Survivor Survey – Work

Q: How has your work/school life been affected?

Are you able to do what you did before or have you changed profession/schooling?

Responses with name, age at SCA and time since

I now work for myself following my SCA, and have certainly noticed differences. My memory is quite annoying, I can forget simply things from one day to the next and take notes upon notes. I’ve become a messy worker too, which before was certainly not me. But it works and I’m able to hold my head up high. Quite proud of myself really for my achievements since.

Judy,  39, 3 years

Yes still able to work in my job

Lee,  37, 5 1/2 years

Unable to work due to respiratory and memory issues

Kym,  40, 3 years

Take things slower

Pat,  51, 15 months

Not gone back to teaching yet – don’t feel able to deal with the stress yet

Michelle,  50, 1 year

I actually lost my job. I was a trainee hairdresser when it happened. I needed a lot of time off because I had OHS. My employer said either I come back full time or not at all. So I told her to shove her job my health is more important.

Amy,  17, 14 years

No. Working is difficult

Mark,  56, 14 months

Can’t fully comment on this yet.

Clare,  31, Almost 5 months.

Yes im a nursery nurse

Julie,  31, 8 years

No life has changed dramatically

Michelle,  43, 5 years

Just the same

Graeme,  36, 10 years

Slight adjustment at work

Stewart,  53, 3 years

Not able to go out alone

Maureen,  68, 7 years

Got finished from work due to ill health

Dawn,  48, 3 years

Occupational Health Report required

Lisa,  35, 4 months

Don’t know yet, still on the sick from work.

Joe,  52, 4 weeks

I am not back at work yet

Carly,  34, 1 month

It took a few months getting into the wing of it. I get tired easier and have to take things easy so I don’t get a knock-on effect of tiredness

Natasha,  25, 4.5 years

It has taken me 7 years to get back to the stage I was in my work life, but I am there.

Lisa,  40, 7 years

i do the same, work with children 3-4

Lynne,  47, 21 months

This is the most challenging part I find, my mind is so willing to do what i did but my body is no longer up to the daily grind….. the problem I have with self employment is no work no pay and with a young family and very little support it’s a real struggle to get to Wednesday let alone Friday

Ben,  32, 1 year 2 months

The first year I struggled badly with going back to work where it happened and seeing the same people everyday. We’ve recently moved buildings and I’ve changed departments so it’s a new environment and it’s a lot better.

Imogen,  21, 2 years

Retired

Anon,  70, 10 months

Still work as a kindergarten teacher. Won’t say I am as good at it.

Robyn,  57, 18 months

No

Tracy,  50, 3 years

Do most things as before

Joanne,  48, 23 months

No longer able to work.

Anon,  36, 11 years

Medically retired

Brenden,  56, 4 years

I have know problems doing what I did before.My lifestyle has changed for the better

Sue,  51, 8 months

As I said, I have retired. My work environment was getting too fraught and tense so I quit work at 62. I am glad I did.

Mark,  46, 23 years

I went back to work as a nurse 5-6 weeks post sca, with hindsight this was too soon as I still had chest pains so I’d advise people to wait til they feel well enough. I’m still a nurse but moved to a more sedentary role.

Michelle,  42, 4 years