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Caregiver returning to work??

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Posted 10/10/2012 2:38 PM (GMT 0)
I am wondering when any caregivers have returned to work after the transplants.  My employer is starting to pressure me into coming back to work.  My employer does not provide our benefits and it is a part time job. 

John is still very weak, even the smallest task wears him out to the point that he needs a nap afterwards.  He is getting stronger but not to the point that I feel comfortable leaving him for over 8 hours and 30 minutes away.  Next week will be the 3 month mark since his transplant.  We had originally planned on being in Pittsburgh for at least 3 months due to clinic visits and everything.  When we came home we were very surprised and happy!!    We do still have to go back and forth to Pittsburgh and weekly blood work.  Plus he still has a small wound that is open that gets packed. 

We are fine income wise with his pension and ssi for now, we have always been ones to live within our means.  I still have another part time job that I can get hours at that is only about 5 minutes away. 

I have pretty much made my mind up but I wanted to see if anyone else had any input, I dont like being pressured especially when it comes to family and we have been through so much this past year!!

Please give me a little input...

Amy

Posted 10/10/2012 4:33 PM (GMT 0)
 Hi Amy,

 I wouldn't go back to work till you felt 100% comfortable leaving him.  From what I've read about other transplant patients there can be things that come up that are unforseen and you might have to take a trip to the hospital.  Since you don't have an income worry at this time I would give it a little more time. I am learning to keep things simple, who needs the stress or the pressure.  You will know when it's time to go back to work.  Happy to hear he is doing so well!!

Take care,

DDMom (Kathy)

Posted 10/10/2012 7:12 PM (GMT 0)
Hey, Amy. It doesn't sound like John is ready to be left alone. If your employer is not willing to wait for you to come back to work, quit. You are fortunate that money is not a concern right now.

Hugs,
Connie
Posted 10/10/2012 9:21 PM (GMT 0)
Amy,

My rule ,even when I owned a business is FAMILY first.

So make a good decision for your family and the work world will have to fall into place behind those issues.

If this were the best job in the world and you would be devistated to lose it or you made pots of money and that was your #1 goal, well, you could hire someone to look after John all day..there are GRANNY NANNIES in our town who do just that...or POPPY Nannies in your case!

But it doesn't sound like that is your situation.

It's kind of like the decision for Mom's to return to work when the infant is 6 weeks old. Many HAVE to, some WANT to, and others can't IMAGINE doing that!

Roll the movie of your life forward, and you lose him along the way...will you wish you had spent more time at work or more time with him.

I think you can answer that question with your own heart.

We, of course, will support whatever decision you make. It may be too much for you and you may need to find balance, take him to Poppy DayCare, hire someone 3 days a week, put him in a nursing home for a while...take him home weekends. Each family is different.

Hugs,

Carol
Posted 10/13/2012 1:26 AM (GMT 0)
Amy, So much could change very quickly. . .hopefully it will all be for the good, but the journey you have had for the last year, a very bumpy road . . if you can afford it, step back and breathe. The holidays are coming up. . so much to do . . a real celebration this year with John getting his TP. I'm sure when he is much much better, there will be jobs available in your field . . take this time to spend with your family!!

We should be going back to Pitts/ in Feb for our 1 year anniversary!!

Glad things went well . . John do more as he feels better. Does he still have "T" tube in?

Debbie
Posted 10/15/2012 1:55 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks everyone, all of your points were my thoughts too!! It has been such a long year and I really feel I need to spend time with the girls, they were through so.... much!!!

I also have a question, John's GGTP and ALT are elevated. When they did the ERCP they removed the stent in his bile duct and hoped that would lower them, it has not, they keep going up!! Not sure what our next step is. He has to have an MRI done but cant be done until 10/25....

Any suggestions

Amy
Posted 10/15/2012 2:04 AM (GMT 0)
What are the numbers, Amy? Post transplant my GGT is 715, down from 834 the previous month. My ALT is just above normal at 49, but AST is 117. I was told that it's my hep C causing these elevated numbers. But John doesn't have hep C, does he?

Hugs,
Connie
Posted 10/15/2012 3:04 AM (GMT 0)
No, no hep C, last week his ggt was at 1325, it has slowly been going up, the other is just above normal also.

We are a little worried but the transplant coordinator said not to be too worried.

Amy
Posted 10/15/2012 3:39 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the info. No, you shouldn't be too worried. When the docs are worried, they will let you know.

Hugs,
Connie
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