So much to do!

[KICKSTART]

One thing we all have in common is TIREDNESS , so i am interested in finding out how you find the energy to do things? I have a whole house i  should be decorating , an overgrown back garden that needs sorting , plus all the day to day stuff that needs doing. By the time i have finished all the general day to day stuff at dinnertime i am shattered, with no energy for the afternoon , then i look round and see all the other stuff that needs doing! No, i have no O/H i can blackmail or bribe and i cant afford to pay anyone to do it , its just down to me! How does anyone else do it all ? 

[nextnoel]

I've given up.  This weekend my entire accomplishment was to read the newspaper.  My apartment now looks like a crazy old person lives there (well, there might be a good reason for that!), and when I was very ill weekend before last, I wasn't worried about having to call 911, I was worried about having them see my apt. !  Fortunately, I didn't have to call them, and made a resolution to straighten the place up as soon as I felt better.  But all I can do is get myself to work 5 days a week; other than that, I am in survival mode.  And I'm still pre-D!

[paris]

NextNoel, I am right there with you!  Work is it and I am not doing that very well. No energy for cooking, dishes, cleaning. And I could care less!  It takes me a week to do what use to take me an hour.  I am so proud of myself when I load the dishwasher!   I walk in the door from work and all I want to do is put my pajamas on and go to bed --- I get home at 2!!!   Does it ever get better??

[Rerun]

That is why I took a disability retirement.  I just could not do it all and therefore everything suffered.  Now, I get my things done but only my things.  I have no time to help anyone else or anything extra.  I have to keep my house clean because I'm trying to sell it.  I'm trying to paint one wall at a time.  I don't have the energy to tackle the whole living room etc.  One wall.  That way I don't get tired and sloppy and it gets done slowly.  Same with the yard.  I do one thing out there on my non-dialysis days.  Pull weeds, water, pick up dog poop (I have to do that more often). 

You people that work are amazing.

[nextnoel]

NextNoel, I am right there with you!  Work is it and I am not doing that very well. No energy for cooking, dishes, cleaning. And I could care less!  It takes me a week to do what use to take me an hour.  I am so proud of myself when I load the dishwasher!   I walk in the door from work and all I want to do is put my pajamas on and go to bed --- I get home at 2!!!   Does it ever get better??

As for cooking, Mrs. Stouffer is my new best friend.  As for housework, I wash dirty dishes now and then.  Mon.-Fri. I literally walk into the apartment (around 6:30pm), change into my pajamas, feed the cats, call my mother to make sure she's still alive (she's 88, needs only about 4 hours sleep/night, and cleans her house twice a week - very obsessive compulsive about it), read the paper, and vegetate until bedtime.  I thought once I got my CPAP machine, I would get some good sleep and have some energy, but so far, that hasn't happened.  Now I sleep most of the weekend to get over being worn out Mon.-Fri.  I am accomplishing nothing at all in life, and while I don't like that, I am feeling quite helpless about it just now!   If I have to go on dialysis, I'm thinking I'll have to start with hemo, because I'm too tired to do peritoneal!  Imagine - too tired to keep myself alive!

[Rerun]

You guys should at least look into disability to see what your options are.  You would have to quit work to qualify.  There is a six month waiting period but most states have a short-term disability to bridge that gap.

[KICKSTART]

That is why I took a disability retirement.  I just could not do it all and therefore everything suffered.  Now, I get my things done but only my things.  I have no time to help anyone else or anything extra.  I have to keep my house clean because I'm trying to sell it.  I'm trying to paint one wall at a time.  I don't have the energy to tackle the whole living room etc.  One wall.  That way I don't get tired and sloppy and it gets done slowly.  Same with the yard.  I do one thing out there on my non-dialysis days.  Pull weeds, water, pick up dog poop (I have to do that more often). 

You people that work are amazing.

        Wow your house sounds JUST like mine ..in fact i am just going upstairs to check you are not hiding under my bed !!!

[nextnoel]

I can't get disability at this point because I really am still quite able to work - I even pull 16-hour days on rare occasion (when a big proposal is due).  The fact that working takes everything out of me doesn't matter!  I have odds & ends of stuff wrong with me, but nothing I can hang a disability claim on.  I should be glad of that, but I'm not!  I've worked for 41 years straight (with two 1-week vacations and one 2-month maternity leave), and I'm just so frickin' tired!  I really do understand how good it is to keep working if possible when one is on dialysis, but I plan to opt out the minute I start dialysis, and just try to keep my life/housework/correspondence/whatever in better shape then!  I figure that's the only chance I've got!

And now, ladies and gentlemen, I will attempt to get my butt out of this awful mood and act like a grownup!

[Chicken Little]

I can't get disability at this point because I really am still quite able to work - I even pull 16-hour days on rare occasion (when a big proposal is due).  The fact that working takes everything out of me doesn't matter!

Been there.  I had/have a hard time accepting that I'm physically not able to do what I used to.  Even though I spoke of going out on disability when my health started to decline, emotionally I wasn't ready to do it.   Unfortunately, my not wanting to let go landed me on dialysis way before my doctors expected.  Take care of yourself and make sure you're really specific in telling your doctor about all your symptoms.     

