Need more time off work

I will be having my 6 week checkup April 13. I cannot believe how fast the time has gone by. Now I'm starting to fret about going back to work. How loose have your doctors been about granting you more time off at your request even though the doctor feels you are ready? I have no idea if my doctor will say whatever I want or simply your time is up and has to release me.

I'm doing pretty good but still have some cramping issues and very tired and quite frankly would enjoy another week!

GBB

My doc was great would give me what I wanted. She talked about another week out (I was at 5) I chose to go to work half days for 2 weeks. She also told me that if I wasn't ready for sex and if DH was too pushy about it she write that up too, I was and he wasn't. Work's been fine, Monday I'm back to full days but Sunday into Monday they're expecting a BIG snow storm that could rival the blizzard we had 2 years ago, 5 feet at our house.

Hi GBB,

I think you should tell your doctor how you feel. It seems like most of them are very open to do what you want. They have no interest in seeing you suffer if you don't feel ready. Good luck!

's, Rita

If you can afford it, take off as much time as you can. I was originally going to go back at 8 weeks....I went back at 10, but should have waited 2 more.

My doctor was willing to go on how I felt. Some of us just don't recover as fast as others. Even when I went back at 10 weeks, I was unable to work a full day for another 2 weeks...

Don't feel guilty about it either...you only have one chance to heal. You don't want to go back too soon and have a major setback.
take care

My Doc said 6 weeks minimum....I am a waitress and he told me that he would NOT let me go back before 6 weeks and maybe not even then.....just tell the doc how you feel and I hope it goes well......

I understand completely where you are. I was off 6+ weeks and wanted more!!!! But...on the "up side" I can tell you I've been back at work since 1/31/05 (surgery 12/15/04) and getting there everyday helps me so much!

I was enjoying being an invalid and taking a break from life. Now that I'm back (very demanding hospital environment) I really appreciate the chance to feel better through my work day and I'm sure I do a better job than when I felt lousy (and was practically hemorrhaging most of the time).

My advice to you is...take all the time your DR will give, but when you have to go back, be glad you have the opportunity to make a difference....and you'll feel better than before (eventually...the first couple of weeks --take it easy--get by with the minimum amount possible).

HI!

My doc saw me a 4 weeks and figured I'd be ready to go back to work by 6 weeks but said if I didn't feel ready to just call her and she' d write me a note for more time or part time.

Now I'm lucky -- my boss will take my word for it without a doctor's note so I'm going back part-time next week. Since I have a primarily desk job I figure I can go back (although I may need to find a way to keep my feet up -- sitting upright with my abdomen crunched is uncomfortable). I've actually been doing some work from home this week.

I think sometimes the doctors release us because we no longer are in danger of injuring ourselves and some folks need to get out or are out of sick time, etc. For me -- I have the sick time and am more concerned about having energy left for my family at the end of the day and my doc knows that (and so does my boss).

So ask your doc..........

Nancy-Anne

I haven't had my surgery yet but my doc told me to take 6 weeks off. Then he said after that he wanted me to tell him when I wanted to go back. He will write whatever I want him to write.

I know exactly how you feel! I originally scheduled 6 weeks off of work, but then after the surgery, requested a two week extention. My doctor wrote up the note with no questions asked. I was scheduled to return to work this past Monday.

At about 6 weeks post op, I started to have some complications. I panicked about returning to work and then having to take more time off if I needed. It was easier to request a "sick-leave extension" from my employer than to go back and then reapply for more sick time. Luckily, I had the time extended because I went back for surgery last week for lysis of adhesions that were tying my ovary and colon down. Doctor wrote a note, in the recovery room, per my husband's request for 4 more weeks. If all goes well from this past surgery, I will return to the classroom 12 weeks from my hysterectomy.

If you can afford it, ask the doctor for the excuse. They want you to be healthy and happy. And sometimes happy means NOT working!

Everyone heals at a different rate. I've seen here where some doctors recommend 8-10 weeks off, so it doesn't seem out of line for you to ask for more if you need it. I am fortunate to feel fantastic at 6 weeks, but if I didn't, I'd definitely have gotten an extension from my doctor!