Re: WORK: fatigue, weight gain, DVT, Pulmonary Embolism

[Guest guest]

At 05:23 AM 2/20/07 +0000, you wrote:

>My problem is work. I have been out of work since 1/06 due to first

>extreme fatigue then the DVT & PE. I am deperately trying to go back

>to work. I am too young (in my book) at 42 to retire. I am trying to

>find out if anyone here has a physically demanding job that they have

>kept since being diagnosed.

>

>I am a fulltime career firefighter on a pretty busy department.

Hi Cammy,

I am not sure it is realistic for you to go back to work??? You don't

mention how your fatigue is presently......and also if you are still on

Procrit for anemia? Fire fighting is a physically demanding job and not

something that you can do well unless you are in good shape. Also, I am

assuming that it is not a job that you can ease back into, like starting

back 1/2 time? I was off work early in my CML for a bit over a year, and

then went back to work (as a physical therapist) 1/2 time and stayed at

that level. I would assume that your dept. would require you to 'pass' a

new physical exam after being off work for so long? Maybe you have already

discussed this with your dept? Is there a desk job that your dept. can give

you to ease back in and reassess?

About losing weight.....for many/most of us it has been difficult to lose

the weight we have gained with CML and our meds. In Jan. I started a daily

treadmill program.....I am getting stronger and have more endurance, but

there has not been the kind of weight loss I was expecting. It would seem

that your level of fitness for this work would be more important than the

weight loss?....but maybe they have height and weight standards that you

have to meet? All of this sounds like things to discuss with someone in

your dept (human resouces or ??) if you have not already.

C.

[Guest guest]

> >My problem is work. I have been out of work since 1/06 due to first

> >extreme fatigue then the DVT & PE. I am deperately trying to go back

> >to work. I am too young (in my book) at 42 to retire. I am trying to

> >find out if anyone here has a physically demanding job that they have

> >kept since being diagnosed.

> >

> >I am a fulltime career firefighter on a pretty busy department.

>

>

> Hi Cammy,

>

> I am not sure it is realistic for you to go back to work??? You don't

> mention how your fatigue is presently......and also if you are still

on

> Procrit for anemia? Fire fighting is a physically demanding job and

not

> something that you can do well unless you are in good shape. Also, I

am

> assuming that it is not a job that you can ease back into, like

starting

> back 1/2 time? I was off work early in my CML for a bit over a year,

and

> then went back to work (as a physical therapist) 1/2 time and stayed

at

> that level. I would assume that your dept. would require you to 'pass'

a

> new physical exam after being off work for so long? Maybe you have

already

> discussed this with your dept? Is there a desk job that your dept. can

give

> you to ease back in and reassess?

>

> About losing weight.....for many/most of us it has been difficult to

lose

> the weight we have gained with CML and our meds. In Jan. I started a

daily

> treadmill program.....I am getting stronger and have more endurance,

but

> there has not been the kind of weight loss I was expecting. It would

seem

> that your level of fitness for this work would be more important than

the

> weight loss?....but maybe they have height and weight standards that

you

> have to meet? All of this sounds like things to discuss with someone

in

> your dept (human resouces or ??) if you have not already.

>

> C.

>

I have been out of work for about two years . I am a heavy

equipment operator which is a physical as well as mental demanding job.

Safety is a big part of the job. I feel to fatigued and weak to go

back. I have lost a lot of my strength and have occasional " mental fog "

that is often talked about in the group. I have moderate to severe

joint pain in my knees and shoulders. I have gone to therapy for my

knees and tried to exercise to improve. However the more I worked out

the worse my leg cramps got. At one point I almost passed out from a

leg cramp that I could not get to loosen up (from my groin to my knee).

I have been denied twice for SSD but my lawyer is appealing the case and

feels I have a better chance of winning after my 50 th birthday in

April. I still would like to return to work. Fifty is to young to not

be working but I find it very difficult getting back to pre CML -

GLEEVEC days.

STEVE