Calling All Healthcare Workers

gb2115

I am ancillary/allied health but work in an outpatient clinic that regularly has infectious patients. I worked FT but did my best to avoid the treatment area when a known sick patient was out there. Thankfully my job is such that I could get away with it--if I needed to hide in my office I usually could. Otherwise up, lots of handwashing. I didn't do chemo, but still didn't want to get sick during surgery and radiation since enough drama was going on!

Brneyegrl6608

I am a labor and delivery nurse, 12 hour shifts three times per week plus call. I'm doing chemotherapy now and my oncologist told me that I could not work during treatment. The risk of exposure was too much. I am way too fatigued right now that there is no way I could have done floor work. I worry if I can return to floor nursing after I am done. I've developed lymphedema in my left arm and I don't know if I can lift patients like I use to be able to as well as scrub for surgeries.

Lumpie

Thanks for sharing your experiences tpralph, gb2115 & brneyegrl66. I'm feeling really torn. I have been working out-patient but was told the day after this Dx that my job was being eliminated (coincidence? Funny how it is now posted.). So I am having to "shop" for a new job (internally) in the midst of all this. My out-Pt job is not as demanding as floor nursing. But the atmosphere in my dept now is very toxic. I am glad to be leaving one way or the other. I need a break. On the other hand, our dept used to be very different. When I started my first round a couple of years ago, work kept me feeling connected and saved my sanity, even though it was exhausting. Really struggling with what to do. I wish I could just cut back on my hours but I am not at all sure that that is going to be an option... which seems so arbitrary....

gb2115

Lumpie,

So you still have employment where you are but just need to find a different dept to work in? Could be exciting for some change? Maybe...?

Brneyegrl6608

Lumpie I'm so sorry that you have to go through this right now.

Lumpie

Brneyegrl66: thank you!

gb2115: yes, I am looking for other positions internally. Hopeful something will work out. Still trying to figure out how FMLA might work for me since I am being given the boot.... asking for a new position when I know I will need accommodations is a bit of an ethical conundrum. On the one hand, it is a big organization so I don't feel too bad about that part. But I don't want a new-to-me department frustrated with me.... Anyone else ever faced this?

Brneyegrl6608

About 15 years ago my department was downsized and I was 7 months pregnant. This was when I worked for Kaiser Permanente so big company and plenty of internal job postings. I had no problem getting another job even though they knew I'd be off for maternity leave.

mbryant

hope this finds u in a good place! I am a retired pediatric RN 45 yrs. Also did peds hem/onc. Just dx with IDC PR ER positive G1 stage1b. I don't know exactly if that's a good progonois or not. Waiting for an appt with an onc. New to the area of Ocala Fl. So it's tough. My surgeon has been great and is advocating for me. I want to know everything that will help me.get better. What diet, what book to read what exercise etc.SOMEBODY tell me about these things. It's hard being on this side of the bed

Tpralph

Mbryant-  Yes i get it. Hate being the patient. Am on the wrong side of the desk. I am a primary care nurse practitioner - a nurse of 27 years. I am nearing the end of my treatments 15/25 rads. Have had the whole shebang- surgery , reconstruction, chemo, ALND and now rads.  your prognosis is good! 98-100% survival for 5 years. I'm a 2b with one lymph positive and am told my prognosis for 15 years is 93% so yours has to be higher- depending if you are going to have hormone blocking meds.  Did you have your surgery? was it a mastectomy or lumpectomy- 1b would certainly be small enough for a lumpectomy.  I read Susan Komens breast book- it was very good. Moose and Doc is a good website with lots of info and ofcourse this website is excellent and has gotten me through many dark days. 

Healthy eating, healthy BMI and some research suggesting we should have 4-5 hours of moderate intensity exercise per week to prevent a recurrence.  Good luck-  this is a great support site and we are all here for you!

Tpralph

someone posted this on another forum. Was a good read about a breast surgeon with breast cancer

https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2018/02/a-breast-cancer-surgeon-returns-to-work-after-breast-cancer/553199/

Hariry

Hi there,

New to this thread but have been active in others. I work as a GP with special interest in derm. And running my practice in a medical center. Everything seemed to be working good until November last year where I felt a small lump and end up dx with stg 2a tnx, underwent lumpectomy, slnb, port, and now just completed my#4AC.

