Can I have a hysterectomy and not miss work?

[minkydog]

My hyst was supposed to be by lap, as well, and I think I had planned to be out a couple of weeks. Turns out I had complications and was out of work for a month, but oh well. The main thing I remember is that you cannot drive until you can stomp your foot (as if stomping on the brakes) without it causing abdominal pain, and you can't lift anything heavier than a jug of milk for a certain amount of time.

Check out the stores at the hystersisters web site -- the elastic support bands really do help afterward.

Good point. You have to be prepared for the possibility of complications. I had a laparoscopy a few years ago to take out a small ovarian cyst. Easy-peasy, right? Except that when they got in there, they found an enormous MASS the size of a pineapple Needless to say, the whole operation became very serious very quickly. thankfully, the mass was benign(whew!) but during the process there were injuries to my bowels and bladder. Then my lung collapsed and I developed pneumonia. So my so-called "minor surgery" turned into a week-long painful ordeal with about 8 weeks of tedious recovery.

Plan for the best, but prepare for the worst. and always be sure your house is clean when you go to the hospital. You never know who might need to go in and get you some clean socks.

 

[Mommy2cody]

I just had mine done Dec 15th. No incisions at all. It took a good week to stop being sore. I couldn't even sit up for long the first few days. I am pretty much okay now but I still get sore if I am up and doing to much. I wouldn't chance it! Did the Dr. give you a timeline? How long will you be in the hospital? I was in for 2 days. When I went in for my pre-op the Dr gave me my note for work then. She took me off for 8 weeks!

 

[Kathi OD]

I am hoping so. I just started with a new company 3 months ago, I work part time and from home. My surgery is scheduled for a Thursday and I dont work on Fridays. Think I will be ok by Monday? I am having it done LAVH (laparascopically assisted ******l hysterectomy). Any thoughts or suggestions?

Can you? Maybe, but probably not, and definitely not if there are complications.

Although, maybe a few hours a day since you work from home and part time.

 

[palavra]

I know it is a different procedure, but I had my gallbladder removed laparascopically on a Thursday and returned to work the following Monday. In hindsight, I think my full recovery was longer than it needed to be because I didn't take enough time off.

 

[HappyGilmore]

Maybe...
I had the exact same surgery with an additional proceedure of a bladder sling. I am not exactly what you would call physically fit... in other words very pooh sized. I am 40 years old and have a 7 and 4 year old. I had my surgery on 11/18 it was a Thursday and my procedure was the 1st case - wheeled into operating room @ 7:15am. I felt like a truck ran over me when I came to and was very ill till about 10pm. I finally asked the nurse for something else for pain beside the Dilauted I was getting on IV pump. The instant I was off that I felt 100% better - I think I have issues with that medicine. Anyway my cathedar was out at 5am, packing was out @ 7am ready to go home by noon. Mind you I was a little sore when walking but used a walker that my grandmother used and was fine. By Saturday afternoon I was over at my sisters house manning the money table for a yard sale although I did have to go in and take a nap after a couple of hours. The only issue I had was the pain meds made me constipated (sorry tmi) and by Monday I had to drink a 1/2 bottle of a colon prep (sodium citrate?) per my gyn nurse recommendation to get going.... then all day Monday and Tuesday I was the opposite-- in the bathroom every 15 minutes. By Thanksgiving which was 1 week after I was pretty much back to normal. I had started taking stool softners 1 week before the surgery but that didn't seem to help at all. I think I was more sore from the trying to go and then going too much than I was from the actual surgery. My stomach is still a little tender if my kids are on my lap and push while trying to get down or something but I recovered very well. Another bit of info is that I also had an emergency surgical procedure done on 8/28 for a strangulated 13cm (yes 5 1/2 inch) cyst on my fallopian tube. I waited just long enough to recover from that surgery to have this second one scheduled before the end of the year since my insurance ded had been met.
Let me also add that I had my wisdom teeth taken out when I was 19 and went to work the next day as a bank teller (on a payday Friday). I am a little determined when I make my mind up i guess... and I just push through the pain. good luck and pm me if you wish.

 

[proud_canadian]

Hey there,

I has my surgery on a Monday, I was fairly fit and 30 years old. I stayed in hospital overnight Monday, and was discharged mid-day Tuesday. I was back in ER Tuesday night because I had a complication of not being able to empty my bladder. I was discharged from ER Tuesday in the middle of the night. Wednesday I laid on the couch watching movies and reading. Thursday I was feeling a lot better. Friday I had to go back to hospital for catheter removal (which was unsuccessful) and walked all over the whole hospital. I would have been comfortable working from home that day. I was done pain killers on Wednesday. On the weekend I went grocery shopping, walks around the neighbor hood and took my daughters to swimming lessons (all while still wearing a catheter). I would have been fine to work from home that Sat and Sun. Monday I drove myself 2 hours to the hospital, walked all around, finally got the catheter removed for good and drove myself 2 hours home. I worked from home the rest of that week, full days. Then the next week I went into the office to work at 2 weeks post-op... and keep in mind I also had bladder complications.

