Will I be able to keep working

[Imortalcandy 1]

Hi everyone, I'm hoping someone can help me with my predicament.

I work an off shift in an OR so it is just me and one other person I work with.

I work 10 hour shifts and often work all 10, like I can't pee, drink, eat, sit, ....nothing.

I'm very anxious about how this will work after surgery since I'm supposed to drink every 15 minutes, I don't want to make myself sick or end up in the hospital from being so dehydrated and not eating.

Any thoughts or suggestions?

[Pescador 1,374]

At 67 I walked a mall four days after the sleeve and spent only spent 8-9 hours in the hospital. I had no pain. You won't be able to lift. You can take Protein Drinks and sip through your shift, you don't need food. You can surely sip Water as you walk back and forth. You can do it.

[hermione53 157]

Hi there, I work in Human Resources. Many states require that employees be given meal time and breaks (some paid, some unpaid). Here's a link to a Dept. of Labor site that lists what each state requires. https://www.dol.gov/whd/state/meal.htm

If you live in a state that doesn't allow this time, you can request what's called a Reasonable Accommodation under the EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission). For this you would just need your surgeon to fill out some paperwork stating that you need to eat and drink every few hours. Here's a link for that info: https://www.eeoc.gov/eeoc/internal/reasonable_accommodation.cfm#A

Also, are you in a union? If so, I'd consult with your union rep.

Good luck!

[Imortalcandy 1]

Thanks for the responses
I'm not in a union but I'm in emergency surgeries all night long and there is no one to give me breaks or anything, I literally go from one room to the next with no chance for a drink or anything (break room quite far away)
An accommodation would not work on my shift since there is no one to give me a break so I would have to stay out of work until I could go without drinking for 10 hours at a time

[JaelVSG 7]

You won't be able to chug fluids post surgery. You physically can't. Unless you can find some times to sip during the 10 hours, you'll have to spend your off time sipping full time

[Pescador 1,374]

That really sounds crazy that you cannot drink for ten hours. Guess I am old fashioned. Exert your "legal " rights and you could be jobless. Good luck with this!!!