Hi, as a shielder, my attempts to return to work got knocked on the head. shielding was related to something different, not cancer, an autoimmune thing.  Repeated occ health interviews have put it off, and off, them summer holidays at the uni, then another interview and deferred it for 8 weeks to keep covid under review.  I have done a ligjt return to work, about 71/2 hours a week in my main job, and some extras on top with my second (and better paid!) job there.  And Im now barely sleeping, I had a bit of non cancer related neuropathic pain, but its gone into overdrive, I had a fall down stairs, followed within a week by a fall over backwards, and have had intermittent nerve pains in leg and hip since Ive been x rayed twice, and am really feeling wonky, a CT and bone scan this summer indicated no sinister spread or anything, but Im riddled with arthritis and now on pregabalin for neuro pain, and it leaves me insomniac, and unable to concentrate, and my memory is awful. Im 62, so no state pension for four years, I have a pension from my old career, and inheritance, so could probably wing it for a few years, but I am desperate for mental stimulation, I am a people person, but I am loathe to get into volunteering because when Ive done it before I overdo it, and end up getting too caught up in it so I end up doing more than I should. I am particularly fed up that when I went off sick with cancer, it coincided with three key line managers leaving. It was them who influenced my workload and had an overview,  Someone else was appointed to caretake me, and I rarely had contact, then someone else was appointed, and shes been quite hands-on, but the systems, the admin, has been rejigged, and Im behind the times with the software, ok windows word is ok, but don't start telling me to watch youtube videos of how to use a snipping tool to link a pdf onto another document and send it god knows where on the system. and let's not mention the word encryption....#

I'm moaning yes, and I know I need to update my skills, but doing it remotely sucks, and frankly, with the covid mess, there's no way I want to risk public transport, it's too far to walk, and I'm not physically robust enough to walk a mile carrying a rucksack with all my laptop and headphones etc..  Access to work helped me into the job six years ago, but I dont have enough hours timetabled to qualify at present, I need a minimum of 16 a week to get it. To cut to the point, what would others do?  I love the people usually, the work is normally doable and stimulating, and worthwhile, and in the past, my students have told me I'm good at how I do it, but frankly, should I learn to hand up my pens and find something else to stimulate brain and bank account. My husband is sick of me fretting about it cos one way and another I've been seriously ill now since 2003! 2 new hips. temporary blindness in one eye, both feet operated on to straighten out toes and put them on wires. and a none cyst, and gallbladder op. I am sick to bits of being sick. and then I'm fighting cancer too. pity party over guys,  what would people think is my best course, stay or go.?  thanks for reading, its driving me round in circles wondering what to do for the best.