Returning to work in the fall!

[Savemeimdtba]

I had just started my job as a special education teachers assistant when my kidneys decided to fail (4 months into my first school year) and I've been out dealing with it ever since.  I'm now getting better every day and am planning to go back in August for the new school year.  I'm really scared that I'm not going to be able to do it.. or I'll catch something from one of the kids that will make things worse for me - so what do you do in these situations?  You try anyways, right?  I know I'm going to try.. but if it's too much - is it okay to let it go?  I tried so hard to get this job and it's exactly where I want to be but I'm just afraid to go back into the world.  I assume that's normal?

Any other elementary teachers out there - what do you do about all the constant colds / stomach viruses going around? 

[willowtreewren]

Hi, Saveme,
My husband began dialysis last June, just after school was out. He teaches early childhood and I teach elementary. We have kept it up all year without a hitch.

I think the real key to staying healthy while working around children is to wash your hands frequently. It doesn't hurt to have the children wash their hands frequently either.

Best wishes with your plans.

Aleta

[paul.karen]

 

Give it a shot and hopefully all will be fine and dandy.
If for some reason you decide you cant do what you so badly want to at least you will know that you gave it your best shot.

I do hope that you will fall right into place and that you will pick up where you left off.........

Best of luck
P&K

[Rerun]

You have got to try.  Wash your hands and keep your hands away from your face.  Get some bottles of Germ Gell and put it in every corner of the classroom. 

Get some Zicam Swabs and at the first hint of a cold use it.

[Savemeimdtba]

Can't really have germ-x laying around, my kids will try to eat it But, we do wash our hands A TON but I still ended up getting sick constantly last year.  Special Ed kids are a lot more hands on (hands in mouths, spitting, etc.) so it's more of a challenge.. I have hand sanitizer in my purse and in the bathrooms and I wash as often as I can.  Haven't tried Zicam but I will ask my Dr. about what I could take to prevent / stay ahead of all the sickness.  Thanks for the ideas!

[willowtreewren]

Last year was your FIRST year with these kids. Every new adult is sick the first year. Whenever we hire someone who has never worked with kids before, we fully expect them to be out sick alot the first year.

This year should be much better. Still, keep up the hand-washing. Preschool kids are much like older handicapped children. They drool, hands in mouth, etc. My husband has been working with them for a long time and he just doesn't get sick any more.

I got a really cool spary hand sanitizer that looks like a pen (I think I got it at Walgreens). You may be able to clip that to your neckline and use it frequently. Mine is refillable and I keep it clipped to an outside pocket of my purse so I can use it when I'm traveling.

Aleta

[kitkatz]

Willow is right. Your body has to adjust to being around the germs the first year.  Year by year your immunity will get better. I teach special education kids at middle school. Some years germs are just more virulent than other years.  Wash your hands and keep the antibacterial gel in your purse and use it before you eat or after you touch a sick kid. My aide and I use antibacterial wipes regularly on our tables, phone and door handles to help with the germ count.



 I have been on dialysis ten and a half years and I have been teaching all of those years at middle school level.

[twirl]

wash your hands alot
keep your hands away from your mouth and eyes and nose
ask students not to hug you when they are sick or feeling bad
I taught high school and junior high and those kids were the huggest kids in the world

[Rerun]

Well, now they have told her she doesn't have a job, so this post is no good.  Read this one...

http://ihatedialysis.com/forum/index.php?topic=14108.0