returning to work

I have a question about going back to work.

I am just starting week 4 post op, and I am a swim lesson instructor at our local YMCA. I am taking 7 weeks off, and then I am only going back to two parent child classes (35 minutes each, both taught one right after the other). I think this should be no problem because the parents hold the kids in the water.

However, I was supposed to teach for two hours 5 days straight for two weeks in early August. These classes would be more strenuous in which I would be holding kids in the water, catching them when they jump, helping them get in/out of the pool, etc. That will be at weeks 8&9. I can barely walk across the street without feeling winded, so I can't imagine teaching this 5-day 2-hour class for 2 weeks.

Am I overthinking this or should I just wait and see how I feel? My DH really ticked me off by telling me not to count myself out so soon, wait and see how I feel and keep a positive attitude.

THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH A POSITIVE ATTITUDE. ALL THE OPTIMISM IN THE WORLD WON'T MAKE ME HEAL FASTER!

You can see that I am mad at him! I told him it was better to cut back now than to overdo it later! Any thoughts?

I would do what your body tells you. You're so soon after surgery right now that (if you're like me) you can't imagine feeling good any time in the future. I thought the same thing...hard to see the brighter side of things when I was in so much pain. I am now 5 weeks out from my TAH/BSO and went back to work (teaching) at week 3 and 4, and now school is out so I have more time off. As far as my energy level and stamina, it kind of happened overnight for me. One day I was exhaused and in pain, just like I had been in every other day, and then it seemed like the next day I had no pain and tons of energy. I'm guessing this is not normally how things go, but try to keep that in mind. You'll probably know in a few weeks whether or not working in August will be doable.

Hang in there...take all the time you need to heal, and then get ready to enjoy what will hopefully be a pain-free life.

Maria

Blowhorn--Thanks for the encouragement--it is not the pain that worries me--it's the fatigue!

I can hardly walk across the street without losing my breath! Ladies, how long does THAT last?