Recovery time TAH/BSO

Hi! I realize that everyone recovers at a different pace. However, due to time constraints pursuant to FMLA, I am only going to be able to take 4 weeks off work after my TAH/BSO on April 27th.

My job is not physical other than carrying heavy files (I am a paralegal) but I do have an hour commute one way.

I am in very good physical shape and my doctor seems to think I will heal quickly. He agreed with the stipulation that if there are no complications I can return to work in 4 weeks.

Those of you that have had a TAH/BSO what was your recovery time frame? Do you think it unreasonable to expect return to work in 4 weeks? How did you feel, i.e., pain, getting tired, etc. by the 4th week?

Thanks for all of your input and best wishes to all.

LKS

lksinmi;

I can't help much with the recovery times, that's a joy that's still ahead for me.
I remember from my c-section that I wouldn't have been able to tackle work at 4 weeks, though I think I'm a slow healer! Or so dh tells me.

I'm curious though, what happens if you can't get back to work then? Do you lose pay or something?

HollyK

I am 6 weeks post-op - going for my checkup on Monday. I don't have much pain or discomfort, but I still can feel internal twinges, and I am incredibly tired after doing almost anything for too long.

I can't imagine going back to work or commuting! I guess if I absolutely had to I would, but I'd have my jammies on the minute I walked in the door!

Today I am 2 weeks and 3 days post-op from TAH. Other than swelly belly and little internal twinges (not worthy of the word "pain") I am feeling pretty good.

Today DH and I drove 30 minutes to attend a 2-hr meeting. Later we went out to dinner. I did lay down in between our two outings for about 30 minutes, just to take pressure off of swelly belly.

While I feel pretty good, I am not at full capacity yet, and definitely still am taking it slow and easy.

DISCLAIMER: (As a paralegal, you should appreciate this!) There are a lot of internal stitches and lots of internal healing that has to happen. Overdoing it can lead to trouble!

Best Wishes!

I did very well and I could have easily worked by the fourth week, however, every person is different. I've found that fatigue is the biggest issue......far more than pain. Is it possible to work half time for a couple of weeks before you go back full time?

I had a TAH/vertical incision and one ovary removed on Feb. 28. The following is based on my experience ... your mileage may differ. Also, everything I've done was with my doctor's approval.

I also had limited medical coverage -- my combined sick time and vacation time only covered me for the first three weeks. So as the sole household income earner, I went back to work half-time at three weeks post-op. However, I telecommute and I have a desk job, which made it easier.

I worked 24 hours at four weeks post-op but had a very painful evening the one day I put in nine hours in order to meet a deadline. That evening, I even took an OTC pain-killer for the first time in two weeks. I was asleep by 7:30 p.m.

This week I *almost* managed to work 30 hours -- I owe the company a couple of hours which I'll put in over the weekend.

What I find this week (five weeks post-op) is my energy level feels great and I'll be booming along and then suddenly -- CRASH!! It is like I have no long-term stamina and still require extra rest. (Both days when I fell short of my six-hour work goal, it was because my body literally DEMANDED an afternoon nap to function.)

Overall, I feel as if I've had a very smooth and steady recovery. I was out of hospital a day early, walking my dogs for 30 minutes at one week post-op, swimming gentle laps starting at 16 days post-op, and resuming yoga at the four week mark.

Financially, it hasn't been as bad as I had feared. Thanks to a stat holiday occuring during my half-time week and a graduated tax system, my last paycheque was only $200 less than usual although I had not been working full-time for the previous two weeks. You may want to check and find out exactly how much your net pay will be if you work part-time for a few weeks.

From my own experience, I would suggest it might be difficult to return to work full-time at four weeks post-op. You will also have to avoid lugging around the files for six weeks, which might be hard to do if you're back at work full-time since people may assume you're fully healed.

One of my unexptected problems has been that I've apparantly looked really good throughout this process, so I've had to deal with other people's assumptions about what I can and cannot do.

Best wishes for a successful surgery and a smooth recovery.

Keep well,
IslandScribe

I'm one day past 4 weeks with a TAH/BSO and I went back to work on Monday, part-time (day 24). I'm a bookkeeper (for attorneys, lol) and had to do billing. Anyway, the first day I worked 6 hours, with a 45 min commute (RT), second day 5 hours plus commute and the 3rd day I couldnt get out of bed! Exhausted and a fair amount of swollen belly causing me pain. I saw my doctor that same day for my 4 week check up and he said I shouldn't have worked more than 4 hours each day, including my commute. So that's what I did yesterday and today and I have to admit to feeling much better. You just don't realize how much stretching/reaching, etc. you do accessing all those various files! And the showering in the morning, getting dressed for work (instead of back into jammies) plus the drive, etc ... it does take a toll.

I know that we don't always have options regarding time off work, and I know how valuable you paralegals are ... but there is a very good chance that you won't feel up to working 40 hours that first week back. I would highly suggest seeing if you can at least try for part-time the first few days, or if you have to work 8 hours, then take a day off inbetween to recoup.

Just my opinion ...

Bonnie
TAH/BSO March 10, 2005
Endometrial Adenocarcinoma, Stage 1

I had a TAH on 3/23/05. I am taking 4 weeks off. I am very fit and have done unbelievably well. I had my two week checkup today and my dr. is amazed at how well I am recovering. However, I am aware that no matter how well I feel, I know I am going to be wiped out at the end of the day. I have an hour commute each way to work. If I feel that I can only work half a day, than that's what I am going to do.... Please take it easy and remember if you over do it, you can set yourself back weeks in your recovery. Good luck to you....

LKS,

I can't speak from personal experience yet (scheduled for TAH BSO 4-11). However, I do know that you must adhere to the doctor's orders regarding lifting and using the stomach muscles. After any surgery, fibrous (scar) tissue develops. By straining, pulling internal sutures and using the ab muscles, you can cause more fibrous scarring. The fibrous tissue adheres to surrounding tissue and organs and can cause pain and problems in the future.

L.

Well, I'd have to echo the sentiments of many of the others. I'm a very fast healer. I'm right at the 4 week post-op mark. I'm already up to 4 miles walking each day.

But I would not go back to work fulltime next week.

Consider this...counting your commute as "working" (you'll be concentrating and sitting up), you'll be putting in probably 10.5 hours of work a day.

I think if you do that you might wake up the 2nd or 3rd day exhausted. Then you'll have to call in sick. Then you'll have an absenteeism issue for the next couple of weeks as you work and then stay home, work and then stay home.

I'd stay out at least 6 weeks. Even then you're going to be tired in the afternoons and you'll still have an hour drive home each night.