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If I have a hysterectomy, do you think it would be possible to work within 2 weeks if the job is ver

(3 posts)
  1. I FINALLY found a job, in fact I told my boss up front that I had cancer and I have been told its most likely gone but I do have regular doc appts. to attend and theres a slight chance of surgery after all is said and done. He was a great guy, he actually was very sympathetic and he liked me so he hired me, health problems and all. Anyways, I didn't want to get too personal in detail about the possible surgery (hysterectomy) and now I've been reading it takes 6 weeks to recover. Well, being a brand new job I won't qualify for FLMA nor can I afford it. The job is all a desk job, I could literally wheel a wheelchair behind the desk and do easy light work all day. The job is 25 hours a week for now but more as time goes on.

    Do you think its possible for me to work 5 days 5 hours per day beginning about 2 weeks after a hysterectomy? It would be done with the Di Vinci robot and done laproscopically with very tiny incisions in the abdomen.

    I don't see how its gonna make a difference if I'm in pain at work or at home, and I really need to keep this job. Its tough out there, I've been job searching for months and this is the first decent thing to come my way. It pays well and its low stress. And it will be full time in the future, when the economy gets better. Its only 25+ hours now because of the economy.

    Do you think I can pull this off if I end up needing surgery? I absolutely would have to be back to work in 2 weeks, theres no way I can afford more.
    According to my doc, I won't have the slicing and dicing of abdominal muscles that usually happens, because they use this high tech robot thing and I will only have 5 incisions in a rainbow type pattern going above my belly button on my abdomen. Each incision will be less than 1 inch long. I just turned 28, I am on the thinner side, I exercise, so I hope I'm gonna feel well enough to keep my new job. FMLA requires a certain length of time and hours on the job before you're covered :/ I was shocked to find that out also. Thanks to you both. You're both very helpful.
    Also theres a pretty good chance I may not need a hysterectomy anyways I am just preparing for the next few weeks to come and getting things in line just in case.
    Oh and the menopause thing...already supposedly happened because I had radiation and chemo which they said would 100% for sure put me in menopause. Its been 3 months since treatment and I have no symptoms but they gave me BCPs to replace some of the hormones lost from it.

    Posted 2 years ago #
  2. Ree
    Member

    I good friend of mine had one last year (she is 49 years old... judging from your picture, probably much older than you are). The first week was very uncomfortable for her, but by the second week she was doing fine. Your doctor will prescribe pain medication which will help.

    Providing you don't get an infection after surgery, or do any heavy lifting, a 5 hour desk job should be fine.

    It's important to remember that hysterectomies are not all the same... some women just have the uterus removed, while others have ovaries, cervix and fallopian tubes removed as well. I don't know your specific diagnosis or what type of hysterectomy you will have.

    Although your doctor will have the final say (as to when you can resume work), I am thinking two weeks is fine. Good luck!

    Posted 2 years ago #
  3. Sneaky D
    Member

    i dunno, everybody is different. Are you in good shape? That will make a difference. I'm not sure you would have the stamina to sit up for 5 hours, and if they go in vaginally, it might be very uncomfortable to sit for that long. They are also slicing and dicing your abdominal muscles, so it's going to be hard to sit and use your upper body, bending, twisting, pulling something towards you, pushing. You might even find driving uncomfortable. And, after your hysterectomy you are going to have menopause types symptoms.

    It's a lot, that is why they give you 6 weeks to recover. I would suggest budgeting your money so that you can take at least 3-4 weeks off. I think they have to let you have FMLA regardless of how long you have worked there. But you know yourself better than we do.

    congrats on the new job, I hope this all works out for you and remain cancer free!

    Posted 2 years ago #

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