Hello Everyone,
I have read your advices and experiences for hours on end. I am very thankful to all of you for this. I feel that I am prepared for the good, bad, and the ugly.
I will be starting the typical Revlimid, Velcade, and dexamethasone therapy – 25 mg Revlimid (14 on, 7 off), 40 mg dexamethasone, and Velcade.
I am beginning a new school year on August 16th. As of now, I have 32 students in my class! I will begin this extravaganza on September 1st. I am hoping to work until my autologous stem cell transplant.
Am I crazy?
Any suggestions and/or advice is greatly appreciated.
Forums
7 posts
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Tallulah - Name: Tallulah
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: February 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 58
Re: Fourth grade teacher starting treatment
I have not taken Revlimid, but I had four cycles of Velcade and dexamethasone last year. The side effects were minor and I worked throughout.
Good luck!
Good luck!
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Davidg - Name: David
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Feb 2015 - AL Amyloidosis
- Age at diagnosis: 53
Re: Fourth grade teacher starting treatment
Hi Tallulah,
No you are not mad for wanted to keep working. I worked all the way through my treatment up until my stem cell transplant. I was fortunate to be able to be in an area that suited my health at that time.
My concern for you, though, would be being around little germ factories – aka children. As you are probably aware, your immunity will be low, which makes you susceptible to more infections.
When my immunity was at it's lowest, I was put onto Intragram (intravenous immunoglobulin G, IVIG). This helped me a lot. If you are not on this, then maybe you could ask about it.
Other then that, working for me was only positive. It helped me focus on something other then multiple myeloma. And of cause kept the bills at bay.
Vicki
No you are not mad for wanted to keep working. I worked all the way through my treatment up until my stem cell transplant. I was fortunate to be able to be in an area that suited my health at that time.
My concern for you, though, would be being around little germ factories – aka children. As you are probably aware, your immunity will be low, which makes you susceptible to more infections.
When my immunity was at it's lowest, I was put onto Intragram (intravenous immunoglobulin G, IVIG). This helped me a lot. If you are not on this, then maybe you could ask about it.
Other then that, working for me was only positive. It helped me focus on something other then multiple myeloma. And of cause kept the bills at bay.
Vicki
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vicstir - Name: Vic
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: October 2013
- Age at diagnosis: 39
Re: Fourth grade teacher starting treatment
I think Vicki brings up good points about the risks of infection.
Years ago, when I was teaching at a university (physics), I had to make a similar decision as to whether to keep working or to take time off to focus on my health. The deciding factor for me was that it would have been quite disruptive for my students if I was not 100%. So I took time off and let somebody else teach my courses. It was the right decision for me.
Is there a way to team teach in August and see how it evolves?
Joe
Years ago, when I was teaching at a university (physics), I had to make a similar decision as to whether to keep working or to take time off to focus on my health. The deciding factor for me was that it would have been quite disruptive for my students if I was not 100%. So I took time off and let somebody else teach my courses. It was the right decision for me.
Is there a way to team teach in August and see how it evolves?
Joe
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Wobbles - Name: Joe
- Who do you know with myeloma?: myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: June 2016
- Age at diagnosis: 67
Re: Fourth grade teacher starting treatment
Everyone's experience with the treatment is different, but it is definitely normal that you feel the desire to continue with your work. That's part of your identity, and it impacts your finances and gives you something to concentrate on besides worrying about myeloma.
It was exceedingly important to my husband to continue working during treatment, and he was able to do so through several therapies, including Revlimid/dex/Kyprolis (carfilzomib) most recently. While he told everyone that he felt just fine and had absolutely no problem continuing to work, as a caregiver I would add that there were many days when he came home and did what he called taking a nap on the couch but what I would say was more collapsing into a stupor. That meant he was unavailable to take part in family life or parenting. I don't know if you have children or elderly family members you are caring for, or volunteer activities, or other commitments besides your work. But you may want to keep in mind that you might need more time to rest on evenings or weekends, and that if you are fully booked in your off-work hours as well as working full time, that might be too much.
Also, like many people, my husband was often unable to sleep for the entire night after he took dex (even though he took it in the morning). He refused to take sleeping pills (preferring "naps on the couch" to make it up), but if you have to be in charge of a room full of kids, you probably don't want to head into that sleepless. I don't have personal experience, but a lot of people say they really help them rest and don't leave them groggy.
Best of luck on your journey. These decisions are hard to make, and there's no right answer.
It was exceedingly important to my husband to continue working during treatment, and he was able to do so through several therapies, including Revlimid/dex/Kyprolis (carfilzomib) most recently. While he told everyone that he felt just fine and had absolutely no problem continuing to work, as a caregiver I would add that there were many days when he came home and did what he called taking a nap on the couch but what I would say was more collapsing into a stupor. That meant he was unavailable to take part in family life or parenting. I don't know if you have children or elderly family members you are caring for, or volunteer activities, or other commitments besides your work. But you may want to keep in mind that you might need more time to rest on evenings or weekends, and that if you are fully booked in your off-work hours as well as working full time, that might be too much.
