Need advice about going back to work at 4 weeks...

Hi, all! I'll be 3 weeks PO for TVH and TOT sling on Thursday, and I have been planning to go back to work at 4-1/2 weeks. I am a high school teacher, so my plan was to return after spring break. I have had multiple surgeries in the past (tummy tuck, gastric bypass, gall bladder), and I have always recovered very quickly. I am 37 years old.

I am worried about whether I will be able to go back to work as planned. I am in a significant amount of pain still, mostly in my groin and my left ovary (ovaries were left). Because of my gastric bypass, I cannot take NSAID's, so I don't get any pain relief during the day. (Tylenol won't touch it!) I'm also exhausted still. I can't do more than get up and around for an hour or so, and then I'm ready for bed! I am getting up and walking and showering and doing light cooking throughout the day.

So, my question is: do you think I will be able to go back at 4-1/2 weeks? Or, do I really need the whole 6 weeks?

My vote is for the whole time, as teaching is demanding (I worked at elementary school and district office, but have had teenagers!). Every teacher I know works well past an 8 hour day. If you have the time use it. No sense in giving the kids a different sub to torture rotating in and out! Take the time to heal yourself- you have been through quite a lot. Hugs to you!

I had a TVH, BSO, AP repair and TOT sling on 01/12/10, which makes me 10 weeks out yesterday. I also have fibromyalgia. However, I don't think the pain I am still experiencing is from the fibromyalgia. I couldn't even imagine going back at 4-1/2 weeks, because I hit a plateau from 3-5 weeks where I felt like I had been run over by a truck. At 5 weeks 2 days I started to feel good. At 6 weeks I went back to work. I have a desk job, but I couldn't make it through an 8 hour day due to the pain, and I started swelling in my belly. I was told by my doctors that I was overdoing it and needed to cut back (easier said than done when I was the only one in the office).

After all this, my advice would be that yes, you really do need the whole 6 weeks. If I had it to do over again (which I am extremely happy I do not), I would have taken 8 weeks as I think it would have made a huge difference in my recovery. Please, if you can, take the 6 weeks. You will be glad you did. You may still come home exhausted, but the more time you allow yourself to heal the better off you will be.

I, too, have had several surgeries, but I cannot compare this to any other surgery I have had. I don't know why this one is more difficult than some of the other surgeries, but when they say it takes 6 months to a year to completely heal, they really do mean it (my doctor confirmed this after surgery). Good luck and I hope you feel better soon!

Take more time to heal. This surgery is a big deal. I went back to work at about 6 weeks but very part time. All I could do was about 4 hours/day.

8 weeks post op and I would say no way. ouch. you only have one chance to do it right. better to go forward than to have to suffer a set back.

Based on how you feel now, I'd say wait. You likely won't feel that much better in a week that you could do it. When I went back I'd been out of pain for 2+ weeks and felt pretty good for that long. I think you at least need to be out of pain. take 6 wks if you can.

I would take as much time as you can. You only have one chance to heal correctly. It really takes a long time for everything inside to heal. I would not have even been ready 6 weeks so if you can take the time, I would. Take care of you first!

Take as much time as you can. I just returned to work after 6 weeks. I get really tired after just 4 hours. Thank goodness I have a job that allows me to go home early.

I had a TVH March 8th. I was planning on going back for one day April 5th, then full time the next week. Recovery has been smooth, pain around ovaries(how long does that last) and an UTI infection that won't go away. I've never had one before. I'm on my second round of antibiotics, these are for 10 day. I'm concerned the UTI won't be better by then. I'm a dental Hygienest so do lots of reaching, bending and have a busy schedule. After listening to all your post I am going to take off one more week.

Hi Michelle ~~ I think you should take as much time off as possible. No sense going back too early and making things harder for your recovery. I think you've kind of already answered your own question. If you were feeling well enough to return, there would be no doubting in your mind. You would be secure in your decision to go back at 4 1/2 weeks. Your body is telling you it's not ready to face the classroom yet. Stay home and heal!! Take care!