[nextnoel]

Thanks, y'all, for your concern and encouragement!  I feel a little better already!

[susie q]

I usually do what I can.. the rest will wait.  given up stressing if the shack isn't perfect anymore.  bigger stuff to worry about. 

[paris]

As I posted before, my work is letting me know that I am not at he level I have been in past years. Working with 4 year olds takes every ounce of my energy. Disablity never crossed my mind, but the past month I have been doing lots of research and have the forms.  It is a huge mental step for me to take.  Being a teacher has always been a huge part of my life. I need to accept that I am replaceable and the school won't close if I quit!   I know my body would appreciate getting more rest -- it really is a big decision. My husband wants me to be home, but he also knows how much I love what I do.  It truly helps to know others are dealing with the same problems.  Thanks, everyone, for sharing!

[Adam_W]

Hmm, disability. Sometimes I feel very strange that I've basically "retired" on disability when I'm only 25 years old. Oh well, maybe once I start home dialysis, I'll be able to "un-retire".

Adam

[kitkatz]

Well it just is not getting done around here. I have ahousekeeper once a week and the hous epretty much can take care of itself as far as I am concerned.  I also have a teenage friend who comes over and pulls weeds and dusts and does the cat box changes.  I pretty much have learned I am not superwoman and need some help. I also work a full time job, so I am pretty tired all of the time.  I am going to a four day work week because I am tired all of the time.  Life is pretty much work and dialysis and I miss the fun!

[boxman55]

Hmm, disability. Sometimes I feel very strange that I've basically "retired" on disability when I'm only 25 years old. Oh well, maybe once I start home dialysis, I'll be able to "un-retire".

Adam

I work full time I take an hour nap for my lunch time. Can you get enough $ on disability to stop working..Boxman55

[Sluff]

Hmm, disability. Sometimes I feel very strange that I've basically "retired" on disability when I'm only 25 years old. Oh well, maybe once I start home dialysis, I'll be able to "un-retire".

Adam

I work full time I take an hour nap for my lunch time. Can you get enough $ on disability to stop working..Boxman55

When are we going fishing? 

[Chicken Little]

Can you get enough $ on disability to stop working..Boxman55

My State benefit is $840 a week, but that only pays for a year.  Social Security is based on what you've paid in.  I think mine would be $1900 a month.  Thankfully, I elected to get Long Term Disability Coverage through my employer when I was working.  That will start paying me 60% of my old salary tax free next month, so I'll be bringing home close to what I made when I was working.  I hated paying for all those extra coverages when I was working, but now I'm so glad I did.







Edited: Fixed quote tag error-kitkatz,moderator

[kitkatz]

I sure wish I had put insurance on me when I was still healthy.  Well....but let me think here...two years old is a little early to be thinking about insurance.... Oh well!

[MyssAnne]

I'm in the same boat as a lot of you. I work full time, and that's about it. I did change my schedule this week so that I get a day off in the middle of the week, which theoretically gives me time
to get stuff done. I hope. My weekends are spent with my fiancee, 2 hours away. So, no relief
there, as to getting stuff done. I can't afford to not work for 6 months. I will have to check
into the state disability, had never heard of it! 

[Chicken Little]

I sure wish I had put insurance on me when I was still healthy.  Well....but let me think here...two years old is a little early to be thinking about insurance.... Oh well!

The key is to elect coverage when you start a new job.  Most employer sponsored plans cannot turn down the enrollment of a new employee, but they will impose a waiting period for preexisting conditions.  Once you pass that though, you get full coverage.  That's how I qualified.   

It's only the employees that previously turned down coverage, and now want to enroll, that have to endure an exam/medical review.     

[Sara]

The way it was explained to me is that your long term disability through work pays a certain amount (in Joe's case, 60% of his salary).  Once social security kicks in, they pay a % of that 60%, but you won't get more than that 60% total.  Hope that makes sense.  My mom's on disability and between her explanation and Joe's work's HR, that's my understanding. 

[Chicken Little]

The way it was explained to me is that your long term disability through work pays a certain amount (in Joe's case, 60% of his salary).  Once social security kicks in, they pay a % of that 60%, but you won't get more than that 60% total.  Hope that makes sense.  My mom's on disability and between her explanation and Joe's work's HR, that's my understanding. 

That's correct.   Because my LTD benefits are not taxable, I'm delaying SSDI for as long as I can.  My Social Worker tells me the LTD carrier will insist I apply at some point though. 

[Sara]

Why are they not taxable? 

[boxman55]

what is the state disability did you work for a state? I understand the federal money but I never heard of the state paying also.......Boxman55

[boxman55]

Hmm, disability. Sometimes I feel very strange that I've basically "retired" on disability when I'm only 25 years old. Oh well, maybe once I start home dialysis, I'll be able to "un-retire".

Adam

I work full time I take an hour nap for my lunch time. Can you get enough $ on disability to stop working..Boxman55

When are we going fishing? 

Sluff, I am going up to Woodruff 2nd week of June It was like pulling teeth to get signed into a Dialysis cliinic up there but I am in. we will have to go sometime after that. Hope you are feeling better...Boxman55




EDITED: Fixed quote errors - Sluff/ Admin