Going back to work after transplant

[Southpaw]

I received a transplant on June 3; after 14 months of dialysis.  My fiancé donated to me.  I went back to work after 3 months but after 2 weeks at work had an issue with a virus.  Dr told me it is too soon to go back to work.  He has put me off for 3 more months. Not sure how my Boss will handle this.  Has anyone gone back to work sooner than 6 months and should honor the doctors decision for me to take 3 more months off or just ignore it and go back to work.  He told me kidneys are hard to come by and I don't want to lose this one.  Yes, I don't want to lose my kidney but i do have to pay bills.  Any thoughts??

[Deanne]

My team told me they typically approved patients to be off work for three months, but I could go back as soon as I felt up to it since I have a desk job. I went back half time at six weeks and full time just short of three months. I could have easily gone back sooner, but I actually had bigger pay checks on disability than working, so I stretched it out.

Your company can't legally go against your doctor's wishes, and you don't want to risk your transplant. I had side affects to deal with for a long time, but the kidney was in excellent cognition and I had no issues that put it at risk. Maybe you should talk to your doctor more about your concerns and find out why he thinks you aren't medically ready to go back to work.

Congratulations on your transplant!

[iolaire]

I didn't know that you would be away from work for so long - I assumed that without complications I'd be back within a month! 

After reading your post I started investigating it quickly and found this older thread with some good comments:
http://ihatedialysis.com/forum/index.php?topic=14498.0
Seems like at that time 12 plus weeks was normal.

I guess this post of about six weeks is more inline with what I was expecting:
http://www.cpmc.org/advanced/kidney/patients/topics/kidney_eval_activities.html

[iketchum]

I am six months post transplant and am now , finally, free of the mental fog of all the medication. I have applied for work and looks like I may be back to it shortly.

[Southpaw]

Yes, i think the key is to do whatever possible to keep the kidney.  Dialysis was the absolute worst.  The techs and nurses would not listen to me and would constantly take too much fluids off, (CRAMPS!!)  I never want to go back to that.  So, i will take off the time even if I have no money.  Im just thankful I have a new kidney.

[Rerun]

You could wear a mask at work.  Don't tell people why!  They will stay away from you.  Make sure you wipe your desk and phone (If you have a desk job) with bleach or other cleaning wipes EVERYDAY.  This is flu and cold season. 

[MommyChick]

Hello All!

I am coming up on my 1 year anniversary, I was told that the first 6 months are the most crucial as far as avoiding germs/crowds of people(but everyone has there own opinion). I just recently got a job.. so far things are going well but there is always that fear of germs that you will always have to be mindful of. My advice would be to listen to your docs. Receiving a transplant is a special thing and it is always better to be safe then sorry!
But also... Live your life and have fun!!

Best of luck to everyone!

[okarol]

Hello All!

I am coming up on my 1 year anniversary, I was told that the first 6 months are the most crucial as far as avoiding germs/crowds of people(but everyone has there own opinion). I just recently got a job.. so far things are going well but there is always that fear of germs that you will always have to be mindful of. My advice would be to listen to your docs. Receiving a transplant is a special thing and it is always better to be safe then sorry!
But also... Live your life and have fun!!

Best of luck to everyone!

  Congrats, hope you have many more happy, healthy years!

[MommyChick]

[/quote]

  Congrats, hope you have many more happy, healthy years!
[/quote]

Thanks Okarol, I'm hoping so too !

[willowtreewren]

My husband went back to work just 3 weeks after TX. And that was working with preschool children. He stayed out of the classroom when any of the kids were sick and did not eat lunch with them, but he did fine. He is retired now, as of July, and is 3 1/2 years post TX.

Aleta