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Working Life Post Transplant

Hi everyone! 


It's a long time since I've updated my blog, and I don't know why but I felt inspired to write today!

I can't update you on my entire life in one blog post so I'm going to post a few blog entries about 'Getting Back to Normal'.

I am back at work, so I thought I'd share what it's like getting back into the work force, for anyone who's nearly at that point, or is just starting their transplant journey and they aren't keen on medical retirement, especially if you're young like me!

Some people do choose to take medical retirement after transplant and say it's because of the risk of being around people. I think it depends on your age, when you're older your immune system is naturally weaker anyway, and older people are more prone to infections post transplant than young transplantees. I can imagine as well for people who have worked their whole lives and have then had such a traumatic event, it must be nice to be able to just enjoy your days and do as you please!

I personally was absolutely devasted when I had to leave work Feb 2017. I worked in retail just Saturday, Sunday and often overtime while I was at university. It was a fast paced sales environment which is what I love! My manager at the time was amazing, thankfully he is a very intelligent man and fully understood my condition and how it affected me when I was diagnosed. I was diagnosed November 2016 but continued working as usual while I was having tests done still and seeing the hospital frequently.

That Christmas I went home for the holidays and I was really ill with flu, and I ended up in hospital with fluid on my lungs a few days before Christmas day. I was so stressed trying to come to terms with my illness, and I was missing a lot of uni trying to keep up with everything.

I decided to take some sick leave so I could stay home for a while longer and I just submitted my uni work whilst I was staying at my mums. Again, my manager was amazing, I used to send him in sick notes and he'd sort it out with HR, he always checked to see how I was and never once pestered to see when I was going back to work. In January my cardiologist asked if I understood my diagnosis, and that's when I was told that there was no cure for my condition and I would eventually need a heart transplant. I was getting worse everyday, and I decided that I wouldn't be going back to work any time soon, so I handed in my notice. I was gutted because I loved my job, and I felt like I'd given up trying to keep up with my day to day life, which was hard.

However, 18 months post transplant, I decided I needed to go back to work. I was FINALLY awarded disability pay which meant that I could afford to stop my income support benefits and work part time. I was probably ready a few months before but I wanted to relax over the summer, and I was really nervous if I'm honest about going back to work and not feeling like the old Charlotte. Because I had huge expectations, having a shiny new heart and all.

I massively believe in fate, and one day a part time position came up for the company I used to work for but in my home town. I applied and got the job. I was scared to start, it was all new people that knew nothing about me, but I also liked that I got to start as 'Charlotte' and not 'Charlotte that had the heart transplant'. I told the franchise owner because I explained that I wanted to start as part time but eventually be full time once I felt safe to do so, which was fine.

Last week I had my three month probation review, I was told I had the highest score they'd ever had at a probation meeting and they offered me full time and I was able to negotiate my salary!

I obviously get tired working 37.5/40 hours a week, and still going out at weekends, seeing family, going to the gym. But like a normal person. My body keeps up with my brain! It can do all the things I want to do without being slowed down because I need a nap, or my legs won't physically move anymore.

It's so amazing to be back at work, to have a purpose, and not just be sat in the house going crazy! I'm glad I started as part time, so I didn't feel pressured to have to work 5 days, I could just pick up overtime when I felt like it. But it's going really well!

Please send me any questions about going back to work, how to approach your employer with any extra needs, anything at all!

And thank you for following my journey!

Charlotte xx


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