Going back to work...

[pammieanne 269]

So I'm in the last stages of getting ready for this surgery, all requirements have been fulfilled, and I'm waiting for my doc to send everything to the insurance company (I hate to bug my support girl, so I'm waiting until Wednesday to call to see if it's been sent to insurance LOL)

I work in an office. I have a sit/stand desk, so I can adjust my position throughout the day if I want/need to. I also have a pretty flexible position, so if I need to go lie down, or leave early I know that I can. I do administrative work, so there's no lifting, and we have an elevator to use. Bathroom isn't too far from my office, and my office isn't too far from the elevator.

I'm really not wanting to take too much time off work. I work in the Energy industry, and it's been hard hit with reductions. I'd like to only take what I absolutely need to take... even if it means coming back on a PT basis.

So, how long were you off from work? Do you think 10-14 days would be enough for a position like mine?

[Roalmc77 61]

No idea, but interested as well I have a desk job as well no elevator tho, 1.5 flights of stairs to get to work or go to bath room. I have surgery on the 23rd of march and took till the 8th of April off. Hope it is enough. I work graveyard.

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[Pedro Valle-Inclan 275]

pammieanne absolutely!! I'm a 62 yr old school teacher and I had my surgery this FEB 10th and went back to work Monday FEB 22nd. 11 days no problem, but of course that's partly owing to a very problem free surgery goodluck

[dhrguru 1,238]

I took 3 weeks from my office job. It wasn't just about the physicality of the work I do, but I wanted time to work through post op diet phases, and learn and adapt to my new normal.

[Pedro Valle-Inclan 275]

Yeah, I would have done the same if I could have, definitely would have been nicer to get use to the diet phases

[SweetPeas 117]

My surgery was February 24th and I will return to work next week on March 17th. Physically I could probably have gone back this week but took a bit extra to work out the diet/fluids.

[judy1234 27]

Pammieann, what is your commute like? I am 8 days out from surgery and could probably go back now, but up until yesterday I couldn't sit upright for long periods without pain. My commute is an hour in the car each way, so even a half day would have meant sitting upright for 6 straight hours without any painkillers. I understand wanting to go back due to uncertainty in your field, but remember once you go back it is very hard to stop and take more time off. Is there any way you can work from home for a couple of weeks? If not, and your commute isn't too bad, I would go back half-days for the first week and tell them you'll put in full days if you feel up to it. I think if they see that you're committed to your job and not trying to take advantage of your time off, they will understand.

[Mblenna 2]

I went back to work after 7 days. I own a bakery, so it was interesting, but totally doable.

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[pammieanne 269]

Thanks everyone

I'm hoping to have my surgery midweek, then I could take off the rest of that week, and have the full next week, and perhaps go back part time the following week until I know I'm good with the change.

I have about a 30 minute drive, and didn't even think about the pain meds. But honestly, I've had a hysterectomy recently lapryscopically, and was only on pain meds for a few days. I anticipate the same for this surgery.

Of course, getting accustomed to the new diet will be a challenge as well. I just don't want to take 6 weeks off like a friend of mine had to. Of course, she's a bariatric nurse, so she's having to deal with us as patients and help to lift us, etc... that makes a huge difference.

[Pedro Valle-Inclan 275]

They gave me a huge bottle of liquid percocet and I used it the first day or two mostly because I feared being in pain but truthfully I never needed it

[mngreeneyes 674]

Hi Pammieanne,

I am an admin at a university. I had my surgery one week before Thanksgiving. I took a full two weeks off. When I went back, I ended up working a few half days/partial days because I would just hit a wall and feel like I needed to go home while I could still drive myself. I only live about 20 minutes from work. I would then go home and sleep for several hours. It took about a week before I was able to work full days without being completely wiped out at the end of the day.

pam