Is there really such a thing as "taking a year off"?

[Robby712]

So I'm a school teacher and I'm getting ready to go back to work...(ugh)  But the summer has been rough, my energy level has been waaaaay down, I was toast at the end of last school year, every year I seem to be missing more and more time due to dialysis related problems, basically   every year for the last 4 years on dialysis has been harder than the last.  Some have suggested I take a year off...which sounds brilliant. 

But my question to you all is this:  Have any of you actually taken an extended break from work and gone back?

My worry is that once I take some "time off", that would be it.  No going back until a transplant or they switch to 4 hour long school days or they can guarantee every freakin kid in the building has gotten a flu shot

As it stands I plan to keep working until they drag me away from the place kicking and screaming. Even if it does wear me out beyond belief...

Thoughts?

[CW]

I was out for several months and I eventually went back. It was hard, I was soo tired all the time (I still am) but I was going crazy being at home all the time. Point is I did return and I do not want to leave. My job is pretty easy to me but my energy is very low. I hope it works out for you.

[Sunny]

I stopped working as a school teacher when I realized my lack of energy and sickness was effecting my students.
I didn't think it was fair to them.

[paris]

My school thought I wasn't well enough to continue---they made the decision for me.  A decision I wasn't happy about.  I have come to terms with it and I guess it would be hard to go back now.   How do you feel about a year off?  It is hard to balance the need to work and the toll it takes on your body.   

[Robby712]

My school thought I wasn't well enough to continue---they made the decision for me.  A decision I wasn't happy about.  I have come to terms with it and I guess it would be hard to go back now.   How do you feel about a year off?  It is hard to balance the need to work and the toll it takes on your body.   

You know, if I knew some down time would help me "get better" I might look into it.  But  even if I did take the time off, I wouldn't be in any better shape going back...just rested, which wouldn't really do me any good after the first month.

I feel I really need to just grind it out and go until they tell me I can't, or it becomes obvious to me that I can't.  It's also hard to determine how much the dialysis has to do with being worn out.  Teaching wore me out BEFORE I was on dialysis.

[twirl]

I am a junior high/high school teacher and I hate not teaching. I miss my students and my school family. I took a year off years ago to stay home with Stasie and it turned into 10 years -Missy came along and was very sick and then Allen --- they were all miracles---- then I went back for 10 years and had to leave--- I have posted about it so I will not repeat everything... I hate this time of year when everyone is back but me and my
husband is a coach and I even get jealous of him...... It was too hard to leave and go to dialysis from 4-9 and get home about 9:30 and get up at 5am and be at school at 7am. Then I was teaching 8th grade US history and 7th grade Texas history and an English class and a Reading class and 40 case manager's list. Some teachers were upset b/c I left school early on MWF to go to D so to even things out I got there an hour early to do high school duty---- our schools were connected at that time.  I was stronger in the years I first started D. I get weaker as time goes on and I get more medical problems.

[Robby712]

Some teachers were upset b/c I left school early on MWF to go to D so to even things out I got there an hour early to do high school duty---- our schools were connected at that time. 

I have had a few people call me out on leaving early on my dialysis days MWF (I had 7th hour conference the last 2 years so I got to D at 3pm) but I usually just respond by telling them where I'm going and that I'll gladly switch places with them PLUS stay an extra 2 hours or so after school every day. 

That usually shuts them up.

People are jerks sometimes...

Oh, and I have first hour conference this year b/c they didn't want anybody else in my department complaining I kept getting 7th (None of them would have they are all great) So I plan on rolling in around 8 every day instead of 6:45 until someone tells me I can't.

[paris]

Robby, keep us updated on how the school year goes and how you are feeling.   I hope you can find a balance between work and dialysis.   

[twirl]

we had a high school coach on D and he came in late on T&T and on S there was no problem

[kitkatz]

EXcuse my language, but if the other teachers do not like your schedule F**CK them!