I Hate Dialysis Message Board

Dialysis Discussion => Dialysis: Working while on Dialysis => Topic started by: JaeCie on January 23, 2014, 06:38:53 PM

Title: Employed and Doing Dialysis
Post by: JaeCie on January 23, 2014, 06:38:53 PM
Doing a poll to see how many people work while on dialysis.
Title: Re: Employed and Doing Dialysis
Post by: cattlekid on January 24, 2014, 07:08:17 AM
I worked full time when I was on dialysis (January 2011 - April 2013).  Nine months in center, the rest of the time on home hemodialysis.
Title: Re: Employed and Doing Dialysis
Post by: obsidianom on January 24, 2014, 07:33:27 AM
My wife works part time with me in the office . She and I work about 15 to 20 hours if you count work at home we do for the office.
Title: Re: Employed and Doing Dialysis
Post by: Deanne on January 24, 2014, 08:14:33 AM
I work full-time, but also remotely/virtual. I voted full-time because the remote/virtual part could end at any time and they could tell me I must start going in to the office.
Title: Re: Employed and Doing Dialysis
Post by: Wat76 on January 24, 2014, 10:40:32 AM
Yes, work every day, 0700 - 1630.  PD
Title: Re: Employed and Doing Dialysis
Post by: willowtreewren on January 24, 2014, 01:42:33 PM
DH worked full time while on dialysis. The last year he actually worked 10 hours/day. We did home hemo (4hrs/day). Not much time for anything else, but it kept him healthy and ready for that precious kidney that he got three years ago.

Aleta
Title: Re: Employed and Doing Dialysis
Post by: ToddB0130 on January 24, 2014, 05:14:56 PM
If you're lucky enough,  you can find a mode of dialysis that can allow you to work.  It *is* challenging (and sometimes tiring)

My insurance company helped to me find a center that had a night shift (it wasn't nocturnal .... the nurses finished setting up for the morning shift by 2AM and they were outta there).   My shift ran 6PM to midnight.

Like i said .......tiring ........ I worked every day from 8AM to 5PM ......three nights I did dialysis from 6PM to midnight.    On Tuesday-Thursday-Saturday,  I was usually whipped and went to bed early.

It can be challenging,  but hopefully you can make it work (full time or part time) ......I'm lucky to have a supportive manager who is also a friend. 

When I was really run down,  I did work from home on my laptop ........but that was less than 5 % of the time.

Did this for 18 months before my transplant .......and 90 % of the people I worked with had no idea about my 'evening part time job'
Title: Re: Employed and Doing Dialysis
Post by: stuman413 on January 31, 2014, 04:03:30 PM
I've had a rough road since I lost my kidney transplant a few years ago and am just now getting myself back into better condition for getting back to work.  However, I am worried about how to approach a prospective employer about my health and the fact that I have to do dialysis.  I have an evening shift (5:30 pm - 10:30 pm - MWF) so I could work during the day.  I'm just worried that when an employer finds out that I need dialysis, they may be inclined to find some way to get rid of me or not give me a job in the first place. 

Could anyone offer some advice about this?

Thanks
Title: Re: Employed and Doing Dialysis
Post by: kitkatz on February 01, 2014, 12:49:41 PM
I just took disability retirement in May 2013. I taught full time special education kids-6th grade.  15 years of dialysis and teaching finally wore me out.
Title: Re: Employed and Doing Dialysis
Post by: Deanne on February 03, 2014, 09:50:15 AM
Stuman,

Since your dialysis time doesn't affect your normal working day, I wouldn't bring it up. It's none of their business what you do with your time away from work. It's illegal to fire you later if they find out you do dialysis in the evenings.

Several people where I work know I'm on dialysis. Once in a while someone asks how I'm doing, but it only rarely comes up, and then it's mostly me reminding them that I'm going to disappear for a transplant one of these days and they'll need to have coverage for my job for a month or so. I remind them once in a while so they won't feel blind-sided when I get called in. Otherwise it's a non-issue. I'm able to do my job and I miss less work time than anyone else on my team.
Title: Re: Employed and Doing Dialysis
Post by: JaeCie on February 05, 2014, 07:38:53 PM
Stuman,

Since your dialysis time doesn't affect your normal working day, I wouldn't bring it up. It's none of their business what you do with your time away from work. It's illegal to fire you later if they find out you do dialysis in the evenings.

Several people where I work know I'm on dialysis. Once in a while someone asks how I'm doing, but it only rarely comes up, and then it's mostly me reminding them that I'm going to disappear for a transplant one of these days and they'll need to have coverage for my job for a month or so. I remind them once in a while so they won't feel blind-sided when I get called in. Otherwise it's a non-issue. I'm able to do my job and I miss less work time than anyone else on my team.

Hi Stuman,
Looking at your history I hope you get a transplant soon. Will keep  you and all my other dialysis "friends" here in prayer and thoughts. I got mine May 15, 2012 and have had a couple rejections but right now it's been 7 months since I had a hospital stay, yayyy.