back to work?

Take as much time off as you can!!

I am 58, had a TLH which involved 6 hours of surgery, and returned to work at 7 1/2 weeks. I'm a teaching assistant and move around to different classrooms. I thought I was healing pretty well and just expected to be very tired when I went back. Yes, I was tired; but I also had lots of aches, tugs, pulls, and discomfort which surprised me. I've taken a day off each week to rest and get off my feet. This is my 6th week back to school and the first that I'm not taking time off. I'm still not 100%, but I'm making progress.

Going back to work was much harder than I anticipated and I only work a 7 hour day and only commute 2 miles. Good luck to you.

I am also a TA and I am due to go back to work on Tuesday after 6 weeks. Im not sure i can handle it mentally(brain not working clearly...) and Im sure I will be tired physically. I only have to work tuesday and Wednesday then to doctor on Thursday half day Friday...I hope it is slow enough. It is so hard to decide what to do. Was it hard to book time off every week do you think you needed more time off before you went back? I guess the only way to know if it is too soon is to go back to work and try it.

Newagain,
I think everyone is different, depending on many factors, their age, their overall health, how they heal, what kind of surgery. You will know though if it is too soon, if you have any kind of pain and especially any bleeding. For me, it is mostly fatigue but I also have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, so the fatigue is always there but worse right now. I work mornings only and come home and take a nap or lay down for awhile. Seems to work well that way. Good luck
Colleen

I went back to work this past Monday (6 weeks off for my April 2 TAH). I am a teacher and I returned to the "excitement" of the last week of school. Anyway, the first 3 days were hard and I felt like it set my recovery back (which had been going very well). Then, yesterday I woke up and felt great; same today, too. I feel like I've finally turned the corner.

Fingers Crossed

I had tah w/ left ovary, tube and cervix removed April 29 my doctor sed no driving for 4 weeks so that is what I figured I would need off. I am a 911 dispatcher so not physical job. I am week 3 and just started to become very emotional/depressed. I am worried that emotionally I won't be able to handle it. Actually have fmla and scheduled back after my last post op. Which will put me back about 5 weeks.

It is amazing how much this surgery takes out of you. I didn't believe my doctor and I was so completely wrong. I tried to go back to my job of orthodontic assistant at 4 weeks. It was a very big mistake. I ended up with an infection which just set me back longer. My advice is to take all the time you need. You only get one chance to heal right. Be good to your self