Going back to work

[MarciaB]

I'm wondering when folks are going back to work? No one seems to mention when this big change takes place and how it goes.

I am my own boss, so I can do what I want, but I don't get paid if I don't work. I would like to take some of the pressure off my partner, also, we've been swamped with work. The week of my surgery, she was getting calls from people we haven't heard from in years, wanting us to do something for them. It's Christmas people, get a grip!

I am planning to start hanging around the office in the mornings this week. My office is connected to the house, so drifting in and out is possible. I also have some ignorant work backed up, nothing involving a calculator. I am not quite a month post-op. Am I crazy? What was it like when others returned to work?

Marcia
MVR Dec. 9th

 

[medtronic of borg]

bussiness

bussiness

I have been self employed most of my life. For many reasons I'd say wait at least four weeks and then be careful of the physical stuff. You may want to contact your local temporary services for help for your partner. That way you can consentrate on healing without loosing any clients.

Med

 

[Ross]

Most folks, 6 to 8 weeks or longer. If your job isn't really physical and you think you can handle it, try doing half days for a week or two and see how that's tolerated. If no problems, go back to work and get on with life. hehehe

 

[MelissaM]

Agree with the rest. Five weeks is a good starting point, but take it slow and easy. You will probably find that your concentration and cognitive abilities have a limited attention span, so give yourself permission to take breaks and stop for the day as needed. I think it is one of those things where you feel ready to work - and you can work - but at 12 weeks out you will see how limited you really were in the beginning.

 

[Christina L]

Marcia,

I will be starting back to work full-time tomorrow morning. Before my surgery I had asked my supervisor for four weeks off and told her "I would like to come back to work earlier if possible." Ha-Ha-Ha!!! At four weeks, I was not near ready to return to work and I work at home doing medical transcription, but my mind was foggy and I knew I just wasn't ready. At five weeks, I started part-time (less than 20 hours a week) and now at eight weeks, will be starting full time. I am pretty sure I am ready - I know I will be mega tired to start but that is to be expected.

Marcia, you have done so well post surgery and if you feel like starting work on a limited basis, go for it. It really does help to get back in the swing of things, just don't try to do too much and listen to your body. If you are tired, stop work, rest, etc.

Good luck!

Christina L.

 

[JimL]

I did some work the day I returned home from the hospital after surgery. But then I could stop any time I felt tired.

If you can start back to work in small amounts, with the ability to quit for the day any time, that's good.

If you can avoid stress at work, that's good.

If you can return to work in such a way that people don't quickly forget that you had such serious surgery, that's good.

Beware of draining yourself, it can happen so quickly. I had very little reserve strength left over after surgery, and I used that up very quickly.

 

[Les]

All excellent advice from the tried and true....

 

[Heather Fisher]

Everyone's advice sounds good. Being self employed you have some good options such as going back slowly. I felt I was ready to go back at 4-6 weeks but my cardio said to stay out 8 weeks. The first couple of days back were tiring but after the first week I was up to speed. Just do what your doc thinks is appropriate and slow down when you get tired. Best of luck!

Heather

 

[MarciaB]

Thanks guys,

I will take it easy. I have to drive to the south end of town this morning for a protime check. I expect it will be swamped there, so it will probably be noon before I get back, so much for working today! My biggest fear is that my clients will discover that I'm back and all hell will break loose. I made the mistake of returning a call to one and now have a meeting scheduled for tomorrow. I have to remember to say NO to people, the hardest thing.

Marcia

 

[Ross]

Just don't overload yourself. Your body WILL tell you in no uncertain terms. If you start feeling less then good, stop everything until you can get a handle on it.

 

[Georgia]

I went back to work full time at 12 weeks. I delcined going back earlier part-time because I knew that if I was in the office I'd be expected to get all my work done irrespective of whether I was on full or part time.

12 weeks was the very earliest I could have coped - I was exhausted by 2:00 every day; and couldn't follow conversations for the last hour.

It improved gradually; and I had very considerate bosses and co-workers.

I would say that going back won't hurt you, but save your energy for really important stuff that only you can do. And don't sign any contracts without someone knowledgeable checking them first.

Good luck.

 

[Perrster]

Welcome back to work!

Welcome back to work!

Marcia,

Have some fun in your meetings by NOT wearing a watch and seeing who makes a comment like so: "Did you get a new watch? "What's that clicking sound?"

That happened to me as I went back half-days two weeks post-op and full-time after I could drive again. As a one-man department, I couldn't let things go for too long, but it all worked out fine.

I know I'm assuming you got a mechanical valve as you mention going for a protime test?

What kind of work do you do?

Cheers!

 

[catwoman]

If you're not self-employed, check out your company's latest HR policies on sick leave/working part-time after surgery.

At my company, 60% of sick leave pay comes from a short-term disability company if you are out more than 5 days in a row -- provided the STD insurance co. buys the reason -- and the other 40% comes from any sick leave time you have. Yep! Yet another person had to approve my having surgery, in addition to my medical insurance co. This was a change enacted in early 2003 and I was one of the first employees affected.

My valve deteriorated so fast that I stopped working 6/5, had surgery 6/24. Had trouble talking on the phone, even walking from a handicapped parking spot in front of my office.

