Hi all,

I just wanted to let you know how helpful I'm finding this site in my rehabilitation. In my work I use a PC, and I'm used to checking websites and my mail every day. I couldn't use a PC for quite a while because my eyesite went really blurry after the chemo, but this seems to have got better now. Before I found this site I was drifting through my days, hardly aware of what day of the week it was. Now I check this forum for updates everyday, and I know what date it is! As well as all the advice, and sharing ideas, the daily use of a PC is really helping me. I want to say thankyou to everybody who has been responding to my postings for all your encouragement.

I'm hoping to go back to work soon. I work for a company that 'sell my services' to other companies, and I went into my old place of work last week to pick up all the stuff I left in my desk when I went sick. I had a great time meeting up with old friends, and everybody said I was looking well. They are very short staffed, as a few people have left and it looks as if there may be an opportunity for me to return to work there (as a direct employee, not through my old employer). So things may be moving on faster than I had anticipated.
It's really rather confusing. I'm not sure I'm ready to go back to work full time yet, and with my current employer I can take a phased return to work. If I change employers then I may loose some of my benefits (such as sick pay)in the short term. My old employer has been really good to me during my sickness. I was on full pay for six months, and then I was on 75% pay (less incapacity benefit), paid by an insurance company. On the positive side, it would mean that I would be employed within 20 miles of my home, my base office with my current employer is 50 miles away, and I have been concerned about travelling that far to work every day. Also whilst I was unwell I was very worried about my future career. I had been working with an old-fashioned skill set for the last 10 years, and my latest assignment had offered me the opportunity to update my skills. I was hoping to consolidate these in the early part of this year, but that was not to be. This opportunity was what I had been hoping for before I was sick.

As you can tell I'm not sure now which way to go. I've sent my CV in, but I still haven't made up my mind whether I'll take the job if it is offered to me. Has anybody got any experiences of returning to work that they wouyld like to share with me.

Hi Jenni

I have just read your post about returning to work and I know so well how you must be feeling.

I was not as lucky as you and I only had full pay for 3 months and after that it was just SSP. Managing was a real struggle and the last thing you need when you are seriously ill is to be worrying about finances.

Anyway I ended up being of work for 7 months and when it came time for me to return my company was very good and allowed me to come back part time (although my hours average at around 32 per week) I was so nervous about coming back, being ill had given my confidence a real battering. Add to that my slight speech impediment and the fact that the job entails talking to people on the phone and in person (Iwork for an estate agents) - I was worried how people might react to my scars and the slightly odd look around the mouth, but I needn't have worried - I just fell back into it quite easily.

One thing I would say is that you will feel very tired at first and given the option of a job closer to home like you have been - I would take it.

Anyway whaever you decide, it's wonderful that you've come this far through the tunnel and out into the light, I hope your recovery continues.

With very best wishes
Rosie

Thanks Rosie,

It's good to hear about other peoples experiences.