Would you opt to have an operation during term time?

[Karen1020]

I injured my leg last year and now (after physio failed to help) the knee consultant I have seen recommends an operation to clean out my knee to correct damage from the injury as I have pain in my knee every day. It will mean being off work for two weeks.

I am having the operation privately (my dh's job provides healthcare) so I can choose to have it done when I like - the sooner the better as my knee is very painful. Obviously if I was having it done on the NHS then I would just have to take the time off whenever I was given a date.

I work part time and cover PPA so I won't be abandoning a class.

So is it wrong to not want to spend my holidays recovering from a GA and in a lot of pain? Well I know it isn't wrong to want it (!) but what would you do?

[cosmickitten]

If your in pain, I wouldn't wait. However in terms of recovery would booking it towards the end of term be an option? Gives you more time to get fit?

[Karen1020]

Thanks cosmic kitten. Unfortunately the consultant only operates every other week at our local hospital so can't quite get the timing perfect but hopefully would only need to go back for the last week (only doing my two days that week).

[cosmickitten]

Karen two days towards the end of term doesn't sound too bad. I know that it is really hard to take time in the term as teacher. But I think sometimes you have to put yourself first. Plus the impact of not feeling well is worse at the start of term I think.

Hope you get sorted soon and have a speedy recovery.

[Karen1020]

Thanks cosmickitten! Are there many other such a guilt-ridden professions as teaching

[Littlefish]

I did. I needed an operation which would mean 6 weeks off work. As I have a dd, it was much easier for me to have the operation in term time when I could recover in peace while dd was at school, rather than have I at the beginning of the summer holidays and have to cope with dd and recovery at the same time, whilst unable to drive, lift anything, walk very far etc.

Althugh my operation was done privately, the NHS date given to me was the week before, so the whole private/NHS thing didn't really come into it.