When I went back to work, I started part time and had to report again to STD to get any sick leave pay for hours not worked. STD required a note faxed by my PCP one week ahead of time specifying how many hours I would work. Silly me, I had thought I could handle going back to work like I did in 1985 after a hysterectomy -- work part-time, a few more hours each day.
No can do with STD. So, I worked 20 hours X 4 weeks, then went back full-time. Otherwise, I would have gotten paid for only 20HRS each week.

I'm glad I had the STD, because it saved a lot of my sick leave time, but it was a hassle. The STD employee was an RN who, when I said I would be having mitral valve surgery, looked into a book and told me how long I could be off. Reminded me of a mechanic at a car dealership checking for rate code on a bumper repair!

 

[Christina L]

This is all so interesting to read. I started back to work yesterday at my full-time job (which I do at home - medical transcription for a national company) and today got an E-mail from them almost demanding that I be sticking to my scheduled hours and required lines (we work for a pittance a line - electronic sweatshop is what I call it) or else! I just started full-time yesterday and worked my scheduled 10 hours then and today have already worked 4.5 hours (I work a split-shift 4-1/2 hours in the a.m. and 5-/12 hours in the p.m.).

Then to make matters worse, I get a phone call from my part-time job supervisor an hour ago (I was working before my surgery in-house 16 hours a week as a medical transcriptionist in a town one hour's drive away) asking when I would be back to work. Now mind you, this lady knows I have a full-time job on top of the part-time.

I just had heart surgery - give me a break!!! I am feeling very angry right now, but I have to realize that unless a person has had heart surgery, they don't have a clue. I feel "guilty" and don't know why - why should I have to feel guilty and upset when I am telling this lady that I probably won't be back at my part-time job for another month (and that was a lie - I don't want to start that job for another two months at least!).

They all act like, okay you've had your surgery, you've taken enough of "our" time, you should be feeling 100%, now get back to work. I am very frustrated right now.

Christina L.

 

[Kenny F]

i posted elsewhere about going back to work, but after day 2 plus cardiac rehab I have come to the conclusion that work itself is good healing therapy. I have felt better these last two days than I have in a long time. And you are self-employed, so if need be you can bail out. Not that I'm pushing work, but I love what I do and it IS a big part of me, so getting back in the saddle has a lot of ramifications.

You've done great so far, I'm sure you will make the right decision.

 

[ALCapshaw2]

Christina,

Maybe you should let THEM (your employers) see a real live Video of Open Heart Surgery, complete with the sawing of the sternum and the spreading of the chest until your sholder blades meet behind your back and ask them how long they think it would THEM to be ready to return to work !

'AL'

 

[Kenny F]

Al, it's amazing how most people seem to instinctively understand that we have been somewhere they haven't been (and are amazed we even live).

And then there are those who believe the "it's routine" line of thinking.

I don't want to get elitist (I didn't ask to join this club!) but if you haven't been here, you don't have a clue! And if anybody really expects a whole lot out of any of us before 3 months they are dreaming. Don't get me started....

 

[Kathy]

The only person that really understands what I went through is my husband. Of course, he also knows that I am not the type of person to sit back and relax and that I take my professional obligations very seriously.

It sounds like I am the slacker on the board! It is 6 months and I am still at home. I do some part time ofice work for my husband, clean, cook, and drive my daughter all over creation. I volunteer at church, my daughter's school, and am active in local politics. At six months that seems to be keeping me busy enough.

I teach sixth grade Orthopedically Handicapped children. I am on my feet for a good portion of the day. Some days I only get a 20 minute break. I also do a lot of paper work before school and in the evenings. When I found out that I was having surgery I immediately contacted the Human Resources Dept. for the school system. They needed a letter from the physician. I was told that I would be able to take off an entire year and that I did not need medical justification. I simply need to write a letter informing them 5 days before I will return. At the time I asked what would happen if I came back and found that I wasn't ready. The answer was, "DON'T." There is a long term sub taking my class. If I return she will be placed elsewhere and they would have to fill in with daily subs for my class each time I was gone. That inconsistency would not be good for the students. For that reason, they also do not allow us to return on a part-time basis.

On the one hand, I am really grateful that I am able to have the time to recover, but I am REALLY looking forward to going back.

 

[catwoman]

Christina:

I understand exactly how you feel.

Just take it easy at easing back into work. And don't let others tell you what you should be doing.

 

[Christina L]

Thanks for listening to me rant and rave everyone. I knew that I would surely find some empathy on this board, for this work situation I am in. We have all been there, it seems.

Al, I think that is a great idea - the video. In fact, my part-time supervisor had mentioned to me before the surgery about putting on an in-service for the other transcriptionists on what it is like to go through heart surgery. Hmmmm...I could really gross them out couldn't I? Hee. I would probably gross MYSELF out first and pass out on the floor!! ~

It is just frustrating when no one seems to understand how you are feeling - even my family has stopped calling regularly - thinking that I am doing okay - nothing to worry about - she's over the surgery and on with life!! Yeah, right!!

I am being a big baby, I know, and thanks for all your "coddling" on this board - don't know what I would do without you all!

Christina L.