Frustrated with the whole mess...advice?

Hi all, my name is Michelle and to make a long story short, I was diagnosed with a rt ovarian 'complex mass' that resulted in a tah/bso w/ appendectomy and thank goodness the mass was benign!! However, the path that lead me to where I am now was full of complications, some minor some serious...first of all, doc wanted me to have a colonoscopy prior to surgery, to rule out colon ca--nerve-wracking for me since I have panic disorder and had never been sedated before much less major surgery!! I went on LOA from the hospital I work at, same place I had all the procedures done at. Well that was Aug 5th and the scope was done the 8th, with the surgery planned for the 13th...well multiple bowel preps wiped me out and left me with a K of 2.6 and Na of 128---dangerously low. So I ended up on my own telemetry floor for cardiac monitoring...sad and scared. Surgery was rescheduled for Aug 17th so I stayed in the hospital at docs request for 7 days!! (Gee not a short story after all, sorry) Well the surgery went well I felt pretty darned good UNTIL...leaking incision that was initially dismissed by doc, until I began to drain a lot and tho odorless, it became yellow as it still is...sad and still scared. So just as I was my own advocate in REQUESTING that serum lytes be ordered the day of my first attempt at surgery (they had only planned a type and screen for my blood type)...I also REQUESTED to be placed on antibiotics asap, which now I am on 2 different types. My issues aside from that bs---is the fmla paperwork, where the doc requests that I go back to work Sept 28th??? No way!!! I am an RN, and I work hard enough without having to worry about my poor healing incision...can they make me anymore sad and scared??!! Advice, comments, will be greatly appreciated, I have so much respect for the women here. I'm trying to be brave, but losing momentum rapidly.....:-(

I am proud of you for your dedication to your own health, I believe that with your medical knowledge you will be able to find what is best for you! Many wishes for a speedy recovery

You have been through a lot and I applaud you for advocating so well for your healthcare.I would definitely tell your doc you need more time to return to work. If he won't listen see your family doctor. With everything you've been through extra time does not seem unreasonable. Good luck and I hope your healing well as you progress!

Thank you thank you, AConfused27 and cathb911!!! Yes even my family (who can be a bit over critical, lol) were very proud of me and how I handled the situation very professionally and calmly. Now I find the calm slipping away when I think about the system (docs, fmla, etc...) trying to send me back to work too soon!! I will put my best foot forward there as well and hope it doesn't end up in my mouth or someone's ***...lmao!!! Thanks again for the support and validation!! (((Hugs)))....Michelle

Hi Michelle, I too am so frustrated with my work, Im also an RN who stands and runs around for 12 hours straight. I took a week off prior to my surgery because of severe abdominal pains which is when my large ovarian cyst was diagnosed along with an omentum infarction. ( I finished my shift before stopping in the ER on the way out). But the time away from work folks called yesterday to inform me I had been approved to be paid through 9/21. My surgery was 8/31, three weeks!!! Really? She said I would need further documentation to be off longer. But my Dr had just sent in the paperwork with no work until at least 10/4. But she said it was my hospitals policy and she needed another note in case she was audited. I'm so frustrated, I should be focused on getting well! I work at a hospital for crying out loud, should they not be compassionate, I never miss work. It's all even more frustrating because they just took a benefit of an extended illness bank away from us that I had close to 800 hours in and they just changed over to this new system. Now I just want to take a full 6-8 weeks because I'm so mad! Thanks for listening to me vent! I hope it works out for both of us.

Oh Canoli!! I feel your pain!! I am going thru almost the exact same thing!! Doesn't the law of fmla protect us in any way??!! I know a nurse who got 8wks off for a wrist sprain!! My place of employment seems to play faves...do you get that vibe?! I want the full 12 weeks because I'm angry too!! No compassion and the insinuation I hear in the hr and np voices that somehow I don't WANT to go back! I love being a nurse I will be a nurse as long as I live, how dare they!! Thanks for letting me vent thanks for your input!! Hope it does work out for all of us as well!! (((Hugs)))