I think with no complications, it would be doable to work from home on the Monday, but it is also possible you might need an extra couple of days.

Good luck and it is the best thing I ever did!

 

[ckmommy]

I had mine done about a year and a half ago. I had a total lap. hysterectomy. I had it on a Thursday morning was home by 3 pm that day. Rested until about 5pm. Walked my kids to the bus stop the next day. By Sunday, I was walking a mile. I could easily gone back to work by Monday. It did hurt to sneeze though. I had no pain. I was sent home with a "ball" that somehow was giving me pain meds all the time, by Monday it was flat and all of the meds. were gone. That was the worst part of the whole surgery--pulling that tube out. The other bad part was the prep. The GoLyghtly (spelling) was awful!!
My DH says that you should take my words lightly--I tend to heal quickly and a hate to rest.

 

[Mrs. Charming]

Granted I haven't had a hysterectomy, but I've had two cesareans and one laparoscopy/hysterscopy that involved removal of endo, scar tissue, and polyps (fun!). I can't imagine you'll be up and running in 3 days.

 

[m&m's mom]

I could have come close to a few days. I never took so much as an aspirin after my surgery. I have it laproscipally too.
I work from home about 35 hours a week on the computer so I understand where you are coming from.

 

[Beachbumpirates]

I could have come close to a few days. I never took so much as an aspirin after my surgery. I have it laproscipally too.
I work from home about 35 hours a week on the computer so I understand where you are coming from.

Thank you -I was hoping someone would say it wasn't so bad. My desire is to get this over with and resume my normal but hectic life as quickly as possible. I like to live somewhat by a schedule and if I can plan that within a few days my family will have me back in action it makes it seem not so bad.

Thank you all for the kind words of advice - it is truly appreciated!

 

[N&B'smom]

I had an abdominal hysterectomy due to cancer and 2.5 weeks later went to Disney World. It had been booked for a year and I was not missing out, no matter what! It wasn't an easy road in the first week or two but thankfully, by the time I got to Disney I was my old self again. (it actually helped in my healing process mentally and physically)

Hope it goes well!!

 

[Feralpeg]

I had a complete hysterectomy laparoscopic procedure when I was 50. There was no way I could have gone back to work in a couple of days. In fact, I was supposed to be released from the hospital after two days and ended up staying four because I developed a fever.

I've had a number of surgeries including a mastectomy and a c-section. I bounced back very quickly from all except the hysterectomy. I had to return to work after six weeks and still felt wiped out. It was a hard comeback.

OP, I doubt very much that your doctor will release you to return to work after a weekend. My place of employment required a letter from my doctor to allow me to return after six weeks.

 

[Pumbaa_]

play it by ear, depends on your tolerance and recovery rate and if there are any complications.

Just make sure you have a plan b!

good luck

 

[mhsjax]

I had an abdominal hysterectomy due to cancer and 2.5 weeks later went to Disney World. It had been booked for a year and I was not missing out, no matter what! It wasn't an easy road in the first week or two but thankfully, by the time I got to Disney I was my old self again. (it actually helped in my healing process mentally and physically)

Hope it goes well!!

YOu were lucky nothing went wrong. My Dr would have killed me if I went to wdw after only 2 weeks post op. AFter only 2 weeks you aren't healed internally.

 

[N&B'smom]

YOu were lucky nothing went wrong. My Dr would have killed me if I went to wdw after only 2 weeks post op. AFter only 2 weeks you aren't healed internally.

My Dr is the one that said it was okay and knew before we scheduled the surgery when I was going. He had no problem with it. Obviously I didn't go on Expedition Everest but I still went on most rides (not coaster types) and had a great time! It was JUST what I needed!

 

[2binak]

I've had lapro surgery and though it was probably my easiest surgery to recover from, I still didn't feel up to doing much for at least 5-7 days. I went back to work on day 11. I went to WDW 4 weeks later and took it easy.

Gas was trapped in my shoulder and I just winced remembering the pain.

What is it about gas getting into your shoulder after surgery? UGH!!! That was the worst for me too!

 

[Beachbumpirates]

Guess what? I was due back today and called in sick. Came home from hospital on Saturday and still not up to sitting at my desk.

 

[merrily]

I hope that you are feeling better soon.

Don't rush back to work if you don't have to.

 

[ilovejack02]

Guess what? I was due back today and called in sick. Came home from hospital on Saturday and still not up to sitting at my desk.

My best friend had the same surgery 4 weeks ago, it was 3 weeks before she could stand a full day at work . She worked 1/2 days after two weeks.


Speedy healing wishes headed your way.

 

[2binak]

Guess what? I was due back today and called in sick. Came home from hospital on Saturday and still not up to sitting at my desk.

You were due back to work 3 days after leaving the hospital? That doesn't seem right at all.