Am I ready to go back to work????

Hi Everyone,
Happy Holidays!
I am so glad to have found you on Chistmas Eve. It was one of my best presents. Peace of mind really helps recovery and that is just what I have gotten since I started reading all my hyster sisters' experiences. It is definitely a website I will pass on to future princesses.
Here's where I'm at. I am 6 weeks post-op (yesterday). I feel better each day just as my doctor assured me I would. However, I still need Ambien to sleep, am having hot flashes (taking Premarin .625 mg.) and Paxil (10 mg.). I was on Prempro and Paxil before surgery. No more crying jags, but still feel shakey. I can get up in the morning and do several chores or errands, but by 12:30, I am exhausted. Brain fog lifts in the morning, but seems to return in the afternoon. I am planning on returning to work as a speech therapist in the public schools next Wed. Jan. 2nd for 1/2 days but am not sure about this. I am only in one school and it is only 5 minutes from my house. Also have waves of nausea. Is all this normal for 6 weeks? Any advice is appreciated. I see my doc on 1/10 again. Should I call him about hot flashes,etc.?
Marlene

Hi Marlene Welcome to Hyster Sisters. I'm so happy you've found us: what a wonderful X-Mas gift it must have been for you

Regarding your question as to whether or not you are ready to return to work, I really can't answer this for you. As you pointed out, each day is a little better and you still have time to do a lot of healing by January 2nd.

When I returned to work at 5 1/2 weeks post-op, I made arrangements with my boss: I was returning to work with the provision that, should I find it was too much, I would return home and take a longer leave of absence. I must admit it was a lot harder than I'd thought it would be, but I found I was able to manage. I just made sure I kept a healthy supply of Tylenol available, would prop my feet up on my inverted recycling bin, in order to keep the pressure off of my still dissolving stitches, walk around as much as I needed to and took it easy when I came home.

I would suggest making arrangements to the effect that you are returning only on a trial basis.

Some of your problems seem to be related to hormone issues. If you haven't done so already, I would suggest you post in Hormone Jungle message board where you're most likely to find answers regarding hormone issues.

Wishing you the best of luck. Please keep us posted on your progress.

Marlene,
Fatigue is quite normal at 6 weeks post. While your doctor may release you for active duty at 6-8 weeks, your body is really only about 60% recovered, the remaining 40% can take anywhere from 6 months to a year. You should continue to see gradual improvements in that area.

Alot of your other symptoms do sound hormonal in nature. During your first 6-10 weeks post op your body is using up its stored reserves of hormones, so it's not unusual to experince symptoms of imbalance during this time.

What time do you take your premarin? Some women do experience nausea when taking it. Some have found it helpful to take it at night right before going to bed.

Do also go to www.hormonejungle.com and read all the pull down menus. There is a alot of great information there about hormones.

Sending some s for you Marlene. Hang in there, it can get better.

Hi Marlene, I agree with everything Kim said. The only time I had night sweats was the first few weeks after surgery. It is tempting to want to work on your HRT but so early in recovery your symptoms may be more related to recovery than hormones. I went to work full time at 6 weeks and it was tiring but I did fine. Just know to not push too hard and rest when you get home. Come on over to the Hormone Jungle forum if you continue to have symptoms in the next few weeks. I hope you do well as you return to work.

Thank you all for responding so quickly. As I said before, peace of mind is a wonderful thing. My principal, teachers, and supervisor are all very understanding. I think I will try it next week and see how it goes. Thanks for the 60/40 information. It makes me feel lots better to know that and I will definitely keep it in mind. I'll let you all know how it goes next week.
Marlene

I had my surgery in early September, 2001, so I am now over 3 months post op. I returned to work at 6 weeks, also with the provision that I could go home to rest if needed, come in a bit later in the morning, etc. It really wasn't until I was at approx. 10 weeks post op till I actually felt "good". Be sure to take it easy when you return to work. Don't plan on coming home and then making dinner, doing laundry, running errands, etc. I bought a lot of packaged and pre-made meals, ate out a lot (Subway is a healthy, cheap meal if you add some vegetables and fruit on the side) and was kind to myself. I couldn't work, grocery shop, and make a meal on the same day, so don't expect yourself to do so. I am 48, and my abdominal hysterectomy was much harder to recover from than was my C-section 17 years ago. Just be kind to yourself, take it easy on yourself, and try to let some things slide. My clean laundry sat in a hamper and my son dug through it to find his underwear for a while; and guess what? He came through it all just fine! Be patient with yourself and rest as much as you can on the weekends and after work (it's okay to climb into bed after dinner and just watch t.v. -- something I never did before my surgery, but sure learned to do after the surgery!). Best wishes for a speedy recovery.

Nancy in Denver