NOT EASY at all, no exemptions whatsoever even we seem to know medicine better. I'm sure MO would find me difficult coz I ask every single thing. How could I not? They are cutting me,of course I needs to know if it's better done prior to or after chemo... I need to argue the need for chemo port, and whether I need that done under GA/la.... they're going to infuse some toxins-cytotoxic for God's sake of course I need to know which regime and whether they are original drug....

Omg, all these got me overwhelmed honestly...

I'm glad now I'm half way and I still see patients alternate day. I don't wanna lose touch.

Tpralph

Welcome Hariry. It is nice to have a forum where us health care providers can support one another. It is very different being on the opposite of the desk as a patient. I also wonder if my cancer docs think I'm nuts! Some of the questions i ask are stupid and i know the answer, just wanting them to validate sometimes...

jo6359

I am an OTR who works in home health. I am self employeed. I had a BMX 16 days ago and returned to work part time within 10 days. I chose to work with hand clients only. I never took pain killers other than OTC tylenol. I start chemo in 2 days. I am very concerned and scared about how chemo will impact my work life. I dont work for a company so I dont have access to any paid family leave. Fortunately, I have some flexibility with my schedule. I absolutely will not be able to take off for months at a time. My plan is to work. Thanks

Brneyegrl6608

I'm back to work as of the first week of January. Finding my rhythm again and feeling good. Just want to let everyone know who is new to this journey that it does end and you will feel better:)

jo6359

brneygrl--You had 40 nodes removed? WOW. Glad you are finding your Rhythm at work. It's tough because we don't know from day-to-day how we're going to feel with chemo, radiation, and other medications we might have to take. I enjoy being back to work. I'm self-employed so I do have some flexibility with my schedule. The bottom line is I still have to work to pay for my insurance and the bills. I'm still not doing transfers. It is a challenge. Others have done it and done it well so I'm going to try to follow their example.

Brneyegrl6608

Took a break from the forums for awhile to get use to going back to work and trying to get my family settled back into our "new" normal. Six month check up coming up in a few weeks. Feeling good and trying to live without fear. Hope everyone is doing well.

gb2115

I'm finding the fear does fade, but pops back up again around imaging follow ups. I guess it always sort of there on the back burner. For me getting through that first post surgical mammogram made a big difference.

jo6359

brneygirl- how is work? You said you're finding your rhythm. Was it a difficult adjustment?

Brneyegrl6608

I developed lymphedema in my left arm, so doing floor work is hard sometimes. I just had to get use to 12 hour shifts three days a week and call hours. Also any changes made to charting and some things were moved around the floor. My energy is a lot better than when I started in January.

Logang

I am a home health RN and was blessed with a great company that supported me through my journey. I was off 6 weeks each with my major surgeries and worked through chemo only taking off strategically placed days off. Thank goodness the neulasta onpro worked. I had 2 other surgeries that I was off for 2 weeks each for. One big positive of breast cancer for me is now having the ability to truly relate to so many patients now! After the testing/waiting, anxiety, diagnosis, surgeries, complications, chemo, and side effects I can find common ground with most patients.

LoveFromPhilly

hi everyone!

I am an acupuncturist, Chinese herbologist and integrative nutritionist - specialized my training in oncology. Got out of school and started my practice and then 1 year later diagnosed stage 4 mets to bones :-/ seemed like the world played a cruel joke on me...my friends and family and were shocked because I’m the health advocate.

I chose not to share my diagnosis with my patients because I need a space to get out of my head and focus on others. I think I may have missed one day of work due to some side effects of the medications but have been lucky to have tolerable issues.

Tricky part for me: I’m self-employed. Slimmed my newly growing practice from 5 or 6 days a week to 3 days a week. I’m not making the big bucks here because I don’t like to deny people treatment due to financial constraints. Most people pay me in full, but I take some hits - especially because I only have 5 appointments available each of the three days. Energetically, I can’t work more than that or I get totally wiped out (figuring this out is a work in progress).

My biggest help is exercising at least 30 minutes every day. However, I miss a lot of days due to fatigue and sometimes spiking a random fever here and there (weird!).

I am sorry we are all here but so grateful that you are all here. Sometimes I feel like I’m losing my mind around this diagnosis but for the most part I’m pretty steady. Today I am feeling some loneliness and the skies are very grey. I’ll snap out of it soon!

