Return To Work?

[RunningGranny 16]

How soon after surgery were able to return to work? Taking off for what management considers an elective surgery would be career suicide for me so I'm planning to use my pre-approved vacation week. I have a sedentary job but I'm worried that 10 days may be too soon to return to work.

[kparker0501 88]

HI there! My surgery is Monday. I too have the same problem as you. I only have Monday thru Monday off. I have a desk job as well and I am PRAYING it will be enough. Good Luck!

[suepeeps 230]

I am 10 days out and it would be no problem for me. I work at home so I don't have to get ready and go out. Love that!!! I don't even feel like I have had surgery. Feeling great

[Cynthia S 8]

I had my surgery on Monday and came back the following Monday. I sit a lot so it isn't too bad. You will get pretty tired the first couple of weeks back.

[xavtay2 85]

I initially took a week off and then decided there was no way I could have went back so soon. I have an office job and decided to do my STD and take a month off!

[gettinMeBack 380]

I took a full month off because my job is more hectic. A lot of standing and lifting, so I wud definitely not have been able to return after a week. I was so tired just walkin in a store so I kno I cudnt have made 12hrs in the hospital.

[altagirl 127]

I am a nurse in an adminstrative position. I am mostly at a desk but do have to walk around quite a bit. I had surgery on Monday 9/10 and went in for a half day on Friday 9/14. I was moving slowly but I was fine. By Monday I felt great- my only problem is that I didn't tell anyone so I keep having to make excuses of why I don't want to have lunch! Finally today, no one asked me to go eat. It is hard because there is candy and junk food everywhere. I am not hungry at all but it is tempting.

If I had planned better I would have had surgery on a Friday and then had 2 weekends to get settled, even though I didn't need it - I did not need any pain medicine after day 2 post op.

[LessofKelly 62]

I took three weeks off. I manage a facility for people with intellectual and physical disabilities co occurring with psychiatric/ behavioral issues. I don't want to risk the lifting (wheel chair client with CP is 165lbs dead weight), behavioral attacks and physical restraints. My office is in the basement but more often than not I'm covering the floor due to unreliable staff.

[ibehere10 163]

I had surgery on the 10th and still feel there is no way I could work. Maybe my age is a factor, 57, but I tire easily and still have a great deal of discomfort on my left side. I have plenty of sick time and am going to follow my doctors directions as to how long he feels I should be out. I see him next week so we will see what he says .

One other thing, to the best of my knowledge this surgery although "elective" we still meet the criteria to use FMLA to cover up to 12 weeks out of work providing we meet the full time employment requirement and have been employed with our company for more than one year. As long as your doctor writes that this surgery is medically necessary they have to afford you with fmla coverage despite it being "elective". Obesity is a life threatening disease and for me it was medically necessary. Check with your HR people for the details or you can research the FMLA federal law online for more specific details . Good luck

[RunningGranny 16]

Thank you everyone! Your personal insights have been a tremendous help!

[MarKing15 28]

I had surgery on a Friday morning and was back after a week away. I have an office job with minimal to moderate walking. I've felt good so far. I'm tired when I get home, but I'm able to do everything I need to.

Honestly, I couldn't have stayed home much longer. Being at home with nothing to do was killing me! I was driving my wife crazy, begging her to go run errands so we could get out of the house.

[AngelBaby 153]

I had surgery on the 14th and 6 days later I don't feel like I had surgery either LOL I'm off work until Tuesday the 25th but I really believe I could already be back

I am a nurse in a busy Operating Room in a trauma hospital so the trick is gonna be not lifting anything. DEFINITELY doable though because I plan on just asking all the residents and med students around to do any lifting for me for a few weeks. My only real worry was that I work 12 hr shifts so we will see how that goes. Fortunately during long surgeries I get to sit a lot

[803Misty 11]

I had surgery on a Monday and was back to work driving on my own the following Monday. I was just tired but overall.. It was fine!!

[Skittle 26]

I'm a teacher and couldn't get scheduled until August 9th. Returned to school on august 20th. That was 10 days. The first week is a lot of meetings and such do quite a bit of sitting. It wasn't bad until I developed the sinus infection. I think I would have been just fine if the infection didn't screw things up.

Good luck to you!

[rsomers2698 11]

I work in a chemical plant and iam hoping i can return to work the first week of october .it will be 3 weeks Good Luck