Advise on time to take off from work.

I’m hoping for opinions please I’ve been reading a lot… a whole lot… and have been going back and forth over how long to take off from work. I have a desk job, but I also LOVE my job. I work with an absolutely brilliant group of people who will “carry me” if they need to, we all work our tails off and know it.

My surgery, currently being at laparoscopic supracervical hysto (one ovary going for sure, maybe the other, cervix left), is scheduled for 10/7 which is a Tuesday. I’m going to go ahead and take Monday off though because of all the “prep” work. I want to start pampering myself then.

So, I have 10 days of paid FMLA banked that I can use before I have to dip into my earned sick time. I think what I’ve decided to do is take the entire first week off, then Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of the next week (using 8 FMLA Days) then I’ll work 4 hours per day on Thursday and Friday, then 4 hours a day the next week.

That is 3 weeks recovery without pushing it really. For those “veterans” out there, does this seem workable to you?

Hi AudraM

I had a different type of hysterectomy to you (TAH/BSO) just over 3 weeks ago and I am based in the UK and have tons of paid sick leave so money is not an issue.

If your compnay are understanding and you can ease back in over a period of time you should be fine - just as long as they will let you cut down your hours again or take an extra day off per week if you are not coping well.

I also love my job and work with a great team but know I couldn't cope with the high level of pressure just yet so am planning on taking as much time as the doctor suggests and then working from home part time for a week before working in the office part time to see how I go. This is partly because I work an hour away from home.

Good luck, hope everything goes OK for you

Katy

i had an lsh and its definitely possible. one thing you might want to consider though is if you have to have both ovaries removed, do you have a hormone replacement plan in place? if you have to have both ovaries removed, that might affect how well you feel. other than that, you most likely will feel well enough to return to work as planned

thank you for your advice both of you.

One of my ovaries is definately going, whether or not the other ovary goes will be a judgement call by the doc when he is in there...

I do wish I could work from home, but apparently the rules of FMLA don't allow it... isn't that crazy??

Again, thanks for all your advice.

Please remember that you are having major surgery. I had a TVH on Aug 28 and will be taking all the time off that my Dr allows (6 to 8 weeks is my recommended). I love my job as well, but I have this attitude

I have the rest of my life to work before I retire
I only have 1 chance to recover properly from this surgery