Re: Time off work - how much needed?

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 7/24/2001 11:50:40 AM Eastern Daylight Time,

dfhakes@... writes:

> Oh - anyone know any restrictions on airline travel?

>

Even though I'm a stay-at-home mom, some discussion of this came up with my

doctors last year during my first rounds of RAI as we were trying to figure

out how long I'd have to be away from our young children.

It was used as an example -- the doctor was trying to explain the

dose/distance bit, and the comment was you wouldn't get on an airplane

because you'd be in too close contact with people that might not be able to

have you next to, such as children or pregnant ladies.

I would allow for at least the week after you are out of the hospital to stay

home and not a) recoup some energy and not contaminate people. If you're

not feeling too draggy, and working from home is an option you might be able

to handle some work at home during that time.

Kathy

pap

tt 7/00 RAI 8/00

scan 7/01 showing uptake still in thyroid bed but 'significantly less' than

post-treatment scan in 00.

[Guest guest]

hi manetta,

i guess every surgeon and endo are different. i'll be out a total of

7 weeks and according to all the emails i have read, that seemed long but

every patient is different. i work in a crazy atmoshere too putting in 10-12

hours there and then work from home. the drive was the MAJOR concern since

it being 40 miles to drive and total 80 a day. that's also the hazard my

doctors would not risk me taking. my husband drove " me " everywhere.

since my organization stresses work/life/health balance, there were no

issues whatsoever. anyone that works for a non-understanding boss, what goes

around comes around.

glad to hear your office was one of the considerate ones and that your

doctors cared enough to send you back when they thought you would be healthy

enough.

thanks

renata

[Guest guest]

hi manetta,

i guess every surgeon and endo are different. i'll be out a total of

7 weeks and according to all the emails i have read, that seemed long but

every patient is different. i work in a crazy atmoshere too putting in 10-12

hours there and then work from home. the drive was the MAJOR concern since

it being 40 miles to drive and total 80 a day. that's also the hazard my

doctors would not risk me taking. my husband drove " me " everywhere.

since my organization stresses work/life/health balance, there were no

issues whatsoever. anyone that works for a non-understanding boss, what goes

around comes around.

glad to hear your office was one of the considerate ones and that your

doctors cared enough to send you back when they thought you would be healthy

enough.

thanks

renata

[Guest guest]

Jeepers,

I keep reading posts about people being off work for

only a week or two... I was off work for 3 months and

4 days. I didn't request it but my doctor at Roswell

Park Cancer Institute filed my return to work date at

3 months, and I found out that it would have been

literally impossible to function normally had I gone

back sooner. I worked in a very fast paced office and

I definitely had lost my edge.

And when I went back to work I found that I was

hanging on to that edge by my fingernails. I was

slower, foggy, and someone kept moving that d__n

edge...

My boss was tolerant and understanding. Don't push

yourself too hard too soon.

Again YMMV, this was only my experience.

=====

Manetta

7/99-TT & R MRND 12 of 37 pos LN

4/00-hypoparathyroidism

7/00-diagnosed Tall Cell,Diffuse Sclerosing variant,Squamoid

4/01-L Suprahyoid neck dissection

Synthroid 250, Rocaltrol 75

age 45

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Jeepers,

I keep reading posts about people being off work for

only a week or two... I was off work for 3 months and

4 days. I didn't request it but my doctor at Roswell

Park Cancer Institute filed my return to work date at

3 months, and I found out that it would have been

literally impossible to function normally had I gone

back sooner. I worked in a very fast paced office and

I definitely had lost my edge.

And when I went back to work I found that I was

hanging on to that edge by my fingernails. I was

slower, foggy, and someone kept moving that d__n

edge...

My boss was tolerant and understanding. Don't push

yourself too hard too soon.

Again YMMV, this was only my experience.

=====

Manetta

7/99-TT & R MRND 12 of 37 pos LN

4/00-hypoparathyroidism

7/00-diagnosed Tall Cell,Diffuse Sclerosing variant,Squamoid

4/01-L Suprahyoid neck dissection

Synthroid 250, Rocaltrol 75

age 45

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Hi Dana,

As you see by the varied replies, YMMV definitely applies here. After my

TT, I was back working after 3 weeks. My job was physical with lifting

involved, or I may have gone back sooner.

The RAI was another thing altogether. For me, having had a 176 mCi dose in

1982, I was in the hospital in isolation for 5 days. When I came home, I

couldn't touch my children for another 5 days. Nor did I start my

Synthroid until 3 days after I went home. So, it took me a little longer

to get back to work after that. I was working an even more strenuous job

by then. Guidelines are slightly different now, but I would take the same

precautions on my own with a dose that high or higher. So much depends on

the dose.

Ask any questions you have. The folks here are great at supporting you and

they can find answers to the most difficult questions.

Best to you,

in Ohio

=====

Irradiation to thymus as infant

3/25/65 tt Pap thyca w/lymph node mets

Hypoparathyroidism 3 days post radical tt

3/25/82 Recurrence in neck & R chest

Tx w/ 176 mCi RAI 131

hx kidney stones

No scan- 5/22/01 after TSH 38.2 & Tg <0.9 & TgAb <2.0

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