AIBU to take the full six weeks signed off after surgery?

Use every single day. Then look for a new job. Dicks.

I took 6 weeks off after my laparoscopy for endo and didn’t feel bad about it at all, I actually wish I’d extended it to 8 weeks. I slept loads so clearly my body was recovering and needed the rest. I hope you can get a good rest too!

Six weeks sounds normal for post-surgery recovery - I'm surprised it's even been questioned. Don't be afraid to ask for a phased return if you need it when you go back - it's surprising how tired you can feel even when you're healed up, as your body takes a while to recover from the physical trauma of surgery.

This.

My late husband used to say to me "If you want to know how much you'll be missed when you leave work, put your hand in bucket of water and take it out again."

You've been given a sick note for 6 weeks for a reason, take the time off and don't give it a second thought.

I had what I thought was pretty minor surgery - salpingectomy via laparoscopy. This was following two separate mastectomies so thought it would be a breeze. OMG, did I under estimate it. I couldn't even stand up properly for a fortnight, let alone carry anything heavier than a cup of tea. What I hadn't realised is that for this kind of surgery, they pump you full of gas and the pain from that was indescribable. I felt like I had been hit by a car for a good month.

Tell work to sod off Be calm with your work place and tell them that you've been signed off for six weeks. It's been a big surgery and this is your surgeon/consultant's orders, so it must be respected. Surely they want you back fit and firing on all cylinders, not returning to soon and needing to be signed off for longer?

Wishing you a good recovery.

Take the time off. Look after yourself.

I’d def take the full six weeks unless you bounced back far more quickly and positively felt like it
presumably the better recovery you have after the operation the less likely you are to need further time off sick

put your feet up

Take the time you need to properly rest and recover. Much better than to rush back too soon and be off again. It's in your employers interest that you are recovered and not doing too much too soon and off again. Take care!

I think you have concerns about how this time off will be taken at work and only you know if they have reason. BUT they need to ask you questions to understand the nature of your condition, the surgery and therefore the implications for them so don't be worried by the questions. That’s it. It’s not an interrogation, it’s just HR ticking boxes. You have been there 8yrs, they will know what you are like as an employee.

A catheter at home is not a minor thing, it affects mobility, sleep, infection risk, and comfort. Add abdominal or renal surgery on top and six weeks is actually on the conservative side. What they can’t do is override a fit note or pressure you to return early. A GP’s note is the legal evidence of unfitness for work and honestly, managing a catheter at home while recovering from kidney/bladder surgery is not compatible with most jobs, even desk‑based ones. Painkillers alone can make someone unsafe to work.

So the reasonable position is: You’ve had major surgery, you’re recovering with a catheter, and your GP has signed you off. Your employer is simply gathering information, not challenging your absence.

If anything, you need to rest properly so you don’t end up back in hospital. And that includes stressing about what work thinks. If you think it will help you to get the fullness of your situation across to work, email HR or your line manager telling them the surgery you have, that you still have a catheter and stent in and that you're on strong painkillers hence the fit note for 6 weeks. Tell them that as soon as you have your next check up, you will update them but expect to be off for the full 6 weeks. And stick to it.

I have recently had some similar surgery myself and I wouldn't be surprised if you are off longer but you just need to concentrate on you and as you are no good to anyone is you are dead! Big hugs.

I had something similar last year but was feeling okay after 4 weeks I was bored and could work from home

OP, please try not to worry about this, I know it's hard when an employer is making noises about your having too much time off sick, but your health is far more important than ANY job! However, it might be worth Googling and making yourself aware of the circumstances under which they could get rid of you, so that you're fully prepared and know what steps they have to take beforehand, and where to turn if it should happen.

I wish you a good and speedy recovery, BUT not so that you can go back to work, simply so that you feel better soon. Take care.

A catheter and a stent and pain and you are asking if you should take the 6 weeks? Are you serious? Of course you should!

Your doctor is a better judge on how long you need to recover than HR. Retired senior. HR manager.

Did you have a uretic injury? I had ureter reconstruction and did not feel well enough for work until after I had my stent removed. The bladder spasms were not fun until it was removed.

Thank you x - all the best op

Oh okay 😄😄

Excellent tv show - terrible place to work so ive heard

I had a stent from my kidney to ureter, because I’d had a kidney stone damage it quite badly. Luckily didn’t need a catheter at home (I did in hospital though.) I was aware of the stent when I sat/lay in certain ways. I only had it in for a few months - about 15 years ago, so I can’t recall exactly. I was off work for about 4 months in total, as I was in and out of hospital a couple of times, and then recovery.

When I went back, my arsehole of a boss tried to take me through a capability hearing on stuff which hadn’t been done whilst I was off!

Unsurprisingly, I left soon after, as I’d been applying for jobs whilst I was off. That wasn’t the first of his vindictive behaviour.
For me, my union were brilliant, and super supportive. Dealt with HR, whilst they were Harrassing me, and came to a meeting with me, when they tried to say I wasn’t well enough to do the job any more, etc. (I was. Just not while I was actually signed off!) If you’re in a union, get in touch with them for support. If you’re not, join one. Believe me, this isn’t one-off behaviour from your boss/HR, from my experience. Good luck - and get well soon.

Stop picking at what the poster is saying. It's obvious what she meant and you're being a dick.

Op take the 6 weeks off. Your doctor thinks you need it.

If youre working in a phone shop, op, theyre notorious for bullying their workers. Dont you worry, they're still bound by the law and can't retaliate against you x

So you need to stay off while the stent is in. They are just trying to scare you. Ex civil servant here and emergency surgery so they’d be mad to try anything like that. Do you have email confirmation of that conversation? It could count against them as harassment.

Take the time off. It took me just over 3 weeks to get back to work after an 8hr op but I didn’t have a catheter. You need rest

Take the time you need to recover
Hope DH has stepped up now

Well that’s been my experience, unless our consultants are just particularly good! Maybe it depends on the reasons, but won’t do any harm to check. I’d take the full time off anyway.