When is it OK to return to work?

I'm new to this website. I sure wish I'd known about it prior to my operation. I had my TVH this past Monday, October 21st. Although, I was quite out of it for that day & most of Tuesday from the automatic morphine drops they were giving me, plus that magical button they gave me, I now 'almost' feel like I can return to my regular routine. My best friends say absolutely not and that I should just sit & relax & enjoy the time off. It's not that I'm worried about my pay, because I get 60 days of 100% STD. I am still on pain medication (vicodine) and today was my first day out to get a bite to eat & see the world again. It was a real treat. I'm about to go stir crazy with nothing to do. I'm by myself. Did you all ever feel this way? My first visit to the DR is on Tuesday. Should I tell him I'm ready to return to work, or is this a mistake?

Hi there

Don't get too excited about feeling so good just yet. You're still very early in your recovery..

A lot of us felt pretty chirpy the first few days after our surgeries but the effects of the anaesthetic and strong drugs are still in your system and will be for some time. I wouldn't be making any immediate decision about a return to work. You need to take it really easy, some gentle walking, lots of water, plenty of sitting down with feet up resting. I know the boredom can get to you but as we've all heard on this site, you only get one chance to heal right and you don't want to botch it up.

Sounds like you have some wonderful caring friends and I think they're giving you very good advice.

Take care.

Hi Suze

Even though you don't have an incision, you need to understand that you've got hundreds of internal stitches that need to heal! Depending upon the doctor, you may need to be out for 4-6 weeks.

Since you're new to the site and haven't had a chance to look around, I'm going to pass on some great advice from our friend, Toonces:

Toonces Do's and Don't's List for Post Op

-Picking up pillows and repositioning them…..allowed
-Turning on dishwasher AFTER SOMEONE ELSE HAS LOADED IT…..allowed
-Changing roll of toilet paper…..allowed
-Flipping on lightswitch…..allowed
-Folding laundry…..allowed
-Taking short, easy walks and gentle stretching…..allowed
-Lifting the remote control…..allowed
-Asking others for help...allowed and encouraged

X – Vacuuming…..NOT ALLOWED
X – Sweeping or Mopping…..NOT ALLOWED
X – Carrying laundry across house to washer…..NOT ALLOWED
X – Lifting, Bending, Reaching, Driving…..NOT ALLOWED
X – Lying around the house all day doing nothing…..NOT ALLOWED (see above)
X - Bending to access oven or empty litterboxes....NOT ALLOWED
X - Going to Wal-Mart for some bargain shopping....NOT RECOMMENDED
X – Pushing a shopping cart….NOT ALLOWED
X – Sitting for prolonged periods of time i.e. at computer….NOT ALLOWED
X – Opening windows, particularly the hard-to-open ones….NOT ALLOWED
X – Making other people’s problems your own…..NOT ALLOWED
X - Picking Tomatoes, Weeding, and other such nonsense...NOT ALLOWED

I know you're bored --- but you need to heal. Take time to write letters, catch up on movies you've been wanting to see, that sort of thing.

There's also a lot of good information on the home page under "Punctured Princesses". And don't spend too much time at the computer (unless it's a laptop and you're kicked back in bed or in a recliner) --- sitting is an activity, and right now you need to take it easy.

s

Stop! you are still in the drug-induced "I feel great phase"! This is very common, it happened to me. My friends and family commented that I acted/looked like nothing had even happened. I felt like *#?!&# for the next two weeks. Magically, sometime in the third week I felt another rush of energy (this time it was real) and started slowly increasing activities. You will be feeling great, then your energy will suddenly bottom out and you will feel utterly exhausted. Your body has been through a major trauma, and If you don't take the time to heal NOW, you will be right back in surgery with complications. Please take care of yourself now. I started doing some work at home the end of the second week, at my own pace, and that is great because you can "ride the wave" of energy levels. You can "pop-in" at the office to turn in home-work but make YOURSELF your number one priority. Besides that, your employer and co-workers never realize exactly how much we do and how valuable we are to them until we are gone for a while! BEST WISHES- MAGOO

Hi Suze and welcome to the site! I've got 4 words for you "Take the 60 days" I felt the same way a few days after my surgery and at 2 weeks post op I'm now in bed for a large portion of the day. I'd planned to go back to work after next week but am not sure if I'll make it by then if I feel anything like the fatigue I'm feeling now.

If you don't have to go back just take your time and go for the wait and see option as if you go back next week you may find that recovery takes alot longer with more complications.

regards
Xaviera

Well, that sounds unanimous. I will just wait it out and do crossword puzzle books that I just bought & watch the history channel.

My very dear friend that is taking such wonderful care of me (she's 61 and I'm 38, but we're the BEST of friends), may herself be going in for this type of surgery. I will be there for her just as she has and always has been by my side when I've needed her. I've told her about your fantastic site and printed off some info for her.

Thanks ya'll. Have a great week! I think it's naptime.

I went to a concert four hours from home at 8 days post and on the way back was telling my DH that I thought I'd try to go back to work the next week. School was starting and somebody ELSE was going to be teaching the beginning of the year in my classroom. I KNEW that I'd have a lot of undoing to do when I got back.......

Well...... that lasted about a day. I was so tired from going to the show and out to dinner with my parents the next day (which was my birthday) that I think I slept for a week. When I did go back at 6 weeks, I felt good, but still tired. I'm now nine weeks post and am happy that I took the time I needed to heal.

Mona