how much time should DH take off of work?

I am scheduled to have a TAH w/ BSO. We have two small children who will need to be driven to school everyday, and numerous activities, (ballet,tap,gymnastics,karate etc.)My husband and my mom will be taking care of these duties, however my husband needs to put in his time off request soon and we are both lost. In my other surgery's I just drove as soon as the stitches dissolved. Basically I need to know when I can start driving alot like all day.I also have to be able to sit through these classes as well. My pre-op isnt till Aug. 13th, but my DH has to put his req in before then. Oh I am also having a mini TT, but the doc said he doesnt expect that to add to the recovery time. Thanks Girls!

If he can take off at least two weeks, maybe three, that would be the soonest amount of time you might be driving, depending on how you are healing and what your doc says. I did start driving just a little at 3 weeks. I made sure that I was a week off the narcotic pain meds before getting behind the wheel. If you drive that soon, be sure to have a belly band for support and a small pillow to put between you and the seatbelt. If you sit through the classes, you might have to find a discreet location to take a nap!
I hope this helps some! :-)

my DH was off with me for a week and a half. It really helped me b/c I didn't have to cook or clean or move if I didn't want to. We do not have children though - so I was the "Princess" and got all the attention. I was sure glad that he was able to be home with me for that time.

I'm guessing if we had kids that he would have had to take more time off, though. I'm going back to work tomorrow (19 days post-op) and haven't driven myself anywhere yet. My doc said ok to drive as long as not taking the pain pills and if I could tolerate it. (I still feel every bump in the road - though it's getting better).

You will probably need more time as you are having TAH. Just remember to listen to everything the docs say about your recovery, rest, don't push it, and NO LIFTING!!!!!!!

good luck,

I had a SAH/BSO and my husband took off about 10 days from work, but I dont have little ones and I didnt have to drive anyone anywhere, but I was not able to drive at least until the 3rd week..my belly was too swollen and felt very weak and tired very easily....(and I would drive short distances)
would your mom be able to drive them around? if so, then I would say for your husband to take 2 weeks, but if your mom cant drive your children around, then I would say 3 weeks....it all depends also on how you are feeling, and what your doctor's instructions are.....

I started driving at 2 weeks, but it made me extremely tired. My daughter plays basketball so I was sitting in the gym for a few hours daily at two weeks, and just sitting (instead of relaxing at home!) was tiring as well. My dh teaches school so was at home.

My dh is only taking off a week, no kids at home though.

I was thinking about two-three weeks. My little ones are four and seven. My mom can drive, so she can totally help in that aspect. The only thing is that I am afraid she wont understand intructions that are sent home, since her primary language is spanish. My MIL and FIL can also help but they add to the instructions, oh boy who knows! All I know is I am getting my princess rest somehow! I will have to have email communication with her dance/gymnastics instructors till I can make it there. The chairs at the studio are horrible, and sometimes we end up sitting on the floor, this might end up being a daddy/grandma task for a few weeks after all. Karate has always been a daddy task so that wont be so bad. I keep thinking why did I overshedule my kids so bad?? Then I remembered before I felt ill my own mom had me so oversheduled!

My husband is lucky enough with his job he is able to work from home if he needs to. He stayed home for the first three weeks and then a couple days here and there when I wasn't feeling well. I wasn't allowed to drive for five weeks because of my bladder surgery.
Good Luck!!

I always worry about DH giving up so much time. If yours has it take it.
Otherwise do you have any other parents you could carpool with for a while. Perhaps you could let them do a lot for you in September/early October and you could return the favor in late October/November?
Since it is summer I sent my kids 7 & 8 to my parents for the first two weeks. DH only took off 1 1/2 days (per my request, I heal better alone.) I layed around and watched movies and went for walks in the neighborhood.
My 3rd week I was driving and my kids were back but in a day camp. Another parent took the kids every day and I picked up every day. Worked great!
Hope you find a solution.

6/24/08 LAVH adenomyosis
age 38

Well My DH has accumulated PLENTY of sick time, vacation time etc. But since he is a police officer it is just frowned upon to take alot of time off at one time. They like it better if you take a day here or there etc. He feels comfortable taking two weeks. But I am afraid that I will need more time. There is a 50% chance I might have bladder repair. I dont know, I guess maybe he should tell them three weeks to be on the safe side. I wish I could march down to his station and tell them exactly how I feel about being rushed into a decision! Seriously he told them eight million times that we wouldnt know till my preop in August and they said someone else might request it and we might have to give it to them. Well I feel like telling them, if that someone else's wife, had just went through three months of medication hell, with insomnia, hair loss, body odor and mood swings, and is about to lose ALL her reporductive organs and has two small kids, then they should consider who should have the time off over the other otherwise it should be no brainer!!!!!!!!!!!! This is why I dont work, I couldnt have a boss I would be fired everyday! The thing is the other officers take offf like a day a week and they dont mind! Its crazy!

I forgot to mention the hot flashes from hell!!!!!!!!!!