I am a little over a month away from a tt and I have been reading the posts...this is making me very nervous

By mmpb on 25 Jan 2013

because my doctor has told me that two weeks off from work would be sufficient. I work mainly a desk job and do not want my colleagues to know that I have had this procedure. Will I be ready to go back to work in this timeframe? I really don't have any other time that I can take...this is where my nervousness comes in.

Comments (6)

cold in windsor 28 Jan 2013

Really, if co-workers notice anything "amiss", and start asking questions, tell them either that you'd rather bot talk about it, or that you were "having feminine problems and don't feel comfortable talking about it." none of their business, really. And either of those answers should shut them up!

mommyES 26 Jan 2013

Hi, I agree with NewSelfNC. You won't feel 100%, but it is completely do-able at 2 weeks. I started working again at 12 days post-op and was actually grateful for it. I had been doing so much sitting around and watching Netflix that returning to work felt like something new and different to fill my time, and it was actually fun (fun!). What kind of work do you do? That probably makes a huge difference in whether 2 weeks of is sufficient. I work a desk job, so it wasn't a problem for me. I just had to get up for a few minutes every hour to walk around (to reduce any risk of developing a blood clot). I worked a few hours a day my first 3 days back to work, and the last 2 days of that week I worked 75% of my regular hours, which helped me a lot. The following week I was back to my regular schedule. If you're still on narcotics, your biggest challenge probably will be that you'll find difficult to stay awake. I haven't found the recovery from my tummy tuck to be bad at all (i also had "aggressive" lipo of my thighs and hips at the same time, which I'm finding to be a much more difficult and painful recovery). The first 48 hours are rough, but by 5 days post-op, I felt much less fragile and capable of fending for myself. Every day after that things get a bit easier (I'm 24 days post-op). My biggest issue was rebuilding my stamina! In the week after my surgery, simple things like taking a shower left me completely wiped out! Luckily, by 12 days I had the energy to sit at my desk and type. :) I think you'll do fine! Good luck to you!!

mmpb 27 Jan 2013

Thank you for your response! I feel alot better about the timeline now. I work in an office setting. I do attend meetings, so I have to contend with getting to the meetings (walking distance) and being focused in the meetings. Hopefully, I will be standing in an upright position! I couldn't imagine explaining this all to my colleagues and definitely do not want to disclose this information. I read somewhere that I should sleep in a recliner instead of a bed. Do you recommend this?

mommyES 27 Jan 2013

I've found the recliner tremendously helpful. I rented a power recliner from rent-a-center. I've heard ladies on my January 2013 board say they were/are fine sleeping in a bed, though, with lots of pillows. I'm 25 days post-op and have yet to sleep in my bed! Mostly that's due to the lipo, though; my PS doesn't want me on my side until 1 month out, and I'm afraid I could roll in my sleep. The recliner really has been great. I'm very comfortable sleeping in mine. :) If you can get one, I'd highly recommend it!

NewSelfNC 26 Jan 2013

You will be capable of going back in two weeks, though you may not be pain free or happy about it! I am 9.5 weeks post op and have been working between 11-45 hrs per week since I was 8 dpo. The first week I was barely awake, but by a week post op I was able to drive my kids to school and sit at my laptop a few hours per day to work from home. I started traveling for work at two weeks post op and worked more than forty hours that week (but was not happy about it and was living in Aleve and Tylenol all day long). The bottom line is, you will not feel great at two or three weeks post op but if you must go back to work, it is possible.

mmpb 27 Jan 2013

It is a relief to hear that you were traveling for work within 2 weeks! I, thankfully, do not have to do that. I have a ten minute drive to work and work at a desk most of the day when I am not in meetings.