General
Career Choices
November 10, 2023
in General
Do you think that your medical history, whatever it may be, has impacted your career choices or led you to your career? (could be either in a positive or negative way)
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1 - 10 of 10 Replies
Transplant Patient
I definitely think my current career is dictated by my history. I’ve always wanted to work with the human body in some capacity. I did my yoga teacher training pre transplant and at the time taught mainly children. After the loss of my son and my transplant journey, I switched to working with somatics, trauma and grief as it relates to the body. So now I’m working in patient advocacy, helping others navigate end of life, and support others via embodiment as they navigate chronic illness, transplant, pregnancy loss and other types of stored body trauma.
it took a while for me to find my thing, and working in a field I’m so deeply affected by requires a lot of personal boundaries, but I couldn’t imagine doing anything else. Grief work and supporting others is my jam.
I picked a career and company that I was going to work for based on the health insurance they offered. It is always a question I have during the interview process. I would even find a job with a pay cut for better insurance coverage. Over 18 years of having a transplant, insurance has always been the most important thing to me. So in a way, my health impacted my career choices.
I have always as a young person wanted to work in the medical field, I was a nurse switched due to burn out ended up in the dental field. It really helped to have a little back ground in medicine during my TP.
I have always been on to “go against the grain” per se and knew that I would walk an “alternative” path. My health played a huge role in my level of self awareness and body awareness. I became a yoga teacher at age 18. I’ve always worked with children and I’m not a nature based educator for early childhood. And through my kidney journey, I have found purpose and passion in bringing all of my wisdom to serve this community as well through patient advocacy and education through science, spirituality, and holistic practices.
Transplant Patient
I was always interested in science and disease - a strange obsession as young girl but I was fascinated by why people got sick and how they stayed healthy. My t1d diagnosis 34 years ago solidified that interest and drove me to medical school and then also pursuing a PhD. So yes - my work is driven by my disease and my passions overlap. However, sometimes it is so very hard to live through the hurdles I have overcome again and again and again, through other people and thus reliving them.
What an interesting question. The decision to have time flexibility in my career has been essential and directly influenced by kidney disease and diabetes. The heavily overworked US job culture is by-and-large to work at the expense of your personal time and health. This is unsustainable for us with chronic disease/transplant. So I was nudged into a career which allows me to primarily use my brain instead of my body and is forgiving for days/hours/minutes needed to care for my health. Receiving the selfless gift of transplant also colors my daily work in creating something deeply meaningful and helpful for others. So for me, medical history shapes the path!
Such a great question, I feel like due to my medical condition I was able to find my calling. My kidney disease gave me the opportunity to work and educate patients about this awful disease. Before I got sick I knew I always wanted to help people and help them live their best lives.
I resonate with what @coopscadoop said...flexibility in my career is paramount and the ability to prioritize my health while working full time was only possible when I began working from home. I am a hairstylist (and was before my transplant). I used to work in a busy salon with lots of people always around me. Working from home was a big jump and leap in my career that I took one year post transplant. I was scared to make this change but it has been the best decision. I have freedom to book my own schedule that fits my lifestyle, and I am only with 1-2 people at a time so it limits my exposure to only who I want to see.
A little late to the discussion, but what a great question! To echo others, I have always taken the benefits of a job into consideration. We transplant patients (pre and post) interact with medical providers much more often and this requires us to leave our jobs to do so. We also take multiple meds that can be expensive so good insurance coverage and an expansive formulary is vital.
Post transplant I moved into sales, affording me the flexibility to see my Drs as needed. And I have been employed by large corporations that have great benefits.
Currently in pharma sales and coincidentally enough I call on nephrologists!
I am almost 4 months post-transplant. I am not as educated as most individuals on here. After battling ESRD for 8 years, and having a transplant I am finding it very difficult to find a job that I can handle. I worked a lot of fast food jobs in my past, so I started working this past week and I don't believe I can keep doing 8 hrs a day. I am struggling to remember to take my meds on time. I can not take breaks to drink a 16 Oz water. And the option for a healthy energy meal is non existing. I am in a battle with myself because I want to work. I am a very impatient person with high anxiety. So, my advice to someone who wants to start their life is what people are telling me, take your time and ease into your options. Don't go full force like I am, it's not a great decision.