How long are you requesting to be off work

I'm not sure how long to tell my employer I will be away. I'm hopefully having a LAVH and removal of an ovary and tube but might possibley have to have a TAH. I'm not sure what to tell my employer. Any advice?

I have made arrangements to work from home after the first 2 weeks (if I am up to it) and to return to work as soon as I am able to drive/walk/sit for hours. I have a desk job, so my Dr says "you can sit at your desk as easily as your couch, so if you want to, we will talk about it when the time comes." I have prepared the staff to be without me for as long as 6 weeks though... Just in case.

Thanks Donna, I'm in sales and drive every day for my job which is pretty much the same as sitting at a desk. I can, however, work at home some of the time.

Unfortunately, at some jobs how long you take off is up to your employer. My job allows 4 weeks for a TVH, and 6 weeks for a TAH. If you need to stay out longer it takes a Dr's approval and tons of paperwork. Don't push it and try to return to work too early. I have a desk job, and even at six weeks had a hard time sitting comfortably all day without my abdomen swelling and being very uncomfortable. You only get one chance to heal properly, so pamper yourself as long as you can.

my doctor said at first to prepare to be off 6 weeks but when I told him I had a physical job with a lot of lifting he said for sure it would be 8 weeks.

I had my doctor fill out FMLA papers and he stated 3-6 weeks off. However, my employer and I decided to take it day at a time. I am hoping to go back to work next week for a 1/2 day for a couple of weeks and slowly work my way back to full time.

I had my TAH on January 31 and on February 2 I was home and already doing work at home via internet. Next week when I go back to work I will be taking my laptop with me so that out IT guys can put a link on it so I can work from home.

Good luck and take it one day at a time, do not rush back to work.

Thanks, I think I will tell them 2 weeks at first and then play it by ear after that. I'm salaried and rarely take a sick day in the 6 years I've been there. I know they will be very accomodating. When I had my left tube and ovary removed 10 years ago they made a huge abdominal incision. I think at 3 weeks I was still quite sore and bloated. Hopefull the LAVH will be less painful.

I was told 6 weeks for LAVH but when I discussed my job post op, teaching, I was given until 12 weeks and I return on Monday. I think it depends a lot on recovery but also the kind of job.

mesly,
driving is way harder than sitting at a desk. I started working at home 4 days after my LAVH and started driving at 2 weeks. The working was fine but the driving was hard. It tired me out and made me pretty sore. I drove my child to a tennis tournament 2 hours from home 16 days after my surgery and had a major meltdown that night from the exhaustion. Driving places more stress on your body and even the seatbelt pressure hurt on my lap incisions. I went back to work (in the office) at 4 weeks. I really could comfortably have gone around 3 but since I had the time off, I took it!! Good luck to you.

I don't think I would tell my employer 2 weeks. Why? If you're not back at 2 weeks, then they will come back and say, you said 2 weeks. I would say I'll be out approximately 4 to 6 weeks, maybe less, maybe more. My return will depend on how rapidly I heal and how well how I feel, and that's barring any complications (let's hope you won't have any).

Good luck to you!

Carol