Free time

[MelissaJean]

I was reading a post and someone mentioned they only had 4-4 1/2 hours of free time per day. So I started thinking.. I have about 4 1/2 to 5 hours (M-F) that I am not working, sleeping, commuting, or being dialyzed (I currently do PD).   I have always felt I have a decent amount of free time, but maybe not?  Anyway just curious.. how much free time do you have? 

[boxman55]

Hi Melissa, when I was working Monday thru Friday, days that I went to dialysis M-W-F I had none I would finally get home at 9:30 or 10pm and go straight to bed. On T-T I would get home from work at 6pm so I would have 2-3 hours before I would go to bed. Not a lot when you add it up. Then on the weekend all I felt like doing was sleeping...Boxman

[MyssAnne]

Not much. I work full time 8-5, do my pause (on the cycler) when I get home, then I have supper to get, chores to do, then it's back on
the cycler for the evening.  I do my exchanges lying down, it's so much better that way, but it costs me time, since I can do nothing else
but read or get the computer. 

[Sluff]

Zero

[rookiegirl]

I work Mon-Fri from 8am-5pm.  I'm very fortunate that right now I only have 2 exchanges/day.  I'm on CAPD.  So, I'm pretty much have free time between 5pm-11pm durin the week.  Unless I have to attend school meetings, basketball, piano lessons, cook, etc....  Weekends are pretty flexible.

[Deanne]

Not on dialysis yet. I work M - F, 8 - 5, so I'm gone from about 7:30 - 5:30. Bed is usually 9:30 and I get up ~6:30. I guess that leaves about 4 hours/day in free time during the week. I don't count that hour in the morning as free time since it all goes to getting ready for work and doing "farm chores." (taking care of the cats & dogs). I'm too tired at night to do anything other than throw a ball for the dog, watch tv, and find something quick to fix for dinner. Weekends are for errands, housework, laundry, meeting a couple of friends for a walk or coffee, and napping. I seem to spend a lot of weekend time on the couch. I'm hoping to perk up a bit in the spring.

[KT0930]

If my husband works that day:
4:45-5:45 Get up, shower, dress for work
5:45-6:40 Get my son up, dressed, breakfast eaten, etc.
6:45 Get him on the bus
6:45-7:30 Drive to work
7:45-4:45 Work
5:30 Pick son up from school
5:45-6:45 (Mondays) Son's basketball practice
6:45-7:15 (Mondays) Dinner
5:45-7:15 (other days) Prepare and eat dinner
7:30 Connect to dialysis (PD cycler)

If he doesn't work, I can sleep about an hour later (he gets our son up) and connect to dialysis about an hour or an hour and a half later. So I guess I have up to an hour or two of free time each day.

[Sluff]

And now with all your free time you can join gamezrus...

[kitkatz]

Up at 5:45. showered dressed, pills, feed the cats, out the door 6:30a.m. School at 6:45. School begins with kids 7:30a.m. to 2p.m. Out the door to home for fifteen minutes, then off to the big D MWF. Home 8p.m.  In bed by ten.
T TH same schedule only no dialysis those days.

Probably have MWF two hours free.
TTH I have about 5 hours.
Weekends are pretty much my own.

[Bajanne]

Well, since July, I have had TOO MUCH FREE TIME!!  I can't wait to have a job again.  I find that free time means snacking and drinking more.  The days that i am out of the house, my liquid input is much less.

[KR Cincy]

There's not much free time during the week...up around 7, work around 8:30, home around 5, dinner with the family, on the dialysis machine by 7, off around 10:30 (then holding, weighing, etc.) in bed by 11...start all over again. Fortunately, being at home for dialysis gives me time with my family w hile I'm plugged in, and our new schedule of 5 days a week means I have 2 days with no treatments, which are heavenly!! I try to take at least one day off on weekends so I don't have to work OR dialyze...those are the best!

[twirl]

Hi Melissa, when I was working Monday thru Friday, days that I went to dialysis M-W-F I had none I would finally get home at 9:30 or 10pm and go straight to bed. On T-T I would get home from work at 6pm so I would have 2-3 hours before I would go to bed. Not a lot when you add it up. Then on the weekend all I felt like doing was sleeping...Boxman

sounds just like me when I was teaching and oh, do I miss it (teaching)    and how and where are you Boxman

[Robby712]

I do in center M-W-F and usually get home around 7:30.  Later if I have to go to the store which I usually do.  But 8-11 or so is my "Free time" on those nights and T and Thu I take about a 3 hour "nap" when I get home from work.  So 7 to 11 or so on those nights as well.

I guess I have pretty decent amount of free time.  Wish I didn't feel like napping most of it away.

[flip]

Plenty of free time. I usually get up about 8:00, shower and do a few chores. Leave for dialysis at 11:00 and work on my laptop until I finish. Off about 3:00 and run errands. Usually in bed between midnight and 2 am. Non-dialysis days are much easier.

[st789]

Visit friends.

[napala turki]

Formerly I'm used to travel in my classic cars, but now wondering around at home with the childrens.

[kitkatz]

Formerly I'm used to travel in my classic cars, but now wondering around at home with the childrens.

You traded your cars for kids?

[MyssAnne]

Now that I'm on hemodialysis, no time. Except on weekends, which is usually spent recuperating from working/being out of the house for more than 12 hours at a time.

[cherpep]

I must laugh.  Free time is not on the agenda.  I work full time, get home around 6:00pm, cook dinner, clean up, do dialysis.  I dialyze at home, 5 days/week.  On my non-dialysis days, I run errands and clean up the house.  It is difficult having no spare time.  I can adjust my schedule to dialyze later, but that means I go to bed later, but still must get up and go to work the next morning. 

[dkerr]

My plans were to go on disability when I started dialysis.  I thought anyway.  My mother worked on dialysis, but she was 30 years younger than me.  My energy level after work is nearly  non existent now, before dialysis.  I'm I mistaken that this is an option?

[willieandwinnie]

dkerr, you should apply for Social Security and disability through your work if you have it, NOW. It takes time for them to kick in. Good luck and let us know.

[flip]

Disability is almost automatic if you are on dialysis and choose to apply.

[cherpep]

But it ends if you get a transplant. 

[Robby712]

But it ends if you get a transplant. 

Not that I am close to applying for disability OR getting a transplant...but how soon after getting the transplant does it end?

[flip]

My understanding is that it's basically up to the doctors and if they think you can return to work.