How long off work?

[lisaevans2912]

Hi everyone,

i am 3 days post hysterectomy with removal of ovaries, tubes and cervix. Was just wondering how long people had off work?

Many thanks

Lisa

xx

[dawntildusk]

hi lisa. i had everything except one ovary removed and was told 3 months off work. i did try to go back at around 6/7 weeks but it was far too soon and i ended up off again. then had a phased return at 3 months but i was still was very fatigued. had to build up my strength again. physically and mentally took nearly 12 months to feel ok. it is a long road but the better you look after yourself now the better the long term outcome. make sure not to overdo things, definitely no lifting, ensure you dont get constipated, and rest as much as you can. x x

[dawntildusk in reply to dawntildusk]

my surgery was TLH RSO with stage 4 endo excision in multple areas.

[Luvee480]

Hi Lisa!!! I believe you'll find that the amount of time taken off work is, in a large way, depends on the method of the surgery. On February 22nd of this year, I had a total abdominal hysterectomy. I still have my ovaries. I will be off work for a total of eight weeks. However, my coworker had the laparoacopic surgery last year, and she returned to work in three weeks; and my girlfriend had it done vaginally, and she returned in four weeks. It also has a lot to do with the individual person as well. You'll read and hear a lot about people telling you to "listen to your body." It's so true though. It's so important to take things at a slow and easy pace in the beginning and make a list of questions and concerns that you have as soon as they enter your mind so that you can ask your doctor at your follow up appointments. Otherwise, if you're at all like me, you'll forget to ask something!

I know that you didn't ask for all of this as you simply asked how much time off everyone is taking, but it's 3:22am where I'm located, and I can't sleep at all!!!

Have a speedy recovery, friend. The very last thing we all want is to go overboard with trying to do too much too soon and end up going backwards in our recovery instead of forwards.

Take care and recover well!!!

[Fretta in reply to Luvee480]

Hi Lisa

I had a radical hysterectomy in January for cervical cancer. Everything was removed plus top 3rd of my vagina. Stents and catheter for 5 weeks. I returned to my desk job after 8 weeks and wished I took more. Was on short term disability in New York so I was been carefully observed regarding my time off. Take your time ..dont rush back if you don't have to. I'm still very tired and sore 3 months after and was wondering myself how long until you feel back to yourself in a post I made. Apparently I am not so different.😊 best wishes for a speedy recovery.

[lisaevans2912]

Thankyou for the replies ladies!! Think im going to just have to see how i go, at the moment feeling better feels along way off!! xx

[RachaelE]

Hi Lisa

As others have said, it varies from one person to the next. I would bank on 6 weeks minimum and see how you are after that. There’s a lot of healing going on inside that drains your energy. It also depends on what type of work you do. I’m on my feet all day in a school and managed to time it between holidays so I actually got 11 weeks off altogether. So glad I did. Even then I found it very tiring.

Hope all’s well

Rachael xx

[lisaevans2912]

I work in a collage for disabled students and do everything from their morning routine, get up showers to taking them swimming hoisting, sports. you name it i do it lol, dont want to push myself and end up doing any damage xx

[StIvesmaid]

Hi Lisa. I had TAH and BSO February last year. I went back to work after 6 weeks and for the first week struggled to make it to the end of the day - I work part time and my job is largely office based nothing like as physical as yours. Energy levels do take a while to return and my surgeon told me not to go back to Pilates for 3 months minimum post op. I had odd twinges internally up to about month 10, it takes a long time to heal internally. The way I looked at it all my remaining internal organs had to rearrange themselves and settle down - pre op I had spent goodness knows how long with my uterus pushing everything up towards my chest cavity (large and multiple fibroids). For everyone who has a hysterectomy this is what has to happen inside - your body adjusting itself - so please please do what everyone else is saying and listen to your body and don’t rush to get back to normal activity levels too soon as you risk harming your recovery. It’s not all gloom - eventually ( how soon seems very different from person to person) you will feel a whole lot better. I didn’t believe it when people told me it would take 12 months to be fully healed but for me it did. I think form your post you realise that you need to take good care of yourself. Hope you are fully well soon x