Also, like many people, my husband was often unable to sleep for the entire night after he took dex (even though he took it in the morning). He refused to take sleeping pills (preferring "naps on the couch" to make it up), but if you have to be in charge of a room full of kids, you probably don't want to head into that sleepless. I don't have personal experience, but a lot of people say they really help them rest and don't leave them groggy.
Best of luck on your journey. These decisions are hard to make, and there's no right answer.
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mplsterrapin - Name: Ari
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Husband
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Fall 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 54
Re: Fourth grade teacher starting treatment
Hi Tallulah,
I'm sorry we are meeting on a multiple myeloma thread and we wish you luck on your healing journey. This is my first post on a forum but my husband is a second grade teacher and was diagnosed in December 2015 and I thought hearing about how he balances work and school could be helpful. He is in his 6th cycle and will have a stem cell harvest in September. He is on RVD (Revlimid, Velcade, dexamethasone), and because he wanted to continue working full time, his cycle was Velcade once a week for 4 weeks with dex 20 mg the day of Velcade and 20 mg dex next day, & Revlimid for 21 days.
Aside from a case of the flu in mid- March (epidemic this year in MA) where he missed 6 days of school, he's been feeling quite good. His myeloma specialist felt that he's been teaching for a long time and his immune system is probably better than most. He was slightly more fatigued and took hour long naps after school, especially the days after the dex.
To supplement his RVD he takes curcumin, probiotics, vegetable enzyme, does yoga, meditates daily, exercises, eats organic fruits and vegetables, complex carbs only, and wild caught fish and shrimp. He also sees an acupuncturist to boost his immune. During the cold season months, he takes vitamin C except on the days he gets Velcade.
Hope this helps. I am curious did you share your diagnosis with colleagues? Parents? My husband shared with colleagues but not yet with parents. He and his principal will decide whether or not to share since he may be out 3-4 weeks this fall - 3 weeks after school starts.
Wish you the best - 32 kids that's a lot of kids. Hope you have the best class you've ever had. My husband had the easiest class he's had in years. He usually gets the tough classes so that helped.
I'm sorry we are meeting on a multiple myeloma thread and we wish you luck on your healing journey. This is my first post on a forum but my husband is a second grade teacher and was diagnosed in December 2015 and I thought hearing about how he balances work and school could be helpful. He is in his 6th cycle and will have a stem cell harvest in September. He is on RVD (Revlimid, Velcade, dexamethasone), and because he wanted to continue working full time, his cycle was Velcade once a week for 4 weeks with dex 20 mg the day of Velcade and 20 mg dex next day, & Revlimid for 21 days.
Aside from a case of the flu in mid- March (epidemic this year in MA) where he missed 6 days of school, he's been feeling quite good. His myeloma specialist felt that he's been teaching for a long time and his immune system is probably better than most. He was slightly more fatigued and took hour long naps after school, especially the days after the dex.
To supplement his RVD he takes curcumin, probiotics, vegetable enzyme, does yoga, meditates daily, exercises, eats organic fruits and vegetables, complex carbs only, and wild caught fish and shrimp. He also sees an acupuncturist to boost his immune. During the cold season months, he takes vitamin C except on the days he gets Velcade.
Hope this helps. I am curious did you share your diagnosis with colleagues? Parents? My husband shared with colleagues but not yet with parents. He and his principal will decide whether or not to share since he may be out 3-4 weeks this fall - 3 weeks after school starts.
Wish you the best - 32 kids that's a lot of kids. Hope you have the best class you've ever had. My husband had the easiest class he's had in years. He usually gets the tough classes so that helped.
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Gwg - Name: Si Si G
- Who do you know with myeloma?: My husband
- When were you/they diagnosed?: December 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 53
Re: Fourth grade teacher starting treatment
My first thought was bathroom breaks. Since Revlimid is known to cause problems, can you leave the classroom for repeated trips to the bathroom? You will need to learn a new pattern for rest, as your energy level will be different.
But each person responds differently to treatment and side effects. Some work without any problems through the entire process. I worked for the county government and found I was getting tired and I was not as alert with tax issues or govement laws as I used to be, Could that also be age for me? I was getting tired to the point I was afraid to drive because I did not feel alert enough to be safe.
I had 38 years of service, so retirement was for me. But as you read these wonderful posts, you can see lots of people still work. Why not try if that is what you want? You can let your body tell you if you need to make a change.
I wish you the best in your decision and the battles ahead. The Beacon has so much wonderful information for you to learn from.
But each person responds differently to treatment and side effects. Some work without any problems through the entire process. I worked for the county government and found I was getting tired and I was not as alert with tax issues or govement laws as I used to be, Could that also be age for me? I was getting tired to the point I was afraid to drive because I did not feel alert enough to be safe.
I had 38 years of service, so retirement was for me. But as you read these wonderful posts, you can see lots of people still work. Why not try if that is what you want? You can let your body tell you if you need to make a change.
I wish you the best in your decision and the battles ahead. The Beacon has so much wonderful information for you to learn from.
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Music box lady - Name: Margie
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 2012
- Age at diagnosis: 60
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