Fitting Dialysis around work

[sandgroper]

Hi, as you know I will be starting dialysis very soon

I work for a Public Library here in Aussie and I absolute luv my job, in the previous few weeks I have told my employer and co-workers of my condition and thought it be best to resign however I was given so much support they asked me to re-consider my position and would help wherever possible......I am still deciding what to do.

A new librarian will start this week (transferring from another branch) so I will talk to her about my circumstances, I have decided to do dialysis on M/W/F. I work a 25 hour week, I have M&F off but Wed. is the tricky day, I will need to somehow re-schedule my hours to do dialysis (if it can be done) but I'm worried how I will feel the next day (Thurs) as I work until 8pm, the work is not hard but you are on your feet the majority of the day.

How do other members feel the next day after dialysis? I think if I can deal with dialysis and work at the same time I will be contented in my life (I don't have many friends out of work) and make all this experience much more bearable but if I had to resign; well I don't know where my life would take me.

Thanks.
Craig

[Wattle]

Hi Craig,

I don't think you should resign your position. If they are willing to allow you to go part time that maybe a better option. You could always take a few weeks of sick leave when you start dialysis. Then go back two or three days.

Have you considered home haemo or PD? I am on PD, have two children, a messy husband and I work two days a week.

I know it sounds overwhelming now but give yourself time to adjust.

[kitkatz]

I teach around my dialysis times, so work it out with the dialysis center so you can work and do dialysis. Do NOT give up any part of your life unless you absolutely have to. This damned kidney disease is going to take parts of your life one at a time if it can.  Fight it for all you are worth. You can work and do dialysis.  I am proof, been doing nine years now on hemo.

[livecam]

I found that working during the day and dialyzing in the late afternoon/early evening worked well.  If you've dialyzed during those hours and then put a night of sleep between you and work you should feel ok the next morning.  There may be some adjustment needed in your work hours but that shouldn't be a problem to make happen.

As others have advised don't give up any part of your life, especially your job.  It is golden to you during your time on dialysis and beyond.

Good luck in getting started and I'm sure it will go well for you.

[tamara]

I found it was more "fitting work around dialysis", especially at the start of my training, as I decided to be a home patient, rather than "dialysis around work"  Hope you get what I mean 

[brenda]

I still fit "dialysis around work". I never want it to be the centre of my day.

[CW]

I agree with the other members that have replied here

On my dialysis days tues/thurs I go to work until lunch and leave at 12 to go to treatment and try to be in bed by 8 (I get up about 4:30 5:00) When I went back on dialysis i was afraid I would have to quit my job but it is working out fine! It is very do-able, I wont lie it is hard to get to sleep after treatmet sometimes and I get really tired on occasion but overall it is good. I hope you decide to stay - having something to do helps keep your mind off of dialysis. 

[willieandwinnie]

Len hasn't worked for over 7 years now but the transplant center is not ready to release him to do much yet. He is worrying that nobody is going to want to hire a 60 year old. Any advice??

[brenda]

Willieandwinnie, I know of 2 older gentlemen that are dialysis patients that drive the shuttle for a couple of dealerships. It's not physical, you get to interact with people all day and the dealerships seem to prefer older people for that job. Just a suggestion.

[foundry37]

I work full time and have ever since I got sick 2 years ago(except for my first few weeks getting used to treatments). If I didn't keep working I would go nuts!

[Stacy Without An E]

I would say that when it comes to any activity in your life that you truly enjoy, don't ever let Dialysis steal that away from you.

One added side effect I've noticed to being on Dialysis for four years is since I have limited amounts of energy, the small pleasures that I took for granted have so much more pleasure to them now.  Going for a bike ride, enjoying a great movie at the cinema, simply having lunch with a friend...all these minor daily activities are so much more fun now.

Your staff should be applauded for being so positive about working with you because of your condition. 

[skyedogrocks]

Sorry that you have to start dialysis, but how wonderful that your job wants you to stay!  I think that is awesome and says a lot of what a great person you are.  Perhaps as the others said, you can do home dialysis?  I'm not the one on dialysis, my husband Rob is and he is so thankful to go to work every day.  It gets him out of the house (I work from home so he would be here with me every day), his mind off of dialysis and the money is nice!  Good Luck!

Len hasn't worked for over 7 years now but the transplant center is not ready to release him to do much yet. He is worrying that nobody is going to want to hire a 60 year old. Any advice??

W&W - Don't know what Len's profession is, but what about working at Home Depot or perhaps working for a car rental agency picking up customers?  When my uncle retired he worked for Enterprise Car Rental and loved it, he was a people person. 

[sandgroper]

Today I had my meeting with my boss and everything went very well and they are going to re-organise my hours to suit my dialysis.....also received good news that my bloods were stable for the first time since finding out

[Treasure]

Hi, Sandgroper...is your library in need of a crazy American library intern? hehehe. I had to give up my job as a graduate student library assistant because of transferring from home hemo back to in-center. And I've haven't' been able to get another position, because there's little scheduling flexibility in the libraries in the greater San Francisco Bay Area. They want you, when they want you, and that's that!

I am thrilled that things are working out for you and hope you can keep on going strong!

[jbeany]

Go for it, Craig.  I think working, even part time, is a great thing.  You love your job - why give it up if you don't have to?  Just remember, many people starting out on dialysis have a rough time at the beginning.  It takes a while to adjust to the treatments.  You may want to take the first couple of weeks off to focus on yourself, then ease back into work.  In my own experience - the first month was really rough, but by the third, I was dealing pretty well.  Don't get upset if it all seems overwhelming at first, and don't give up on the idea of working if the first month or so is really rough on you as well.  Good luck with everything!

[Wattle]

   Great news Craig and great advice from JB. It can be overwhelming at the start. Just give yourself time to adjust.

[sandgroper]

  I plan to take leave when my dialysis starts (not long now) and then get into a routine, there's no doubt I expect it to be a rough time at the beginning but hopefully I will be okay.

[CW]

Today I had my meeting with my boss and everything went very well and they are going to re-organise my hours to suit my dialysis.....also received good news that my bloods were stable for the first time since finding out

Fantastic news Sandgroper  Good luck!!

[kitkatz]

My opinion on working is: why allow this damned kidney disease to strip everything out of your life?