Hugs to all! Brenda

biscuits

Hello LovefromPhilly! This is a very quiet thread, but I enjoyed reading your story. I was wondering if you have visited Micmel’s thread...My Husband, My Love, My Life, My Family, My Cancer? It is under Stage lV and Metastatic Cancer Only? There is a wonderful group of ladies who support each other there and it certainly will help take some of the loneliness away. You may want to check it out. Lots of hugs coming your way {{{{{}}}}

jo6359

lovefromphilly- I agree with you about not sharing your diagnosis with patients. I have never shared my diagnosis with my patients. I want them to know that I'm totally focused on them and I like not thinking about my cancer. Some people do share and that's fine .I do believe having cancer and going through all the crap we have to go through with our own diagnosis and tx makes us more understanding of our patients.

LoveFromPhilly

hey biscuits and jo6359 - thanks for your saying hi!

Biscuits - I’ll chefk out that board. I always stayed away from it cause I’m a single gal age 41 and have no kids so while I can empathize deeply, I don’t always totally relate. But I’ll totally pop in there now.

Jo6359 - yup, I feel the same way about patients. The work I do is pretty intense sometimes and there can be a bit of emotional work involved and so I really need the space to be time for the patient, not about me. But I definitely ponder what may happen if the arrives where I lose my hair or have to stay out for an extended period of time, etc... I do treat a couple close friends who it does feel good to be able to speak my truth when they ask how I am during their appointment. But I keep it brief :-

jo6359

lovefromphilly-I lost my hair 2 1/2 wks post round 1 of chemo. I wear a beanie or a wig to work. Mostly a beanie. My close vision is a new problem but fortunately it doesn't impact my clients treatment. When I developed chemo burn I cover it with long-sleeve shirts and gloves. Fortunately I haven't had any on my face. You did bring up a very good point regarding extended leave from work. Physically I've had no serious issues with chemo. I'm also very aware that could change from day-to-day. If I ever have to stay away from work for an extended period of time I will have to think about what to share with my clients. Im glad you have friends you can share your truth.

jo6359

Brenda- Hope the grey days have past and you have sunshine. It's been raining steadily here for the past 10 days. I'm still running and walking when I get home from work but it would be nice to see a little sunshine.

LoveFromPhilly

Been a while since we all have posted on here. Just re-visiting and saying hello. Thinking of everyone and hope each and every beautiful person is doing okay!

I am in Portland, OR visiting my west coast family right now. Just gave CBD oil a try (10:1 ratio CBD:THC) to see if it helps with SEs of treatment. So far my answer is no for me. It has appeared to cause some panic attacks for me. I am now resting in bed trying to recover.

Have taken two weeks off from my practice. I feel a little bit like a fish outta water! My routine is so important to keep me going and feeling "normal." Being on vacation this long is kinda making me a bit kookoobananas. Headed to the Oregon coast in a few days - hoping the fresh Pacific Ocean air and amazing coastline will soothe this soul and spirit.

Hugs to all!!!!!!!

Brenda

jo6359

brenda- I'm so sorry to hear you're still struggling with side effects from your treatment. I have a similar mindset as you. I would also feel like a fish out of water if I didn't have my work. Working, exercising running, playing with my dogs and spending time with my family keep me reasonably sane. But it does sound wonderful being on the West Coast. Hopefully taking the time off from work will allow your mind and body to rest.

Dani444

Hello, I have worked in healthcare for 24 years now. Most of it in the emergency room. I am an EMT but only worked on the ambulance for a ear, that is when I went to work in the ER full time. I struggled telling my co workers at first about my diagnosis because I feared being treated differently. After telling everyone, I have received so much love and support from them it is overwhelming and I am so grateful. Becoming the patient has been really hard emotionally, but I think it has helped me slow down and be able to empathize with some of my patients in a different way. I am very lucky that one of our doctors is a brilliant pathologist as well, and was able to have him look at my path report and give me some more insight! I gotta admit some days when we are seeing the third or fourth overdose for the night I get a little more burnt out emotionally than I used to, but I have to remind myself everyone has their own struggles, and unique perspectives on life. I am keenly aware that someones life can change in a split second, I see it on a nightly basis at work, but getting that diagnosis definitely put things in a different perspective for me.

Lovefromphilly- intersting about the CBD oild, I tried it for my chronic migraine, it did not help my migraine but I slept like a baby!

Lumpie

Posting this to several threads: I wanted to encourage other MBC'ers to share your workplace stories at this new discussion:

MBC and Your Job -- what's your story?

https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/8/topics/...

Interesting thread!