worried about oct surgery

Hi Everyone,
First time posting for me but have been reading since I found this site. Thanks to everyone involved as in a lot of ways it helps knowing there are others out there like me!
I am having a tah in Oct. Because of my previous surgeries and endometreosis my doctor says it will be a little "tricky". I also have an enlarged and hard womb that is for some reason on my left side instead of the center of my body. He thinks it may be attached to my ovary and i have a "grape cluster size" of endo on the back side of my uterus that he could feel. I know my past surgery I was opened from my belly button down because the endo was the size of a small cantelope. Had the shots to throw in to a temp menopause and was the worse three months of my life!My doctor thinks the past surgeries caused a lot of adhesions/scaring. I am 42 and have tried to get pregnant for years. Now not only am I scared to death of having the surgery and prospects of menopause, but I am mourning the loss of never having a baby. Work seems to think I should be back in 6 weeks because my boss's wife had the same thing and he had to convince her to stay out 6 weeks. I work where I move fixtures, boxes of merchandise and climb a ladder almost everyday to hang sale signs! Am I going to feel like doing this after 6 weeks? I know it is premature but I am so worried because they all seem to think so but what I read here makes me wonder. I have short term disability so I am not worried about money. just the hazzle of them thinking I should be back. My doctor says I will be the one to tell him when I am ready to go back and he will release me then. Can anyone give me an idea or advise? What kind of work is too much too soon? Thanks

I was OK to work at 6 weeks, but I work in an office. I don't think I would have been ready to do any physical work or lifting much at that point in time. I would get the advice of your MD about when you might be able to resume that type of work. My guess (and it is only my guess) would be close to 3 months.

Good luck to you.

I'm sorry for your troubles, but the good news is that they'll be over soon! At 5 weeks I was back at work and though I felt tired and achy afterward it was pretty much all right (I am a waitress, lots of lifting and carrying). You should be OK after 6 weeks, give it a try and if it's too soon you can always take another week or two off.

I was told 6-8 weeks from my doc. My date isn't confirmed until Monday(8-20) but I should be having my surgery in October as well. So we will be together on this. I think your the first one I have found going in October. And I think we have to much time on our hands to wonder about things, what do you think .....
I talked to my boss and he thought I'd be out 6-8 weeks. I lift alot as I am a c.n.a. but I also do doctors orders and things so if i feel up to coming back sooner but can't lift I'll be alright. (that is as long as the doctor clears me. And that is what it comes down to. Your boss may think you'll be ready because his wife was. But it depends on you and your doctor. If your doctor doesn't clear you then you'll have an extended vacation. (as if we can really call this that) Take it one day at a time and if your not ready after 6 weeks then do what you need to for you. Remember, your healing is most important. Gotta love when people say 'well I got back in this amount of time' or 'my mom was back in two weeks'. We are all different. Good luck and I will keep a look out for you when you get back. And I will post monday with a confirmed date.
Julie

Thanks everyone,
I think I have too much time to think, worry and wonder. I checked my short term disability and I can be out 8 weeks with it plus I have 2 weeks vacation I have to take before the end of the year. My doctor is cool and has told me not to rush it and I would go back to work when I told him I was ready and not before! Since I do so much pulling, moving and standing I think my doctor would prefer that I would. He fussed at me big time last year when I had a biopsy done in his office and went back to work that day! He said I should have at least been off my feet for one day!
I also started my period this week (only 2 more) and have cramps that felt like I was giving birth to baby elephants! It did not help that we were rearranging the ladies clothing dept at work for all the fall merchandise this week and have had to move racks of clothes and be on the ladder all day moving signs. That is what I worry about after surgery because I will be going back as we have to take down all the christmas decorations and move everything back after christmas sales. But I have made up my mind that I will do what you ladies have all said and let my body tell me when I can do what!
This site is the best and I do feel much better reading as much as I can about what is happening with my body and that others feel the same way! Thanks to everyone and Julie, keep in touch as we may be Oct sisters!

jujuwilloughby

I went back to work at 6 weeks post-op. 1/2 days the first week and then back to full days. I have a desk job, and was exhausted those first two weeks. I cannot imagine going back to the kind of work you do in just 6 weeks.
Just because your boss's wife went back to work when she did, doesn't mean that everyone is ready in that length of time. Each of us heals at a different rate.
Take your time to recover fully. You only get one chance to heal. And once you are released from your doctor, you can't very easily get unreleased.
Best wishes.

Hey Juju,
We have surgery the same day. Oct. 16.It does seem so far away but the other ladies have told me to take this time to plan, plan, plan. It's just to much time to think, and worry.
My surgery is for fibroids and poss. endo. don't know what they'll find once inside. I hope things go well for you with your surgery and don't go back to work too soon!! Take the time you need to heal, I know I plan to.

Take care and listen to your body.

Susan

Hi Susan,
It does help to know someone else is going through this too although I hate to wish it on anyone! I just can't wait until I feel better! October seems a long way away until you make a list of all that need to be done between now and then! My mind keeps wandering and thinking of all kinds of things to do or ask. My dh said the same thing about letting the doctor ,not work ,tell me when I should do what. I have to admit though I am not a very good patient. My dh hovers and I like to be left alone unless I need something. He had a bell that they used when they were sick as kids so he bought me a bell the other day to use.He can be so sweet! He may hate that bell before its over!
Keep in touch and we can scream and cry with each other!
Juju

For all you October sisters boy can I relate. I was scheduled for my Surgery in early June and I still have 4 weeks to go. The wait is a killer. In some ways you are happy about the long wait as you can get things done and be really prepared. On the other hand you just want this whole thing done and over with.

You have no idea how many times I keep trying to talk myself out of the surgery.I think that is a definite drawback of having a long surgery date.

Take care and try to keep yourselves busy.