April (@aprilradek), I'm glad you have a good team behind you, it is important to have trust in the people that have your life in their hands. There isn't one treatment plan that fits everyone, so what you see on-line can be misleading sometimes. That's why we have personal doctors, to weed through our own details. Try to trust your decisions once they are made, it's done, no going back, only forward. 🙂
I'm doing well on the Alecensa. Over time I've experienced different side effects, but consistently have some GI issues, fatigue when I do too much in a day, and some forgetfulness. It's all manageable, and nothing that would make me look at a dose reduction or a different med. I'm still active (at the YMCA, pickleball, hiking, walking), and I feel good most days. I have blood work and CT scans every 4 months, and a brain MRI once per year. The meds can be hard on your liver and kidneys, so they like to do regular blood work.
I did continue to work full time for the first two years. I had a fairly demanding IT job. I decided to stop because I just didn't feel as sharp or effective at work, and it was time. It's given me more time to slow down and deal with the emotional side of the diagnosis. I've found new joys, and don't regret it at all. A lot of people continue working though, it's a very personal decision, and usually quite manageable once you get past the time where you have a lot of appointments. Take the next two months to get stronger, and to find out what your next steps will be. Of course, talk to your doctors, but I'm guessing you'll be able to return to work when you are ready. I'm happy to help! Thanks for reaching out.