Full Time and Dialysis????

[karen547]

I go to a school where doing a Co-op or internship is required. We have to find a full time job and work it for twenty weeks. Well needless to say I was excused from this since there is no way in hell I would be able to do that with dialysis, school, etc. I can't hardly find part time work as it is! I am a full-time student right now. I just don't see how someone works full time and does dialysis- I would go crazy! That's why I am going for my Ph.D in Psychology to become a counselor- I can set my own hours when I open up my own practice! I know some ppl who work full time but it must get so tiresome.

[flip]

There are a couple of people on my shift who still work full time. They do have desk jobs that don't require much physical activity. I still work but I set my own hours.

[kitkatz]

I work 7 to 2 every day as a full time school teach special education.  Then I do dialysis 3 to 7p.m MWF.  I am completely insane after nine years of this stuff. It is possible.  I am living proof of if there is a will there can be a way to make it work.

[Laurie]

I work full time M - F and 4 hours on Sunday and it gets very tiresome. I get up at 4:30 am, out the door by 5:45, at work at 6:30, get off at 4:00, home at 4:45. When I get home, I have a 7 year old and husband to deal with. My daughter has tumbling on Tuesday, t-ball practice on Wednesday, dance on Thursday and t-ball practice on Friday. 
It is very difficult to say the least, but it can be done. By the end of the week I am so exhausted so on Saturday I usually don't get out of bed untill 10:00. 

[Meinuk]

I work full time (plus) and I have to say that I love it.  It all depends on the job.  I modified my work hours, and I do a lot of work from home, but I am usually physically in the office at least 35.5 hours a week.

I started with my job as a temp then went permanent when I realized that I needed health benefits.   Eight years ago, I took a clerical union job which is low paid but had good health benefits. Over the years, I've had to turn down a few promotions, (my benefits would have changed) but my Dean has allowed me to develop my own position - while keeping the union benefit and salary package.  Everyone in the administration is on board with my situation, and I have to say that on the whole, it has been a great environment.

The money that I lose in compensation (I am about $ 12,000/yr underpaid for the work that I do) is completely made up by the fact that my insurance covers 100% and I am able to set my own hours.  Generally I get in a 10 am and work until 6pm, then I go home and dialyize 20L Tu/W/TH from 8 pm to 10:30. (on weekends, I do longer runs 30L about 3.5 hours each)

On my good days, it is a dream job, one that my Dean and I worked out together.  He is happy, and I am happy. (don't worry, there are bad days too, I am just writing this on a good day)

Of course, I have been very upfront that I will be leaving as soon as I am vested (10 years) and taking union disability and going back to school.  So, right now, my job has been training people to take over my various duties.  It is a bit bittersweet training your replacements, but on the whole it has been an amazing experience.

So, my take on working full time is that you have to make concessions - I am getting paid less, but I have many benefits to compensate for that. 

Of course, I am single and my family is not in this country, so I don't have a lot of social responsibilities.  I couldn't imagine having a family and working F/T and dialyzing - each of us have such a unique situation.  I've just given you a snapshot of mine.

[KR Cincy]

It's tough, no doubt about it. I try to work each day from 8:30-4:30 (I usually bring my lunch and eat at my desk)...go home for a quick dinner with my family so I'm on the machine around 6 and off just after 10. Then to bed Then start over again the next day. Throw in the activities of our 8 year old, evening meetings or events at work, and it makes my 2 days off of dialysis incredibly precious!

[Brightsky69]

I kept my full time job when I first had to go on dialysis. The biggest problem I remember is being so tired from the anemia. Other than that I don't remember much of a problem. But then again I was only 20/21 years old and had youthful energy on my side.
When the time comes for me to go back on dialysis I still plan on keeping my full time job. My boss knows about my kidney issues and he said he is more than willing to work with me and make some arrangements for me to work at home a couple days a week if it comes down to that.
I think I would get really depressed if I had to quit because of health issues. I've always worked and if I was stuck at home with nothing but dialysis I would be completely lost.
I don't have any kids at home or a husband (just a boyfriend at home). You guys with spouses and kids and job and diaylsis....my hats off to you!!   The energy it must take for all of that...whew!