need your advice

I am starting to get nervous reading all of the posts on here. I went to the dr last wed 2 weeks post op Dr said start increasing my activity a little everyday and when I go back in 2 weeks I should be okay and he will give me a full release for work (I will be 4 weeks). he would have sent me back to work on at two weeks if I worked in an office. This sound great to me as money is very tight with me out of work. I am on my feet 8-12 hrs at work and I am lucky to sit down, My job is very physical and demanding and there are times I am liftting and pushing way more than 20 lbs. Is it realisic to go back to work at 4 weeks for a demanding job or should I tell the dr no. I told him I didnt want to do anything to hinder my recovery at my last appt and he told me I am not going to beak or rip out stitches it has been 2 weeks. This is not the dr that was supposed to do my surgery, it is his partner my dr is out on leave he had knee surgery 2 days before my TLH so I went with the partner just so I didnt have to postpone till June. I have met this dr in the past and he has done other work on me, he's a great dr I just like my dr better as far as bedside manor. Now I am not sure what to do if I should listen and go back to work or beg for more time. now I am wishing my dr was around to talk to. I need your advice

I'm sure other women who have had to go back to demanding jobs will weigh in on this.. In my opinion that is too soon for you to return if you are on your feel from 8-12 hours a day and moving heavy items. A good, caring doctor will understand your concerns and give you the extra time off.. Gentle hugs and wishing you good healing...

i too have a very physical job, and my doctor told me 6 weeks, more if i could do it financially. i would go back to your doctor and ask for 6 weeks if you need some sort of note from him. and even after i went back i still had to watch my lifting, bending and stooping. im almost 12 weeks out, been back at work for 5 weeks, and im still careful about what i do. it was rough that first couple of weeks to be on my feet for the 8 to 9 hours im at work. i usually do not take a break of any sort while i work, but i had to sit down at least once or twice a day for 10 or 15 minutes that first couple of weeks. this is just my experience. good luck with your recovery , hope ive helped.

I have similar things at my job and went back at 5 wks. It was fine and I could have returned at 4 wks. But the pace of work was a bit much after being off, I wish I could have "broken in" more gradually. But at the time it was all or nothing. For me it was OK but you know how you feel and your financial needs.

Would your employer allow you to work 1/2 days to begin with? And what about 'light duty'?

It might be a good idea to check before you talk with your Dr (or his colleague). Then, when you do talk, be certain to explain exactly what physical activity is involved in your job. Lifting, bending, carrying, etc. and how much of each activity (do you lift boxes weighing 25# 10 times an hour?) Be very specific. You might want to write it down for him.

That way if he does release you back to work it can be with restrictions on your activity (nothing over 25# for x weeks)

Good luck!

I cannot go back to work light duty I am a nurse work says I have to be ready all or nothing to come back I work in a rehab facility and these people need help getting in and out of bed. My work stated if someone falls you need to help them get off the floor is someone need oxygen you need to go get the tank and if the need meds you need to get the med cart. You need to push people in their wheelchairs I had asked if could come in and do paperwork with the drs release and I was told I could not comeback until I have a Note that returns me to full duty and no restrictions. I was prepared to do that in 2 weeks if the dr said okay but then I am reading so much about future prolaspse and adheasions that now I am not so sure. I hear people at 6 weeks not allowed to vacuum or sweep and I am wondering how am I going to push people in wheelchairs. I feel good and never would have even questioned it had I not read everything that other dr are saying.

Your job is very similar to mine and as I mentioned I returned at 5 wks, 8 and 12 hour shifts, no restrictions. I was tired and could not believe how hard we really work, but it was fine. I had no pain or prolapse. I could say I was cleared, and felt OK, no option of light duty or partial days. I hadn't found this site or might have been scared to go back, too, but really I would have been fine a wk earlier the way I felt. Good luck with your job whenever you do go back.

I agree that half days would be a much better idea for the first 2-4 weeks. Tell your dr. that financially you need to go back but you don't think you are ready to go back full time. He should be okay with that.

My advice would be to take as much time off as you can.

I had a TLH and returned to work last Monday which was 7 1/2 weeks. I'm a teaching assistant and am on my feet a lot and move from classroom to classroom. It was much harder than I thought it would be. I knew I would be tired, but I was surprised by how achy I was. By the end of the day, the discomfort was quite a bit. I was moving very slowly. I worked two days, took Wed. off, then worked Thurs and Fri. I'm going to do the same thing this week.

Good luck with your return.

I think it is too much too soon. If you can handle it financially I would take off whatever you can and get your pace up and your strength back first. You need to be able to all that physical acticity BEFORE you go back to work because you never know what you'll end up dealing with your first day back even if it is a half day.

The LAST thing you need is for a tall, heavy patient to tear your vaginal cuff or something from over strain.