Hello chemo chicks!
I am about to start chemo (6xEC) and am hoping to do some work in weeks 3 of each cycle to not use up my sick leave. I have to travel on the bus and train to work, how can I avoid infections during this time? I have visions of me wearing a SARS mask (that would look luvverly with my turban, lol)
Many thanks
Louise
Hi Louise
I’m honestly not sure that you can avoid them completely! Using he wee anti-bacterial handsprays can be good (after using same handles/handrails as everyone else).
I think it is just a case of being sensible - and knowing when you feel ‘off’ and making sure you seek medical advice. I have to say that, while I haven’ t been going to work, I have carried on with the usual round of shopping/visiting etc - I just avoid people who are coughing and sneezing all over the place!
Good luck with the chemo - and the work!
take care
Margaret x
Hi Louise,
Like Margaret I dont think you can avoid infection really I have tried to carry on as usual aswell, I just avoided too much contact with people if I was feeling a bit low but other than that business as usual. Best of Luck with your treatment Louise.
Love
Jillx
Hi Louise
I was interested to see that you were trying to return to work in week three, in order to not use your sick leave up. I was wondering how this worked? Do you have to get signed on and off again? When I was first DX I wanted to work 2 more days and was told that as I had been signed off, I was not insured so could not. I am in a job where I get 6 months full pay, but wondered if any one knew if you can “bank” days if you worked at home or if you can get signed on and off? I have been doing some work at home which my manager knows about but I am sure no one else does! I am about to start chemo soon, but like others here feel it would be good to “keep in the loop”, and also to help with the boredom and concentration thing, I don’t think I could do my job and have chemo, but I suppose you never know do you?
I’d be interested to hear others thoughts on this.
Good luck with your treatment Louise and your work days, I suppose you need to keep away from people, children in particular, who often don’t tell people they are ill until it is too late. I have bought, that gel stuff and wipes and all sorts of stuff, for when I decide to go out, feel a bit paranoid I know!!
You could always have a stick and a white flag and shout unclean that might keep them at bay, (only joking LOL)
I saw someone wearing one of those masks at breakfast in a hotel I was staying in at Christmas!!! He had to take it off to eat!!!
Take Care
Sarah
Hi Louise
I went through 6 FEC last year and, unfortunately, on two occasions found myself in hospital having to have IV antibiotics because I was neutropenic.
The sound advice I was given that it was just as likely that I had infected myself, rather than other people sneezing nearby etc etc. However fastidious one is about one’s personal hygiene, one’s own body is naturally teeming with bacteria (as is anything you eat or touch), so frequent hand-washing (not just after using the toilet) is essential as a preventative measure.
Good luck
Bubs
Hi Louise
Like you I am to go back to work but at the beginning of April. I hopefully would have had 2 chemo sessions by then and am due to start this next week. So I hopefully know how I will feel after the chemo. so I can judge what days to have off.
When I mentioned going back to work with the ONC she told me to avoid rush hour on the bus and reduce my hours and rest when the body tells you too.
Can you do any of your work from home if so this may be an option.
I work in an open plan office with 25 other people so you can guess it may be a bit hard. As for my collegues if they sneeze or cough they are not to come to me. especially my team, I will be giving them the mask to wear lol.
I will be taking anti-bacterial handsprays, wash and wipes with me and anything else I can think of. I will stop anyone using my telephone and computer keyboard. Parnoid just like Sarah above.
Hopefully like you I can bring normality back into my life.
Sarah - once you have a sick note and have given it to your employer I’m afraid you cannot over ride it only the doctor can say you are fit to work so hence you will have to be signed on and off.
Good luck
Sharon
Thanks for the comments so far ladies. I am a bit obsessive about handwashing anyway and the first thing I do when I arrive at work is wash my hands, am always horrified to think of the handrail business. I have got some gel, had forgotten about that. Bubs, you’re right about infecting myself (although what a thought!)
Sarah, yes I think you can get signed on and off. I am getting a sick note for 6 weeks to start with and will see how I go.,I have 6 months sick pay too but adding up the weeks of post-op, chemo (and delays infections etc) and rads, that would come to more than 26 weeks if I just took it off in a solid block. I dont think you can “bank” days, if you are signed off sick then you are technically not able to work. I intend doing most of my work at home as much of it can be done like that, but I will have to take odd trips with meetings and also it seemed to me that even if I am off sick then maybe I get a bus into town to do shopping and could still catch something. I am lucky that my boss is going to give me some “easy non-deadline” stuff and other people are taking the hard bits of my job off me!
love to all
Louise
hi Louise ,
good luck with your return to work…
…it is lonely at home and I really miss the people and buzz of work. I teach special needs bairns… so have been advised to stay home as schools, bugs and pupils go hand in hand!
However despite being really careful and only meeting up with folk who were ‘bug free’ and staying home between days 7-10… I caught a throat infection on week 3 of chem1… Next chemo went ahead okay… but session two day 10 and I am down with another infection!! Only went to the supermarket…!!
Guess you just have to do what works best for you with all the sensible precautions… better to be out amongst folk though… so take good care of yourself and enjoy it…
suex
Thanks Sharon and Louise for your comments, will see how I progress, I have been signed off now since DEC 17th so the days are mounting up.
Started my first FEC Wed, I mix with loads of people some of them children who like Sue says are full of bugs!!! Schools are a breeding ground for germs, so are offices sometimes.
I stayed in bed all day yesterday but went to the supermarket today and someone sneezed, I felt like a tortoise as my head disappered in side my fleece LOL, I sent my 81 year old mother on all the other errands, she didn’t mind.
I did love it when the emergency Dr wanted me to drive to the surgery at 5am after having been sick 4 times I just about manged to lift my head out of the toilet to say NO!, I am single and there is only me and Mum!!!
Take Care
Sarah x
Hi Louise,
I am coming to the end of my Chemo on the TRACT 2 trail - 28weeks. I started off working at reduced hours through my chemo which started in September last year. But i soon caught an infection (know idea where from as was being careful) ended up on IV antibiotics but next chemo when ahead but at a lowered dose. Was so upset to have the dose lowered i decided to give up work and work one day a week from home and go off on sick for the other 4 days. I stayed away from anyone with symptoms of bugs, washed hands all the time and wore gloves if going anywhere public. Considering i have had all winter with loads of bugs around i only caught one other cold but did not get admitted. I also did not get my doses lowered. So my advice would be to wash your hands, use alcohol gel, wear gloves and aviod public places when you are low on your immunity and you will be fine.
Think you have to get a balance of quality of life and health. I work in the community as an Occupational Therapist so had to see poorly people so i am sure your job will be better. Good luck and i am sure you will be fine. I have found chemo ok and kept up all my normal activities. Back at work in a couple of weeks and cant wait.
Also about the sick notes, i just got my GP to write a sick note to say I could work on my 2week after treatment for x amount of hours, and that i would be off for the week of my treatment. Saved getting sick notes each time.
Al x
Some really helpful comments here, gloves in particular I will use.
I will stay off for all of cycle 1 just to see how I get on and then hopefully will be able to work some of subsequent cycles. Brave words, maybe to be “eaten” when experience teaches me different!!!
Good luck to all who are having treatment.
Love to all
Louise