Hi Everyone,

It's getting close to my surgery date & even though I am very excited; I am starting to get a little nervous. I am more concerned about after the surgery....how quickly I'll "bounce back". On average, what is the recovery time? How soon can you return to work?

Everyone is different, so it's hard to say. It took me about 5 days to feel like me again, some say it only takes 3. Some say it takes weeks. I believe it depends a lot on your attitude. If you are up beat and you are doing what you are suppose to (not lifting things to heavy, ect) you will bounce back quicker. From everything I have spoken to I would say the average is about 1.5 weeks till you feel normal.

I agree with Kime-lou. It depends on the individual. I took a week off work, I have a desk job and had no problems returning. Some are able to go back to work after only a few days. If you are able to take the time my advise would be to take it. Good luck with your surgery.

I'm kind of a professional when it comes to having surgery. I'm a quick healer and have a high pain tolerance. I was able to come back to work on post-op day 3. I have a job that's about 75% desk 25% up moving around. I wasn't completely comfortable and feeling back to myself for about two weeks.

i took off a week too i also have a desk job so it's not like i had to go back to something strenuous... i did have to sleep in the recliner for 2 weeks as it hurt to lay down for awhile and my dogs would jump on my port lol

Thank you for the words of encouragement. I was just trying to figure out if I would need to take leave or at least some days off to recuperate.

Yeah I agree with everyone that it is different for everyone! I had surgery on a Thursday and was back to teaching Middle School on Monday... and teaching middle school NOT having surgery is hard enough! It was hard the first few days and I would come home, take my tylenol with codeine and SLEEP! I would have loved to take 2 days off work just to give myself a bit more time but I am glad I had to get up so soon, I think it helped me recover quicker. I am now 3 weeks post and feel great! Only time I feel anything is when I sit and bend over I can feel my port a bit but it doesn't hurt anymore! YOU CAN DO IT! No matter how long you need to recover you can do it... and when you feel good you will be up and about! Best of luck!!

Tsign36 your my hero! I don't think I could have not that. I work at a high school. I had surgery on Thursday and didn't go back till Wed. I tried on Tuesday, but I felt like crap and was really dizzy so I ended up leaving early.

No hero thats for sure! Just not alot of sick time and it was the first day of students! It would have been nice to have two more days I think, given myself just a little more time. But, I survived it and am feeling good now!

I had my surgery on friday morning and felt so good by staurday night. I didn't need the prescription painkillers my doc gave me, and really had not much pain altogether. I was back driving/resuming most of my daily activities by monday

But, you know your body better than anyone so only you can really know when your 100% better. I have also heard some people need a full 10 days to feel 100% (no gas pains etc). So just take it slow and listen to your body