3 Weeks post op and going back to work

I will be going back to work next Monday and I am a bit concerned. I have a sit down job but I typically work 45-50 hours a week. I will be going back to work for the first week for 20 hours and full time the following week. I am concerned due to the fact that if I am active I can really feel the pain. I have been really good and have taken it easy for the past couple of weeks. However, If I sit for too long (hours at a time) I hurt a lot. I have been laying around a lot (I like to title it as "relaxing") and going back to a full day will be tiring. Can anyone share with me their expierence on going back to work the first week? I had a LAVH and Bladder Sling. I was able to keep my left ovary. Thanks in advance for your help.

Wendy

I would encourage you to stretch out your return to your usual schedule. I went back half days for the first two weeks, then worked 6 hours a day for the next 2 weeks. After that, I was back to my usual 45-50 hours per week. I would come home for the first month and immediately take a nap because I was so tired.

Best wishes to you and please pamper the Princess.

I had a TVH and went back to work 4 hours a day after four weeks, starting this Monday. It is so much harder than I had thought it could be. The first two days completely wiped me out. Being vertical is something I haven't done a whole lot of lately, and everything felt swollen. I did find that taking ibuprofen every four hours preventively helped this a bit. Yesterday and today, I've had some pain again and I've had to take my pain meds a couple times.

If you can't sit too long at home, you won't find it any easier at work. Here are some things I've found helpful:

--Wear good shoes--and try wearing them around the house before you return. Even wearing low-heeled shoes has been tough because they're different from my slippers.

--Don't have anything planned other than work for the first two weeks. You'll be tired, and it's important to lie down whenever you aren't at work.

--Make meal arrangements ahead of time. My co-workers are providing me with meals my first two weeks back at work, and I'm very fortunate. Make decisions and get things in place now, so you won't even have to think about it next week. If you have family members who will be responsible for meals, plan the meals now and do the shopping over the weekend.

--Don't look too great when you return. I found that the day I wore bright colors and funky earrings to life my mood was the day people told me how great I looked and that I didn't even look like I had surgery. I've made a point of sitting and putting my feet up and not trying to be brave or hide twinges of pain.

--Try to challenge yourself to be vertical a little more each day before you return to work to help your body adjust. If you find that it's too much at home, you really need more time.

Good luck. Monday and Tuesday were incredibly hard and tiring. Today I felt a little more pain, but it was tolerable. Also, I didn't feel nearly as tired and worn out as I did the first two days this week.

Thank you ladies, you advice is appreciated more than you you know.

Wendy

I recommend that you try to get up and walk around as much as possible. I went back to work full time and was sore if I sat for too long. I started to get up and walk around, go to the restroom, make copies, etc., just so I wasn't sitting continuously. Rather than taking naps when I got home, I went to bed earlier. After a few weeks, it was better. It can take up to a year to feel 100%.

Something that hasn't been mentioned yet is the office chair!

You need to make sure that you use your arms to pull you in to the desk more than your tummy muscles. I can't tell you how sore I was for the first couple of days before I realised what was causing it.

And watch the weight of any files you have to lift too.