Return to Work

Hey Hyster Sisters has anyone had a problem with an employer thinking that you should return to a stressful management position, full time, 1 1/2 weeks after a hysterectomy?

I am getting a lot of pressure as the owners feel that one week was enough, although my doctor is talking 3-4 weeks. I have a vertical abdominal incision that is rather lengthy due to an abundance of fibroid tumors.

I am caught in between and could use your opinion.

Lynnette

You do what your doctor tells you to do! You have a right to be off for the amount of time your doctor feels is safe. This is a major surgery! Better to be off now than to go back too soon and have complications which could make you be off even longer. Your responsibilityis to take care of YOU.

IF THAT IS ALL THEY THINK OF YOU, I WOULD START LOOKING IN THE CLASSIFIEDS WHILE I WAS RECUPERATING. TAKE IT EASY AND DON'T PUSH IT. READ SOME OF THE HORROR STORIES IN THIS SITE OF WOMEN WHO WENT BACK TOO SOON.
GOOD LUCK
DO WHAT YOU THINK NOT WHAT THEY THINK.
CHERYL

Gee, do you work with Louboo? see her post for what could be in your future.
Take all the time your are entitled to, and be a good Princess.

I don't recall a post that said "I'm back at work, and should have returned SOONER!"

If you are out on sick leave, why even talk to your boss? Use caller ID if you have it, or let your machine pick up. He/She'll get the message.
Or send a letter that states that you'll return when you are released by your DR. That way he/she can't bully you on the phone or in person.
Be honest with your DR about your employer's expectations. 3-4 weeks seems so early.

Take care of your self, sister.

I had a LAVH and was out for 7 weeks because my stitches weren`t healed- and I am still so tired.
I agree you need to start looking for a nicer boss.
Paula

Hi - I have a long vertical incision, and I needed my whole six weeks of rest. I was kind of slow on the first few days back at work, too. My employers were very compassionate and told everyone to take it easy on me when I got back.

This is MAJOR surgery! Please take care of yourself - you only have one body!

I think a letter from your doctor is a great idea.

My insurance company did not even hesitate to pay me six weeks of disability pay. That should tell you something!

Best wishes --

- Flo

Whoa!! Sounds like your boss' need some information on what would/could happen to you if you went back to work early. Do they want to go without you while you take off for repair surgery?? Sheesh. As far as I know, and I'm not a lawyer or anywhere even close to the sort, the FMLA (Family Medical Leave Act) PROTECTS your job and your medical benefits if you have to leave work due to a medical condition. I don't know any of the ins and outs except that my employer sent me all of the forms (I work for a large hospital) outlining what they HAVE to do and how much my disability will pay, etc. I have no idea what kind of organization you work for or if it applies in your situation, but I think I would try and find out. I was lucky, I know it and am thankful for my boss and, in a lesser sense, my employer for making sure that all of the forms were filled out, the correct people notified, etc to see to it that I had my position safe while I am out being a princess. LOL, just found out today that my boss hoped I wouldn't be out for 8 weeks but that's what the doctor ordered.... so, we'll see. If I feel like I can go back after six weeks, I'll ask my doc. Good luck to you, and I agree, you've only got one body, take care of it, please.
Chrys

I had a TVH and returned to work on a part-time basis after 3 weeks. I can't imagine having an abdominal incision and going back at 3 weeks, much less at 1-1/2 weeks. The more stressful your job, the more time you need before going back. I could have taken more time, but I was more stressed out sitting at home bored to tears and wondering if my co-workers were leaving me a mess to clean up at work. This is my second week back, still part-time, and I'm not shy about asking people to do things I can't do. The men are actually better about making sure I don't overdo than the women are. I think they're afraid I'll give details if I start feeling bad.

I'm not a lawyer either, but I think the FMLA applies only to companies with 50 or more employees. If I'm not mistaken, they have to allow up to 12 weeks per year. You might surf the net for information on it.

Hi Lynnette,

Sorry to hear you are having difficulties with your employer. You may want to check your company's personnel manual. You may find that there is a policy in place that will NOT allow you to return to work without clearance from your dr. Most companies have a policy that after 3 days absence, a dr.'s note is required to return to work no matter how many employees they have. A letter from your dr. may also help explain to your employer that this is MAJOR surgery and normal recovery time is 6-8 weeks.

My department head called me 10 days after surgery to find out how I was doing. In my office, there are 7 of us and 3 of us are out on medical leaves right now. She never came right out and asked when I would be returning to work, but I could tell that was the purpose of her call. I just let her know when my next appointment with dr is and I would let her know what he had to say. Until then, I would definitely not be returning to work as our personnel policy requires me to have dr.'s clearance to return to work. She took the hint and has not called me again. I also got the impression the temp that was hired to cover for me is not working out and my boss would like to have me back even part-time right now.

Hope everything works out for you. If you still have problems with this employer, I agree with everyone else, this might be the time to finding another place to work.

s to you and best wishes for a complete recovery.

I am 2 weeks post-op today for TAH. My bosses' boss called me at home when I way 10 days post-op looking for some spreadsheets. He asked how I was doing and then asked when I thought I'd be back at work.

I told him I had a dr. appt later in the week and left it at that. Haven't heard from him since. However, at my dr. appointment, he STRONGLY recommended that I take the full 6 weeks - which I'm entitled to and I intend to take. I don't want any set-backs!

Doc said I really needed that time to heal. He told me he has had surgery and went back to work too early and it wiped him out.

So take what you're entitled to and take care of yourself!!


___________
Henna