HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Working while on IV antibiotics?

Support Forums
>
Lyme Disease
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 4/3/2014 1:43 PM (GMT -5)
Will I be able to work while on IV antibiotics? Or will I need to take time off? It seems kind of counterproductive to work while my body is trying to heal, but at the same time I need to be able to pay for treatment. What's been everyone else's experience? Sorry, I'm just a little bit new to all this.
Posted 4/3/2014 1:54 PM (GMT -5)
Hi I was on orals but high dose. I felt better as soon as I started them but it took me 5-6 months to begin to resemble my old self. Id say 3 before you stabilize but still some issues after that. Is very individual though.
Posted 4/3/2014 1:58 PM (GMT -5)
I did not use IV- so I cannot answer you on that but I did have drs appointments that were hours away so I had to do a lot of half days.

I guess I was sort of lucky in that I got so ill, anyone with two eyes could see I was sick - including my coworkers. So when I went through treatment I just explained what was going to happen (drs appointments, I might call out) and #1 they were awesome but also we kind of just worked it out.

I definitely came in sick a few days and didn't get a lot done. Actually when I first started treatment I screwed up a few things at work and my coworker redid it and didn't tell me because she thought it would upset me! That was super sweet. But then I got better. I was more productive....and then when I was 'almost' back to normal - I came in on weekends and worked later hours to make up for the time I lost.

A few days, I did come in when I shouldn't have - and I went home sick. But I don't regret trying to come in. Yes, we all need a little r and r. And luckily my husband always made dinner and never complained if I didn't do a darn thing but sit on the couch for weeks. :)

Do you have a good support team? Do you have to do IV?
Posted 4/3/2014 2:24 PM (GMT -5)
That is a good story Opugirl!

I think the truth is, it depends very much on what kind of job you have! Somehow I lucked out with my job, and I'm in a position where people understand that I've been "ill" and are being supportive.

Also I'm not getting very much done and have been very unproductive, esspecially the first couple months. I never even had a sick day before getting sick with this. But the past months I have slowly been getting more things done at work. Also they are supportive of me coming in late and leaving late so I can get more rest in the morning.

I think this is a difficult aspect of Lyme. For example I just think that some people in some kinds of jobs would actually have to stop work. I can't remember where I saw it, but I read that 40% of people with Lyme disease have to stop working. ONLY 10% are able to keep their jobs without changing it. I guess even for me I made some slight changes too with calling in sick, coming in late so I can rest, etc.

Also there are jobs that people have where the supervisor or company is very insensitive and unaccomodating to people getting sick. They just see the worker as unproductive and give them the boot. That is another issue of working with Lyme.
Posted 4/3/2014 2:28 PM (GMT -5)
I think if you are doing hard physical work you might want to go for the orals instead. Or even get off work perhaps.

Some Lyme doctors are saying orals could be about as effective as IV antibiotics. So you might want to check a few options.

I know I wouldn't want to work with a pick line put in place if I worked a very physical job or a job where you have to move around lots. But if you have an office job you might be able to work okay like this.
Posted 4/3/2014 3:09 PM (GMT -5)
Ok, sounds like it differs for everyone depending on how your body reacts to the antibiotics. IV is my only option because I've had meningitis for 2 years. Herbals and oral antibiotics do nothing for me. I'm trying to gage how much I'm going to herx, but I really have no clue.
Posted 4/3/2014 8:14 PM (GMT -5)
Good luck with the IV. What is it llike to have meningitis for two years ..? What were the symptoms etc ?
Posted 4/4/2014 12:56 AM (GMT -5)

BarnGurl said...
Good luck with the IV. What is it llike to have meningitis for two years ..? What were the symptoms etc ?

I have a stiff neck and headache/tightness in the back of my head. When the pain is bad I throw up all day.
Posted 4/4/2014 6:06 AM (GMT -5)
When I first started treatment with Oral ABX is went to a four day workweek. I would schedule all DR and labs for that day off. When I started IV after a year or so into treatment, the day off was also good for my home nurse to do bandage and line changes. I was doing IV Rocephin 2g in a 20 ml push morning and night Mon thru Thursday with three days off, with no problems going to work. Infusion time took about 20 minutes.

After 8 months and feeling a bit better I went back to work full time, and remained on IV for another 6 months or so. The home nurse cam to my shop and did the bandage change in my shop.

The last three months I switch to IV doxy using an infusion ball, which took about an hour to administer. Some days I would just hook up and then drive to work, the flush and heparin at the shop.

It's is manageable with a PICC while working if your job is not too physically taxing.

Godspeed Simone
Posted 4/4/2014 9:48 AM (GMT -5)
Hi there...this is what I had to do. I was in IV therapy.

I did one IV on Saturday's or late Friday so I had the weekend to recouperate

The other one was mid week. During this time (when I was really ill) I took that day off of work. I made my boss aware of what was happening and before all of this took place I filled out FMLA papers (protect your job).

After a while I was able to get an IV in the morning and then go into work in the afternoon.

Then as time went on those weekly IV's twice a week turned into once a week...then once every other week..once every three weeks...so on and so on.

My last IV was January 7th.

Echoing the crew here...it depends on yur job. But regardless of where you work...fill out FMLA papers (family medical leave act).

Also your body will determine what is best for you.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply