How are teachers in US managing their MPN and full-time employment?

[clevemic]

Question for teachers in US

I recently read several posts from UK teachers, regarding their ability or inability to maintain full-time employment, while managing their MPN. I teach second grade in the US, and am finding it increasingly difficult to continue teaching. I am 53 years old, and was diagnosed with PV 4 years ago. I recently reached a point where my blood levels are well-controlled with Pegysus. However, the symptoms remain. Fatigue, bone pain, foggy brain and the emotional rollercoaster that goes along with this illness are all still a huge part of my life. My goal was to teach to age 57, to collect my full pension, but am wondering if that is realistic. Please share your advice, and any knowledge you have regarding disability options and/or early pension. I do not know if those are even possibilities, and I am not ready to seek that information from my district. I usually push on, smile a lot, and tell myself and everyone around me that I am doing well. Truly, though, I do not know how much longer I can maintain the pace that is required to keep up with a large group of 7 and 8 year olds, day in and day out. Thanks much!

[charl17]

The answer will be specific to your retirement system and your school district. If you have a union, it may be possible to get discreet answers from a union rep or another union official. If you are in a state where teachers do not participate in social security the answer will be simpler because you are not dealing with social security plus the teacher system. Also, a call to your retirement system may be informative about process, options and likely outcome. People make discreet inquiries to these organizations all the time. Also, consider the human resources department.

I have personal knowledge of the Ohio system. You would require 5 years of service. The definition of disability requires that you be unable to teach (rather than unable to work) and they give you an unreduced pension as if you stayed to full retirement age. In my case disability was moot because I worked past full retirement age.

[clevemic in reply to charl17]

Thank you charl17. I am in Wisconsin, and believe that our state's education system is very similar to Ohio's. I plan to keep trudging on as long as I can, and likely will teach until age 57. In the meantime though, I know that it would be wise for me to figure out my options in the event that I can't keep working. I appreciate your advice, as I now have a starting point. Thank you!

[katiewalsh in reply to clevemic]

Hi. I live in Wisconsin 6 months a year. I’m pretty sure ex-governor Scott Walker eliminated all of our teachers’ unions protections. If that’s correct, would you just be covered under social security disability? Katie

[clevemic in reply to katiewalsh]

Thank you, Katie. I will have to do more research.

[charl17 in reply to clevemic]

As Katie suggests, Wisconsin public employees pay into social security, unlike Ohio, California, Texas and a few other states. So you have a two-tiered retirement and two systems to consider with respect to disability. Social Security disability has, in theory, more rigorous disability requirements than many employer long term disability benefits. Most large, long term employers have some kind of long term disability coverage, although you may have to contribute for optional coverage.

[prof_de_francais]

I teach in Pennsylvania, and when I was first diagnosed with ET back in 1999, I was on interferon for a while, and it totally wiped me out. I ended up using a lot of my sick days that year. Have you accumulated sick days from all of your years of teaching? I was able to use mine periodically, and got into a nice system of either taking a sick day in the middle of the week for a break, or at the end of the week to have a 3 day weekend. With a note from my doctor, my school was fine with this. This also enabled me to continue accumulating time that counted toward giving me a higher retirement fund. If you teach in a public school, I think your situation should be similar. If you want to discuss this further, feel free to email me at [e-mail]. I have found that most people in this forum are our friends across the pond, so it is good to hear from an American educator like myself!

[clevemic in reply to prof_de_francais]

Thank you for your response. I have been teaching for thirty years, so do have a ton of sick days accumulated. The problem is that my district has a substitute teacher shortage, and I am therefore not able to take days off as I need them. My HR director and principal have supported the note that my oncologist wrote, explaining that I should take Wednesdays off as needed. However, I very rarely have done that. Subs are usually unavailable, which means that my students would be divided up between the other second grade classrooms. That is a very poor solution, and I can't do that to my colleagues. Therefore, I push on, working full time, even when I know that it is not good for me.

[hunter5582]

You might wish to look into several avenues regarding your situation.

1. You are covered by the ADA. You can make Reasonable Accommodation Requests. That is not a total solution, but it may help somewhat.

2. Some of the symptomatic challenges we face with MPNs can be addressed through a change to your treatment regimen. Not sure what level of expertise your current hematologist has with MPNs. but most see so few cases that they really cannot provide optimal care. Consultation with a true MPN expert doc can make a big difference. Here is a list of patient recommended MPN experts mpnforum.com/list-hem./ .

3. There is some emerging research on the use of alternative medicine/practices for MPNs. For myself, I have found that Turmeric/Curcumin works better for inflammatory symptoms than NSAIDS. I recently started the practice of Qigong, which is having a number of health benefits. I am reaching out to a doctor who practices Integrative Medicine to add that perspective to my treatment team. If you want to pursue this path, it is important to understand that these alternative interventions can and do interact with traditional Western medical interventions - you want to know what will affect what. I am dealing with PV, Neurofibromatosis type 1, recent heart and brain surgeries, and a host of MPN related inflammatory conditions. The amazing progress we have seen in Western medicine has made o huge difference in treating my PV and other issues, but it has not held all the answers for me. If you are open to it, you may find some relief to the symptoms you face from some non-traditional approaches.

God love you for teaching those little ones. I was blessed to work with kids of all ages as a mental health professional for 31 years before I semi-retired. Working with kids is great, but it does take a lot of energy. Those little ones are so precious, but really dynamos of energy. I hope you find a way to hang in there until full retirement. I also retired from a local government system with a traditional annuity pension that is guaranteed for the rest of my life. It pays all my bills and comes with a life-time (if expensive) health benefit. It really is worth finding a way to make this happen for yourself. Will hope and pray that you fond a way to make it so.

[katiewalsh in reply to hunter5582]

Hi. If you’re on blood thinners I encourage you to talk to your doctor. I understand curcumin/tumetic to affect blood clotting. Katie

[hunter5582 in reply to katiewalsh]

When I was on low dose aspirin, I did run this by my docs and the potentiation of the low dose aspirin was so minor with Turmeric that it was OK. Fish Oil was not OK. The benefits of Turmeric far outweighed the risks, particularly since I would otherwise have needed to be on an NSAID like Ibuprofen or Meloxicam. The Turmeric/Curcumin worked better than the NSAIDs with fewer risks and side effects. As it happens, I no longer take the aspirin. When I consulted with an MPN expert doc, he took me off the aspirin. Turns out that with my variant of PV, my risk of hemorrhage is greater than my risk of thrombosis when my platelet levels go up. It really pays to consult with a doc with more experience with MPNs.

[katiewalsh in reply to hunter5582]

Good point about the ADA. Katie

[clevemic in reply to hunter5582]

Thank you, hunter5582. You've offered great suggestions. I see a fantastic hematologist/oncologist, Dr. Laura Michaelis. She has supported my interest in yoga, meditation, acupuncture andTai Chi. I have found some relief through these practices. Wishing you good health. Sounds like you are dealing with so much.

[hunter5582 in reply to clevemic]

The last couple of years have been interesting - as in the old Chinese curse. Glad to hear you have found some of the alternative healing practices. You likely already know that Tai Chi is one of the modern forms of Qigong, I have been using the Six Healing Sounds and the 10 Basic forms while in recovery from the brain surgery on June 17. It has really helped. Also glad to hear that you found a MPN knowledgeable doc who will work with you and be open to alternative interventions. Many MPNers do not have such a great resource for their treatment. all the best to you,

[Anag]

I’m not in the States, but just finished my masters in Ed last year at 53. I really wanted to work passionately and my diagnosis put an end to it. The meds make me too weak. I find that an anti inflammatory diet, organic food, regular exercise give me more energy. I hope I will be able to start some time in the coming year teaching LD kids, but part time. If there is any way to get your energy up with CoQ10 (natural not synthetic) that would help. A 10” rest once or twice during the day, where you can put your legs up and close your eyes works wonders. Breathing techniques worked into your life help also. I do believe it’s important to get your full pension, but not if you are suffering. Use the summer to make good changes and exercise, but never overdo it. All the best. Anag

[Borage]

I was given early retirement on health grounds, with 4 years added on to my pension, at age 56 by my employers in the NHS, mainly because of my ET and hydroxycarbamide which caused brain fog, fatigue and clumsiness.

The doctor at occupational health, my GP, Hospital Consultants, my union representative, my manager and supervisor all helped to get me to retire. The process took nearly a year to complete.

I would have stopped earlier but I was stubborn and too tired to think, and felt I had to continue because of the serious shortage of qualified staff. I feel so much better now I am not killing myself with work.

There is an added worry when your immunity is compromised, working with children and hospital patients with all of their nasty little viruses and bacteria (and infestations) which they spread to everyone in close proximity.