yet another how much time off work question

[Guest guest]

Hi everyone,

I know that this question has been asked a million times and that the

answer is different for everyone ... but here I am asking yet again.

Here's my dilemma: I am scheduled for surgery in December. I have

just been offered a wonderful new job, however, one of the busy

periods is, you guessed it, December. I told my new employer that I

would check into the possibility of moving my surgery to January or

February. Well, my surgeon is booked through March! I just don't

think I can delay my surgery that long.

When I first divulged the surgery to my new employer, I told them I

would be out the entire month of December. Now I'm wondering if I

might be able to return to work after two weeks.

I'm slated for: lower jaw set-back, para-nasal implants (like little

cheek implants near the nose), and genioplasty (chin reduction.)

While I was told that December is busy, I really think the last two

weeks can only be moderately so because so many people will be out of

the office. Am I fooling myself here?

I've left a message with the surgeon's office about this but would

love to hear anyone else's thoughts. Many thanks!

Maddie

[Guest guest]

Well Maddie,

Your probably not going to like this answer but it is almost

impossible to guess. It also depends on what you do. I am one week

post-op and I have begun working from home a few hours a day. I need

the mental activity. Fortunetly I am able to do a lot of work from

home on my laptop.

I've heard of people going back to work in a week and others taking 6

weeks. I think the biggest obstacle to going back to work is the time

it takes for food preparation and proper nourishment. Unless you have

a full kitchen where you work I think it would be hard to eat.

Marsha

> Hi everyone,

>

> I know that this question has been asked a million times and that

the

> answer is different for everyone ... but here I am asking yet again.

>

> Here's my dilemma: I am scheduled for surgery in December. I have

> just been offered a wonderful new job, however, one of the busy

> periods is, you guessed it, December. I told my new employer that I

> would check into the possibility of moving my surgery to January or

> February. Well, my surgeon is booked through March! I just don't

> think I can delay my surgery that long.

>

> When I first divulged the surgery to my new employer, I told them I

> would be out the entire month of December. Now I'm wondering if I

> might be able to return to work after two weeks.

>

> I'm slated for: lower jaw set-back, para-nasal implants (like

little

> cheek implants near the nose), and genioplasty (chin reduction.)

>

> While I was told that December is busy, I really think the last two

> weeks can only be moderately so because so many people will be out

of

> the office. Am I fooling myself here?

>

> I've left a message with the surgeon's office about this but would

> love to hear anyone else's thoughts. Many thanks!

>

> Maddie

[Guest guest]

Thanks, Marsha! My surgeon's office called me back and said " 4 weeks

minimum. " Oh well. Hopefully I'll feel as good as you do and will be

able to do a bit of work from home.

[Guest guest]

Thank goodness you have a surgeon who checks into reality from time

to time! That's the most reasonable estimate I've heard. Mine usually

recommends 3 weeks for his double jaw surgery patients (I had

upper/lower/genio), but was willing to sign me off for 6-8

weeks " since that's how long it takes for the bone to properly heal " .

Insurance approved 6 weeks, I took 5 weeks off (had to go back

earlier as I'm a accounting manager and had some strict reporting

deadlines to meet). After a week, I did some mega-overtime, and found

out exactly what stress can do to the body, not pleasant. Mouth

swelled up from the inside, and I experienced trembling and weakness,

none of which is normal for me. I got done as quickly as I could

(actually left some things undone, which is not my style) and

retreated home for a few days to my couch.

Take as much time as you can. Your body only gets one chance at

proper healing, most people underestimate the recovery process. Not

that I didn't have a rapid and easy early recovery, but you'll find

out when you get there that you will lack energy for a lot of

reasons: restricted diet, disturbed sleep patterns, anaesthesia after-

effects (my massage therapist says it can take months for this to

completely clear one's system) etc. Food prep, " eating " and cleanup

of your mouth can take a long time.

The biggest problem is that you'll start to look fairly normal on the

outside, but there will still be a lot of internal healing going on.

Employers and co-workers won't see you in the same light as someone

who broke their leg or was recovering after being in a car accident.

But for your body, it will be devoting major resources to healing as

if it had been subjected to a major trauma, even though you agreed to

it : )

> Thanks, Marsha! My surgeon's office called me back and said " 4

weeks

> minimum. " Oh well. Hopefully I'll feel as good as you do and will

be

> able to do a bit of work from home.

[Guest guest]

That is such a great response susan. i have been thinking about what

you mentioned in that we " look " ok, but there is still a lot of

healing going on on the inside. one of my babysitters made a comment

today that made me think she wonders why i still need her since i am

doing so well. Well, i AM doing pretty well, but i still take an

almost hour nap a day, and i am TIRED, dog tired, taking care of my

10 month old. I had thought about the " broken leg " before you

brought it up. WE KNOW how we are doing and that is all that

matters. We can't let others push us into doing more than we are

able to - they have no idea what we have been through.

> > Thanks, Marsha! My surgeon's office called me back and said " 4

> weeks

> > minimum. " Oh well. Hopefully I'll feel as good as you do and will

> be

> > able to do a bit of work from home.

[Guest guest]

You said it, . Don't let others push you into doing things that

you're not ready for. I had to leave work that day, I just couldn't

push myself any further - and I used to be Superwoman with mega

energy - 14 hour days 4 days a week were no problem a short few years

ago (I can still do the occasional one, but I have more help at work

now). And I am more considerate of my body, I do take better care of

it. I pay closer attention to what it's telling me instead of

ignoring it as I did for years and years.

The mere mention of a 10 month old tires me out. Wow! Compared to

you, my recovery was a snap. I didn't have to do anything, no

cooking, just eating, cleaning, sleeping, and taking it easy until I

had to go back to work.

> That is such a great response susan. i have been thinking about

what

> you mentioned in that we " look " ok, but there is still a lot of

> healing going on on the inside. one of my babysitters made a

comment

> today that made me think she wonders why i still need her since i

am

> doing so well. Well, i AM doing pretty well, but i still take an

> almost hour nap a day, and i am TIRED, dog tired, taking care of my

> 10 month old. I had thought about the " broken leg " before you

> brought it up. WE KNOW how we are doing and that is all that

> matters. We can't let others push us into doing more than we are

> able to - they have no idea what we have been through.