family but that's it.
Posts: 707 | From Colorado | Registered: Jul 2010
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posted
I work Monday-Friday but only thanks to several very lucky factors.
One, I have a short commute.
Two, my symptoms all involve physical pain rather than "brain fog" type symptoms, so even if my knees are killing me, I can think clearly.
Three, I work in the ecology department at my university, where I would guess that ~1/3 of students experience Lyme at some point before graduation-- especially those who do fieldwork. So all the faculty understand what a serious illness it is & cut us some slack! I wouldn't be able to handle a higher-pressure job.
-------------------- Currently infected with Lyme, Babesia, Ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Mycoplasma, & Q-fever.
10 months into treatment, currently on Bicillin, Rocephin, Doxy, Biaxin, and Mepron. Posts: 87 | From USA | Registered: Sep 2010
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posted
I had full blown neuro symptoms thanks to three weeks of steroids. Felt just like you when starting abx.
The first 2-3 months was a nightmare but I sucked it up going to work daily. My employer was understanding even though I was not very productive. I remarkably called off only once per month on average.
I then started having a decent day sprinkled among the hell on earth in daily life. Then the frequency of decent days got more and better.
Diet, supplements, and sound nightly sleep were helpful in turning the corner faster in my opinion.
It sounds like you have some anxiety which my LLMD immediately addressed. Stress is bad on the immune system and he put me on a little something for the first two months to take the edge off.
It is a marathon, not a sprint. Don't be afraid to ask for help from a friend or loved one.
Good luck.
Posts: 199 | From Let's Go Pens! | Registered: Apr 2010
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fflutterby
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 28081
posted
Thanks all !!! fatherguido, So what was your little something? I have kids to take care of. I do not use anything at all. Except Ativan once in a while for sleep. I am stressed about money and I have an asthmatic daughter, so I guess I do not sleep that soundly.
-------------------- Psalm 46 1 God is our refuge and strength Posts: 1367 | From North Jersey | Registered: Sep 2010
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MADDOG
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 18
posted
I worked for 26 tortured years after i got Lyme. 39 years total.
I took a lot of chances driving to work.
Interstitial cystitis finally ended my working,and 17 other dissabilities contributed,lyme being one and the cause of some of the others.
MADDOG
Posts: 3996 | From Ohio | Registered: Oct 2000
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littlebit27
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 24477
posted
I work Mon -Fri and sometimes straight through the weekend. We own our own paint business so if I didn't work we couldn't make it. There's no way we could afford to hire someone else. So I do so out of necessity (spell?).
When I told my LLMD what I do, she was dumbfounded, yeah its hurts like you know what at the end of the day but I get my sleep and take all my meds. And do what I gotta do.
If I had a choice I would stay home, with a babysitter, and never leave the bed or couch somedays. But I don't have a choice, got little mouths to feed
posted
I am struggling to get thru an 8hr day.Started
abx on the 13th.Then shingles came on 26th of Oct
went back to work Friday my neck was killing me.
I dont tell them Im sick,out of sick time burned
thru 400 hrs of sick time,none left till Jan.My
job is physical stressful and you must be dress-
ed in business attire.ugh Im am sick,dont know
how much longer I can go on.Was wondering how
everyone gets thru their day,the no sleep is the
the hardest.Going to try Advil PM tonite.
Posts: 72 | From illinois/wisconsin | Registered: Sep 2010
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bcb1200
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 25745
posted
Well...I guess I"m one of the fortunate ones. I work full time and always have. I'm the primary bread winner for my family. My wife works too, but I make about 2x what she does.
I had several weeks where I barely worked back in the Feb - May 2010 time frame. That is when I crashed and started having all of these symptoms. THe most problematic was dizziness and brain fog. I had weeks where I would just sit in my office and google symptoms, barely working. I had high anxiety, tacycardia and just overall general malaise. I went from Dr. to Dr.
I'm very lucky I found my LLMD and got my diagnosis in May. I only had bad symptoms for 4 months and looking back, symptoms for maybe 6-8 total. I'm in my 6th month of treatment today and am around 90-95% most days.
I have a few, mild, nuisance symptoms remaining, but that is it (knock on wood). I may have an off day here or there, but for all intents and purposes I can go to work, travel for work (to Asia / Europe), be a good dad to my 2 young daugthers, etc. I have my brain and life back.
Now...if I can only clear the remaining symptoms and close the gap to 100%. It seems like this is the most challenging of all. I'm worried about stopping treatment until I am 100% for fear things will come back.
-------------------- Bite date ? 2/10 symptoms began 5/10 dx'd, after 3 months numerous test and doctors
IgM Igenex +/CDC + + 23/25, 30, 31, 34, 41, 83/93
Currently on:
Currently at around 95% +/- most days. Posts: 3134 | From Massachusetts | Registered: May 2010
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